Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-05-08
BORROWING NEWSPAPERS.

In London il is he practice Of many persons
TO hire the reading OF newspapers; ana 'neie
are carriers, who make II theI' business 10 pur-
chase The morning papers, and traVei from me
house of one Customer 10 that OF another, where
lie rec. ives a penny each for allowing him to
glance over such Of his papers as the customer
NAV wish. And in this way these carriers oo>
tam good livings. The practice is excusabie
in England, where a single daily newspaper
costs between forty and fifty dollars. bu' II
would be ridiculed here; AID still 1t would Dc
much more honorable than i very general prac~
,icc which obtains in this country-we mean
that Of borrowing newspapers: there IS no.
thing which in jures the peculiarly interests OF
publishers, or so much annoys their custom
ers, as this L~eggarly practice. Newspapers
come so cheap in ,hi, country, that they are
within the means OF every industrious family
in the community. And yet the borrowers,
when compared with the subscribers, will stand
as three to one. This subject is brought to our
mind almost daily by The complaints OF our
subscribers; and has now been revived by an
occurrence last evening Stepping into the
store of one Of our subscribers TO purchase an
article, one Of his neighbor> came IN and asked
for his paper. why replied the subscriber,
your boy came in for il and took 1t before
had opened it, 'Bu,,' ~rcjo,ned the borrower,
IsMr. - sent for il before I was half through
with it, 'Well,' said the subscriber, you Can
have i, if you will 20 for il; and if you DO not
find it at Mr.. IS probably Mr. has got
/ BY this time The borrower went In pur-
suit OF the paper. pray we inquired, Anw
many OF your neighborS thus borrow your pa
PERI -Four, pretty regularly was the rep,,y.
But you do il justice 10 yourself and the pub
Usher 'True-I am sensible of that; but we
must be neighbourly you know, and 1t would
look very mean TO refuse 10 lend so small a
thing as n newspaper Now we beg leave TO
d FIR with our customers in hi, respect. or
course there re exceptions to general rules
but newspapers should never be lent. who,
casks the editor uf the Boston Courier, in 4
sensible article upon this subjectO who would
no, laugh at the idea of one half the commu-
nirv borrowing Goats, hats and shoes from the
Other, to make a decent appearance or particu-
Tar or casions, and tbs same time admit that no
tailor, halter or shoemaker could ever hope to
thrive among such peopl"? yet il is the same
injury u the interest Of tie primer, to make
one newspaper serve half a dozen readers, as
it would be to the tailor, to make a fine dress
coa, serve the purpose of so many dandies.-
i'We must con,rive to do without The expense Of
a n newspaper "a merr trIfe in amount is one
of The poorest, and most p'tiful resolutions that
can be imagined; bur is ten times worse when
backed bv such a reservation as thi,:-lorl II |
want 10 read one | can borrow it. What
wo Id such people say, if the community genes
rally were TO come TO the deteI animation 20 do
without the articles which they vend or man
~ufaoture, or without their services in any way!
We like to see a more liberal spirit. All trades,
occupations & professions are mutually deprn>
dant on one another; and we should encourage
every one who contributes his means to advance
the welfare Of ourselves or that com immunity"
~. y. Com. Ado.
The following notice Of an important i'm
provement ia nautical machinery, is copied
from the Boston Bulletin The subject deserves
the attention Of every master and owner OF a
sea vessel:
WIND PUMA most important improve.
ment in nautical machinery has been effected
by Capt. Brown.l., the ingenious inventor Of
an apparatus calculated to apply an almost In
credible power 10 the operations OF a ships
pump. The peculiar excellence OF this engine
consists in the adaptation Of the principle Of
The common windmill, in such a manner as to
supersede the necessity Of manual labour at The
pumps, while at the same it accomphshes an
inconceivably greater amount OF mechanical
work. The idea ofthis invention was suggest