Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-09-18
PROM THE LoNG-IsLAND STAR.
NEWSPAPERS.

constitute the relish of the week, and
furnish abundance for profitable rehec-
ton and conversation. If he is patriot,
he cannot be insensible to the welfare of
his country. If he is philanthropist,
he feels concern for his fellow men,
however distant. If he is father, he
loses no opportunity to instruct his chill
dren; and cannot but view the passing
tidings Of the tines as most essential
part of their education. Though distant
from the polis--though secluded
from society, he can know all that is ne
cessary to be known of the pomp and
hustle of city life.
BY close attention to the diversified
columns of newspapers, we are enabled
to catch the manners living as they
rise In one column may be seen the
march of armies, and the fate of nations
and in another the humble advertise
ment of the humblest dealer. All may
find instruction, amusement, or interest,
from the hoary sage to the lisping school
boy.
Every subscriber to newspaper
should carefully preserve them in regu-
lar files for the benefit of his posterity.
After the lapse of 40 or so years, to look
over these, and examine the important
occurrences of former days, will give
clearer view than can be found in any
history The best account of our revo-
lutionary war can be obtained in this
way; and no doubt the rising generation
will in future times anxiously look to
newspapers for the particulars of the re-
cent war which has conferred such high
honors on our countrymen.
1t is erroneous to suppose that news
papers are less valuable during peace,
than in times of war. 1t is true those
who delight in recitals of bloody scenes,
and ruined towns, will find less to CRAFTY
that barbarous appetite; but all who
wish for improvement, or delight in SEN
timent, will find an increased value from
the attention paid to science, arts, agri-
culture, history, biography, morality, re-
ligion, humor, poetry, &c.
The man who can't find time to
read one newspaper during the week,
must be truly slave to ignorance or
poverty. The truth is, however, that is
an excuse for Incidence and parsmony !;
and thus whole families are deprived of
information on those points which afford
one half the conversation Of society,"
They are content to borrow ideas from
their more intelligent or more cunning
neighbor; thus, in the language of the
poet, to vegetate and die
1t is hoped, however, that such are
few. Our political welfare so essential
ly depends on general diffusion of in
telligence, and we have SO many exam
pies in the old world of an ignorant
people being the slaves of superstition
and tyranny, that our young republic
should lose no opportunity to establish
itself on the only permanent foundation.
FROM THE coNHEcTICUT COURANT.
MEssRs. PRINTERS,
1t is an old saying, that II is no
no time to make Paths quhile it snows.
The meaning of which take to be, that
our minds are naturally opposed to in
struction, admonition, or advice, until
they become prepared, either by suffer-
ing, or the fear of it. Preaching lessons
of economy to the spendthrift, while his
means of qualification last, is to him but
idle prattle; but every considerate and
rejecting mind must be alarmed at the
present style of living in this part of our
country mean in eating, drinking,
clothing, furniture, riding, amusemcnts,
visits, and idleness. I would not be
eensorious, unless plain truth be censure.
If it be asked, what are the inevitable
consequences of living above our in
come, the answer is ready in the mouth
of every one-poverty, modification, and
depression. But no one intends to fall
into that condition; and at the approach
of danger, every method which ingenui-
~ can invent, is resorted to as preven-
tative, excepting the only one which
could avail-industry and economy.
l have been led to these reflections
more particularly by an incident which
shall now be related. A few mornings
past, l had occasion to call at one of my
neighbors, on an errand. The kitchen
door standing open, and seeing nobody
in the room, | walked in, and without
ceremony took chair. The family had
Just finished their breakfast, and the ta-
BILE furniture remained unmoved. In
the adjacent room, the door OF which
was open, ! heard lloyd and earnest talk