Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1875-09-04
Novel Reading.

Brother IalmagC's last cftusiOn, an es-
say and not a :rmOH, is directed against
works of fiction. Ii is to be hoped that
there are not many cultivated persons
who viii agree with him that ''the apple
with which the Devil tempted Eve was
in reality a novel, and that the Hebrew
word that has been 80 constantly mis-
translated, is susceptible Of being inter-
preted story, novel or myth" This Is
question for the philologists, and not be-
ing DESTROYS of entering into contro-
versy with those excessively captious,
dogmatic and long-winded persons, we
do not choose to discuss it. Nor need we
90 out of our way to refute the jargon Of
Brother Talmage.
Nevertheless the desire for story tell
ing is probably as old as the human race,
and the fairer sex have always been prone
to indulge it; still it is to be acknOwl-
edged that man has always been ready to
listen to the voice OF the eharmer, and
has even learned to rival woman In the
dexterous use of the long-bow. But in
the East, whence all our civilization
comes, the most famous story tellers have
always been women; and the earliest re-
collections Of novel reading with most
of us 90 back TO the beautiful Schehe-
razadc and her dear, delightful Thousand
and One Nights. Against the perusal of
that irresistible classic, parental authOri-
ty las often been in vain. Surreptitious
copies have been smnggled into the most
pious of households and read by stealth
in garrets and haymOws; for the prOpen-
sity is uncOnquerable, and bids defiance
to scourgings. 1t seems to be a necessi-
IS of human nature, and those men and
women who have been raised with as to-
tai an abstinence as is possible from all
fictitious food, do not furnish us with the
most admirable specimens of our race.
Yet the stern ZealOts who would frOwn
even at Esop's Fables, and would per-
sist in allowing their children nothing
lighter to read than the catechism, BaX-
ter's Saints Rest and Scott's Commenta-
ries, are not farther wrong than those
weak-minded but well-meaning goodies
who would substitute for the classic tales
that never fail to elevate and to please
the sickly, sentimental stories that abound
In the Sunday School libraries, in which
the morbid and precocious children, who
figure us heroes, discourse unnatural re-
ligion and die young. There can be no
safer course in providing reading for
children than to see that they have in
connection with whatever soldid mental
food is forced upon them at least fair
supply of that lighter literature peculiar
ly adapted to the ideal world of child
hood, the Arabian Nights, the old Fairy
Tales and Robinson Crusoe. And after
these comes the Introduction into the
wonderful world of romance. Here the
eager youth needs a guide. Alas for him
If the turgid stories of the New York
Ledger or the cheap attractions of the
dime novel beguile him at this period of
into swamps of literature. He may flOun-
der about among the inanities and absur-
dities of Oliver Optic or Mayne Reid, and
reach even lower depths. But, with an
experienced and judicious friend to point
out those novels of Sir Walter Scott in
which the action of the story begins soon
enough to arouse interest from the first,
and then show him the other noble land
marks of fiction, his judgment and taste
will soon be cultivated, and, with lofty
standard in his own mind, he may be
safely left to find his way alone.
No parent need regret that his child
does not manifest fondness for what is
called solid reading. Most of 1t is dull
and intolerable, unless read for some spe-
eial purpose. But bits of history may be
profitably made TO assimilate with a
child's understanding, by watching its
reading, and lead the child to compare
the characters of his books as presented
by the mere story-teller with those given
by the historian, an exercise full of pro-
fit and in which the child may easily be
made to become interested. And here is
where the aid of a well conducted library
is of incaleulable service. The librarian
Oh luf DOclOn unliC ~
his readers monthly bulletins giving
hints for courses of reading upon pass
ing events for example, the recurring
centennial gives occasion for pointing out
where accurate and full information con-
corning them may be had; and the publ
cation of Tennyson's Queen Mary, foi
references TO the various authorities
among the historians as to her career
Thus living and appreciative use of the
library is secured and its benefits are
widely felt.
But some novel reading is essential
Not to know Colonel Thomas Newcomb'
is worse than to be ignorant of AleXan
der the Great or Napoleon Bonaparte
and the story of Robinson Crusoe is quite
as edifying as the life of Christopher Col
umbus.
In fact, one might hesitate if, leaving
out the Bible, he were compelled to choose
between his historical and fictitious
friends. Athos, Porthos, Aramis, DAT
tagnan, we could better spare better men.
Why nearly all of Bartlett's Familiar
Quotations Is made mp of the noble, point
ed, and witty words of those who never
drew breath. What a hecatomb of real
heroes we would sacrifice with Shakes
peare; and yet again how many of fan
cy's heroes would it take to counterbal-
ance the soldid worth of Washington.
The truth is we can spare neither side
The one helps to create the other, and ac
ton and reaction result in constantly
perfeeting the hero and in constantly ell
evating the ideal.-Courier-Jo