Earlier quoted context omitted.
I had a rather different interpretation. They write the "modern edition is strictly limited to farming". I think the surprise is that an 1880 farmer version contains non-farming content. Out of curiosity, I pulled up a copy of Dorcas from 1885 - https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.hxitid&view=1up&s... . I get the feeling it was a lifestyle hobby for middle class women in the 1880s as well.
Did you get a chance to read the article staring on page 38? It talks about the evils of idle reading.
> The love of exciting tales is characteristic of all uncultivated nations, and the only difference between our children and servants, and other people pouring over their stories, and the Indians on the plains, or the nomadic Arabs seated in the desert and listening with eyes and ears intent, is that the latter are compelled to satisfy this passion in moderation.