Year: 1871

he Is any wiser or better by reading
about Kit Carson's last trail,' or the
Stone Gutter of Lisbon, or any of the
other heart thrilling" tales which ap-
pear in the Ledger Does it not reflect
at least shadow upon the American
people, that periodical like the Round
Table, paper devoted to the encourage
ment of sound criticism, to the develop
ments of the arts,in short to the interests
of American literature should be poorly
supported while the Ledger is read by
millions? Does it not look as though
our people prefer frivolous to sound
reading?


There is another grade of light litera-
ture. Frivolous, thrashy and often OBJ
scene. they are generally styled dime
novels unlike the Ledger they have
not the merit, of describing through ic-
ton, historical events, or the manners
ard custoEs of different nations. Some
of the better. class may aspire to do so.
but their descriptions are generally In
correct. By describing the life Of the
savage in glowing colors, they enkindle a
desire in their youthful readers, to live
the bold free life of an Indian on the
Western plains. 1 believe that there
are many persons. whose only knowledge
of the Indians, is derived from the yel-
low covered novel, see in poor Loo
everything to admire and nothing to con-
denim. But of all subjects which such
novellsts, and especially dime novelists,
delight to write about, none is so prolific
of heart thrilling" tales as crime. The
deeds Of great criminal are often taken
as the foundation of one Of these tales.
His crimes are described in glowing
colors, possibly with touch Of prudish
indignation, but in general they are held
up to the gaze of countless youths.


The effect Of this upon the mind of a
youth is often to awaken desire to en-
ulate the deeds Of the great criminal,
possibly to equal them, and perhaps, o
Immortality! to have his deeds recorded
in one of Beadle's dime novels to be
read and admired by future generations.


There is still a third class of light liter
ature. For examples of this kind, look
at the Police Gazette, Or the Days Do
ings, or the Neao York Clipper The
other kind represents crime as a good
way of, when, of course, distance lends
enchantment to the view, but this class
is not content to bring US close to crime,
but must drag forth vice and debouchery
from their foul depths to be exhibited
to the public gaze. They collect from the
haunts of vice all of their disgusting
particulars and scatter them broad east
over the land. These papers are sold by
nearly c, bookseller, taken perhaps into
quiet households, read by pure girls and
uncorrupted boys, giving them their first
ideas of crime and teaching them how
to sin.


These periodicals have a greater sale
than many, which do not publish such
things. 1t seems as though paper can
not sustain itself unless it bows the knee
to the vices Of the mob. 1t is not the
fault of the publishers but of the people
who buy them. When such papers as
the Police Gazette and La Crosse Demo-
crat are SO we'll supported as at present,
it shows depraved state of the public
mind. And this is the current literature
OF our country.


A few years ago when murder was
committed, people were horrlGed; oft
times the most intense excitement would
reign till the murderer was brought to
justice. But now we cannot read
newspaper without seeing an account Of
one or more murders. Within a few
years we have had several in our own
county, they are becoming SO common
that we pay no attention to them. We
listen to the tale, think it somewhat
strange and pass on; in few days it is
all over.


May we not hazard the suggestion
that this state of things is owing in
great measure to this bad literature, which
holds up great crimes to the gaze Of the
young, thereby slowly teaching them to
disregard the sacredness Of human life


Z. Fl. S.





LIBERTY. Feb. 23d 1871.