The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-05-08
THE PLACE OF FICTION IN READING.

It is both commendable and beneficial
that serious literature is finding larger
place in the output of the publishing
houses. While fiction still comprises the
bulk of the product of the presses, SO far
as volume is concerned, the taste OF the
average reader shows marked drift toward
books that are informative, rather than to-
ward those that are merely entertaining
This fact, however, is by no means an
indication that good fiction has not as
strong a hold upon readers of the present
time as it had upon those of previous
generation. It merely shows that nom
fiction books are receiving an attention
which some years ago they did not draw,
and that those who to-day delight IN good
novels are concerned as we'll to read books
which do not depend for their interest upon
plots that are the product of the magma
ton.
There is, of course, fiction and fiction.
Many of the novels which make their ap-
pearance from year to year are absolutely
valueless. Some of them, by dwelling at
undue length upon morbid topics, are un-
wholesome. Others, of the traditional
"dme-novel variety, are harmful in
different but in an equal way. But there
are many books which are simply harm
less pleasantly, and the brain of many an
overworked man is cleared and refreshed
by their simple fooling. The net result is
that good fiction is healthful reading; bad
fiction is poison to the soul.
Even as purveyors of information novels
often have direct value that no dry en-
cyclopedia is likely to supply. Ask the
everyday individual for some Of the details
of the battle of Crecy, and his knowledge
of it probably will be limited to the fact
that there was tremendous struggle and
that the French were worsted in it. But
ifhe had read Rider Haggard's ''Red Eye, >
in which the fight at Crecy is splendidly
told, his memory of it would be fresh and
vivid. Of the Battle of Waterloo, too
where is so graphic an account to be founc
of one of it's principal turning points as in
Hugo's ''Les Miserables''?
If a person read nothing but flimsy novels
it must be conceded, of course, that his
novel reading is useless to him-that i
even is injurious. But if he read the works
of the great novelists he acquires an in
sight into the underlying motives of human
nature and an intimate interest in the grea
figures in history, at the same time that hi
is being entertained and his mind diverted
IIOlll lIlC VI az tuohOeohy VI aAo OoAAJ AAAS
OF all the pleasures which the hard
working man or the tired woman can enjoy
after the daily toll or during its intervals
there is nothing that can compare with al
entertaining story. 1t calls for no bodil!
exertion, it relieves the home of its same
ness, it transports the reader to livelier
more diversified, a more interesting scene
and if one has troubles and vexations,
causes him to forget the present in the in
terest which he takes in the new charac
tiers, the new problems, the new thought
with which he becomes surrounded. Un
less, too, the novel be of the lightest charac
ter it gives him for the next day somethin!
to think of besides the mere mechanical
drudgery of his bread winning occupa
ton.
Rightly selected, the works of fctiol
may not only be good companions, bu
educative as we'll. And there are few per
sons in this age who cannot afford to enjo
of the best that is written. By leading t
knowledge and to the serious study of his
tory and science wholesome fiction has a
Importance in the education of the worl
that too frequently is underestimate.