The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-08-23
Jules Janin's Advice to Young seminarian.

Jules Janin, the celebrated French novelist,
once wrote letter to a young seminarist of
| the same name, who had written to him to ask
his advice on the selection he ought to make
of the books he should read. In the letter
Janin says that the best works for young
man to read are the Fathers of the Church.
and the French classical authors of the great
century of Louis XIV He says:
| PARIS June IL, 1Sl1
My Dear Cousin,-For 80 shall call you 81 ncs
| You have wished me to do so, what will your
Father Superior say when he knows that YOU
| have placed yourself in correspondence with
me- me-, ~ writer tier of naughty novelist You may
half as black as am painted the good soul
will still be afraid of me, sinner that I am,
What! the author of wicked books correspond
| sooth. Well, no; it is no sin, for the novelist
shall give yon good advice and brotherly conn
sell 1 tell you, life ia short, and ought to be
employed in serious studies. Youth passes
quickly, and it must be used, not in readinp
useless novels, however well written but in
| the pursuit of great masters of thought, both
Jerome, st. Gregory and st. Ambrose, st. John
Chrysostom, St. Gregory, De Maistre and Bos-
suet. Read Bossuet. He is the greatest mas
ter, nay the creator of the French language
He is our Homer. His sermons are the most
eloquent we possess. His Historic DIES Variations
| has done more service to our faith than can
explain to you in short letter. know of moth
ing SO eloquent as his funeral oratiops Have
you read his lettersf They are wonderful.
My child, these old fosies must be your mas
tiers they have been mine. From them /
have learned more than you would imagine.
In their books is wonderful mine of wealth
When turn from their sublime creations and
contemplate our modern writer's, I feel utterly
Disguised. What books now written If
you but knew how they corrupt manners and
morals, destroy civilization and ruin our lam
guage, which is spoken all over Europe, you
would be amazed and indignant Remember
almost all the literature of this century is
worth nothing. 1t ls mere smoke. 1t consists
of frivolity, lies, poor thoughts, the best of
which are plagiarized, and when you have
read the works of our modern writers you carry
nothing away with You but the sad memory Of
corruption, feeling of contempt for the au-
thors and for yourself for having wasted time
ia reading their trash. Do not read my books
a single work of this century. 1 do not know
one of them which is W orthy of the perusal of
a chaste, upright, honest-minded lad of nine
teen. Go back to the strong nourisbment
which has helped me SO wellego to Racine.
CorDeile, Pascal, Arnault, Bossuet, Fenelon |
and Observation-Disclosures who knew SO we'll |
how to render amiable even the seventies of |
the Gospel. Study the great writers of our
literature, those men who have immortalized
our language and made it classic. Their books
will do You good, will improve your heart and
profession. Be worthy of it. Do not blush on
account of your priests frock. 1t has carried
civilization to the furthest limits of the earth.
Obey your vocation, walk with your head erect,
and with firm step. The road is covered
with thorns, but above You is faiths column of
light and fire. Often ponder over these lines
which learned in my youth
Haud facilem voluit Pater ipse colendi
Esse viam, curs acuens mortalia corda
Again, beware of fictitious enthusiasm, and
lbove all do not write letters to the first person
whose name strikes your fancy in u newspaper.
The answer may be fatal to you. imagination,
ny young friend, is great gift, but do not
!bu-e it. 1t is friend if well regulated, and
/ terrible enemy if abused. Your letter leads
ne to believe you to possess disobedient
pint. but an excellent heart. 1 am glad you {
wrote and that can give you such good ad vice. {
{ has afforded me the opportunity of preach
ng you sermon accept it pray you in the &
pirit in which it is written. The day may 8
ono when you will sign cross at the end of
our name: Il ConStans, Fpiscopus Lugdunen8is,"
T elsewhere; then shall presume to address Z
on in my turn IL invoke the memory of the Q
asst, my Lord Bishop; give me your blessing" t
n the meantime, until that day comes, which Y
Till be a glory for you and for me also, am +
ion8eigReur, Your future Lordships very hum d
lie servant, JULES JANIN. r
WONDERFUL RESOURCES OF TEXAs.-One of 8
be Texas delegation of merchants recently -