Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-05-27
EDITORIAL.

BOOKS FOR SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
THERE is perhaps wide diversity
of opinion as to the books which are
proper in Sunday School library.
A strict Sabbatarian would doubt
less eschew all with n novelistic
tendency one less strenuous in
opinion might countenance those
which inculcate religious truths ir
the form of a mild story, and the
ordinary individual with strong
religious tendencies would likely
admit the religious novel, while the
general moralist would allow the
historical, and full-fledged moral
novel. Years ago the dividing line
was quite sharply drawn by the
character of the books themselves.
There were then comparatively few
novels of what may now be termed
a semi-religious character. The
distinctive Sunday School book,
treated as Mark Twain has said,
of the good little boy who never
went fishing on Sunday, and if he
did was sure to be drowned and
have his funeral attended by lot
of little girls who wopt in calico
aprons yards too big for them. His
characteristic manner of beginning
an explanation was "Oh, SirH' and
he never lied TO his teacher when
he went to Sunday School with wet
hair and his shirt on wrong side in
front. Later authors modified the
character of the hero, expanded his
perceptions and perhaps somewhat
increased the elasticity of his con-
cience and he became a youth who
might occasionally stone n frog
or worry a cat, as "A safety valve to
his exuberant spirits or wicked ten
denotes. With this transition the
mildly religious novel, designed to
inculcate high truths, in which the
heroine who loved a hero who some
times swore "Great Scott" won
him back by gentle persnasions and
in the end married him to redeem
him from the error of his ways.
These books became popular and
took their place on the shelves of
the libraries without serious ques.
ton. Latterlv there have appeared
many books of the novel character
which aim to instil new religious
theories, reflect on the ORTHODOXY
beliefs, or endeavor by n Sensation
al presentation of quasi Christian
character, surrounded by stage set
tings to win their way TO popular
approval. The so-called historical
novel, which attempts with vivid
descriptions and realistic scenes to
portray the weakness and wicked
ness of humanity, which places the
sensuous and the sanity in allur-
ing contrast and depicts in fervid
language with brilliant surround
ings the sins of the heathen and suf-
fering of saints, Appeals to the pas
sions as we'll as the intellect for
universal recognition and fame.
The tastes of readers have been
cultivated by highly seasoned de-
lineations of character and gor
geous panoramas of scenery. The
world reads much to-day, but
whether it reads well and that
which creates deep and lasting i'm
preston ON the mind for what is
ennobling, and which stimulates to
the greatest degree the beautiful in
character and rounds out manhood
and maidenhood to the perfect form
of intellectual and moral develop.
ment, may be seriously doubted.
The young should be encouraged to
read, and taste for that which is
edifying cultivated, and to this end
great care must be exercised that
only such books as may tend to de
velop morality and implant in youth
full minds the germs of Christian
principles should be placed in theil
hands. Those who select Sunday
School books nowadays need wide
acquaintance with current litera-
ture and to give careful considera-
ton lest they fall into the depths OF
vacuity on the one side, or plunge
into the spume of unsanctifed rhe-
toric on the other.