Nevada national., 1859-11-12
NEWSPAPERS.
ny JAuEs EussELL LowgIr.


BY JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL
Wonderful to him who has eyes 10 see it
rightly 10 the newspaper. To me, for exam
pie, sitting on the critical front bench of the
pit, in my study here in Salem, the advent
OF my weekly journal is that Of a stroling
theatre, or rather Of a puppet show, on
whose stage, narrow as it is, the tragedy.
comedy, and farce of life are played in lit
tie. Behold the whole huge earth sent to
me hebdominally in brown paper wrapper.
Hither to my obscure corner, by wind, or
steam, on horseback, on dromedary back,
in the pouch Of the Indian runner, or click
ing over the magnetic wires, troops all the
famous performers from the four quarters
Of the globe. Looked at from point OF
criticism tiny puppets they seem all, as the
editor sets bis booth upon my desk and Of
ficiates as Snowman. Now, can truly see
how little and transitorJ is life. The earth
appears almost as a diop Of vinegar, on
which the solor microscope of the imagina-
tion must be brought u bear in order 10
make out anything disiinstly.
The anImalculG there, in the pea-jacket.
is Louis Philippe. just laided on the coast
of England. The other, in the surtout and
cooked hat, is Nepoleon Donaparte Smith,
assuring France that she need apprehend no
interference from him in the present alarm
ingjuncture. AT that spot where you seem
to see speck of something in motion, is an
immence mass meeting. Look sharper, and
you will see man brandishing his mand-
bles in an excited manner. This is the great
Soandso, deIendinghis position amid tumul-
tuUus and irrepressihe cheers. That inflnin-
tessmal creature, upon whom some score OF
others, as minute as be. are gazing with open
mouthed admiration, bis famous philosopher,
expoHnding to select audience their capa-
city for the infinite. That scarce discern
able puiiet OF smoke aud dust is revolu-
tion. That speck there is reformer just
arranging lever with which be is to move
the world. And 10 there creeps forward
the shadow of skeleton that blows one
breath between its grinning teeth, and all
our distinguished actors are whisked of the
slippery stage into the dark beyond.
Yes, the little show-box has its solemn
suggestions. Now and then we catch q
glimpse of grim old man, who lays do~a
a scyihe and hour glass in the corner while
he shifts the scenes. There, too. in the dim
background, weird shape is ever delivering.
Sometimes be leans upon his mattock, and
gazes, as coach whirls by, bearing the
newly-married on their wedding jaunt. or
a glance carelessly at babe brought home
from christening. Suddenly Qor the scene
grows larger and larger as we look) bony
hand snatches back performer in the midst
Of his part, and him whom yesterday two
infnites (past and future) would not suffice,
a handful Of dust is enough to cover and
silence forever. Nay, we see the same flesh
less fingers opening to clutch the Snowman
himself, and guess. not without shudder,
that they are laying 10 wait for spectators
also.
Think OF it for two dollars year buy
a season ticket to the great Globe Theater,
whose scene-shifter is Time and whose cur
tain is rung down by death.
Such thoughts will occur TO me sometimes
as am tearing off the wrapper OF my news
papers. Then suddenly that otherwise TOO
often vacant sheet becomes invested for me
with strange kind of awe. Look Death
and marriages, notices OF inventions, discev-
cries, and books. lists OF promotions. of kill
ed wounded and missing, news of fires, acci-
dents, of sudden wealth, and as sudden
poverty. / hold 10 my hand the end of my
riad invisible electric conductors, along
which tremble the joys, sorrows, wrongs,
triumphs, hopes, and despairs OF as many
men and women everywhere. So that upon
that mood Of mind which seems to isolate
me from mankind ss spectator of their
puppet ranks, another supervenes, in which
ieel that 100, unknown and unheard OF,
am yet of some import to my fellows. For,
through my newspaper here. do not families
take pains the send me, an entire stranger
news Of death among them! Are moi
here two who would have me know of their
marriage? And, strangest of all, is moi
this singular person anxious to have me
know that he has received fresh supply
of Dimity Broisgiosi But to none of US
does the present (even for a moment discer-
ned as ssuch) continue miraculous. We glance
carelessly at the sunrise, and get used to
Orion and Pleiades. The wonder wears of.
and tomorrow, his sheet, In which q vision
was let down to me from heaven, shall be a
wrappage to bar of soap or the platter for
a beggars broken victuals