The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-04-09

enough sight better than catechism," says
rollicking boy, whose constitution does
not seem to have suffered from too much
catechism. But dull or sprightly, every
word of It is listened to. On Monday the
advertisements are read; and before the
next paper comes round. every line and
letter has been read, and many Of them
several times. Every day the topics come
up at meal-times. The conversation goes
on In the shop, In thh barn, and In the
dairy.
1t enlivcns the whole week. And so,
when city folks In summer 60 out Into
this pleasant village, they find that the
people know more about city life than
they themselves do. They are surprised
by questions about concerts, lectures, pub
lie men, conventions, and literary trans
actions which they cannot answer. All
over the land there are Intelligent fami-
lies with good newspapers, who know
more about the goings on in the world,
than they who live among the events re-
corded. And so It has passed to a prov
erb: "You must go into the country to
find out what has happened In the city,"
lit Is the-that comes daily, you may
be sure, whatever apologies he may make,
that your neighbor Is "of the earth,
earthly" He does not care to look at
anything from moral point Of view. He
sympathizes with opinions that represents
low average of honor and morality.
never find the "Cslestial Bull Dog" In
| family that do not feel sure that some
body has termagant conscience. That
paper makes It sure that It's readers feel
called upon not so much to "contend," as
to quarrel earnestly for faith" 1t has
mighty jaw and terrific teeth. Its doc
trinesis spread abroad with all the ten
derness of a steel-trap.
But II "Zion's Dove" Is found In fam
fly. I expect warm hearts, with zeal for
doing good. Such paper Is firm In Its
own convictions. and is lover of all good
men of every side. Its presence In the
house Is like dew upon the garden. Be
cause 1t don't love contention, 1t Is all the
more powerful when reused to conflict.
Who could doubt the nature Of man
who read no other paper than the "Uni'
ver,al Ragbagr' II Is receptacle Of odds
and ends-a little ofeverythlng, not much
of anythlng-a sort Of hash made up oi
the leavlngs of real business. 1t Is a
waste of sand, each particle good enough,
but too small for use. Only watcry weeds
grow we'll In such soil.
In like manner. one can learn much OF
a persons nature by the way they read
their paper.
One man with impatient haste glances
at the "markets," at the "stocks," and
along column or two Of advertisements.
AS for the-the proceedings In Congress,
Blsmarck's speech, the Workingmen's
Convention, and such like significant mat
ters, he has no time for them! He lives
for business, and for nothing else.
His dear aunt takes up the paper, and
composing herself In an easy-chair, pro-
ceedes to pick out all the narrowing
events. Brutal murders, savage assaults,
daring robberies, riots and fights, horrl-
bic accidents by fire and flood, and all
the feculent matter Of the depraved side
of society she finds aud feasts upon. Ev-
cry day she repeats the search. Every
day the wicked old world spreads before
her all It's infinite variety. When she
thinks of the world, It must rise up be-
fore her like the heed Of some gigantic
bully, pounded black and blue In some
huge debauch.
Mllder tastes pick out the sentimental
matter of newspapers-happy courtships,
sad contretemps in weddings, and all the
modern rosy lore of Love.