INJURIOUS EFFECTS OF SENSATIONAL LITERATURE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2683, 8 June 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

INJURIOUS EFFECTS OF SENSATIONAL LITERATURE.

A Home journalistic correspondent asserts that Mr Fergus Hume must have read of the conviction of Charles Parton for a murder similar to that depicted in the " Mystery of a Hansom Cab" with mixed feelings. He, indeed, goes so far as to sa y— "There can, indeed, be very little doubt that if Mr Hume's shilling ' marrow curdler' had never been written, the estimable but bibulous Mr Fletcher would never have been poisoned. A copy of the novelette was found in Parton's possession, and there can scarcely be room for doubt that it originally suggested to him his nefarious scheme." There may be some who will call into question this view of the affair, but circumstances strongly favour a suspicion that it is perfectly warranted, and that the author of the vicious rubbish bearing the vulgarly ominous titles of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab" and "The Girl from Malta " will find in the fate of the wretched victim Fletcher food for reflectoin that should create within him a desire to turn his liteiary ambition into higher channels. Contemporary with the account of the Manchester murder we have recorded tho death of a youth at Leeds, who, it is said, hud been reading a sensational story, iu which the hero was suspended from a treo and was saved by a beautiful maiden. Anxious for so delightful a fate, he also suspended himself from a treo. But the " beautiful maiden" never appeared ou the scene, and he was discovered dead, with tho book, opjned at an exciting page, lyiug under the tree. The narrator of the incident adds that the discovery of the book, under the circumstances," offered an explanation of the cause of the misadventure. It is quite rational to conclude that both the unfortunate events to which we havo referred were caused by undue excitement consequent on reading impure and highly sensational literature. A bad book is as morally injurious as a wicked associate or a vicious play. It was discovered that the fascinations of the drama of "Jack Sheppard " were so irresistible that its representation on the boards was followed by a crop of offences similar to those depicted therein. The performance of this drama, a3 well as of some others of a like nature, was, therefore, interdicted at home, though it has sometimes since been produced under a false title. Zola's novels were subjected to a similar prohibitation, not only in Great Britain, but actually in France, the home of the writer ;>nd the hotbed of morbid sensationalism ; and in Victoria they have been subjected to censorship. It may be that the play of " Jack Sheppard " and Zola's novels exercise a peculiarly demoralising influence. But the effects of the " shilling shocker" is scarcely less injurious. Of handy size, and imaginative to a high degree, it is eagerly chosen as a companion on a railway journey. In proportion to its piquancy is its circulation The word is passed rouud that 9uch and such a work of the "shocker " series is well worth reading, and the circulation swells by leaps and bounds. These dreadful books moro than make up for any difference that there may bo between their viciousness and thut of Zola's novels, by the numerousness of their readers and the breadth of the field over which their evil influence is spread. It is not much to the credit of a number of tho most influential newspapers of the colony that they have done their utmost to make Fergus Hume's books universally known, and to excite the public curiosity to test their quality. The thousands of works of erudition and great social, economical, and educational value yearly produced at Home are favoured with no such cheap advertisements. It is to be feared that no legislation could be contrived that would proscribe the circulation of impure literature, unless it be of that lewd character which severely shocks the public sense of propriety, and thus attracts the attention of the authorities. But right-minded people will do their utmost to discourage the dissemination and the reading of such prurient trash.—Oamaru Mail.