Smyrna times., 1859-05-26
The Local Paper and its Relation to
Community.


There is perhaps no one thing in commu.
aity which exercises the influence of the Local
Paper, from the fact that it is the medium OF
the channel through which are expressed the
opinions, pro and con, of the events that excite
the public mind-besides being the vehicle
which carries to every mans door (f he be a
srblc c-spirited man) the news OF the week of
local character and otherwise, maria ees,
deaths, public announcements, and last, though
not least, the business matters of the commu-
nity, which alone are often more in a mans
uocket than several times the subscription price.
In regard to the publishing of great amount
or variety.of reading matter, no one can expect
a paper located in a town of thousand or two
inhahitants to furnish as much or as able mat
Ter as its cotemporary located in city with
its hsBdreds of thousands. Besides, position
gives weight to opinion and the little paper
might be conducted ably for its size as the
large city paper, while it would not be quoted
once where :he latter would be thousand
tmes-and should the county paper have mat.
ter worth quoting, the city paper would get the
credit of 1t. The county paper is taken for its
lOcel news, and the Editors leaders, when he
has them, are read only When time languishes
on the hands of the subscriber. And for this
same reason it is net necessary for the paper TO
be q "mammUh sheet" as but few ever read |
sbe entire selected matter, Preferring the tales,
romance, &c, right fresh from the glittering
pages of the Neg York Ledger and ether aash
papers. and tn. general news fresh from the |
city dalfies, semi-weeklles and weeklies-ior |
the man who does net take one or more city |
papers is rather rare in these days The man
of family who does net support the local paper, |
even though he cares nething for it himself, |
stgndS greatly in his own light, if he, indeed,
have any regard for his family; for it is we'll |
known that childrea will read about {" home
afiirs," when they will read about nothing
else, and the fact that a majority Of the chill
drsn of the present time are so far in advance,
according to age, ef any previous time, may be |
attributed TO the local paper, from the pages of
which they have first caught the desire to read /
10 regard to the aon-supporters of the county
TOO iIliberal to suppOrta good county paper will
Rever make good neighbors; and that commu-
atty, which, because Of its niggardness, lacks
the desderatum of good weekly journal, will
retard the progress of Improvements, and
weigh down the value of every acre over which
its parsimOny extends" Now, we contend
that it is not only the interest common in a
neighborhood for individual success 10 business,
but it is the interest in business point of UieW
for every member of the community 10 extend
the circulation of his local pa per, we care not
whether he is personally friend or enemy Of
the publisher. To illustrate The individual
may have something lost or gone astray, and,
ia order 10 have the same restored, the greatest
publicity is required he knows not where it |
may be-but in the vicinity of his town paper |
for his oUn benefit he must make use of its
columns; then, notwithstanding he may have
been using his influence to injure it before, he
feels that while it contains his advertisement,
he would like il go to every mans door in the |
settlement. And this thing not unfrequently
happens with enemies of newspap apers-for
there is no paper consistent in its course but
what will have enemies. Not great while |
ago, the ladies' of q certain town determined 10 |
have "Festival for the benefit of their
church. and of course wanted " everybody and
his family" to be present; and among others
desired, was a well-to-do bachelor, living in
another neighborhood, noted for his liberaliry
in Patronizing everything conducted by the
ladies'; they accordingly wrote, but from some
cause inexplicabIe the letter never reached him
fortunately for them, however, few weeks
previously he had subscribed TO their town pa
per, and, reading the notice in it, prepared him
self was promptly on hand, and of course was
the pet of the occasion, because he made the
money Ay. 10 this instance the whole society
were gamers by this gentleman's subscribing
ts their paper. Instances similar would multi
ply on our hands.
Bot, beneficial as the local paper is, there
may be too much of good thing" Their
multiplication in a community becomes an oner-
oss tax on the people, for each business or pro-
fessional man is expected, by subscription, i'd
vertising, &C., to give them all lift," when
one quarter the number WoGld answer the pur-
pose as well. 10 leave the expense out of the
question. Were the number of newspapers in
the United States diminished one.half the
business community would I've the gamers by it.
A professional gentleman residing in a neigh
boring city remarked to US, few days since,
that he had to take all The papers published
there (6ye). notwithstanding one or two would
suffice him. His experience is the experience
Of thousands. While, therefore, every COM
munity which is able to support paper should
have one, and give it their united support, they
want some margin" FOR other papers out of
the State, which have greater facilities for fur
nishing the general and foreign news.