, 1867-02-01

4 =
out they are seldom themselves the subject of 3
Sermon We have to record an Instance of this
nature in discourse by the Rev. Brooke Her
ford, OF Manchester, EBgland. II is short, aud
would merit a transfer entire to our columns,
but as this cannot be- we shall make for the ben
eft Of our readers, an abstract Of some things
said by the reverend gentleman. They exhibit
a pleasant contrast to the rawlings of Dean ALI
word on newspapers. .tI cannot 60 (Mr. HerIord
begins) with that celebrated saving of Richard
| Golden, that there is more to be learned from
sheet of the Times than from all the histories of
Thucydides. Yet, for all that, bold their rea-
ding-theiS earnest and Intelligent reading
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 le.
quisite for a well-instructed life2 Surely it
concerns us more closely to know about the
world of man than 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 a great deal of triviality mixed
up with the story of human life Cf to-day. This
| is simply inevitable. Time sits out the petty
details and leaves the larger features more con-
spicuous yet be is not wise who is i'm
patient Of all these details, and sneers at news.
papers because of them. 1t does not seem to
be a true and healthy culture which draws all
mans thoughts to abstract science and recon-
dite learning, and leaves him ignorant of the
great conflicts passing in the world around him,
and impatient of the things which concern the
practical welfare of the society in which he
lives. The worst of it is, that this contempt for
newspapers is too often only symptom of a
deeper defect-a carelessness of the world and
Of man. There is nothing necessarily incoms
patible between deep study in one special direcS
tion and a warm interest in what is going on in
the living world. From this, as the centre,
stretch out your thought and interest and learn.
T. Il. a..
our race, back into old geologic periods if you
will, away to the tiniest star that the tees-
cope reveals, just glitteriug the farthest verge
of space. But first, and underlying all, are
man and the world around you and-the news
paper.
And let me especially urge the reading of
newspaper as distinct means of self culture
upon women. It may sound strange at first,
but | 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 pas
sing in it, whether they read the paper or not,
but it is not with women. They, in their
quiet, household life, may go on for weeks hardi
ly bearing word of what is passing in the
great world outside, and the little that they do
think this IS great evil 1t not only narrows
the range of womlns life, but she loses a great
deal of the happiness which would come of in |
terest with men-with father, brother, or a |
husband. Is is not too often the that the |
wife and husband live, to some extent, in differ
ent worlds Of thought and interest? Part of
this may be attributed to mans incommunica-
tiveness, but part of the cause lies deeper. 1t |
is because women are seldom educated to 4
take an interest in what's going on in 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.
wouId put it to women not to depend on the |
explanations and comments Of men, generally |
ly given, when at all, in brief phrases, but to
read the newspapers as a distinct, aud to them
especially, an important part of self-culture.
And read it Alright, not by voting politics and |
foreign news a bore, but by keeping an open |
aud an understanding mind for the passing his
tory of nations and the great interests which are
stirring the heat of the world, and they are re
lated in newspapers, which are not calculated to |
enlarge the mind but minister, instead, to gos> |
SHINING, morbid curiosity, and sometimes, in |
deed to arouse depraved feelings. But newspaI |
pers reflect alike the world light and its shade.
To the pure all things are pure, while the im> |
pure will find everywhere things which will |
make him more impure. There are some who |
90 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 interrupt for moment the thread |
of the reverend gentleman's discourse by the
remark that not few of the newspapers of the
present day are distinguished for their high
standard of ethical proprieties and studious
avoidance of whatever would bring blush to
the cheek Of modesty.
While speaking of the value of newspapers as
agents in Christian civilization, the preacher is
careful not to omit to mention their use as pop
ular educators, teaching homely, practical
wisdom to whole classe who, but for them,
would be at the mercy Of every demagogue or
every gust of popular suffering passion. Best,
perhaps, of all the uses of newspapers, in the
general culture of society, is that in which they
keep alive ana encourage quick and whole
some sympathy among men. 1t is not the small
gossip of neighborhood, it is the joys and sor-
rows of the world, that are brought to our very
doors from day to day in the newspapers. These
thrills ofsympathy come right athwart our daily
life-an element of deeper and diviner feeling
for which God be thanked. Mr.. Herford con-
cludes his discourse by Recommendation to
read newspapers discrmnately, choosing their
wisest lessons, gathering their largest use, and
after fashion they will come to be regarded as
''scriptures, not without something sacred in
tbem-an ever-changing Bible, not, indeed, OF
some calm, venerable past, but of present in
which God is as near as He was in days OF old,
and whose slow changes still the unfolding
of his will. Philadelphia Ledger.
- .5' 7'-'--
JOSH BILLINGS ON 0wBs.-Josh Billings says
of owls ''Burds is Gods choristers. Tew the
lion he gave majesty, tew the elephant strength,
tew the fox cunning, tew the tiger deceit. But
to the burds, his pets, he gave bnty and song.
Aud none so blest as the owl. The owl is
game burd he can whip anything that wears
feathers-after dark. BE is wise burd, and
boots at most things. He is a sollem burd, a
halw Iuaf 0f 10 Peace and q