NOVEL READING.
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From DR.. Humphreys Thoughts OH Educa-
tion,'' in the New York Observer:


Absolutely to prescribe all fiction, would, per-
haps, be going TOO far. think could select
dozen volumes, besides Robinson Crusoe, which
I should be willing TO have my children read in
their minority. But nothing is more to be depre-
Gated, in family, than morbid appetite for nov
els; and all experience proves how difficult is,
to keep il from becoming absolutely rauenous, if
it is induged at all. Reading one work of fiction,
is almost certain to create in The yonng and suscep-
tible mind, more eager demand for another; and
the demand rises at every step of the progress, till
it is prepared to break over all bounds and to de-
your whatever comes in its way, however it may


nAame the passions, pollute the imagination, or
corrupt the heart. One grand objection against
putting popular works of fiction into the hands of
our youth of both sexes is, that the world Of r,-
mance differs so entirely from the rough, stormy,
and matter-offact world, in which they are to live
and be happy, if they can; and certainly to suffer,
whatever pains they may take to shun it. Sup
pose your blooming daughter, Of fifteen, could be
transported into some paradise OF perpetual spring
aud spicy breezes-of odoriferous flowers, and
feathered harmony, and gushing marble fountains
and banyan shades, and everlasting sunshine
what kind Of preparation would she be making in
such bowers of unmingled delights, for return
ing, at the end Of five or ten years, to spend her


life in this cold region where she was born, upon
which the curse Of God has SO heavily fallen?
But far worse than this must it be for her to dwell
the same number of years in thefairy lands OF ro-
nance, and then come down to the dull, husky
prose and discordant elements--the thousand IN
conveniences and cares and tolls and disapPoint-
ments Of real life. When the novelist can plant
and water and illuminate some terrestrial para
disc; and shut out sorrow and pain and sin; and
give orr children le-ease of ii, it will be time
enough to introduce them to his acquaintance;
but till then, the less they have to do with this
class of writers the better.