Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-10-06
From the Newark Daily Advertiser.
Rags and Pnner.

Everything is dear even rags are up SO much that
the very beggar carries treasures on his back Rag
nicking has grown into respectable trade-or, in
the language of the day, prOfesson-occupying the
time of numbers of the constituency of mayors and
aldermen OF our large cities. Rag Fair has dropped
it's old name and taken up the more sounding one of
latter. demaIiOn convention.
In this extremity, when the very name of rags is
Going out of fashion, it is wonder that the things
themselves should be hard to find. Everybody is
therefore, on the scent for substitute They can
not wait for cloth to wear out. 1t either don't turn
to rags as it used to do, or it goes beyond without
stopping like melon that rOts before il is ripe
Things it is thought, instead of turning to holes and
taters by are and tret, must turn into the unknown
{ of algebraic notoriety and wholly disappear in
equation. ("
What shall be done, then! exclaim the bookmaker,
the pampheteer, and daily journalist. Fig leaves
once made good CLOTH passable at least and satisac-
tory TO Adam and his wife, but will they make cheap
paper for present use? Bark, straw hay and stubbe
have been auscutated by doctors in this great COM
plant of the press, but they do not find them yet
actly good candidates for consumption.
In this universal paper mania which RACES about
rags we can think of but three ways in which the
world may expect relief The first is, that Europe
may continue to send us, if possible still larger
supply of rags the backs of the cargoes of town
paupeTs she is shipping TO this country. Should this
supply not prove sufficient, then the want may be
made up in the second place, by subscribing very
largely for the daily papers of immense circulation,
who affirm that the printed sheet less than the
white paper. RecOnvert these journals, therefore,
into white paper and of we have the article
desired at profit.
For fear however, lest these two excellent meth
DDS practical enough for use, third exped-
ent IS suggested, which has been prudentIy adopted
by the New York Tnbune-this is, print less, use
less paper This is something sensible and inteIi-
gibe. VIII anybody suffer from partial abstinence
from the consumption either Of paper spirits g
On the contrary, we think the consumers and we be-
ieVe the purveyOrs, or both would be large gamers
Is anybody the better for eternal reading any more
than for everlasting drinking There is nothing so
good under the sun that one may not have too much
of it. With much dltidence and tenderness we sug-
gest that not only are books getting TO be rather an
abundant crop but even the dimensions of newspa-
pers, the glory OF Americans, the absolutely neces-
sary morning meal OF Millions might be pared down
like pOtatOe and lessened of a large quantity of
husk without any considerable detriment to the
health comfort, and understanding of the sovereign
people of America. They would not be less valua
bic if there less of them. For example, does
anybody think the worse of the paper mentioned be-
the outside rind has been wisely taken off? p
The process does not hurt, but helps the remainder
that Is left And no reasonable man would think of
finding fault if the knife of retrenchment had
gone little deeper, or extended to some other dou-
bic Sheets since there would be in that case no &C.
CaSion TO fear that any of the excellent editorials
would suffer shrnkage. Muttum an pGrUo is not a
bad device and even pGTUum an pdrUO "a suitable
motto for some of us( has scripture encouragement
for It's effect when it directs that knowledge is TO be
taught by ''precept upon precept," line upon line,
- HFrP Il little and there Il HH[P."