Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/79

 take scandal  and  allow  themselves  to  be  led away, while  Holy  Church  sighs  daily  over these deceivers  and  deceived. May you never be  counted  among  their  number!

3. Thus  is  poison  also  diffused  by  means of the  pen. It is,  indeed,  a  sad  pity  that  so many  young  persons  are  poisoned  in  mind, lose their  virtue  and  their  faith,  through  the medium of  books! It is  only  necessary  to go  about  in  cities,  towns,  and  villages,  in  order to come  on  the  track  of  the  mysteries  of  iniquity. There are  often  whole  shops  full  of books  and  periodicals,  and  standing  at  the windows are  young  persons  of  both  sexes. What are  they  doing? Who are  they? They are  thoughtless  persons  whose  hearts are often  already  corrupted,  and  who  seek  to find  amusement  between  their  working  hours, and therefore  patronize  these  places  where trashy periodicals  and  cheap  books  can  be obtained. Two classes  of  books  and  periodicals are  to  be  found  there  to  which  we  call your especial  attention.

4. To  the  first  class  belong  the  various kinds of  novels,  romances,  and  salacious  love stories which  awaken  sensuality  by  means of objectionable  narratives,  and  ruin  the hearts in  which  the  light  of  faith  still  remains, by mingling  with  these  stories  contemptuous expressions  and  subtle  attacks  in  regard to virtue,  faith,  the  Church,  and  her  servants. To the  second  class  belong  those  irreligious books, newspapers,  and   pamphlets  which