Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-09

Me attenii1a, ofa The sons of the type. ExtraOr-
binary events unuliipy upan. surprisingly. Ca
zcttcs, IL seriously 10 be- feared viii not long al
low room To any thug, thut Is not loatlsoDe or
shocking. newspaper 10 pronounced TO be very
lean aud destitute of matter, il 1t contains accounts
otmurders, suicides, prodigics or IN ,nstrous births
Some OF these tales excite horror aud others dis
gtsts yet the fashion rcigrs, like yrapt, to relish
wonders, and almost TO relish nothing else Is this
reasonable taste, or IS II monstrous and worthy OF
ri,cule' IL the history of Newgate the only thing
worth reading Are oddities only TO be huntcd,
Pray tell US, men of ink. flour free pressss to
difIse infJrnIi,on and we, the poor ignorant pco-
pie, can get it in other way than by newspapers,
what knowledge are we to CLEAN from the laundering
hes, or the rcsone truths about thunder storms that
strange TO tell kill oxen or burn barns; and cats
that bring two-idaded kittens: aud sows, that ca,
their own,pigs' The Growing of n hen is supposed
10 forbode cuckoldom; and the ticking of a little
pug IN the wall threatens yellow fever. IL seems
really if our newspapers were busv IN snrcad s,
pcrstitou.
THIS country IL said to- measure seven hundred
miiio's ofacrcs; aud inhabited by almost six millions
OF people. Who can doubt then that great many
crimes wilt be committed, and great many strange
things will happen every seven wears, There will be
thunder Showers that viii some farmers the full
amount OF foeniy stVfinss to mend their glass win
COWS; there VIII be taeerns, and boxing matches
and elections, aud drinking, and love, and murder
ana running away, and suicide. Now, n.a man sup
pose eight or ten twenty dozen OF these amusing
events WIN Happen in single year. is he Just as
l.
,hnsng particulars, and OF course, knows that th,-
have happeneds :
This State has almost ono hundred thousand dwell
ing houses; II would he strange, all ofthcni should
escape orc Tor twevc.tsenths But 1t very profit
noie Tor a man TO become deep stulrpt of all Tn,
accidents by which they consumed lie should
iske good care of his chimney Corner and put fen
Ter Uciore the back loy before he goes 10 bed
ilavng done this, he may let his aunt or crapimo,b
ar read by day or mediate by niuht the terrible
newspaper articles of fire; how maid dropped a
.Ieep reading romance aud the bed clothes took
hre' now a boy searching in n garret toS hoard of
nuts, kndlcd soma dax, and how q mouse warmin,
ms tan caught 1t On rc aud curriei il into his hole
IA rho floor.
Some otthc shocking articles in the papeYs raise
Snplc IL very simple, wonders: some terror; g. some
horror and disgust. Now what instruction il there
W those cndess wonders Who is the wiser or hap.
pier Tor reading these accounts ofthcm' On the CON
lary do thcy not shock tender minds and ndde ton
der brains? They make 4 thousand old maids. and
ug1lt or ten thousand booty boys afraid 10 90 TO bed
alone. Worse than this buppcns for more eccentric
minus are turned to mischief by such accounts ms
they read OF troops of incendarcs burning our cities
INC spirit OF mutation contagious, and bows are
found unaccountaby bent To do as ufen do
When the man flew from the stceplc Of, ire North
church. hitysyears ago. every unlucky boy tho rb, of
nothing but flying from sign post.
1t was once the fashion to stab heri,ics and Rava.
iilac who stabbed Henry tho fourth of France the
assassin OF the duke OF Guisc, 81 ofthc duke of Buck
Hnghlm. with others only followed tie r,sLons
i 1t not in the power of newspapers TO spread fash
ions, ana dinnng burnings and murders in every
ooy ears, to dctan all rash and misccvo,s tenunr.
On such subjects long enough wear out the first i'm
preston OF horror and to prepare them to act what
they soflnilrly oontemp!a: c2-Yct there sccts IN m
q scrt OF rva!ship among printers, who shall have
toe most wonders, and the strangest and most hnr-
Ii9ie crimes This taste will multiply prodpies.-
the supeTstiious Romans used to forbid reports Of
new proiiSics while they performing sac ifccs
on such accounts.
Every horril story in newspaperproluccs shock
put alter sometime, this shock lesSens. At length
such stories are far from giving pain that i5ev
rather raise curiosity, and desire nothing so much
as Inc particulars OF terrible tragedies. To wonder
Is as easy as TO slare and the most vacant mind is
me most IN need OF such resources as cost no trouble
orscruiiny reflections: it is sort of food for idle
curiosity, that Is ready chewcd and digested
On the Whole, we may insist, that tile iucrensjnp
fashion OF printing wonderful tales OF crimes; and ace
cldcntS is worse than ridiculous, az il corruDts bob
Tue public taste and morals. 1t muitplies fables.
pFodiSlous monsters, and crimes, and thus it makes
AiocinS things familiar; while it withdra;ys all pom
t.af attention from familiar tru:h because II IS not
shocking - "''
PffQcPia, 'o iai5es, said Senator in debate with >,
consequential tone OF voice and flourish the right lraud
L'r md not i7ome, added John Randolph VIII t1t arcas.
% horizontal shake Of the head, the power CT which none
Know but those vino have felt it, Tie absardty OF The
SIS was iETcsstihle.-Sals1 Ga=stc
Rhetorical EigueAt late meeting of ;,e Soccy 6,r e.
Protection OF Religious Liberty, London, after Repor had
n read by the Secretary the Rev Dr. Benae was asa,ne
say that he with reluctance In address the L
. h " "a l IT,