UNHEALTHY WORKS OF FICTION. (From the Review.)

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 228, 25 October 1873, Page 2

UNHEALTHY WORKS OF FICTION. (From th e Review.)

The modern sensation, norcl is among the worst signs of ourcivilization. It' constitutes the only leading of a very considerable class of the community, and the modern institution., of the subscription library excellent mit is of itself and. adapted to the wants of the age, tends to increase the mischief. The bundle of books- that fills the-arm»-of the sentimental young lady of the fashionable watering-place, Midi occupies the back sent of the* carriage in the large town, is" by no means so innocent as it looks. In many cases it itcomposed entirely of novels — a class of reading which, when*, it constitutes the only literature* thab is used, is pregnant in< every case with an unhealthy influence, relaxing the vigour - of the reason find depraving the mental and moral appetite. For a novel, by its ve-y constitution, is*- directed to aniuiement not instruction, and Its scraps of philosophy or morality or religion, only serve to throw into contrast it* more piquantand exciting portions. Where instruction is intended, it' is still instruction through amusements W« hare no with to lnunch into a misanthropical tirade against all works of* fiction, with their authors and their readers* We are fully sensible that they arc not without their use. The 'overwrought and weary brain, too highly stimulated to makeactual repose possible, may find refreshment in" a- work offiction, and perhaps all the more from the contrast which the* scenes and characters of the fiction may present to the experi nces of the reader's daily life ; that is, from the practical unreality of the ideal world into which be passe* Weby no means'denounce all works of fiction ; we only, protest against their unhealthy tendencies wl»en they become theonly mental food that is taken, as we fear to be the o«se,. with thousands botli of fashionable men and young women.. The sated appetite palled with indulgence craves for fresh, indulgence yet more highly stimulating. It is just the same- | thing to the brain as a diet of sweetmeats would be to the stomach. Sweetmeats arc very ftcod in their place, and if they do fall occasionally beneath the sweeping prohibition' of the family physician, yet in their moderate use are not likely to do much harm ; but when thej are eaten to excess theI appetite for plain and wholesome food is destroyed, and thedigestive powers, cloyed with dainties, wear out, engendering in their decaying powers disease and death. Just such is the effect of a highly stimulating light literature on the mind, and heart, and conscience. It unfits the reader for anything higher and better, — indeed for anything else than periods of excitement, followed by periods of de> pression and ennui. The practical dutie* of life become tame and uninteresting. The whole habits are disorganized. The evU is the greater because of the feverish rapidity with which, the exoiting pages are perused. The more solid and instructiva portions, interspersed here and there, are skimmecrorer, and the sensational parts alone devoured. The object of the author may oe to commend virtue and condemn vice ; but the proportion of his design is perverted, and hit object frustrated by the dishonest mode in which his work is perused. Life is viewed through a false medium, and the plainest obligations of practical life neglected in the ideal luxury which enjoys the pleasure of a sentiment without the accompanying obligations uf ii duty. Such an habitual enjoyment oannot fail to demoralize the disposition and put the entire wholeframework of the character out of joint. But if such effects must necessarily follow when worts of fiction become the habitual and only food of the mind, the* results must be still more serious when the novels perused are not only enervating to the moral sense, but directly tubversive of purity nnd delicacy. Such, wo fear, is the c»«ewith a large proportion of modern productions, which, nevertheless, are admitted into the family circle without objection.. A certain bold license and freedom of handling hat been, adopted in regard to phases of life, which, however true tothe experience of a corrupt human nature, aro nevertheless, subversive of modesty of feeling and true nobility of sentiment. Women have led the way in this direction, and have been the greatest offenders. There ia an old classic adage,. " corruptio optima pestima" whioh receives illustration in this matter. There are cerUin subjects which had better not be discussed at all, and which cannot be discussed without rubbing away something of the instinctive delicacy of the mind, and destroying a certain, sensitiveness »t the approach of impuritj, which like the bloom upon the fruit, once destroyed, can never be renewed again. The open and coarse trentment, for we can use no other epithets, of such subject* has renewed in our day the substantial evils of the days of Swift, and Fielding, and Smollett. We admit that the mode of treatment is very different ; but in a more subtle, and therefore in a more dangerous form, we believe the effect to be the same. The object of Fielding »nd his school was to, commend virtue, and their works hod always a moral lesson in the reward of the good and the punishment of the evil, which is more than can be said of some modern works. But it was justly objected to them that in. warning against vice they pair ted vice in sucli vivid and attractive colours, that the concluding lesson of the whole tale was lost in the seductive fascination of the details. The provocation given tn passion was greater than the warning supplied to the conscience. Much the same accusation may be justly brought against the modern novel, as, for instance, agiimst the productions of George Eliot. Tale* or dramas which select as their principal characters persons of evil livus, and in which the interest turns upon their fortunes, appear to us to be peculiarly offensive to Christian, feeling, and nni-t he highhudis] having to Almighty -God. Such is the well known opera of L* Travitfn, and a reeenr novel of-M> Wilkie G>llii>», i ut fth d~ The New.Magdalen. Not only ViUat Mie^h'cnrin ent of treaty which 4ian£i sj^mputhy and iiit«i*«tr«Mii*tlie fovtunes j ol vico, eten it bo iepent ml. vic( — be ut' ) ieivi.nl y 1al»t) an&unhwiltby^b.uMt is liable to a jet gni\ir uecuwilion. Among the objections urged by the ancient Christian Father* against the drama

