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Show What Not to Read. MANY think what they call a knowledge knowl-edge . of life a desirable thing, and proceed to get it by reading realistic novels. The folly of this is apparent ap-parent on a moment's consideration. If a man desires to study law, medicine, surgery, astronomy, engineering or any other science or art, does he delve into fiction to inform himself? v Knowledge of sin, of crime, or unnatural un-natural cravings, etc., may be necessary neces-sary for the priest, the lawyer or the doctor; but such studies do not benefit the genera mass of the people who do not intend to make any- practical uhe of them. Still, if any one feels impelled by curiosity or thirst for knowledge to delve into such unsavory details, there is a proper and scientific way to acquire the information. Let him approach the subject from a scien- tific standpoint. Standard works and text-books touching such matters are found in every legal, medical and theological theo-logical library. Let him read the cold facts apart from the glamor of fiction and he will soon be sick of his researches re-searches if he has not the true scientific scien-tific spirit. There is no excuse for reading read-ing salacious fiction for such a purpose any more than for acquiring a knowledge knowl-edge of chemistry. What is more, the information acquired will be as superficial super-ficial and inaccurate in the one case as in the other. |
