Observant persons have not failed to notice that there is a serious deterioration in the quality of literature so much in demand the past number of years. A few briefly stated facts may serve to substantiate as well as explain this statement.
In a leading daily newspaper of one of our large eastern cities, an editorial appeared lately from which the following is extracted, with a few words altered: “Yet no authors of the upper rank are left. No author’s writings today are worth intimate reading. Plays and novels win larger pay than they ever did in the past. The habit of reading good authors is dying out. Youth reads less than it did. Yet in life’s purest joys, those who cherish noble books, know there is naught better than the intimate and constant reading of the few greater authors.”
There is nothing perhaps, that will mold a man’s character in the noblest and best ways of life, like association with his fellowmen who exhibit the best virtues in their lives. The Christian will, of course, associate with those who are God’s. Next to this is the influence of literature, which will do more to character the young person in life than any other influence.
Thus according to our reading matter so will our thoughts be; and how careful the young Christian should be to choose only the noblest and best books, in order that his thoughts might be formed to the glory of God. We are all very careful in choosing friends to see that they are of the most worthy kind; and that their companionship will be for our mutual benefit. Should we not apply the same care to our choice of books? If we did, many that are unbecoming would be wisely laid aside.
Any person frequenting our many Libraries can readily see how eagerly youth takes to the lighter reading matter. “Card” records show the long list of readers the novels have, contrasted with the few records that show the more worthy books having been “out.” Almost invariably the larger crowd may be seen standing about the “Fiction shelves.” Perhaps for lack of parental restrictions, children are becoming alarmingly attracted more and more to this questionable class of books.
A few years ago the Canadian authorities made vain efforts to prevent the “American” Sunday newspaper from crossing the border on account of the bad influence of their “Comic” and “Magazine” sections. Their efforts were useless. The clamor of the people was for such reading. A sober-minded person can easily see that the Sunday newspaper’s influence is not for good in the homes where it is used. They are of the same general class as the ordinary novel. By this we do not mean that the newspaper is not very useful in its proper sphere. The monthly magazines that are an exceptionally worthy factor along educational lines, have of late years introduced an abundant supply of fiction; while the number of purely fictitious are increasing rapidly.
These observations, to some, may seem to savor of partiality. Some there are who cannot tolerate anything which differs with their individual creed; and they will, to a great extent, exclude all reading not upholding their particular ideas. Secular reading is good and necessary when kept in its proper place. Next to association with man and tuition, book reading is a splendid factor in supplying the mind with useful and necessary knowledge.
The writings spoken against in the foregoing paragraphs are not the so-called “dime novels.” They are usually downed by public sentiment and limited to a low class of readers. The writer has specially in view those writings that have no basis, or which are only works of the imaginative mind. When read they leave no lasting impressions upon the mind, except an exquisite sense of an airy nothingness. Written under the inspiration of imaginative minds, they readily appeal to the corresponding qualities in other persons, and are easily imposed upon the majority. They excite the sentimental qualities of the mind rather than the reasonable. The stronger qualities of the mind are not catered to, or cultivated by the ordinary fictitious work.
Whatever meritorious distinctions some of the fictitious works may have in delineating the social, political or historical times in which their scenes are set, all this is often obscured by that which can be condemned in the same volume.
At this point some will begin to make such inquiries as these: — “How can I know whether a book is good or bad before reading it?” or: “How am I to choose my reading matter?” While one cannot possibly choose subjects for another, yet general suggestions are appropriate; and many an elderly person can look with gratitude to the kindly advice given in youth. How many of us can recall the pious care with which our mothers would carefully choose our Sunday afternoon reading matter. How grateful we are now that the young mind was so trained.
To those who are well acquainted with books, the title will often convey an idea of the whole import of the contents of the book. Good authors are careful to select their titles accordingly. Then in all worthy books is the preface or introduction. This foreword is often as important as the text itself; and like a glow of light cast over the pages. In nearly all cases it gives a fair outline of what is found in the book. Again, while one cannot choose for another, it is best for young persons to give heed to the advice of elders and make use of their choice in reading matter.
Let us consider now for a moment a special class of fictitious writings, the so called “Religious novel.” Such works as “Quo Vadis,” “Ben Hur,” “The Dawn by Galilee,” “The White Christ” may be taken as fair examples of this class of books, whose popularity defies realization. All written by the more prominent novelists, and each title usually with the affix, “A tale of the Christ,” or some similar term.
And all who “live godly in Christ Jesus” will testify that the Scriptures declare:
“This world is in league with scorn and hate,
Tho’ clad in a garb of cultured state.
Conform to its ways, and smiles are thine,
But frowns are thy lot, should’st thou decline.”
The books so strongly protested against here are attractive because they pass as “religious” novels. They assume to do homage to the phraseology of religion: using Biblical subjects and characters to accomplish this end. Some of the most bold take upon them the liberty of using the character of the divine Person, our Lord and Saviour. It might well be said they degrade the Lord’s divine character down to a human level. The young Christian who lives “to serve the Lord Christ” will readily detect the ordinary light novel and shun it; but the deep subtlety of those clothed in a religious cloak are seldom found out until they commence their ruinous work upon the soul. When reading them, the lure and the charm carries the mind onward; while the soul is left hungering for its needed spiritual food.
Through their pages the “Old Serpent” uses his time-worn tactics to take away the sense of reverence due to the Lord.
(To be continued).