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It is such considerations as these that seem to call on both the writers and readers of works of imagination, to pause and look about for the landmarks. And it is by these considerations that the writer, in aiding to add another volume to this kind of literature, has felt called upon to present some of her own views on this subject.

What, then, is to be done? Shall persons professing to be regulated by religious principle, attempt to revert to former strictness, and banish all novel-reading as a sinful practice, at all times to be shunned?

But

In reply to this, it may be remarked, that this mode of remedying the difficulty is utterly impracticable. For, in the first place, there is no foundation for drawing any line of exclusion. A novel-what is it? Is it merely the highly-wrought tale contained in two volumes, and called a novel? what are many of the highly-wrought tales in our juvenile libraries but little novels for children? And what are the highly-wrought love-stories in Mrs. Sherwood's Lady of the Manor, which figure in our Sunday schools, and are conned over by the children of min

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ister and people, and often in the hours of sanctuary service, but a collection of little novels, with a bit of the catechism at the beginning, and a prayer at the end of each? There is no possibility, then, of making rules to exclude novels, because there is no mode of deciding what a novel is. The question, therefore, is much more general; for we are led to inquire, by what methods are we to regulate and properly restrain the reading of works of imagination? In determining this, we cannot assume that all "fictitious narratives" shall be excluded, for this would shut out, not only much of the most profitable religious reading, but even the parables and allegories of Scripture.

In meeting the matter fairly, it is to be conceded that there are many advantages to be gained by reading works of this class, if properly selected. The imagination and taste are gifts of God, which are to be cultivated and developed, and their proper exercise is conducive to the health both of body and mind. Now that the laws of our physical nature are beginning to be better understood, it is extensively conceded that i

is not only right, but that it is a duty, at certain intervals, to release the intellect and feelings from care and effort, and devote a certain portion of time to mere recreation and amusement. And the most elevating and refining of all amusements is the exercise of the imagination in contemplating the pictures drawn by the sculptor, painter, poet, and novelist. These amusements, if properly regulated, have a tendency to improve the manners by an acquaintance with the refinements of polished society, to increase a knowledge of the world by vivid pictures of men and things, to cultivate the taste by exhibitions of the beautiful, correct, and pure, to elevate the sentiments, to expand the generous and benevolent sympathies, and to cherish religious principles and pious aspirations. For never do self-denying virtue and heaven-born piety appear more interesting and inviting than when appropriately portrayed in works of imagination. But every good has its attendant dangers, and, ordinarily, the greater the blessing, the greater are the evils involved in its perversion.

Works of imagination might be made the most powerful of all human agencies in promoting virtue and religion; and yet, through perversion, they are often the channel for conveying the most widespread and pernicious poisons. And the most dangerous part of these evils is their insidious and unmarked operation. The havoc they often make in tastes, feelings, habits, and princi ples, is ordinarily as silent and unnoticed as the invisible miasma, whose presence is never realized until pale cheeks and decay. ing forms tell of its fatal power.'

The lassitude of spirits and vis inertiæ of intellect that often result from over-excitement of the imagination-the distaste for solid mental nutriment thus inducedthe waste of time and energies-the false and mawkish taste--the wrong views of life and its trials, awakening hopes and wishes that can end only in disappointment and disgust-the false estimate of character, induced by adorning with the charms of fancy heroes and heroines destitute of the grand qualifications alike indispensable to our present and our eternal well-being-the

false standard of right and wrong present. ed-and still more fatal and insidious, those dangerous pictures, that tempt the imagination to guilty indulgences, destructive alike to health, character, and virtue: all these evils come unawares upon the young and unwary, while no guardian is near to save from the evil, or spread the alarm to the yet unharmed.

What, then, should be attempted by those who feel, or fear these evil tendencies, in order to stay the contaminating influence now pervading our intellectual and moral atmosphere?

The writer may at least suggest what could be done.

In the first place, parents might be as watchful for the safety of their children in regard to the slow poisons that corrupt the taste, and principle, and feelings, as they are to save from poisonous food. The practicability of this the writer has seen exemplified in families, where the mother keeps a careful inspection of all books, newspapers, and magazines that enter the house, and where the rule of the family is, that no book

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