Fair play., 1875-12-16
Cheap Reading for Juveniles.

flow from the perusal of trashy novels
of the yellow-colOred stripe have been
the theme of much moralizing, especi-
ally after some escapade on the part Of
a youthful admirer of such heroes as
Rattlesnake Jim, " Sleepy sam" and
L" Big Jack, the Ranger" has called at
tention to the subject. Every few days
we hear of adventurous boys, fired with
an ambition to win renOwn rs an In
jun-slayer," and perhaps have their
deeds chronicled in the pages of a"Dime
Novel;" leaving their homes to 60 they
really know not whittier, except that it
is somewhere in search of danger, and
this while they have no conception of
what it is to be in harms way. A night
or two from home and from the care of
their natural protectors is generally
sufficient to appease, temporarily, ju-
venile longing for thrilling encounters
and hair-breadth escapes. The seeds
that have found lodgment in the youth
full brain, however, are not killed by this
experience. They germinate, and from
them grow vicious propensities and
habits. The character of the reading
which is engaged in in youth has a
mighty influence in molding the char
acter. 1t is about as reasonable to ex-
pect that the boy who has gorged his
mind with unnatural stories of impOssi-
BILE beings, written in a sensational,
highly-colored style, and usually in exc
cradle English, has received a good pre-
parat;on for the ordinary pursuits of
life, as it would be to expect him to grow
up physically strong, hardy and vigor-
Gus on the most unwhOlesome food.
1t is natural that in childhood, with
its vivid imaginations, there should be
delight taken in tales of the marvellous
and in highly wrought pictures. If there
were not this natural craving, the trash
which is condemned by maturer minds
would not be marketable. Children
who can read will have reading matter,
and, as they cannot command the means
to purchase works which are recog-
nized as standard and healthful, they
save their pennies for the purpose of
procuring such rs they can get for Il
trifle. 1t is but very recently that the
necessity of providing the youth with
good, wholesome and cheap reading has
been appreciated in any thing like de-
served measure. The .' Dime Novels
took possession of the field first, and it
is hard matter to dislodge them from
their position.
Parents often deplore the passion
which their children have for reading
works-if we may dignity the trash by
that name-which do not have the least
beneficial tendency, but which, on the
contrary, are exceedingly mischievous in
their influences. 1t has never struck
many Of these, perhaps, that they, and
not the children, are really to blame.
1t is part of their parental duty to sup
ply, as far as they are able, the mental
cravings of their sons and daughters,
just as much as it is to provide them
with bodily comforts. If they devoted !
proper attention to the mental training
of their offspring, there would not be
such a demand for the cheap, worthless
literature which now finds such ready |
sale. If there were, It would indicate that |
the youthful mind prefers what is unques-
tionsbly bad to that which is good-a
proposition to which We by no means as !
sent. If parents would consider the |
benefits which are sure to follow from !
judicious reading on the part of the ris- ,
Ing generation, we are sure that they |
would pay far more attention to the :
matter than they do. 1t tends to make
home pleasant, to bind the family cir
Gle together, and to repress the inclina-
ton so often manifested to leave home |
at the first opportunity. The long win |
ter evenings are coming on, and all par
ents who can should exert themselves |
to provide their children with suitable |
material for recreation.
In this connection there is something |
well worth the attention of firms en-
gagged in the book-publishing business.
There is at present, thanks to the indie
fatigable labors of many we'll known !
writer's, no lack of books of character !
which will both please and instruct the !
youth, while in magazine literature the
interests of the boys and girls are well !
looked after. But the books are gener-
ally too high-priced-a fact which pre-
vents their attaining the sale which they !