The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-01-16
A Sermon on Newspapers.
TFrom the Philadelphia Ledger. |

0cnASuAiy oh eiS WI SodgiOHS VI ihcCiAoolou
al law and the duties to each other ofgoy
|ernments and people, but they are seldom
themselves the subject ola sermon. W
have to record an instance-of this natur
in a discourse by the Rev. Brooke Her
ford Of Manchester, England. It is short
aud would merit a transfer entire to on
columns, but as this cannot be, we shall
make, for the benefit Of out readers, nab
stract Of some things saidby this reverend
gentleman. They exhibit a pleasant con
trast to the rawlings Of Dean Afford or
newspapers. II cannot 60 ( Mr.. Herforl
begins) with that celebrated saying Q
Richard Croden, that there is more to b,
learned fem a sheet Of t.ille Tinaesthan from
all the histories Of Thueydides. Yet, fo
ali that, I hold their reading-their ear
nest and intelligent reading, mark you
as one Of my essentials a. life. Newspa
pars deal primarily with the realms Of Ia
laapity, and they tell US what is going OF
in the, realm ofthe present time. Is no
this the primary requisite fora well in
structed life? Surely it concerns us more
closely to know about the world of mar
than to know about the world of matter-
to learn what is doing in human history
now thaa what has been done in iormei
times. Of course there must be grea
deal of trivialty mixed up with the story
sof human life to-day. This is simply IN
eyitable. Time sits out the pretty Dc
tails and leaves the larger features more
conspicuous; yet he is not a wise man who
is impatient Of all these details and sneers
at newspapers because of them. 1t does
not seem to me to be a true and healthy
culture which draws. all a mans thoughts
to abstract science and reconcile learning
and leaves him ignorant Of the great con-
Gietsin the world passing around him.
and impatient of the things whiehTconcertl
the practical welfare Of the society in
which, he lives. The worst Of it is: that
thls contempt Tor newspapers is too often
only.a symptom Of a deeper defect care
lessiiess Of thc world and maa. [ do. not
think this need be SO. There is nothing
necessarily incompatible between deep
study III. one especial direction and a warm
interest in what is going on in the living
world. From this as the centre, stretch
outyour thought and interest and learn
ing as far as you like, back to the child
hood Of our race, back to the old geologic
periods if you will, or away to the tiniest
star that the telescope reveals, just glis-
.tening on the farthest verge Of space.
But FIRST. Of all, are man and the world a.
round you and the newspaper.
"And let me especially urge the read
ing Of a newspaper as 4 distinct means Of
self culture, upon women. II may sound
strange at first. bat [ think it almost more
women than to men, and for
this reason; men. going out into he world
from day to day, are pretty sure to be
swept up to the level OF what is passing
in it, whether they read the paper Or net;
bat is not so with women. They, in their
quiet household lie, may go on tor weeks,
hardly hearing word Of what is passing
in the great world outside, and the little
that they do hear conveying no living
meaning to them. | think this a great
evil: It not only narroMs the range of wo-
mans life but she loses a great deal af the
happiness, which would come Of intellec-
tual compromising and community Of in
terest with men-With q father, brother,
or a husband. It is not too often the case
that the wife and husbald live, to some
extent, in different worlds of thought and
interest? Part Of this may be attributed
to man 5 incommunicativness, but part Of
the cause lies deeper It is because wo
men are 50 seldom educated to take an in
terest in what is going on the world
around them, and So are unable without
tedious explanations to enter into the
news which each week brings from every
quarter Of the globe | woji,,aa put it to wo-
men not to depend on the explanations and
comments Of men, generally given when
at all, in brief phrases, but to read the
newspaper as distinct, and to them espe-
-clally an important, part Of the select cul-
ture. And read it Alright; not by voting
politics and foreign news a bore, but by
keeping an open eye and an understanding
miha for the passing history of nations and
the great interests which are stirring the
heart Of the world
There are, on the-other hand, things in the
world, aud they are related in newspa pers,
which are not calculated to enlarge the
mind. but minister, instead, to gossipping,
morbid curiosity, and sometimes, indeed
to arouse depraved feelings. But news.
papers reflect alike the worlds light and
its shade. 20 the pureal things are pure,
whila the impure viii find everywhere
things which ,will make him more Impure
There are some who so through the world
ike Tu}tuFes. looking out for garbage and
corruption they will find it in news papers
.asitheyAwill fndsit everywhere. Here
we would interrupt for a moment the
thread Of the reverend gentleman's dis
couase by the remark, that not few Of the
newspapers of the day are distinguished
for their high standard Of ethical proprie
ties, and ssudious avoidance Of what
ever would bring q blush to the cheek d
mclesty.ss4.
While speaking Of the valns Of newspa
pers as agents in Christian civilization
the preacher is careful not to omit to
mention their use. as popular educators
teaching a honeiy,, practical wisdom tc
whole classes, who, but for them, woule
be at the mercy Of every clever dema
.sgsosue or every gust Of popular suffering
Or passion Best, perhaps, Of all the use:
OF newspapers in the general culture Q,
society is that in which they keep alive
and encourage d quick and wholesome
sympathy among men. It is not the
small gossip Of 4 neighborhood, it is thg
Joys and sorrnWs Of The world that arf