Morris tribune., 1882-09-21


crushed humanity, and feed upon the
husks afforded by their fall.
Oh, how much care we should exercise |
in inviting these literary companions into
our homes, to tell to our boys and girls |
even, the news Of the day. | know OF
large newspapers of which | seriously
doubt the propriety of permitting to enter
the home of any christian family That
paper that will champion rum and Il fraud, |
is not fit paper to take into family of |
children. Newspapers which, under the
guise Of being ''newsy," gain large cir
culation upon the "manner" in which the |
news is written up. The quaint, odd, or
funny way in which criminals are hanged |
or punished, or the funny way in which !
some ones character is traduced, whose
publications are but list of crimes.
Christians should be careful in taking
these papers, that delight to hold up so
much crime before the eyes Of their
children.
Then, to, there is much skepticism car
ried into our homes by the press. The
sensual world clamor for greater liberality.
The press in answer to this demand, many
of them, become the cha npions of liberal
ity, and others, while they do not openly
avow this course, praise lberality and
liberal men. Thus the seeds Of intidelity,
I little by little, are sown, and live to bear
| fruit. A single country paper may keep
! whole community stepped II infldelity.
When we speak of fiction and romance,
or novels, the question may be asked: first,
| is it right to read them | answer yes.
| don't believe in giving all the good
things over into the hands of the devil
If cou id sing that grand old Methodist
hymn, Am | a Soldier of the Cross" to
Hail Columbia" or Dixie" and pro-
duce better effect than any thing else, l
would do so.
There is an element for good in the use
of fiction, and l believe in employing any
thing for the good of the world. Some Of
our greatest works have been works OF
fiction, such as Pilgrims Progress, Para
disc Lost, Pollock's Course of Time, and
many others are pure fiction. But we
must make distinction, for there is d s.
tinction, as great as day and night, be-
tween good and bad literature of this class.
One eXalts and refines, the other degrades
and causes dissatisfaction. This cheap,
trashy literature floating through the world
is bringing destruction in its wake. | re-.
member when l stood on the verge OF the
precipice o. this destruction; when rest
iesSneSs and Il longing seized my soul. L
was dissatisfied with my position and con-
dition. My humble home was too small
; for me. l longed to go out in the world,
and make II Zero of myself. don't won
der now, where the great army OF tramps
come from. | believe them to be heroes
graduated from the ''ten cent novels"
What shall We say of the sensational,
we may say obscene papers, lying every
where in our paths, firing the imagination
and poisoning the minds of the young
We would that with rum we could put
them into the eternal burning, never. never
more to trouble the earth, as pcstilence
that walketh abroad a. monday.
, But there is class of fictitious literature
= that exalts and benefits. 1t exalts true
man and womanhood with true virtue, ant
sometimes draws the soul nearer to it.
God. remember the first OF this kline
: that ever came TO my hand, it was "Johl
Halifax, Gentleman, it seemed to revolu-
tionize my whole life. | felt that herr
was champion of true manhood appeal
+ ing to me, and felt Oh! to he such Il man
= A lady of culture Informed me she ha(
been led from the low ground of doubt, Il
a living faith, by two books known a
novels. Through one of the same book
got one of my grandest conceptions o
, my holy office But we must not exal
this without limitation. A caution il
y needed; we can be incorporate in thi
matter, become book worms and be fit TO
| nothing else. Read only so much as vii
q relax the mind and rest it, and give it
vigorous start in other things. Do not liv
L to read novels.
Books and papers are our companions
We are to be known by the Company W
keep. "Birds of feather flock together.
If visit your homes may learn from tn
s books and periodicals upon the tables
what you are in a great measure. lear
your tastes. your likes and dislikes. l ma
. learn of you from the company you KEEP
y We Judge each other ON this stand poin,
This being true what must be the con
illusions reached in regard to large elias
of readers, whose literary selections wi
s not bear investigation. with credit to tn
}, reader. 1t spc oaks of them. telling of thei
:, nature, and the tendency of their minds
d The country is flooded with trash
4 papers. Almost everywhere they ar
: thrust upon us; those tint colored papers
the pictures of which border so close upo
q the obscene that it should bring blush
d every virtueus mans cheek am gla
!, there Els reform beginning in this matter
Texas, the "horsethief paradise" i
q former days, has declared by law, ths
n certain sporting and sensational paper
d shall not be sold in her borders. Texa
Il will yet lead some of our model and mors
states in reform.
u In conclusion, let me urge upon thes
r fathers and mothers, he careful of wha
your children read, and of what you rea
n yourselves; and may God save us all fror
! this great immoral pestilence abroad
s our land.
r CTATE OF MINNESOTA, COUNTY OF sTEI