70 



These periodicals seem to be intended for boys from twelve 

 to sixteen years of age, althougli they often treat of older per- 

 sons. Probably many boys outgrow them and come to see the 

 folly and falsehood of them. It is impossible, however, that so 

 much corruption should be afloat and not exert some influence. 

 "We say nothing of the great harm which is done to boys of 

 that age, by the nervous excitement of reading harrowing and 

 sensational stories, because the literature before us only partici- 

 pates in that harm with other literature of far higher preten- 

 sions. But what we have said suffices to show that these papers 

 poison boys' minds with views of life which are so base and 

 false as to destroy all manliness and all chances of true success. 

 How far they are read by boys of good home influences we are, 

 of course, unable to say. They certainly are within the reach 

 of all. They can be easil}^ obtained, and easily concealed, and 

 it is a question for parents and teachers how far this is done. 

 Persons tinder those responsibilities ought certainly to know 

 what the character of this literature is." 



