The National tribune., 1897-07-22
FROM THE EDITORS CHHIR.
els Novel Reading Beneficial?" the Sub
iect for Confederation.

sis Novel Reading Beneficial?" the Sub
ject for Confederation.
Is novel reading beneficial? This Is a sub
iect next in order in the series which has como
under the consideration of the Loyal Home
Workers. Yankee like. this question can be
best answered by asking another: Is the
drinking of water bene6cial?"
There is good water and bad water. water
flowing from the sources of living fountains
through clear and pebbly beds, or carefully
constructed artificial conveys; and there Is
water that comes from pools Of filth. stagnaDt
and impure, aud loaded with the germs OF
disease.
1t is the same with fctisn. There is one
class of novel reading as pure and wholesome
as any class Of literature, another purUlent and
corrupting. Some of the best morals that have
ever been impressed upon the mind of man
have been through the medium of the romance
and novel, and in like degree pernicious
effects have followed the reading OF the i'm
pure.
There was time when all kinds of novels
were classed together, and those who were care
full about the morals of their children expelled
from the family circles and the schools every
kind of reading that had not for its object the
direct inculcasion of morality and truth. THIS
was when the great wave of reformation was
sweeping over Europe, undermining the fonn-
datons of an artificial system that was siriy-
ing to cultivate the refining arts upon cor
rupt basis.
In order that better foundations might be
laid, clean sweep was necessary, and the stern
and rugged reformers made their work conf
piete, and books, art, music and architecture
went with the established orders. This mum
dation of the peoples wrath, in carrying away
the debris of the dissolute age, carried also
many an edible fruit that had been carefully
nurtured, many a rose upon the upland ana
lily beside the water brook.
The only books in the families of the sterling
reformers of Germany and Holland and Britain
aud the Puritan and Pilgrim colonies were the
Bib.e aud the expositions growing ont OF 1t. In
holding on to tho anchor Of their faith they
let many beautiful argosy slip by them.
Then came the renaissance or new birth.
Books that had stood the test Of the ages came
back to their stalls; the organ was returned
to the church loft; the rude "meetln'-house"
became a vast cathedral with chime OF bells
and spire to pierce the heavens. Architec-
ture became enthroneG in her marble temples,
with classic columns and friezes and spreading
domes and her landmarks, painting and sculp-
,nre, to light the altar fires.
There arc still those who hold that nation
which knows aud practices the fine arts is
already in its decsdence, and that the Almighty
Maker of men is angry with those who exer-
else the gifts with which they arc endowed,
outside of those which have simply ufili-
tartan purpose. They hold that the Second
Cesi nandment, "Thou shalt not make unto
thee any craven image, or any likeness of any
thing that is in the heavens above or that IS III
the earth ben cath or that is in the waters under
the earth should be taken as it stands. with
out any rega.d 10 the context, which forbids
the wershiping Of such objects There have
been orders of austere Christians who have
carried such views to the extent OF becoming
cave-iwelers, clothed in the skins of animals
and living OH roots and uncooked foods, in
order that they might give up their entire time
to prayer and contemplation.
But the best thought OF the world, after
weighing all the pros aud cons, concnrs in the
view that architecture. art, science, literature,
should 20 hand in hand. aud thai, except when
perverted from their high uses they are the
iiandnaidens OF the highest civilization. This
eryerson can come only through q neglect OF
that spin iinal development which alone leads
TO the highest form OF expression. ALI the
philosophers poets architects, sculptors,
painte re aud musicians who have reached any
high order OF excellence have realized that our
e. st care must he to draw our Inspiration from
divine sources
The author. whether he bs historian, essay
ist, poet or novelist, who drinks from such clear
fountains passes draught which shall be
for the healing of nations. Tnc writer who
supplies rOOu uCtOH IIcct5 ~ uCCu
reaches the heart and understanding of many
10 whom no other class Of literature appeals.
The author OF = Ben Hur" has made more
CHRIS; ans than all the pnlpi,s of the age, and
the novels Of Charles Dickens have incnlcated
u broader spirit OF humanity than all the moral
philosophers since the world began.
ANYTHING that helps Us to understand human
nature and develops our powers Of observation
is beneficial. Novel reading does this ii we
read intcliigenily and tioushtfuliy.
We Gni beautiful descriptions OF scenery in
the novel word-Pictures SO wildly impressed
upon our minds that We never can forget
them.
Anyone who has read TESS Of the D'Urber-
yiiles." by Thomas Hardy IA book for trained
readers only will never forget tho dairy on
the hiiitors, SO wildly and picturesquely de-
scribed, ar the bits of rugged scenery that lend
susi, charm to the book. Or what book of
history conll impress old Saxon England upon
us. as it was when the Norman took forcible
possession. as fOrcibly rs Walter Scotts IVAN
hoe" with its realistic pictures of Cedric and
his times The description Of the battle of
Waterloo in Victor IIugo's "I.es Mserables"
will remain with Us long u ter tho tiresome de-
tails of the battle fonnd in the average history
are forgotten.
The novel helps US to analyze people aud
-
com prehension of ourselves. Often in reading
the description OF II character in book we nre
made to see our own faults aud weaknesses in
the mirror that is held up to US and when We
once know what they tour fauits) are, we will
take pains to oyereame them.
What better books natural history were
ever written than Swiss Family Robinson"
and Charles kingey's Water Babies" and
what book did more to develop the youthful
imagination and invention than the Robinson
book? / remember how we used TO build
houses in the apple-trees after the fashion OF
the Robinson family, and what scope it gave to
our originality. So might go Oil indefinitely,
ansi still find untold reasons why novels arc
beneficial say let us read novels, but read
for = purpose. for mental development ard to
increase our understanding Of life aud human
nature.-Wallace Craig.
The reading of good novels is very bene fetal.
/ am only II, and have not read great hum
Der Of books AS yet. but already have noticed
the difference between the good and tho bad
novels ] have read. The novels | have read
have been, with the exception of one or TIVE,
good, and the more good ones / read tue moro
l hate ana dcspise the bad ones.
/ think that all the children when they
arrive ut the right age to understand books
well, should be made to inteligenty read an
equal number OF each kind-good and bad.
They will soon see the difference between them,
and it will not be long before they will be SO
sick OF tho bad ones that they will never want
to see one again. At least, that was my expert.
ence and / have talked with several people
who have felt tho same way and experienced
tt,a fno1tp vnfI - I'll.