The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-10-22
Novel Reading.

The managers of the Boston Public Library
have recently been investigating the statistics
of that institution to ascertain the relative use
of the different classes of books in the library,
with view, as it would seem, to the formation
of some theory to be recommended to the pub
lie on the subject of general reading. There
is it appears, in connection with the library
an upper room, known as "Bates' Hail." in
which are many valuable standard works, but
no novels or works of fiction. This collection
has not heretofore received anything like the
attention which has been bestowed on the more
miscellaneous contents of the lower hall, or
general library but last year the books in
Bates Hall were classified under the heads oi
biography, history and travel, and lists of them
were prepared for the use of readers.
The effect of this, it is stated, has been to
increase the use of this class of books, by sew
enty-fve per cent, while the additional call
for works of fiction has been less than three
per cent. A comparison of the use made OF
historical works in June, 1874, and the same
month in the preceding year, shows an in
crease of two hundred per cent the increase
of the entire reading of the general library, in
the meantime, being only half of one pei
cent. The result of the investigation has been
to convince the examining committee that the
reading of novels engenders taste for reading
of different character, and is, in its educa-
tional influence, decidedly better than no read
ing at all. 1t therefore, wisely we think, "con-
cluded not to deprecate novel reading, but it
nevertheless greets with pleasure every sign OF
improvement in the public taste, and every
measure designed to raise the standard of read
ing"
This conclusion, it seems to us, is one which
might have been reached without all this pre-
paratory investigation. There is good deal
of sounding nonsense and pompous charlatan-
ism talked and written on this subject of read
ing; and Boston, perhaps, is responsible for
the paternity of good deal of it, Of course
we cannot expect the profound scholars of the
"hub"-the classic denizens of the Athens OF
America-to submit to be nourished on as low
literary diet as satisfies less favored mortals.
They, to be sure, must have their strong meat
but they should not insist therefore that milk
be banished from the world.
We are not all of US capable of appreciating
the beauties and rising to the sublime heights
of the transcendental philosophy; but we may
enjoy the satire of Thackeray, and weep or
laugh over the pathos or the humor of Dickens.
Richard I. may prove dull fellow in the pom,
derous tones of Hume but the iron-hearted
king arolses all our enthusiasm in the glowing
pages of Scott, who has doubtless awaked the
curiosity of many a youthful reader, and in
duced him to pursue in history the acquaint-
ance commenced in the novel; Reading is
-emnently habit that grows by what it
feeds upon and we are glad that the Boston
public library committee has discovered it, and
so concluded not to pat the novel under the
ban of its condemnation.
Very many of the novels of the present day
are just as profitable reading as the histories
and possibly are not very much more fictitious
There arc other things in the world worth
learning besides the facts which the Grad
grinds think so important and which after all
are only the dry bones Of history. of no value
in themselves. Young people often conceive
disgust for all reading by finding it impossi-
BILE to interest themselves at the outset in that
Historical" reading which they are taught to
believe the only kind that can benefit them:
Let them have their novels, and the report OF
this Boston committee shows that they will
soon create demand for history, biography,
and travel.-LouisviNe Daily Ledger.