Works of Fiction.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 691, 18 November 1876, Page 2 (Supplement)

Works of Fiction.

TheU haa i>9*a considerable difference of opinion in regard to the effects produced upon th. niind by fictitious narratives. Without entering minutely upon the merit, of this controversy, I think that it may be contended that two evils «• Ukely to arne from much in works of fiction. The one is ■^•nleney to give w»y to the wild play of ■Lination— « practice most deleterious both ■k, iDtelleotual and moral habits. The a disrnption of the harmony that «xist between the moral emotions principle of extensive and influence. In the healthy state of feelings, for example, the emotion excited by a tale of sorrow followed by some effort! for the sufferer. When such relations are listened to from time to time such efforts, the emotion weakened, and that moral which we call seltishof heart. Fictitious tales to have a similar tendency — produced without the corre- ■ »nd when this habit has th« result seems to be, aentimentalisin is produced, of active benevolenoe. be employed for dtvice, another evil of tbs Is likely to result from the conduct exhibited end in remorae and misery familiarity with vice, an youthfml miod, which is by tho moral at the therefore, is a mental induenco, and capable of to important purposes io (be individual character. But to b« HPMVoai be kept under the atrict control of and virt»«. if it be allowed to wander *t discretion through »oenes of imagined m—itb, ambition, frivolity, pr pleasure, it tends co draw the mind from tkt important parsuits W He, to weaken the habits of itteotion, and to imp»ir the judgment. It t*Mls in a most material manner to prevent the Aw exercise of those nobler powers whion v« directed to the cultivation both of science •od Tirtut.— [Dr. Aberorombie.