A MATTER OF BOOKS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 9, 28 February 1901, Page 18

A MATTER OF BOOKS.

A WEST COAST CONTROVERSY.

Under the pen-name of 'Catholic' a writer has contributed to recent issues of the Wist port Tinwx a few trenchant letters on a topic of vital public interest— namely, the responsibility of the Book Committees of our public and circulating libraries in the matter of the selection of literary pabulum to be placed before their subscribers. The question is one of the gravest import, and 'Catholic ' deserves the thanks of the community for his courage in having brought it up for definite discussion. 'Be as careful of the books you read,' says Paxton Hood, ' as of the company you keep • for your habits and character will be as much influenced by the former as the latter.' 'Catholic' very properly objected to the presence, on the shelves of the local Athenaeum, of a recent novel by the hysterical Marie Corelli— a book which is not merely a gross and direct attack upon the Catholic Church, but upon every form of Christian belief, and which is notorious for its blasphemously incongruous blending of the Most Sacred with the moat profane.

' Catholic's ' protest in the Westport Times aroused a lively little hum of controversy which is still proceeding. He wields a vigorous and facile pen and impales his rivals as fast as they can come on. The local Athenaeum, he retorts to one, ' is certainly for all people. It is also supported by all people— by Catholics amongst others ; and all we ask in return is that our money shall not go towards obtaining books which slander and degrade our religion and which bo distort our most sacred principles as to directly impugn the personal honor of those who adopt and live by them. A recent law caso in an Australian colony has proved that this latter is no fanciful grievance.' Here are some samples of 'Catholic's' 'retort courteous' and 'quip modest': To one who said that Miss Corelli's works are widely read : • This is quite % gratuitous piece of information. So are the Adventure* of Buffalo Bill and Deadtye Dick ; but that is no reason why they should

obtain a place in an institution like the Athenaeum.' To a smug Pharisee who contended that he had read without mental or moral harm the novel complained of, ' Catholio ' makes reply : ' This is certainly a comfort. I hope it is not to be explained on the principle that you cannot epoil a bad egg — not even by pointing at it 1 the finger of scorn.' And again : 'If " Freedom " hat a habit of sampling literary garbage it is not the Athenasum, I should conoeive, that must act the part of a scavenger for his convenience ' Here ii another bit of praotioal wisdom and enlightened commonsense from the hard-hitting leiterß of the writer referred to • 'People deficient in mental training or, what is more important, mental ability, who go in for " reading everything " invariably become illustrations of a truthful adage, " Set a beggar on horseback and he will ride to perdition." Liberty to do bo no one will deny them, but surely it is not public subscription that is to provide the horse.'

Meantime the local Athenaeum Committee have acted a straightforward and honorable part. They have withdrawn the offending book from the Library shelves pending a meeting of the Committee and have requested ' Catholic ' ' to bring or send to the Librarian a list of the books to which exception is taken, and a meeting of the general committee will be at once called for the purpose of dealing with the complaint.' 'Catholic' has raised a question of far more than local interest. We shall watch with interest the further course of the affair, and ia the meantime shall have something to say upon the matter in an early issue of the N.Z. Tablet.