The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-06-11

LIGHT LITERATURE.
This is the age Of progress and the day Of
light. From every source and quarter
knowledge is increased, and hight flows in.
The battlements Of error in the scientific
and literary world are being assailed and
nothing Is received as gold which will not
stand the severest crucial tests. Schools
are being established everywhere for the
purpose of educating the minds of the peo-
pie, more particularly, the rising generation,
so that they may be prepared to enter upon
the intelligent discharge of the duties Of
life. This is WE'LL 1t is only by study and
the elimination Of error that the mind be-
comes strong, and can readily detect sophis-
try and sustain reason. But of what avail
Is long and arduous course of study, if so
soon as collegiate restraints are withdrawn,
young people plunge into the perusal of
light literature with an abandon which is
truly wonderful. We know with what So
licitude parents watch the moral training
Of their children, and how anxious they are
for them to escape the vices and excuses
winch allure the young from the path of
rectitude and lead them down through the
various gradatinns of infamy, which too
often end in a total wreck of their physical
structure, aud drop them into premature
graves. Now, while it is one of the first
duties of parents to strive to impart to
their children vigorous bodies and the glow
and enjoyment Of perfect health, 1t is also
their duty to watch over their minds,
and the kind of food which they feed
upon. While their children are I'M
der the watchful care of competent,
worthy and kind teachers, they are pro-
vided with suitable books from which men
tai food is gathered daily, and of such kind
as will impart to the mind that amount of
strength -a-.-.sssff WHICH VII, IuIIy ue-
veIop It's strength and prepare it for still
greater acquisitions. But, alas, how soon
is tho condition of the youth completely
changed, so soon as the quit school and
are permitted to do just as they please;
20 eat, sleep and frolic; read dime novels
and light literature to their hearts content
The reading Of one or more does not SIT
isfy. Like the miser in search of gold,
they hunt out sensational works, and spend
the most of the day in their rooms devouring
fictitious narratives, which, if true, would
only prove that they are in the wrong world
and ought not to be here. If the scenes
painted were real, then men and women are
not properly created, or this planet has
been inhabited by mistake. What is the
result of such course of readingl The
complete perversion of their tastes and
views OF the relations and duties of life.
Instead Of going out into the world strong
in body and mind, they enter upon the dis
charge Of their duties, il at all, with minds
sicklied over with extravagant notions and
anticipations which never are realized, and
destroy the love of the pure and beau
tifal as they came from the hands of the
Creator just such as suit minds which
have rot been weakened and ruined
by the miserable stuff that is
called light literature. The damage which
is often done, Of almost daily occurrence,
is frequently irreparable. There is an in
difference for the realities Of life; long
ing for something ethereal, absurd for
tunes arc expected in some wonderful man
ner; friends are to spring up from the caves
of the earth, or drop down from the clouds;
some beautiful creature who, il Of the
earth, would not be earthly, is expected to
enter upon the scene, or some hero Of kingly
mien and vast fortune is looked for, who
viii pour out the gold to provide lofty
palaces, splendid equipages, and royal re-
tinues. They are not Of the world, and,
really, they are not only not fit to live here,
but should be put into the lunatic asy-
hum or work-house until they learn that
they have not shufEied of this mortal coil.
and have a duty to perform as well as the
rest Of the sons and daughters Of earth.
Now, there arc q few works Of fiction
which might be read with profit, but they
should be selected BY competent judge.
The bodies, minds and morals Of the young
are being weakened and ruined by the yell
low-backed dime novels which, Ike the
leaves Of the forest, are scattered all over
the land. They are fearful; and the young
people are in Imminent danger.
There are beauties enough in nature, art
and science to engage the attention Of the
most refined and cultivated minds. The
more they arc studied and understood, the
more charming and attractive they are.