in heathen days tins «as prominent —that the act of deriving pleasure from (he replantation of things opposed to the Divine will, and condemned by the Diwne Jii-.uet 1, must be in the In ,! t ~t degree olli'iwic to fclic Judge of all The argument 1 us 10~, mm.- of it* force Mnce it was utged by Tertullinn. The -|>e< t.ul<> o| proles-ecily Christian men and women dcru.i q « n.ntvnient from I'm- experience of vice, oither in the diam i or Ihe novel, is on<> highly discreditable to their Christiunit\, aiul highly peiilou- to the moral-, ot our D" . o —j _^ _ —

Vitremanie is a pimvs- by which gliv> ol sill kmls nm he easily, durabl\, beautifully, nnd lnexpeiwu'l^ decor ited. Tlie designs, after being cineied with glucme, may be applied to the glass with water only, and the paper removed entire, a few minutes a iffic.ng for the operation, and nothing being left upon tho glass but the design in colours of unclouded brilliancy and transparency The materials (required are as follows -—tht pi liitod designs, three brushes —tuo of camel's hinr, nnd one of hog's hair —ft bottle each of glucinc and cnuincl varnish, a ioiler, a sponge, a little blotting paper, and a pair of scissors. Tlie instructions are very simple. With the camel lmir bi u»h juus a coating of glueine over tho col red f.iee of the designs t'lat are proposed to be used, care being taken tint the glucine does not touch the plain side of the paper The sheets of the designs should be laid flat to dry ; tUo\ should be left two or three dajs before being mad, and \h&j wdl remain good for two or three montl s or even longer. To apply the design to glass, it should be wetted with water on both sides; the glass should also be wetted. La t \ tho design on to the glass, and roll well down —.ill air bubbles will be easily removed by theso means —keep tho plain sido of tho paper wet lor a few minutes, then, with the point of a knife, carefu'ly ruise a corner of tho paper, and pull it gently olf. The work is now to bo washed with a camel-hair brush and water, and afterwards dried b\ placing a piece of blotting paper oier the work and rolling it; le.ue it now for a fow hours, then coat it with enamel Yarm»h, and thu work is finished. In removing the paper it is sometimes better, particularly when the design is large, to carefully scratch a hole in the paper, and tear it off m pieces from the centre. The work is more easily performed on free glass, cut to the proper sizes, and afterwards fixed over tho glass already in tho window; it may, liowerer, bo done on the window ns it uuls. Uio designs may be arranged to fit any « .'< ii>« ,-tn --.of lead foil, applied with gum, being used lor iii«> i>h,)mj of covering the edges of the borders, groundnut, ir, w'lero they join. For circles and other shapes t'.ie strips ot load may be stretched with the thumb and fingers to Rny pattern desired, the creases being smoothed by the handle of a knifo or paper cutter, slightly wetted. The effect produced b> vitrcmame is that of painted glass, and tho subjects include well-known copies from the old musters in well ns from modern paintings. Thus, at a slight cost, and with but small amount of trouble, an ugly cheerless view cun he changed into a bright picture, brilliant in colouring, ami pleisant to look upon, has been long known, although not under these circumstances The L>ndon correspondent of ft contemporary says — "We ha\e heard much lately about International conferences, and the blessings hkeh to follow ; we are also treated to a ues\ feature in the shape of an International cockfight. Colonels and captains, landlords and justices of the peace, are found in a back yard with birds neatly plucked and armed with steel »purs, to decide the respective merits of English and Irish cocks. This gay