Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-06-11
Reading Newspapers.
by HENRY WARD BEEcHER.

In The Unlted States, eNsr HOithl
citizen reads a newspaper and owns the
paper which be reads. A newspaper is
a window through which men look out
on all that is going on IN the world =
Without newspaper man IS shut up
in small room and knows little or moth
ing of what is happening outside OF him
sslf In our dav, newspapers keep pace
with history and record it. Nothing can
long be kept secret where newspapers are
allowed freedom in expression and cutter
prise. They rang, the world for mater
ais They unlock the most secret rooms
and pry into the portfolios Of ministers
and diplomatists. They proclaim the
kings words, the acts of parliament,
the laws of congress and the delibera
tons of courts of justice. They follow
in the wake of ships of discovery, and
report all new things found out. They
bring back from the wilderness the scouts
report. Thew 90 with armies, and re
port the detail of murders, battles and
of the whole campaign. They arc the
servants of commerce, of manufactures
and of all industrial enterprise. They
are full of the discoveries OF science
They record the progress of art. They
catch up the wisdom hidden with sslH
full experience, and spread it abroad to
all the people.
a good newspaper viii keep sensible
man in sympathy with the worlds cur
h.Ef nc IN ava
encyclopedia; an unbnunl book, for ev
er issuing and never finished ! While
the newspaper deals in solid information.
il has lately lightened its gravity by
sprightIy novels, by amusing stories, by
continuous record of wit and hu.nor.
so it not on Y serves the purpose of in
struction, but of amusement.
One can form a rough guess of mans
character by the newspaper which he
takes. If the Tribune is in bis house,
YOU may know that he sy mpathises with
wide awake men, loves progress. and rel
ishes stron4 and downright language -
But if it is the Times which he reads,
you may be sure that be inclines to the
side of moderation in all things. He
relshes mildness in style. Heidoes not
like an idea which is exploded in your
face like pocket pistol.
Ifyou find the Erehiag Post, you may
suspect in the reader good taste, Who'll
some love of literature, strong convic-
tons but clothed in courteous language
If it is tie Herald that comes daily,
you may be sure, whatever apologies he
may mike, that your neighbor is 'of the
earth's earthly" He does not care to
look at anything from moral point of
view. He svmpathizes with opinions
that represent low average of honor
and morality. - 4
In like manner, one caiIlearn much of
persons nature by the way they read
their paper.
One man with impatient haste chances
at the markets, at the stocks and along a
column or two of advertisements. As
for the rest, the proceedings in congress,
Bismark's speech, the working mems
convention and such like significant mat
tens, 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
ceeds to pick out all the narrowing events,
brutal murders. savage assaults, daring
robberies. riots and fights, horrible acct
dents by fire and flood and all the fecu-
liant matter of the depraved side of soci
ETY. she find and feasts upon. Every dav
she repeats the search. Every day the
wicked old world spreads before her all
its infinite variety. " hen she thinks of
the world, it must rise up before her like
the head of some gigantic bullg, pound
ed black and blue in some huge debauch
MlIder tastes pick up the sentimental
matter of newspapers-happy court
ships sad contretemps in weddings, all
the modern ROSY lore of Love.
But not half the world knows the lux
ury of reading newspaper. We see too
many of them. We are glutted with
news. Go into Punishment! Remove
far into the country, to some point where
the mail comes but twice or thrice a
week where few strangers break in, and
where the few neighbours live in primeval
simplicity. Now let the day come round
for the newspaper. That pay is reserved
for errands, aud the father is always at
the store whei the mail arrives. He
takes his weekly paper, fresh and moist
from the bundle and hastens home with
bis treasure. is Saturday. All the
house knows that the paper has come {.
After supper all gather around the fire.
The father puts on his spectacles, and
reads the secular news and some of the
amusing items, stopping to join the march
of events to last weeks knowl, dye.
Questions are put paragraphs are re-read.
Calculations are made. Domestic or ia
dustrial questions are discussed. The
whole family are alive. Few thoughts
stir them.
But the best part Of the paper to them
is saved till to morrow. There is one
service in the country church. After that
and after dinner, the paper comes forth
again, and all the Sunday reading is
gone through with.
The whole of it attracks the grown
folks. and half of it the children. "It's
enough sight better than the catechism."
says roiickmg boy whose constitution
does not seem TO have suffered from too