Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-01-17
From the Philadelphia Ledg

al law and the duties TO eacn Olner OF gov
eminent and people, but they are seldom
themselves the subject OF sermon. we
have to record an instance OF this nature III
discourse of the Rev. Brooke Herford OF
Manchester England. 1t is short, ana
would merit transfer entire to our col
umns, but as this cannot be, we shall make,
for the benefit of our readers, an abstract
of some things said by the reverend gen
tleman. They exhibit a pleasant contrast
to the rawlings of Dean Afford on news
papers. -
cannot go,' fMr. Eerford begins with
that celebrated saying OF Richard Golden,
that1there is moretobe learned from a sheet
OF the Times than from all the histories OF
Thucydides Yet, for all that, | hold their
reading-their earnest and intelligent read
ing, mark yOr-as one of the essentials OF
life. Newspapers deal primarily with the
realms of humanity, and they tell us what
is going on in that realm at the present
time. Is not this the primary requisite for
a well-instructed life? Surely it concerns
us more closely to know about the world
Of man than about the world of matter
to learn what is doing in human history
now than what has been done in former
times. Of course there must be great
deal of triviality mixed up with the story
of human life of to-day. This is Simply
inevitable Time Sits out the petty details
and leaves the larger features more con-
spicuous; THE is not wise man who is
impatient of all these details, and sneers at
newspapers because of them. II does not
seem to me to be q true and healthy cul-
ture which draws all mans thoughts to
abstract science and reconcile learning,
and leaves him ignorant of the great con-
fiicts passing in the world around him, and
impatient of the things which concern the
natural welfare of the society in which he
lives. The worst OF it is, that this con-
tempt for newspapers is too often only 81
symptom Of a deeper defeCt-a careless
ness of the world and of man. | do not
think this need be so. There is nothing
necessarily incompatible between deep
study in one direction and a warm interest
in what is going on in the living world.
From this, as the center, stretch out your
thought and interest and learning as far
as you like, back TO the childhood of our
race, back into old geologic periods if you
will, or away to the tiniest star that the
telescope reveals, just glistening on the
farthest verge Of space. But first, and I'M
DERIVING ALL are man and the world around
you and-the newspaper. ..a -..-..-
"And let me especially urge the reading
of newspapers as distinct means of self
culture upon women. It may sound
strange at first, butt think it almost more
important to women than to men, and for
this reason: men, going out into the 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 not
but it is not SO with women. They, in
their quiet household life, may go on for
weeks, hardly hearing word OF what is
passing in the great world outside, and the
little that they do, hear conveying no liv-
ing meaning to them. l think this is a
great evil. 1t not only naITews the range
of wornan's life, but she loses a great deal
of the happiness which would come Of in
tellectual companionship and community
of interest with men-With a father,
brother, or husband. Is it not too often
the case that the wife and husband live, to
some extent. in different worlds of thought
and Interests? Part of this may be attrib-
uted to mans incOmmunicativeness but
part of the cause lies deeper. 1t is because
women are so seldom educated to take an
interest in what is going on in the world
around them, and so are unable without te-
dious explanations to enter into the news
which each week brings from every quar-
ter of the globe | would put it to women
not to depend on the explanations and
comments of men, generally given when at
all, in brief phrases, but to read the news
papers as distinct, and to them especially
an important, part of the select culture.
And read it Alright, not by voting politics
and foreign news bore, but by keeping an
open eye and an understanding mind for
the passing history of nations and the
great interests which are stirring the heat
of the world There are, on the other
hand, things in the world and they are
related in newspapers, which are not cal
culated to enlarge the mind, but minister,
instead, to gossipping, morbid curiosity,
and sometimes indeed to arouse depraved
feelings. But newspapers reflect alike
the worlds light and its shade. To the
pure all things are pure, while the impure
will find things everywhere which will
make him more impure. There are some
who go through the world like vultures,
looking out for garbage and corruption
they will find it in newspapers, as they will
find it everywhere" Here we would inter
rupt for moment the thread of the rev.
erend gentleman's discourse by the re
mark, that no few of newspapers of the
present day are distinguished for their
high standard of ethical proprieties, and a
studious avoidance of whatever would
bring blush to the check of modesty.
While speaking of the value of neWspa-
pers as agents in Christian civilization, the
preacher is careful not to omit to mention
their use as popular educators, teaching a
homely, practical wisdom to whole classes,
who, but for them, would be at the mercy
of every clever demagogue or every gust
of popular suffering or passion. Best, per-
haps, of all the uses of newspapers in the
general culture of society is that in which
they keep alive and encourage quick and
wholesome sympathy among men, 1t is
not the small gossip of neighborhood, it
is the joys and sorrows of the world that
are brought to our very doors from day to
day in the newspapers. These thrills of
sympathy come right athwart our daily
life-an element of deeper and diviner feel
ing for which God be thanked. Mr.. Her
ford concludes his discourse by recon-
mendation to read newspapers discrimi-
nately, choosing their wisest lessons, gath
ering their largest use, and after fashion
they viii come to be regarded as 'scrip-
lures not without something sacred in
them-an ever-changing bible, not indeed
of some calm, venerable past but of the
present in which God is as near as he was
in the,days Of old, and whose slow changes
are still the unfolding of His will? d
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