Litchfield enquirer., 1863-09-17

NEWSPAPER READ1Ns.-The Newark Da'ty Advertiser prints very sensible Essay from Correspondent on this much practised but it- tie understood business.
 Speaking of the power of the press, it would be considerably greater if there were not so much of it. A neighbor of mine, at my late residence in the backwoods of Pennsylva- mia, had seen but one paper Ii. e. one No.) for six months !; but hat he had carefully read and had made up his mind to vote for Abra- ham Lincoln. Such was the effect of one pa- per but had he read more, it is quite likely he might have been left in doubt as the most are, in respect to the principal topics of news paper discussion.
 There are, in fact, two difficulties in the case the one, that almost everything published is made the occasion of controversy, and so much said for and against it, that readers in general know not what to believe the other, that pe- riodicals are of such infinite plattude, that thoughtful men do not read them at all. Take one of the large city newspapers, weekly, or semi-weekly-who that has anything to do in the world ever thinks of reading it :? And if any one is so unwse. what does he get for his pains 4 conftsed mind and soeakened memory. Two very serious losses, for very nall gain.
 This matter of weakening the memory I suppose to be very grave one-a chief lnis. chief occasionod by the floods of reading sup rlied by ihe daily, weekly. and monthly press. You have seen Averrhoes catalogue of the weakeners of the memory? Coleridge propos es to add light reading: add, aN reading where the extent is wholly incommensurate with the substantial facts and truths set before the mind and distinctly contemplated and such is large portion of all that the periodical press now supplies.
 For myself, large paper is huge annoy ance j; and never do I witness the enlargement of a daily or weekly sheet, without the painful sensation of mariner that has had one more more of his anchors dragged from it's place have so much less hope that wisdom is still to be allowed some place amongst men.
 Gold beating, grant you, is good, but not for all purposes. Put my half and quarter ca gles in the form of gold leaf, and should be ill-equipt for travelling, or remittng funds to London. 1 want the gold in substantial form, so that can handle it without fearing that touch or breath of air will dissipate the whole from my fingers.
 So it is with the better than California gold formations of the mind. They must have limited, compact, stamped form-they must be CupduiE Ol 1 pioCC III euo poSnCVj anu htthu: or even in the heart, where some (by q great mistake) put their gold They must have certain palpability to the meditative power or they avail very little in the great transac- tions of human life-that real life, which here and there one deems better than any given by gold and silver alone.
 Were the periodical press not so much given to the use of the yard stick in making sales, these wares would be worth much more-add- ing to the stock of human well being. We should see them potent elements of the powers that be-capable of stirring up and laying such tempests as are wanted and not wanted among men.
 So exhort the Daily, be quiet,: never get enlarged, never print much Ii. e. in space), and abide an example of real efficiency in this little world of ours, as long as there is hews to be told, or no phantom of news to be kept back in the shades where it belongs.
 Vale, vale, c. s.