Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-05-16
About Books and Reading.
BY J. WARREN NEWTON.

lElilC bAl SN''iNS'
ehanges wrought in the world by printed
looks. Manuscripts were possessed only
t,e the few whose wealth or learning gave
lis advantage.
Now, printed books are plenty and SO
oaeap that everyone can own, or, at least,
foad them. They are one of the greatest
blessings of our time, but are also means
ofgreat evil. Whether books shall do us
srm or good and how much good they
shall do us, depends mostly upon our hab-
W selecting and reading. We cannot
alWays obtain the best books, and perhaps
do hot realize the need of effort in this di-
setion. A library is looked upon as Il
Injury rather than u necessity, and people
morally read more for pleasure than prof
When we are tired, we read to get
ted when we want to be amused, for
auusement; while some read as men dig
hi gold, adding to their mental treasures.
OMNvoROUs READERS.
Many people take sort of pride in say
inathatth they have read everything. lthas to
soshe Il smatlering of erudition about it,
Ina they do read everything that comes in
thsir way, indiscriminately. 1t is easy to
account for such habit. When child
lIles reading, it reads whatever is at hand.
This liking often becomes ruling passion.
NOW, if parents would only guide this pas
sion for reading, supply the child or youth
with good books, and teach him to dis
cffFninate between books that are good
ana those that are worthless or worse,
thew would give what would be to them Il
iofInnc in after life. Suppose, however,
fhechild is left to choose for itself. 1t will
~ iust what you might expect, read every
3 thing it can get, (oXcepting dull, dry
books ;)dovouring travels, histories, stories,
lind all sorts Of reading matter, bounded
only by inability to obtain books or papers
Thus reading, instead Of being means of
cllturc information and simple pleasure,
heeOmcs mere dissipation Of course there
Nge degrees in this but many may be said
To aevour books, rather than read them.
The thirst is akin to that of the inveterate
thehtre gocr, or even worse Such read
ef may read good books, and with mem
org like that of Macaulay, he may profit by
them but this is u rare exception. Too
oltbn such readers pass over solid and use
faE books reading only sensational novels
aiGa the Ike. In fact the class Of common
novel readers is mostly made up of such
persons There is nothing in the lower
class of novels to think about when one is
iisne reading, and the omnvorous reader
seIiom stops to think. He hurries through
hIs book, neglecting work and cheating
naEure of sleep. When ii is finished he is
miserabe until he gets another.
EFFECT ON TIE MIND.
An eminent educator, CDR. Hart), says:
The greater part Of the fiction now pub
iished and read has no other object than
nere pleasure, and that Of II very low
nd. Novels of this sort have debas-
ing effect upon the public mild.
The reading of them is u mere mental
dlsipation, uniting the reader both for
fsading of more elevated kind, and for
the active duties of life. | give it, too, as
ng opinion, the result of long course of
reservation, in II profession peculiarly fit
ted for such purpose, that much and in
aiscrminate novel-reading has most dis
&sErous effect upon the memory. Indeed
an not sure that the facilitating effect
nfon the mental faculties is not n more
aefious evil even than its relaxing inhu-
eilee upon the conscience and tie moral
sehsibilites."
But these low novels are cheap and COM
mon, and 50 the young are led into this
uind-weakehing habit.
WHAT AND HOW SHALL READ?
First, have an aim in reading. Ask
qonrself, What do read for? Perhaps it
Is for pleasure, perhaps for information.
Itmay be for both. There may be cir
cumsanccs where it is best to read merely
fof pleasure. But there are books that
please and profit ut the same time, so one
may be instructed, while he is diverted.
Ask your pastor, Sunday School teacher,
af some other friend what books are best
sf you. Or suppose you select some sub
ect and read everything you can obtain
~hich bears upon it. For instance, it
light be well now to 'read up'' on Russia,
Xnrkey, Servia, &c. Have you ever rea
ae history Of your own state? Do you
Ehow just why it was that the Declaration
IN Independence was made? or why the
Ilgrim Fathers left England? These are
IN histories, but there are more that are
not, Take Abbott's Histories, for example
hey are charming, and will hold you like
E0mance. Then there are travels fascnat-
lag and instructive. Ifyou live on II farm
81 have garden you can find many de
llghtul works on these subjects. AS tC
lories, don't forget that there's danger.
ICED not enlarge further upon the evils oi
bading vile or sensational novels. They
&c no more like the healthy class of work;
Brtten by pure-minded authors, than low
nd vile songs are like pure and holy
Egmns of praise to God. There arc many
writers whose stories will not only inter
so, but also profit in many ways. For in
iance, DR.. Wise, Mrs II. B. Stowe, the
Hiss Warmers, George Macdonald, author
q The Schonbcrg Gotta Family" Emm'
leslie, are II few of the many
You may receive much good from read
lhg some Of the best stories, but if yol
ead every story which comes to hanC
Fithout discrimination, you will hardl,
El to get great harm.
A taste for poetry is u precious gift
The noble.t thoughts that have eve
Entered human minds have been enshrineC
b song. And too often, alas, has her fas
inalng power clothed sin in garments 0
eeming light, luring her votaries to de
p,,,.,r n,,rn, Cbo1Ia,, De-