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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www. million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: AN INTRODUCTION ENGLISH LITERATURE. GOOD AND BAD BOOKS. Out of the multitude of works which have been written in all languages only those which intelligent and educated people have considered worthy of being preserved merit the name of Literature. Such works, whether ancient or modern, become known as the "Classics." Mun- ro's and Beadle's Dime Novels; the stories of the Fireside Companion; the novels of Mrs. Southworth and " Ouida," attract many readers who have never had an opportunity to become acquainted with good books. Accounts of murders and lawless intrigues where unprinciple'd and immoral men and women are made to appear heroic by their boldness and power cannot fail chapter{Section 4to exercise a depraving influence upon the mind of any reader. Probably the reason why so many poor books are read is because comparatively few people have the means of obtaining good works, or their attention has never been turned in the right direction. The poisonous reading, of which a few examples have just been given, is spread broad-cast over the land. It is thrown in at our doors; it is displayed at cheap news stands on the street corners. But good books, if we find them, must be sought after. It is a cause for rejoicing that they are now being printed at prices within the means of all, and the result will be that good reading will not long be a possession in the hands of a favored few. But, unfortunately it is not always the case that good books will be preferred by those who have them within reach. One who has never had knowledge of the best works in literature, is not altogether blame-worthy if he has spent much of his time in reading trashy books. But if after having read volumes which have been written by the talented, the wise, and the good, he then returns to the h
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