Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1881 — Pernicious Reading. [ARTICLE]

Pernicious Reading.

Indianapolis Herald. It is not always so, but as a general thing, young people are allowed to select their own reading, the parents apparently exercising very little jurisdiction over the subject which should engage their attention. If the boy wants to read the imaginary piratical adventures of John Hardscrabble, he is permitted to do so without protest. If the girls want to read some romance, flavored to the full with lewdness aud crime, it is permitted her to do so. If objection in either case is made, it is based, not upon the character of the book, but upon the pitiful plea that it takes up “too much time.” Parents are often too ignorant themselves of the real character of the book which their children should be permitted to read. Here is where a vast amount of evil reading creepsjn—through the-care-lessness and ignorance of the parents. They have not taken the trouble, in the rush of other work of the world, to acquaint themselves with she literature of the day. Children, boys and girls, will fead. That may as well be admitted. It cap not be prevented. . If they cannot have the reading openly, they will have it clandestinely. They will read. Since that is an inevitable fact, the only thing left for parents to do is to control the quality of the reading. This it is their right and duty to do, and they can not neglect it and hold themselves guiltless of properly caring for the trusts which come to them. Happily it is not a duty beyond their reach, if they see it aright. Perhaps no factor, except example, so nearly determines the moral standing of a boy and girl, as the reading they do. j( Parents can place the reading they wish in the way of the children. If any sense is exercised ‘in selecting books and papers by parents, there will be no trouble about children reading, and reading too, that which is wholesome. Let children have the adventure, the travels, the novel and the romance. It is all food their young and growing minds. Give these to them, but see that it is neither of the vicious order, nor the weakly, sickly, sentimental, nambypamby stuff formerly found in Sunday-school libraries, but sound, healthy and lively..