The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-08-21
From the Essex Registet.l
NEWSPAPERS.

The subjoined Essay on the advantages Of
Newspapers an Families. we copy from the En-
porium. We hope it wIil be convincing ar
gnment with those who do not at present en-
joy these advantages, and induce them to sub
scribe Cor some newspaper without further de-
lay -
1t has been remarked in regard to ncwspa-
pers that so great is their influence, and so yi:i
BILE their effects in family, that visitor need
only converse with the children, upon any
subjec, to ascertain whether the daily or
weekly sheet nds regular admittance there or
not, so striking will be the difference on the
score III intel igence, between those who have
and those who have not access to this simple
and economi al vehicle of useful knowledge.
There is no question about the truth of this re-
mark as it relates to children, taking it for
granted that they are taught and encouraged to
read the papers until the habit is formed, which
there is little danger oftheir ever after abandon
ing; and the influence ofnewspapers upon men
is certainly not less salutary. Deprive child
OF the sight OF a newspaper, and let him grow
up to manhood without the means it alone af-
lords Of becoming generally acquainted with
the passing tidings of the times, and he will
enter on the stage OF life, possessed of all those
political rights which as an American he in
herits, but with few Of the qualifications nee
essary to enable him ludiciously to exercise
them. He may have read much, and much
that is well written, and yet he will be found
grossly, ridiculously ignorant on thousand OF
the simplest subjects.
We recollect a circumstance, which is in a
good degree Illustrative of this. We were
once in pnblick company in neighbouring
town, when conversation respecting the out
6ts and salaries of ministers to foreign courts
came on the carpet, and gentleman calcula
ted that 4 certain fiplomatick parsonage would
receive something like thirty-six thousand dol
lars for making tour of a couple of years to
the continent.-"L La ~ said ali awkward look
ing young man, who sat in one corner of the
room, until now silent, "ihai's power Of cash
for n,tnisier-our parson can preach with any
of them, and he'd go TO the worlds end for a
quarter Of the money -
A newspaper is kind of perspective, with
in the range of which every interesting object
in the animal and vegetable kingdom is
BROUGHT brings within the vision. collected
in ono group, the whole variety of animated
nature. Here we see the rise and progress of
national disputes-tne time-worn banner, GRIM
soncd in earlier wars, is again flung to the
winds, and we trace i to new fields of death,
where the fate of empires is decided Turn
ing from the field of battle, we behold in anoth.
er view the war OF elements-iorests prostrat-
ed before the tornado and the beauty OF the
landscape blishted by the soaring ightning---
here fleet is stranded OH some rocky coast,
and as we read, we can almost hear the wall
ing Of the winds, and the teep-toned thunders
of The dashing pillows, drowning the feeble cry
Of despsir-and there city is wrapt in flames,
and desolaton stalks triumphant, while The
winds are sleeping and the sky Is clear. HUI
man lite in all its vicissitudes OF wo and veal,
Iasses before us-and to brighten the dark pic
tere of reality, Romance blends with it her
softer hues, and Poetry sprin'<les on its borders
her delicate sun-beanis. Thus extensive, and
minute, and various in its details and delinca-
tions-thus solemn, delightful and instructive
ls-the newspaper.
But newspapers are common therefore I'M
dervalued-they are too cheap: therefore the
price is complained of by their patrons--and
very frequently it happens that they are poor
II conducted because but poorly patronized,
aud poorly patented, because but poorly con-
Quoted.