The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1876-09-06

ing praises on THIS all ABSORBING themej ana
there seemed to be no deliverance from the
enchanted thralldom into which the literary
world had been thrown, until Cervantes made
his appearance with his hero Don Quixotte,
and his Squire Sancho Panza. Many of
you, my hearers, have read this work and
have laughed over the ridiculous situations in
to which these characters are made to appear.
Such indeed was the effect of this popular ex-
4 trayaganza, that from the date of its appear
ance tho downfall of Knight Errantry litera-
ture may be dated. And this work-fiction
as it is-will outlive the knowledge of the
cause of its appearance.
Then came a period Of what may appro-
priately be called sentimental literature, with
all its sickening sentimentalism. This
species of novel writing held almost undisput-
ed sway over the romance realing community
| for great number of years, and comes down
to onr times with tremendous force and
shapes and fashions our present social system
to very great extent, and will continue
to do SO, so long as the human heart responds
to tender expressions Of love and esteem.
Who has not felt its influence as the artist
with master hand, describes scenes and
pictures incidents which call into action one
of the hottest feelings of the human heart?
Which of you, my friends, in your youthful
days, when highly wrought love story has
accidentally fallen into your hands, have not,
as you have perused the narrative, become
more and more absorbed, until the day has
merged into night, and the night has again
turned into day, yet with unslumbering eye
lids you have read on, and on, with bated
breath, until the final passage in your book
has been reached, and with q shock you come
back into the material world and reflect that
it is not real.
And this species Of literature has reached
another important element in our natures
mean the religious element. 1t has found its
way into the Sunday-school library, and is
parcelled out to our children in weekly Install
ments, assisting in the formation of the i'm
pressble characters of our tender offspring
Can an element as powerful as l have at
tempted to portray be employed with impun-
ity? Its influence for good or evil is great
1t is therefore The province of prudent men
and women to guard against the undue en-
ployment of this artificial stimulus in mental
food, as much as it is to be careful in the use
of unusual or hurtful intoxcants of the
more common kind.
There is yet another species of literature
which for a moment may claim our attention
in this competition. 1t is that which strives
to right national wrong, by making up a
fancicd or fictitious issue. There are many
works of this character which might be men,
toned. But one will suffice. allude to book
called "Uncle Toms CABIN written by
Harriet Beecher Stowe. Not many years
have passed since q portion OF our country
was under the iron heel Of a system of chattel
slavery. 1t was about the year 1850 that this
book appeared. The whole country was
thrown into such state of excitement as it
had never known before. 1t was book made
up OF incidents which had occurred amongst
those who were held as slaves. These facts
and circumstances were woven into a contin-
uous narrative, and related as if all the occur
FENCES had taken place in, or affected single
family and its connections. 1t is beyond the
power of human ken to estimate the influence
through bloody war tie emancipation of
four millions of slaves. 1t called forth the
anathemas Of the upholders of slavery, and
corresponding expression of approval OF its
opponents A panic seemed to have seized
the literary community and aUncle Tom y
literature was the only kind which could find
a ready market. The sentiment which was OPP
10
was inherent in the system, was depicted in
such glowing colors, that it created in the
public mind, such an opposition that, tho
whole system went down before the storm,
never to rise again trust, in any land where
the benign influence of the Christian religion
is felt.
The songs of people, are a part of their
literature. And no one doubts the influence
which they exert on the opinions and actions
of men. The advocates of religious instruc-
ton admit this. The men who wish to obtain
an object, either socially or politically, admit
it, and will succeed If they are so fortunate
as to obtain suitable songs adapted to their
purpose
And now with our lightning printing press
es, which throw off millions of pages Tor the
use of the reading community. / would ask,
is thel any improvement in the character of
our literary productions over former years p
| think there is a marked advance in many re-
spects Take our popular magazines for in
stance, you do not find them filed with ac-
counts # wars or with the history of war
riors, as thegswoud have been, to be popular,
in the classic age, to which have alluded
Neither are they filed With feats of knight
errantrs, OF descriptions of gorgeous pageants
of tournaments, and kindred subjects. Nor
are they entirely taken up with sickly senti-
mental stories, but it must be confessed there
is room for an improvement in this respect
But as we turn the pages of any of the more
popular magazines of the day, we find won
derful descriptions of portions both of the
new as well as of the old world and the mod
ern improvements in taking pictures and the
facility with which it is DONE has enabled the
publishers to illustrate them SO as to place be-
fore rs in form such nortone of or f,x.,,, conn