The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1853-08-20
From the Wavvrley Magazine.
READING:

Some one has said that of all the amusement Ia
tina, can possibly te imagined for an lndustri.
Gus man, after he daily tolls or 10 the intervals,
there Ia nothing like reading newspaper.
We have only to observe the difference be.
tween the haGtual readers Of n well conducted
newspaper and those who have no taste for read.
ing-who are too POOR TO furnish themsely.,
with paper, either literary, scientific, or vol,l.
cal, to be satisfied OF the importance OF cuI.ivat
ing dosire for reading such reading as is lound
in many of the enlerprIsing and deservedly pop.
lar periodicals Of the day That there are many
papers published that contain reading Of an iniu
rous and immoral tendency, is known to all
Aud we should, thsi efure, be careful IN selecting
from the great rRass such as constantly advocate
the principles Of true morality and virtue.
The press has become. to great extent, the
educator Of the people, and whatever receives
It's unanimous sanction aud support, is almost
sure to prevail. How important, then. that those
publications that seek TO inproTe and elevate
the character of the people should be well sup
ported. The rapid means OF communication that
We now enjoy, has been a powerful ins,ramen.
tslity in the general circulation Of newspapers
and Of periodical literature. And the man at
the presen, day who does not take a paper, has
no excuse for his own ignorance, nor can he be
justified in denying to his family the advantages
they might derive from it.
What can be more pleasant and profitable to
those whose circumstances require them to be
actively employed during the day. than to sit
down and persue the pages of the magazine or
the newspaper possessing the latest news. as
fraught with beautiful sentiments-the rich treas.
urss of the thaughtful mindl
Reading does much to drive from the mind
the perpl.xies of life, and to secure not only
contentment, 80 necessary to happiness, but such
information as will be OF permanent value lu the
future.
On the other hand, the person who has no taste
for reading is usually found to be selfish and su.
persttlous--the legitimate results Of ignorance,
which. by his refusal TO partake Of the lnforma.
ton that is within his resch, ,s, by the force OF
habit fastened more firmly upon him. No one,
however they may be employed has the moral
righ. to remain ignorant OF the condition of the
world around them. There are certain obliga.
tons that we owe to each other, and which can
not be disregardrd with inpunity. Man is, to
a certain degree, dependent upon his fellow man
and whether in the capacity OF friend or q cit.
izen, can not be held gultless for that non per
formanre OF their respective duties.
How. then. is the citizen to perform his duties
without Intelligence and how ls that intelligence
to be obtained, II not by readlngl 1t is tru,
something may be learned by observation; bu
but such knowledge is necessarily limited, ant
can only be partially applied for the benefit o
others
We say, then. cultivate a taste for reading
not only for the pleasure it will bring, but ais,
for higher aud nobler obect--ior tho valuabl,
information we may secure for the better per
tormanco Of the high obligation, Of life.