The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-12-04
What Our Boys Read

by Rev. Chas B. Galloway.
we live in a reading age. Of max
ing many books there is no end Pc
rlodlcals and papers are multiplied by
thousands. Literature of all kinds has
been SO cheapened that the poorest
may buy and read. Never were read
ers SO numerous and eager as to-day.
The many thousand tons of newspapers
transported through the mails the past
year has never been appropriated in
history. This marvellous supply indi-
Gates the ever-increasing demand.
Steam-presses of almost infinite power
and speed have been invented that
millions of homes may learn the worlds
news before the morning meal. But
this Is by no means an unmixed good.
Alas much of our literature spreads
abroad the blight of moral death. By
Its poison boys have been made hood
lums and thugs that ought to have been
heroes andapostles. Bacons oft-quoted
saying that reading makes full man"
is true, but not necessarily "fulI' of
wholesome thoughts and teachings.
This indicates the duty of parental
watchfulness- What our bows reac
should be as much parents care and
prayer as the company they keep. To
guard boy against evil companions
and let him have unrestrained license
in the selection of his reading, is great
lack of discrimination and sad neglect
Of parental responsibility. Indeed Of
the two the latter may be far more po-
tential in the formation of character
A vicious book or impure periodical IN
the hands of child may work his ruin.
He becomes inoculated with its deadly
virus, and thereby suffers the loss of
every moral virtue and manly aspira-
ton The quality Of our mental food
determines the future man or woman.
Many boys have no higher ambition
than to be pirates and roughs. Their
imaginations are haunted with lurid
phantoms of sin and crime. The New
York Tribune some months ago gave
an account or two boys leaving their
homes in New jersey for the West to
kill bufalos and Indians, following a
passion excited by the long perusal of
''saffrOn-bound literature" | have nc
doubt but that the ''Pollce Gazette,
police News" and other such papers,
whose mission is to illustrate and EN-
blason crime, have defiled the purity Of
many young mind, and made them
libertines, gamblers, and criminals
One of the most distinguished statesman
in America was rescured from a pratt
cal life, inspired by reading the ''Pi
rates Own, Book" only by the affec
: tomato and earnest entreaties OF hi
mother. Parents must guide with al
eagle eye the reading Of their children
Furnish them with literature but lie
it be carefully and judiciously selected
A critical and excellent writer has wei
said, "The most useful part Of readin!
, is to know what not to read. "
. An interesting chapter might b
t written on the books that have shape
the destinies of men. Charles XII c
Sweden when a lad, read the life {
: Alexander the Great and said Il wi
$ be like him." Alexander himself foun
e his ideas in Homers Had, which b
: carried in his pocket by day and place
), under his pillow at night. Voltair
i when a boy, read an impure book whic
h made him an infdel Franklin attriI
e uted his success to the writings of Co
4 ton Mather. Loyola read the ''Liv'
= of the Saints" and himself caught tt
y spirit and zeal'of sainthood. Persui1
e ''The life and Writings of John Hus
e made Luther brave reformer. The
% and other curious facts Of history urs
l. us to carefulness and discriminate
:. in selecting what our boys should rea
< Books by the best authors and P
u pors of highest moral tone must be Il
u pabulum on which their young min
- feed and thrive.