The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-08-16
HOME TALKS.

Those who seldom read ca scarcely realize
the pleasure derived from literary pu suits, or
the appetite for reading which grows upon us
by indulgence. 1t opens to us new world ;
new thoughts, new aspirations spring up, fill
ing life with countless riches. But care should
be used in the selection Of books. Much Of the
morbid sentimental writing of the day should
be excluded from the family circle, and only
such admitted as contain healthy, truthful
teachings
Would that fathers and mothers appr sciated
the great importance of evening read ngs at
home. How many young men might thus be
saved from ruin by furnishing for them home
pleasures. instead Of leaving them to find
their own amusement among, perhaps, the
dissoluts and degraded. Let them rather
listen TO The reading of well writ en- stor es or
biographies, and gradually they will become
interested, and learn to prefer The quiet en-
ioyments Of nome
Many think that all romances should be ex-
cluded from the reading Of the young. This
il clearly mistake for where else can tn y
so truly learn the manners and customs Of
0vO0x
cal events; and while the greatest importance
should be attached to this class of RIA ling,
much can be learned from lighter class
which it 10 mot the province OF histories, trav-
els or deeper works to touch upon. Take for
example the pure writings Of Frederika
Bremer, from whose sweet home pictures we
have gathered more Of the inner life Of Swe-
den than from all other sources.
So also Of the grand old romances OF Sir
Walter Scott, whose pages embody 50 much
Of the early history Of Scotland. And when
oppressed by care or sorrow, hat a relief to
the mind u the perusal of some of Dickens
stories, such, for instance, as David Copper
field" or the ''Old Curiosity Shop" which SO
touched the heart that we cannot wonder at
the great good he has accomplished. Many
writer's render us dissatisf ID with life. d ok
ems, on the contrary, BY the magic of his pen,
infuses beauty into the lowliest home, and we
turn from his pages contented with our ut,
seeing new charms in the every day charms
OF our lives.
Among biographers we have our own Wash
ington Irving. whose pure life and writings
will shine with undimned plendor through
all time. And thus could be enumerated
many whose lives have proved such blessings
70 mankind
Cultivate, then, this taste in your families
Bring TO your firesides the rich treasures Of
genius, scattered SO profusely around US, and
thus prepare your children to enter upon the
great arena Of life, strengthened to resist its
temptations
Let them read of those men who by their
indomitAble energy end perseverance, have
overcome the greatest obstacles; who, through
priva6ou and poverty. have won the gratitude
Of the world by their scientific discoveries.
or whose words Of eloquence have stirred the
heart q nations.
God ~ intrusted those children to you
: not simply 10 care for the body. but also to
cultiy,te the immortal mind. Seek, then, 20
awahQsN1eA1H them IN ambition to live for
soms'rGsag psfpose, that they may when
yeare hse passed away, look back with I'M
meae1rs1 koines on the lessons learned at
the. hnma Aeessde.