little party was disturbed bv vulgar constables, and the gentlemen present were required to give their names, a course of proceeding so repugnant to refined feeling, that a gallant colonel, bearing a distinguished mmc, palmed off the card of an absent person a dodge not quife unknow n to cads. The lured advocate wished to persuade their worships who heaidthe charges that cocks rather like the fun. An expert present suggested sticking a spur into the head of the honest lawyer by way of test. Thi« was politely declined, and their worships inflicted a £5 penalty with costs in each case. One of the worthies engaged m the international fowl display is a J.P. This individual was one of those fined smarting under the infliction and, no doubt, desirous of an opportunity to exhibit repentance the good man took his seat on tho bench in due course to dispense to others the justice meted out to himself a few days previous. With all the dignity of offended justice, the cock-fighting magistrate fined two small boys 5s each with costs, for the heinous crime of tossing. The attention of the proper authorities has been invited to the conduct of this worthy dispenser of justice, who will probably be requested to explain his conduct, and will vei\> likely escape in a mass of correspondence and red tape, neatly labelled and pigeonholed in the ample recedes of the circumlocution office. A new mode of preserving flowets, fruit, and botanical specimens geneially, has been suggested by Dr Piesse, which we think will be appreciated by those who wish to preserve specimens gathered by departed friends, or to let.vin the foim of flowers for botanical teaching. The process consists in simply dipping the flowers into melted pirafßn and withdrawing them quickly, when a thin coat of the paraffin instantly sets, and incloses hermetically the plant so treated. In order to be successful, the flowers should be freshly gathcied, perfectly dry, and free from dew, or nwistuie or lain. The paraffin should not be hotter than just sufficieut to liquify it; and the flowers should be dipped into it separately, holding them by the stalk, and moving them about in order to get rid of the bubbles of air, which are likely to become imprisoned within the corolla: of tho flowers. Those parts of plants or flowers which are not required to be preserved should be removed with scissors prior to steeping thorn in the paraffin. Attention has been called, by Professor B Silliman, to the probable occurrence of small diamonds in the sands left in sluices of hydraulic washings in California. A microscopic examination of a sample of these sands, from Cherokee, in Butte County, revealed the existence of numerous er>stals of hyacinth or zircon, associated with crystals of topaz, fragments of quartz, black grains of chromite and titanic ironore, and a few small miMf* of a highly-refracting substance, which from its physical and chemical characters, is believed to he true diamond. The occurrence of diamonds in California Notices have been placed on the outjide of the street cars in Pittsburg (US) to the efl'ect that the car will not wait for young 1 ulies to kiss " good-by " M. Clmutran, at a late meeting of the Academy of Sciences of Pans, read a paper btatmg the results of his interesting investigations upon the regeneration of the eyes in the crab, made in M.'Coste's laboratory. If the eyes be excised in a crnb of one your old, captured in August, just after moulting, the} are completsly restored, tho new ones assuming the normal form and functions. If, however, the operation be performed on one taken in the month of May, before moulting, this process interferes with their due development, and they are regenerated of an irregular form and size. In adults the new organ i< very imperfect.