Washington telegraph., 1854-05-17
CAN'T AFFORD IT.

At this season of the year, when people
called upon to subscribe for papers, the excuse
IL can't afford, )" is very frequently made; which
being interpreted, means, Il regard other things
of more consequence to myself and family than
paper.n Rightly considered, there are few in
fuences which tell more immediate y and effect
ually upon the improvement of the family circle
than well conducted and hIgF-toned paper
Judge Thomas, of Worcester, Mass, in recent
lecture before the Young Mems Association in
this city, said; "The Newspaper Press is destined
to be the chief instrument OF popular culture. 1t
is intellectually the daily bread of the people
The power Of the press great as it is, is continu
ally increasing, and will draw TO itself and de-
mand for its service more and more of the learn
ing and talent Of the country. The eoquence Of
the bar, of the assembly and of the stump, create
a stronger immediate impression, but their sphere
is too limited to compete with the wide-s spread
influence of the eloquence of the pen As an in
strument for swaying the popular mind, they all
yield to it. The pen is the true lever of Arch-
nedes, and III the newspaper press has been found
the place for tulcrum."
The man of business cant afford to do with
out his paper. He must know the condition of
the markets. the financial prospects, and the pass
Ing events of the day 1t teaches him when to
buy and when to sell, and he often finds a single
paragraph worth thousands of dollars to him.
The mechanic cant affordn TO dispense with his
paper. There suggestions in it which his
brother mechanics have made. by which he can
proi1t; or 1t contains some new labof-savng in
vention which enables him to make the same ar
tice in less time The farmer cant afford to
carry on his farm without his paper. There is
that in it which, if properly studied aud practiced
increases the income of his farm. twenty, thirty,
or even one hundred per cent. He learns from if
what are the best varieties of grain. what fruits
are the best suited to his soil and climate what
crops have been made the most profitable what
implements are the best, and last. not least he
may learn the value OF careful observation and
accurate knowledge No one can afford to be
without all the means Of Information which are
within his reach. No one can oford tc live in
darkness when the world is full OF light, to plod
on IN ignorance when it is the mission of truth to
elevate and instruct the mind.
Least OF all, can any man afford to deprive
his family Of the advantages which journal of
the right stamp affords. What are few dollars
and cents in comparison with right views sound
principles and generous feelings! A word in sea-
son, fifty spoken, may change tie whole tone Of
life, and like the seed sown in good ground bring
forth an hundred fold in noble living and energetic
acting. 1t is a short sighted policy that consults
only immediate effects, while it overlooks the
far-reaching results which the most trivial causes
often develope in character II persons would
only take a. second thought, we are sure they
would never say Il can't Afford to subscribe Tor
paper which contains practical suggestions with
regard to the best methods of making this lie,
with all its varied interests what it should be-
But in papers as in every thing else, it should be
an invariable rule to provide the best. 1t is bet
ter to be ignorant than to be led estray, better to
read nothing than what is pernicious in its tend
ency
One thing is certain, we cant Afford to live
without the efforts to become wiser and better as
we grow older-we cant lford1 to act as though
there was no future, no lite beyond this life, no
eternity beyond time for our attainnents in
knowledge and excellence in this world will be
the measure of our happiness in the next.
tCOuntry Gentleman.