Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-01-07
TfiENEwspapER.

OkAti itNiSdIS arc tAuolSu W pursue Ilc
same course.
THE NEWSPAPER.
1t is well known by all who have travelled
OF studied Geography, that there is wide diff
ference in the condition Of the common people.
or working classes. in diiierentcouniries, and
even in different parts of our own county,
In many paris Of the world, the wealth aud
the power are mostly in the hands of few.
Such was the condition OF the most wealthy
and polished nations before the Christian era.
Al that period change commenced in favor
Of the poor and the oppressed, aud al present,
there are several countries where the common
people are well informed, and possess most of
the wealth and political influence.
Wha, has produced this changed The
Christian Religion. How has II produced it +?
Not merely by lis influence on the religious
and moral feelings; 5utby general influence
on the intellectual powers of mankind. 1t
opened the mind and showed that there is an
uacdrd man, which needs as much care as the
otalcard man. IL directed the attention TO the
improvement Of the mind. Schools, for the
instruction OF youth, have been established,
wherever Christianity has been planted, in its
purity. Wherever Schools increase and flour
tinue the education commenced in Schools
The editor and teacher have. therefore, a com
mon interest II there are not good Schools,
there will be few sufficiently educated TO I'M
derstand and relish the best articles in a well
conducted paper. Rthcre are no newspapers
taken in district, there will be few parents
who will feel a proper interest in the Schools.
The editor and teacher having a common
inf kntr, nles oh,
Jet, the diffusion Of knowledge and the eleya-
lion of society. Why, then, is there not more
co operation, or al least more sympathy be-
tween fellow laborefs, or those who ought 10
be fellow-aborers in the same grea; work ?
There should be more union Of feeling aud of
effort among those engaged in a common
cause. They should not contract their views
to the narrow bounds o. selfish policy, and
content themselves with the pursuit Of wealth
and personal popularity. II seems as though
the teacher must have narrow mind. II he
contents himself and satisfies his conscience. In
the dull routine of giving fixed number OF
weekly lessons, and daily instructions in the
elements of the sciences. He has a Ear more
important work, the moulding Of character,
and the dseiplining of mind. He may often
dilfuse among the parents, taste for know
ledge which will contribute much 10 the hap
piness OF families and to the pleasures of So
ciety.
On the other hand, we cannot respect the
editor, who debases himself by publishing and
circulating the mean, the tor, and the UUlgdr,
who condescends 10 cater for a corrupt.peryer-
ted taste. and thus perpetuates It's vieness or
who lends himself mere tool for some polti-
cal party. lie ought TO be able 10 fill large
portion of his columns with matter suited TO
improve the taste and enrich the understand
ing. What occupation is more responsible, or
more honorable than that of the instructor,
whether he is in the pulpit, the hall Of science,
or the EDITORS arm chair He does not deal
in the material, but in the spiritual. II he is
faithful. he is dispenser Of mental wealth
and OF durable riches. Let every man in
such situation be faithful in his duties, and
the question will rarely be asked respecting the
value of general education, and general diff
fusion Of knowledge.
The schools in this section OF country, will
accomplish comparatively litlle, if they are not
attended and followed by the influence OF the
press. Jealous teachers may labor constantly
and faithfully, but little permanent benefits will
result from their abors, unless the pupils CON
tinue the practice of reading till they have ac-
CURED the habit Of improving their leisure
hours with books.
To establish the practice and fix the habit.
every family should take nelcspdper, which
coming among them every week, may in
modest way, invite them to withdraw their at
tention. for time. from the firing cares Of bu-
sy life, and listen 10 the voice Of instruction.
He s'must be duh indeed, and stupid, who can
presist for week after week in declining such
an invitation" When the laboring man, al
the close of the day, comes home from his
wearisome tolls, how pleasant and how prof.
table 10 sit with the weekly sheet before him,
and refresh the mind, while the body IS repo-
sing A little mental food, at such sea
son, is like a cold draught from the pure
flowing fountain, when one is tired Of labor,
and oppressed by the heat of a summer sun.
viii merely add, that the newspaper is a
means ofuseful information. The man who
never looks into a weekly paper, you general
ly conclude, is deficient in extended knowledge
Of human nature. He may tfauel, but he
will derive comparatively litlle advantage from
his observations, ifhe does not read.
The newspaper has been called s'ihe reilec-
ton Of the age" AS in some large European
cities, the ladies arrange mirrors over their
so that, withoutmoving their chairs,
they can see all which is pas ing in the busy
street, so that the man OF business. by his eve
ming fireslde, by looking in his paper, as in a
mirror Of the times, can observe each peculiar
form and lineament OF the age, with lis move
ments and its tendencies. Reading Pap Gu
.cHe
SINGULAR WmL.-DuDLEY PrcKMAN, who
died about month ago. was one Of the veal
ihiest and most distinguished merchants OF
Salem, Mass. The value OF his estate is es-
limated at 81 100000, which was distributed
As follows The sum Of 100000 was given
in trust to each of his six children, which he
hoped would keep them out of the poor house
to each of his servants he left the sum OF 81 5
10 the Church Of which he was a member the
IL. - ~. had ncc1nin.i i,r Anlf cnr.t,