]
It is difficult to estimate the injury which is done to persons, by this
last mentioned effect of novel-reading upon the mind. For the contents
of our best books consist usually of plain and sober narrative. Works of
this description give no extravagant representations of things, because
their object is truth. They are found often without characters or
catastrophies, because these would be often unsuitable to the nature of
the subject of which they treat. They contain repellants rather than
stimulants, because their design is the promotion of virtue. The
novel-reader therefore, by becoming indisposed towards these, excludes
himself from moral improvement, and deprives himself of the most
substantial pleasure, which reading can produce. In vain do books on the
study of nature unfold to him the treasures of the mineral or the
vegetable world. He foregoes this addition to his knowledge, and this
innocent food for his mind. In vain do books on science lay open to him
the constitution and the laws of the motion of bodies. This constitution
and these laws are still mysteries to him. In vain do books on religion
discover to him the true path to happiness. He has still this path to
seek. Neither, if he were to dip into works like these, but particularly
into those of the latter discription, could he enjoy them.
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