SOCIAL READING IN THE HOME CIRCLE.
This is a reading age. It is an age of “steam” in book-making, as well as in other arts. There is no one who can read, but can find something cheap enough or weak enough, costly enough or strong enough, to suit the purse or the taste. How shall we guard our children and household circles from too much story reading, and induce them cheerfully and voluntarily, to select for their principal reading the substantial and profitable in our literature—that which will give them mental and moral sinew, muscle and bone? We can require them to read certain books, and forbid them the perusal of others, but this is not the whole of the desired end to be sought. It were better far if our dear home circles could have such direction given their tastes as to lead them to seek and love substantial aliment for their hungering minds. It requires tact and wisdom, when the influences set so strongly upon young minds toward a diluted and purely entertaining kind of reading, to bring them to desire, or cordially to pursue, an opposite course. For from that which the mind loves and is attracted toward, it experiences a stronger influence, and while it enjoys more, also profits more in its pursuit. One method among others which might be named, for interesting a family in vigorous and profitable reading, is that of a pleasant family reading circle, where new books and all important reading shall be mutually enjoyed, criticised, and canvassed—different members taking part in reading aloud. Many an otherwise prosy work, which in solitary reading would soon be laid aside with a yawn of weariness and disgust, becomes eloquent with thought, and brimming with interest by a perusal under such circumstances. A book, or a course of reading with which the social life of a household circle has been blended, will live in the reminiscences of after years, glowing with home intellect and affection, as well as with the direct instruction of the printed pages. Its truths shall have the sanction of the dear parents who listened, explained to, and presided over the social group, and silent whispers shall remind the soul of their interest or delight, their admonitions or encouragements in those reading hours, long after the books have grown old and time-worn, and those parents have gone from the scenes of earth. One word here respecting that much-to-be-coveted accomplishment—good reading. Would that it commanded far more consideration in family and school culture. Have we not all experienced the power of the effective and accomplished reader, in listening to the reading of the Scriptures, when, a formerly obscure passage suddenly becomes clear to us, and luminous with the truth it expresses by the emphasis and inflection of some beautiful reader? We can hardly expect our children to become perfect in this branch of culture, but we can secure for them very much more cultivation in the home circle, and do far more to compensate for the deprivation of extensive advantages than we are apt to suppose. Sound reading in the family, with free, kind criticisms from its different members, and a hearty sympathy in the spirit of the matter read, will do much toward forming accomplished readers. Attentive listening to good, public elocutionists will prove a help to the self-cultivated reader. It is wonderful with what an interest any such art will inspire a family, when they mutually pursue it.226 Trying to catch and give the delicate shades of meaning of various authors, endeavoring to modulate and cultivate the voice to varied and expressive tones, and to read so as to command attention and give pleasure, will afford an inspiring and laudable emulation to any domestic group. Try it, young friends, and thus become eye and voice to those whose own are failing them, and while you augment your attractiveness by your own home firesides, you will learn to love the reading that you may, perhaps, at first accept to please your parents, and you, with them, and all the household, become together gleaners in the fields of truth and knowledge, and through this instrumentality be enabled to gather into the soul’s garner a multitude of precious things.—Advocate and Journal.