The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1886-03-05
neadlng ror ,he Young.

There are few moro Important inilu-
ences in forming the character Of na-
ton than the quality of the books and
papers which are read Ny rs Young pco-
plc. II may be fairly said that the vol
untary reading which is done by lads
and girls between tho aml~ 81 twelve
and twenty doos as much 20 settle their
opinions and TASTES. and 10 decide the
bent ot their moral character. az what
they learn In school or what they hear
in church.
There never w;ts time in tAis coun-
try when there WIS - much and such
varied reading Tor the young constant
u pouring from tlf' press, as now. The
bookstores and Libraries present n be-
wildcring mass 81 volumes for young
people, on history travel, science, bio
gaphy, and siors-books; while Of maga-
Zines and weekly papers designed for
this class there IA an cverincruasing
number and every Imaginable grade OF
quality.
Much of the literature which Is thus
offered 10 our boys and girls Is either
foolish and useless, OF positively bad.
There are story-wiiters the tendency OF
whose books Is unhealthy. and even
dangerous. IN their influence upon tho
young mind
They are sensational and oyor-excii-
ing; they produce fevcrish braiRs and
harmful love Of excitement and advcn-
ture; they eonjupa up scenes of blood
shed sometimes. and make heroes and
heIoines OF their characters, not because
thcy DO good actions. hun because they
do sometime exciting, daring, and per-
haps criminal
The same may besaid Of the ellashn
papers which ara 10 be seen every week
displayed At many ncws-stands. Coarse
pictures. representing unnatural and
violent scenes. are accompanied by
highly wrought storiesthoplots ofwhicll
are devoted 70 keeping tho young read
cr's mind on a constant strain Of morbid
excitement,
The harm which such literature does
the young cannot bo easily described or
estimated. Certain II Is, however, that
the harm Is vcgg great and widespread.
We are constantly reading in the paper
Of boys who have broken tho laws. or
have committed some crime, who them
selves confess that they were prompted
to evil doing by the sensational books
and papers they had been reading.
On the other hand. there Is atthis time
n great abundance of good. healthy, in-
strtmtive and yet pleasant reading for
our young people. Within the past
twenty years, moreover q change. vast
Ii for the better, has AIKEN place In the
method OF writing for boys and girls.
The art Of such writing has yisibly inn
proved.
What we may call the .namby-
pambyH style Of writing for the young
has happily pretty much passed away.
The best and most successful writer's of
our time do not think IL necessary 10 ad-
dress boys and girls with sort Of fbaby-
talk such rs was once used They dis
tnanish between readers Of eight years
| old, and those of from fourteen To
twenty; distinction Which the former
writers for the Young sometimes for
got
The authors who stand highest IN
these days respect the budding mind,
which has begun to think and be Curl
OtfN, btii NttiNH iNAit9 VHAthtf uUutt~
stands what Is said in simple, clear.
straightforward way; and write in much
the Same style for such minds as If they
were writing 10 be read BY mlddle-agcd
| people.
The style IL mostly made up Of short
sentences. short words and short para
graphs. and IL thus lucid and easily
understood: and The writers do not 70
out Of their Way to treat young renders
rs IL they knew nothing az all, and were
incapable OF comprchending direct
statement or graphic description.
II Il the same with the best young
peoples story-books, histories, bioeraplt-
les and travels which arc published now
a-days. The father may read them
aloud IN bis family circle, with equal
pleasure 70 the mother and their child
ren; and all may receive equal profit
from their pcrusal. Yoaths Com
pdnion.