The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-03-16

~ Newspapers often sernionize the great
questions Of the day, and discourse most
officially on the obligations of international
law and the duties to each other Of govern
ment and people, but they are seldom them
selves the subject of sermon. We have to
record an instance of this nature in dis
course by the Rev. Brooks Hersord, of Man
chester, England. 1t is short, and would
merit transfer entire to our columns, but as
this cannot be, we shall make, for the bene-
fit OF our readers, an abstract of some things
said by the reverend gentleman. They ex-
hIblt a pleasing contrast to the rawlings of
Dean Afford on newspapers. Il cannot go
Mr.. Herford begins) with that celebrated
saying of Richard Golden that there is more
to be learned from sheet of the Times than
from all the histories of Thucydides. Vet,
for all that, / hold their reading-their ear
nest and intelligent reading, mark you-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 web instructed life?
Surely it concerns US more closely to know
about the world of man than to know about
the world of matter-to learn what is doing
in human history now than what has been
be great deal of trivialitv mixed up with
the story of human life of today. This is Sim
ply inevitable. Time sits out the petty de-
tails and leaves the larger features more con-
spicuous 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 q true and healthy cul-
ture which draws all mans thoughts to alb
stract science and reconcile learning, and
leaves him ignorant of the great conflicts pass
ing in the world around him, and impatient
of the things that concerns the practical well
fare of the society In which he lives. The
worst of it is, that this contempt for newspa-
pers is too often only o symptom of deeper
defect-a carelessness Of the world and of
man. l do not think this need be SO. There
is nothing necessarily incompatible between
deep study in one special direction and a
warm interest in what Is going on IN the iv
ing world. From this, as the centre, 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 viii, or away to the tiniest star that the
telescope reveals, just glittering on the farth-
est verge of space. But first, and underlying
ALL are man and the world around you, and
the newspaper.
And let me especially urge the reading of
a newspaper as a distinct means of selfcul-
ture upon women. 1t may sound strange at
first, but l 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 newspaper or not, but it is not so
with women. They, in their quiet, house
hold HE, may go on for weeks hardly hear
ing word of what is passing in the great
world outside, and the little that they do
hear conveying no living meaning to them.
l think this is great evil. 1t not only mar
rows the range of woman's life, but she loses
great deal of the happiness which would
come of intellectual compromising and COM
munity OF interest with men-with father.
brother, or a husband. Is it not too often
the case that the wife and husband live, to
some extent, in different worlds of thought
and interest? Part of this may be attributed
to mans ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, but part oi
the cause lies deeper. 1t is because woms n
are so seldom educated to take an interest in
what is going on in the world around them.
and so are unable, without tedious expiana.
hons, to enter into the news which each week
br1ngs from every quarter of the globe
L would put it to women not to depend on
the explanations and comments of men, gem
orally given, when at all, in brief phrases.
but to read the newspaper as distinct. and
to them especially an important part of self
culture. And read it Alright, not by voting
politics and foreign news bore, but bT
Keeping an open eye and an understanding
mind for the passing history of nations and
the greatlnterests which are stirring the heart
OF the world. There are, on the other hand.
things In the world, and they are related in
newspapers, which are not calculated to en-
large the mind, but minister, instead, to Cos
slipping, morbid curiosity, and sometimes in.
deed to arouse depraved feelings. But news.
papers reflect alike the worlds light and its
shade. To the pure all things are pure.
while the impure will find everywhere things
which will make them more impure. There
are some who go through the world like yul-
lures, looking out fer garbage and corrup.
ton; they will find it in newspapers. as thew
will find it everywhere Here we would in
terrupt for moment the thread of the rev
erend gentleman's discourse by the remark
that not few of the newspapers of the pres,
ent day are distinguished for their high stan.
dard of ethical proprieties and studious
avoidance of whatever would bring a bInsb
to the cheek of modesty. ga
While speaking of the value of newsna.
pers as agents in christian civilization. the
preacher is careful not to omit to mention
their use as popular educators, teaching
nomeiy, practical wisdom to whole. classes.