Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-26
Injurious Reading,

| Nv no I" aiilusonenl puDl1Sned Onl Y
very 1eW years since were comparatively
few in number. They were less exciting,
and therefore less attractive; they were
dearer, and therefore less accessible; and
not being published periodically, they did
not occupy the mind for so long time,
nor keep alive so constant IN expectation ;
nor by thus dwelling upon the mind, and
dlstllllng themselves into it, as it were,
drop by drop, did they possess it so large
ly, coloring even, in many instances, its
very language, and atfordng frequent
matter for conversation.
The evil of all these circumstances is
actually enormous. The mass Of human
minds, and much more of the minds of
Young persons, have no great appetite for
intellectual exercises; but they have some
which by careful treatment NAV be
strengthened and increased But here to
this weak and delicate appetite is present
ed an abundance of the most stimulating
and least nourshing food possible. 1t
snatches it greedily, and is not only salts
ned, but actually conceives distaste for
any thing simpler and more wholesome.
mat curiosity which is wisely given US to
lead us on to knowledge, finds its full
qualification in the details of an exciting
ana protracted story, and then lies down.
as II were, gorged, and goes to sleep
Other faculties claim their turn, and have
1t. We know that in youth the healthy
body and lively spirits require exercise.
and in this they may and ought to be in.
dulged; but the time and interest which
remain over when the body has had its
enjoyment and the mind desires its share.
this has been already wasted and exhaust.
ed upon things utterly Improbable: 80 that
the mind goes to its work hurriedly and
anguidly, and feels it to be no more than
burden. The mere lessons NAV be learn.
ed from sense of duty; but that freshness
OF power which. in young persons of abil
lty, would fasten eagerly upon some one
portion or other OF the wide field of know
ledge, and there expatate, drinking in
health and strength TO the mind, as surely
rs the natural exercise of the body gives
to 1t bodily vigor-hat is tired premature
ly, perverted, and corrupted; and all the
knowledge which else it might so covet, it
now seems wearying effort to attain.
Great and grievous as is the evil, it is
peculiarly hard to find the remedy for it
If the books to which have been allud.
ing were books of downright wckedness
we might destroy them wherever we found
them; we might forbid their open circula-
ton; we might conjure you to shun them
as you would any other clear sin, whether
OF word or deed. But they are not wicked
BOOKS, tor the most part; they are of that
class which cannot be actually prohibited;
nor can it be pretended that there is A sin
in reading them. They are not the more
wicked for being published 20 cheap. and
at regular intervals; but yet these two
circumstances make them so peculiarly in.
furious.
All that can be done is to point out the
evil; that 1t is real and serious | am very
sure, and its effects are most deporable on
the minds of the fairest promise; but the
remedy for it rests with yourselves, or
rather with each of you individually.
That an unnatural and constant excite
ment OF the mind is most injurious, there
Is no doubt; that excitement involves con-
sequent weakness, is law of our nature.
than which none is surer; that the weak
ness of mind thus produced is and must
be adverse to quiet study and thought. to
that reflection which alone is wisdom is
also clear in ITSELF and proved too largely
by experience. And that without refec. |
tion there can be no spiritual understand.
ing-that is, without knowledge and
study of Gods Will-there can be no
spiritual life.
And, therefore. childishness and IN.
thoughtfulness cannot be light evils; and
if ! have rightly traced the prevalence of
these defects to its cause, although that
cause may seem to some to be trif1ino.
yet surely it is we'll to call your attention
to it, and to remind you that in reading
works of amusement, as in every other
lawful pleasure, there is, and must be. an
abiding responsibility in the sight of God
that, like other lawful pleasures, we must
beware of excess in it; and not only so,
but if we find it hurtful to us, either be.
cause we have used it too freely in times
past, or because our nature is too weak tn
,ear it. that then we are bound most sol.
'mnly to abstain from it; because, how
'ver lawful in ITSELF or to others who can
practice il without hinderance in the wsv
II our intellectual and moral improve.
nent, that Is in our case positive sin ,
Thomas ArHold, D. D., "Ragby School" ,