Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-06-02
CHEAP LITERATURE.

HUMAN cnaracters, aiter all, are largely
moulded by the nature and extent of the
impressions made upon the mind of youth.
1t is proved from every page of literary his
tory that no work Of genius ever attained
TO great and lasting fame which was not of
a pure and elevating tendency, and if the
sin of genius devoting itself to works of an
opposite tendency is great, the punishment
is still greater, for it is that of ultimate OBJ
liyion.
1t has been said that writer's concep-
lions in romance are nothing but picture
of what has really passed through his
HEARTH this be true, it is painful to see
mind in many respects SO finely strung and
responding to some of the noblest feelings
and most touching emotions of our nature,
50 deeply tinged by the prevailing passions
and vices of the age as TO have lost all sense
OF their real character, and ready to repre-
sent them in works Of Imagination which
are ruinous TO the soul and mind. 1t can
not be denied that there is natural appe-
tite in mankind for scandal and pictures of
hidden profigacy, and whoever lifts the
veil, which so many are anxious TO push
under, is sure, for the time, to enjoy re-
munerative popularity, and hence the flood
of cheap and ruinous literature which is
sweeping over the land and has votaries at
almost every fireside.
This cheap and sensational literature
which has grown 10 be popular is the most
deleterious in the very heart of our moral
and social system. Its prevalence is truly
alarming. People of comparative refine
ment even, who have no leisure for solid
reading, too frequently attempt to ill an idle
moment by skimming over some sicky serial
of shoddy romance. The number who read
no other kind of literature is deporably
great Upon the mental faculties the effect
OF this unnatural literature is bad enough,
but II is upon the fresh and untutored
morals and uniformed aspirations of the
young that its deadly influence is to be
found. Painting in glowing language the
striking traits Of some daring villain, they
encourage them to follow his example, and
become themselves apologists OF robbery,
and the euogists of every crime This
quality in the pages of this cheap literature
is clearest and highest.
We make no war or assault on the moder-
ate use Of novels, wisely read they contain
much Information that we would not else
where seek, and they may sometimes act
restfully to the panied and tired senses, or
as laxative TO the tense and straining intel
lect that has grappled too long and closely
with the perplexing problems of the world.
But against the other and infinitely lower
class of literature we would wage relentless
and unceasing war
Unnatural excitement and sombre teach
ings breathe throughout their pages, and they
are like eprosy sores upon the body literary.
We denounce that literature that ISLANDERS
romance and hings pollution upon the fair
form oi sentiments literature which holds
upfoot.pads as heroes and prostitutes as he
roines-where gushing passion usurps the
place oi love, and where stained honor, Sc
duction and murderous crimes are embalmed
in the glamour of a splendid sentence, which
leads the mind of youth TO revel in ambi.
tions OF a base and degrading character. Let
such foul literature be gathered into heap
as high as the evil il has done and then
burnt, and then let its blackened ashes alone
remain hideous monument of the dark
morality il teaches.
Nothing ever fioated permanently down
the stream of time but what was buoyant
from its elevating tendency. The degrad-
ing. the licentious, the fetid, are for time
popular. and then forgotten. 1t has been
said OF SIR Waiter Scott that 30 pure were
bis writings. under the thatch of the cottage
As in the halls of the castle. that he never
wrote line which. on his death-5ed, he
could wish recalled. and hence the admira.
ton of his works to-day. 1lling the choicest
shelves Of the literature Of the world. Had
he prostituted his splendid talents in strk-
ing al the foundation of religion, or in pan.
dering 10 the morbid and licenticus taste of
the depraved current of humanity. be would
have been classed with that character of
authors whose writings would be remem,
bered as Of that character which acted as a |
stimulant to the senses aud passions of the |
profigate and licentious
What we want and need in this progress.
i've age is higL, pure and eevating charac.
ter OF literature literature where intel.
lect has reared its real standard-a litera-
ture uniform in lis intellectual and moral
pleasures, enriching the mind with noble
ideas and filling the soul with lofty con
ceptions.