The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-11-25
"THE YoUtNG FOLKS NEWS"

publisher in Philadelphia, is about to start a
weekly paper under this title. Sabbath
School papers published once or twice month
are now to be found in nearly all denomina-
sions of Christians over the land. We have,
too, quite number of magazines intended
for the special benefit Of the young. Posi-
bly, we may be thought by some rather be-
hind the times, in the opinion that there is
now an excessive eagerness abroad to have
something like Juvenile Department pro-
vided for every thing. That there should be
milk tor babes" as well as strong meat
for men" none will deny. That there should
be books and other literature peculiarly suited
to them is very proper. But is there to be
no limit to this kind of production? For pas
tors to preach special sermon now and then
to the young, and even TO the little children,
is likely to do great good. But are we to have
separate congregations organized, and sepa-
rate pastors set apart for them? Must this
process 60 on till they become substantially
dislocated from their parents and the older
members of the household? Many of the
soundest educators in the country think there
has been a decided mistake in excessively null
tiplying textbooks for the young in our schools.
"Easy Lessons for Beginners, are so multi
Piled, and explanations through every stage of
academic education are so profuse, that the
pupil is not taught self-reliance or made fami-
liar with the work of earnest wrestling with
difficulties. A mind educated to take in know
ledge by absorption-impassive as sponge,
will not grow into the manly strength which
true education ought to impart.
There is much which ought to be said and
considered in this line of remark, but for the
present it must be left with these slight init
nations. We introduce it briefly in this con-
nection, for the purpose of more intelligently
submitting the question to the judgment Of
rejecting fathers and mothers, whether it is
not much better, so tar as weekly newspaper
is concerned, that it should be miscellaneous
in its contents rather than special. Is it not
thus a more effectual helper in the work of
educating their children? Our reasons for
this opinion are such as these:
|. A far greater variety Of matter is given.
A perpetual harping upon any one string
brings a wearisome monotony. The young
people and little children like the miscellan-
eous matter of good religious weekly as much
as the other members of tie household.
2. Its effects are better. What if much
they meet with is not fully understood? Whatif
there are subjects, thoughts, words and facts
on all manner of topics which need explana-
ton ? There are matters which, Of course,
run too deep for the range of young minds,
and newspaper might admit too large pro-
portion OF them. But take any well prepared
ournalin the land-go through its contents, and
they will be found, in general, to interest young
people, every where, who are from five years old
up to twenty. Let these articles be read in
the family and made the subject Of converse
ton around the whole circle; let questions be
asked and explanations be given. 1t will sur
prise any household where the experiment has
never been tried, to find how many subjects of
interest are started, how many Investigations
are set on foot, how many minds become slim
ulated in the pursuit of knowledge and how.
many fine impressions are made upon the
hearts of all. Now one of the beautiful
things about this entire process is that it be-
comes family affair, and while there is much
that is level already to the capacity of the
children, the very fact that there are other
points which need explanation, is one of the
best things about the whole business. 1t
keeps their minds awake-it is a constant
stimulus to reach higher-it gives strength
and improvement to every faculty. Our idea,
in word, about the religious newspaper is
that it should be in the household somewhat
as it is with family prayers and family meals.
There are some little parcels of truth-some
bits of bread and meat specially suited for the
young, but in general they grow and thrive
best on precisely the same wholesome food
that gives health and strength to their fathers
and their mothers.
While, therefore, we would help on every
good enterprise for the improvement of the
" Young Folks" we take this good occasion
to express briefy-and we wish it could have
bee more forcibly-a view of the matter
which has long been fixed in our mind Let
our people more completely sustain the religi-
Gus newspapers already established, and let
Editors labor more faithfully and prayerfully
to fill them with pure, scriptura, healthful
sentim nts. With these we shall find no more
need for an additional weekly filled with "the
young folks news" than one filed with 1.-THE
old folk news"