Evening journal., 1892-12-12
WclOus READING

NlOlOOo hEADlNG.
We have no right, even il we had the
inclination, to dictate the books that
people should read. We think, of course.
that all patriotic and intelligent citizens
of Wilmington should read the EVENING
JOURNAL We make every effort by
giving them all the news to in
duce them to do that, for their own
sakes, and for the general advancement
Of the public interests, for which, in our
several and diverse ways, we are all
conscientiously contending.
Beyond that, it is neither wise nor
profitable for us to dictate if we were
able We can, however, comment on
other kinds Of reading, and give advice
about it. Advice is always cheap; it
may not profit anybody else; but, on the
other hand, it will not exhaust us. Hence,
what we shall say may be taken for what
il is worth, or rejected because il may
not be either agreeable or useful to those
for whom it is intended.
Our advice, stated simply, is read good
books and none but a good book. That,
OF course suggests the question: "What
are good booksgy
Their name is legion; the world is full
Of them; there is really no chance to go
astray.
Good books are those books which have
been written by earnest, intelligent. cul-
tivated, or wise persons, who knew what
they had TO say and said e. That broad
definition will exclude everything trivial,
pernicious, or vicious; it will include all
that is worth reading from the beginning
Of literature TO this issue of the
brightest and newsiest paper Wilmington
ever had
In referring to the evils Of the litera-
ture Of the present day, especially to the
romances and novels, Senior Valdes.
Spanish writer says:
The principal cause Of the decadence
Of literature is found, to my thinking, in
the vice which has been graphically
called eiiectism, or the itch for awaking
at all cost IN the reader vivid and violent
emotions, which shall do credit to the in
yention and originality Of the writer
lhis vice has its roots in human nature
itself, aud more particularly in that Of
lhe artist; he has always something
feminine Ia him, which tempts him to
eoquet with the reader and display
qualities that he thinks viii astonish
him. as women laugh for no reason, to
snow their teeth when they are white
aud small and even, or lift their dresses
20 sho' their feet when there is no mud
in the street. There are many persons
who suppose that the highest proof an
artist can give Of his fantasy is the in
vention Of complicated plot. spiced
with perils, surprises and suspeuses; and
that anything else Is the sign of poor
aud tepid imagination.
Those criticisms may be applied to the
reader and the writer with equal
condemnation and profit, II tie one
should not write sensational, trashy.
foolish, purposeless books. the other
should not read them.
Books should be written for a purpose
aud Il necessarily follows that purposeless
books should not be read. They are
harmful alike 10 writer and reader in
wasting time, II indeed they do not instll
vicious and deprayed tastes.
This does not apply particularly or
more Justly to light literature than to
heavy literature. Novels, poems, stories.
fables, fantasies even, sometimes do
more good than metaphysics, histories.
pailosophies OF than the sacred text itself
A feather is as useful as stone; Jest
is as vise as a sermon &c is better some
times, 70 laugh than to weep. Things
which may be perfectly right, in place
may be like explosive powder in fur.
mace, out Of place. Sermons are not
always Ga stones. The lily. which
trsmbles eoyly at our feet. gave one OF
the greatest Of al philosophers the
wisesi. most beautiful and most glorlo rs
lesson he ever taught
Nicholas Nickleby. overturned the
Infamous Yorkshire schools; Uncle
Toms Cabin. abolished slavery. ''Put
Yourself ia His Place, taught the
world as good a lesson as the Sermon on
ihe Mount "Rasselas. ''Picciola.
Children Of the Abbey" "Rab and His F.
Friends aud The Vicar Of Wakefield - {
have done their share in adding sweet.
ness and light 70 the life Of mankind not
iurpassed By anything serious, or sacred,
" 1lupid tiat wa evor wrfftGR.