East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-12-22
CURRENT THINKING
NOVEL READING.

Indiscriminate novel reading is a
positive injury and danger to girls
When We advance this idea We are
met sometimes with astonishment oil
| indifference on the part OF our friends
whose girls are growing up. A few
reasons may be given for this manner
of meeting our remark. II may not
have dawned on these friends that
their girls are reading much that
comes within reach, and that girls
have the right to be protected from
harmful or trashy books and to have
good literature provided for them. II
may be that we are told that a girl
does not understand the evil in GER
tain novel. or 1t may be that the ex-
cuse is put forth that girls read every
thing in these days and II cannot be
helped. That excuse seems the most
futile that can be offered.
We must stop TO consider that a
young girl has the right to be helped
in her choice OF books. II has been
wisely said that the rights of no class
Of beings are defended until II has its
wrongs There is no doubt that a
girls rights in regard to what she
should read are not fully understood
or appreciated. 1t is a positive wrong
to let her spend her time on evanes-
cent literature and to be unfamiliar
with that which is lasting and worth
while. Between the ages OF sixteen
and eighteen her tastes are being
formed. Those who know the world
and life should guard her from injuri-
Gus novels as they would from harm
full friends. Novels which give false
impressions OF life will never help her
to learn the true dignity. grace and
charm OF a pure. strong womanhood.
1t would not be wise TO thwart her
in her reading or to veto some Of the
novels of the present day. Some of
these may give an insight into motives
characters and vital subjects which
may be Of value. A novel may help
which shows temptation. sin. folly
and their consequences in such way
that a girl will hate wickedness. base
ness and folly and Will be attracted
to all that is noble and good. But
the point is how to choose a work Of
that sort.
There are quantities Of senseless.
sensational novels. not necessarily OF
a vicious nature; but they destroy the
taste for good literature. Novels
which encourage false emotions, false
Sentiments, are sure to blunt the inn
agination. Problem novels, dealing
with all sorts OF deplorable conditions
of life. are most undesirable. An
intelligent girl, who is wishing to cul-
tivate the best things in life, will not
care for trash. A girl with fine in
stincts and a wholesome mind will
not be interested in morbid books
But she needs to find the way out
from confusion.
Parents themselves may not have a
taste for reading, nor any discrimina-
tion. They may have good principles.
average intellect and ordinary educa-
ton, but a limited acquaintance of
good literature. They read the new
novels with no other reason than be-
cause they may be the best sellers"
or just to be able TO say they have
read them.
Often they leave novels about which
had best not come into the house, and
then they are surprised to find their
young daughters reading them. Then
they say, helplessly. that girls read
all sorts of things now, and it is use
less to try to direct their reading
When We are met by this attitude Of
irresponsibility it is indeed desper-
ate task to reply; but the response
bility rests with parents when they
let girls drift along aimlessly in novel
reading. With a little care, or the ad-
vice Of someone known to have ex-
perience, cultivation and judgment, a
girl can be started in the right way.