The age-herald., 1902-03-09
BOOKS

Several years ago there was a little book published in this country under the title of -Four Years of Novel Reading. It Is the record of an experiment made by reading circle In Northumberland
 County, England and Is suggestive and interesting in many points.
 The reading circle was formed during course of university extension lectures
 delivered in 1890 and was called the Classical Novel-Reading Union." During the course of lectures 1t was discovered
 that a great many people read fiction, but not fiction of the best class. And consequently upon the arousing of a deep and intelligent interest in literature 1t
 was proposed to form a society, the pur-
 pose of which should be the study of
 classical fiction. The principle and pur- ] pose of the society were embodied in circular which read:
 "Principle-Lit erature Is the science of life and the great classical novels are among the best textbooks of life. To study these is the true antidote to trashy and poisonous fiction.
 "Purpose-The purpose of the union is to encourage a course of systematic novel reading; Q at he rate of novel month; CD to be taken up by ordinary readers and students. the former reading and talking about the novels, the latter meeting to discuss. and to work"
 The plan of operation was also ex- plained and in a few weeks time the circle was complete and the work began. At first a list of six novelists was drawn up-Dickens, Thackeray, Scott, Kingley, Lytton and George Eliot. Later there were added Victor Hugo, Charles Reade, George Meredith, Mrs. Gaskell, Eugene Sue, Charlotte Broute and others
 At first thought it may appear that an organization of a reading circle for the avowed purpose of studying novels l is somewhat flippant and not possessed of the dignity which we generally devote | to literary study Time has been when novel reading was accounted by many i to be sinful. and even now 1t is looked 1 upon as a worldly and frivolous thing. | While school girls are no longer sent to | bed for the offense of being caught with
 a novel as in the old days, there is never l theless a sentiment prevalent which
 would recommend to the youthful reader literature based on fact if she would
 make the best use of her time. Professor Richard G. Moulton, who contributed the introduction to the book, takes an en-
 tirely different position and says: 'If my young friend be strengthened in leis- ure and opportunity, would counsel him to leave to more fortunate persons the literature that limits itself by fact, and make the best of his time by going straight to the worlds great fiction" It will readily be seen that in the discussion of novel reading only the great authors and their classical works are advocated. By no means is the youthful reader ad- vised to devote all his reading time to the innumerable light and carelessly writ ten fiction of the present day.
 Too often novels are hurriedly read, only for the diversion and amusement found in an exciting plot. In the intro duction Professor Moulton says on this point: What betting and euchre are to the mems club, that novels are to the ladies boudoir. The pleasure of gam bling lies in an intoxicating prolongation of uncertainty in a matter where there Is interest without the power of control So what gets the typical novel read Is the long drawn out uncertainty whether Clarissa is to be married or buried in the last chapter, with delicious off-chance Qf MT. Hardy be the novelst) that she may even come to be hanged" Then again he says that good deal of novel, reading is literary gossip and literary fashion. Just as in dress or house ar-. rangement many people buy things, not because they like them, but mainly be- cause they are the fashion, so they will blush to confess that they have not read "Dodo," while feeling no discomfort at not having read Dante.'