Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-10-01
Ny NEWSP1PER.

Who can estimate the value OF 4 news
papcl9 No one. until he has lost it-un-
Ill the pleasant periodical visits, like the
face OF a dear friend, bringing such fund
of wit. news and general intelligence
that it is always greeted with hearty
welcome. are withdrawn IL is in one
sense the light of the world-without
which the mental universe would he as
much in darkness a. the terrestrial world
without the sun.
There are books, it is true, good, wise,
instructive and entertaining; but they do
not tell us what we want 10 know of pas
sing events, or direct Us TO the best place
Of business. Neither do they inform us
who Of our friends are passing away or
getting married. or who has sailed for the
Eastern Continent, or who has rGturncd
frcm tour thithcr. etc.
did not think of this until | had form
ed the foolish resolve not To take the pa
per another year. The pressure OF the
times was severe. business doll, my fam
ily expensive, and it really seemed neccs-
saiy 10 rcrrcnch somewhere nj the end ot
the wear. So / thought rs sat alone one
evening, in dressing gown aud slippers,
with my feet upon the fender. had my
last paper in nv hand, which | pcrused
with n greater degree of interest than ev-
er before; it may be because | had rcsoly-
cd to part with it.
II tell you" says to my wife, ait wont
do: we must curtail our expenses; and !
will begin by Withdrawing my advertise
ments from the newspaper and order II
discontinued. Taxes will soon be due,
which must be paid; wood is enormously
high. but we can't DO without it nor gro
ceries and provisions, nor lights nor cloth
ing. nor many other incidental expenses.
We have plenty of books and magazines,
old 10 be sure, still they are readable, and
we must do without the paper for the year
10 come"
ats only few dollars year" said
my wife, quietly.
Il know that | replied, "but every
dollar counts now a-days."
.But YOU do not believe il will have a
tendency to render business still more dull
not 10 ADVERTISED" ?" she asked.
Nonsense place so well established
needs not so questionable lever TO help
it on. do not suppose that it will make
auy difference, while the cost ofadvertIs-
ino amounts tn considerable" | replied,
impatiently.
But what will you do for news" she
yen,ured again.
"Oh, l can get enough of that by the
intercourse with others, and occasionally
buy or borrow a copy"
John Smyih." said my wife, now full
" aroused, 81 am ashamed of you.
What3 too poor to take paper yourself
and vet willing to lilch information from
others whose money is paid for what they
learn. and at the same time deiraud the
honest publisher who is constantly labor
ing with head and hands for others good.
Talk about retrenchment-you had better
stop some of your bills al the saloons for
ale and cigars-needless expenditures for
Yourself alone while your newspaper is
perpetual feast for the whole family.
Yourself not excepted, and it costs but the
merest trifie in comparison to the money
YOU spend every week for tobacco and
drink. You have not spoken OF The in
creased price of these articles. Stop the
paper. indeed!" and my wife ierked her
chair around with not very graceful
movement, and sat with her back toward
me in utter contempt of my penny wise
and pound foolish resolution"
Now make it point never to yield
to my wife or any of my family, If can
helm it, as in case should, | would seem
a secondary consideration in my own fam
ily, position ] by no means intend to occu-
py; so l said nothing. but sat and puffed
my fragrant Havana, watching the grace