Smyrna times., 1858-08-26
The Family Newspaper.

opinions Lnat are held OF the value OF the family
paper:
"The progress of society constantly tends tc
increase the dstnctness and independence o.
the family, considered in the light of domes.
tic "rganlziti0n. AS men are better governed
vs. trade aud commerce are CONFIRMED to natu.
raj laws, as the various interests of citizenshin
in their bearing on the business and general
welfare of the community are more fully appre.
GATED, the privacy and sIcredness of home be-
come more essential to the stability and growth
at society. At the same time, the outward
W0rld acts with greater Influence on the fire.
side. CIvIl institutions, prosperous industry,
mechanical improvements, dIffusing inteli-
gence, contribute TO the strength and happiness
OF the family. And, in turn, the family pro-
notes the advancement of the state. A bene-
fcent interchange of good offices is thus main
taned, each working in its own provdential
sphere for the advantage of the other, and both
c'mbning their respective agencies in the on
ward march of humanity.
"Never has home occupied its own ground
more completely than at present. aud never has
the external life of society been more closely
conaeeted with its character aud condition.
modern household is a miniature world, insu-
lated within its own realm, exercising its own
prerOgatyes aDd enjoying its privileges, without
disturbance. Amidst this seclusI0n, it is inti-
nately identified with the movements of the
age; it is, more than ever, part of the BROTH
erhood of mankind; and nothing can happen
on the globe that does not affect its circumstan-
ces. Every day places its private fortunes at
the mercy OF those changes which are always
going on in mercantile and national affairs. A
storm on the ocean sinks its treasures, and
batIle IN IDda covers its walls with the shadow
Of death. But it is equally open to the meor-
atlng lRHuences of civilization. The great
werld takes no step forward that home does not
feel i; and as nations advance in the arts of
peace there is a deeper significance given to
marriage, childhood rises to happier destiny,
and domestic plety uiters a psalm Of devouter
thanksgiving.
y Among those ties which bind the external
life of society to the family we may name liter
ature as one Of the strongest and most impor-
tant. Every man of observation knows how
mucl the domestic idea has entered into mod
ern writing, and what a marked change in the
modes and manifestations of creative thought
has been produced since authors became con-
sclouS Of the kind of patronage they were to
receive. Indeed, the spirit of criticism which
las been developed of late years in the private
circle of the family has done more to elevate
literature than all our dogmatic reviews. And
what is still more striking, the vast increase in
the number OF those books written for the quiet
hours OF home. and especially for the hands OF
women and children, their rapid gain, both in
quality and quantity, over selecter works Of
science, shows Us that the intellect of the world
is enlarging its relations and coming into nearer
contact with household mind We rank this
fact among the most hopeful signs OF the age.
Whenever literature draws its inspiration from
such source, il must gather the best of wis
dom as we'll as the nObesI Of aspirations into
itself.
But our present concern is with the news
paper in the family. The period has not long
pissed when the newspaper was almost eXclu-
svely an organ for such thoughts and commu-
nicatiOns as were understood TO have reference
to men and their pursuits. Business, politics,
and such other distinct interests as specially ap-
uer,aiaed to professional and mercantile life,
occupied it's columns. One section of the
of the world, and it extremely limited, was un-
der the watchful eye of the editor, and his vo-
cltlon was restricted to jealous oversight OF
ITS aIfhirs A man among men, he had no other
standard than manly intercourse prcscrbes.-
His range was narrow, aud often his views and
temper narrower But when the free spirit of
an awakened aud enthusiastic era penetrated
into the operations of society when, above all,
mind. as mind, received an honest and liberal
,ecognition: when intellect was liberated from
;,o ;1,braIlnent to classes and Fictitious asso.
c;atioas and taught to think and speak for kim
dred intellect, wherever it had its abode; then
the newspa DER, first TO herald the dawnlng age
.,d 6rst To shine with its early light, spread its
lrradiating beams over the broad surface OF hu-
man life. The change so effected, amounting
10 a revolution, proved most beneficial. II II
did not restore the days of chlvalry, 1t created
a moral and social knighthoOd that refined sen.
,;nent and improved character. 1t made the
editor something more OF man by bringing
,he conventional rules OF society 10 bear upon
aim and by substituting public opinion Tor class,
opinion (ur, better said, -oplnlon)' II llfted
him several grades higher in the scale OF IN
,elleetuaI and B,oral being. The modern news
aaoer owes a large proportion OF It's power 10
liz fact that it has become the exponent OF So
o;a,v-soeie,v as constituted by men and wo-
,..a1-and Il dates this enhancement of its au-
snar;,v and influence 10 the time when 1t enter
ed the household as guest OF accredited re-
soectabiity and reliable worth
:. Phe posi,ions Of the two sexes, viewed III
x.l.,iou 20 the interchangcs of mind, are GER
,s;oIv mot linked together as they should be fol
.,.,al i,nuroyement, nor are they as sympa
-. IN Kindred offices of sentiment as thei
,',.;,,ess demands. Every intelligent person
Sbpah sexes, has often felt this P'nfully. Bu
:" - shsII il be improved! How may men al
80. az women as women, meet on common
.".'nd withost abatement OF faculty, each re
s,;niog his and her endowments, bolh 'hen
'Ia. 81 natures best sense, and yet opening
their uinds to each others influence 10 heart
ssvawship Of thought and feeling How ma
chose sympathies which new 50 irFquenIl
weaken ths intercourse OF mind between IN
sexes lie converted into agencies oI suengt
aud yigors But one method mas ever occuf,e ,s
TO US, Viz: to put them both ID Possesso" =. III ~
after s,,ainino mature life, under the inaueoc
Of The same master. thoughts. and through tn
zane genera. ins,rune nenta liiies--to give them.
tommoa property in the intellectual life OF th
Nnrd and Let thar hnaris III rob aiIke beneat [