Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-05-19
TERMS $3.50 PER ANNUM

abouts that he could not get an impartial
trial. This sent the case over to the last
term of the Court, when the motion was
no longer pressed, but trial demanded,
to which the States Attorney demurred,
but which, in view of the long incarcera-
ton of the accused, His Honor, Judge
Wheeler, ruled should be granted or the
prisoner released GA his own recogniE-
ance. The States Attorney then con-
cluded to go to trial with the case, but
finally consented to the release Of the
prisoner on bail, which the Court fixed at
$1,000, and which was procured through
the efforts of his counsel, and on that
same evening George Butterfly, for the
first time in twenty-one months, was per-
mitted to go out on the world, himself
and himself alone his custodian, having
learned lesson which it is hoped viii
make him henceferth a law-abiding and
respected citizen.
The fidelity with which Col. Joyce has,
without sufficient remuneration TO pay
his actual expenses, labored for the lives
of these unfortunate men, is commendabls
in the extreme, showing a spirit of iber-
ality too rarely manifest among members
of the Bar, while the ability with which
he has throughout managed the case,
stamps him at once as among the best
of the criminal lawyers of our common
-, ..r1nan IaylC Go
safely entrusted with the knowledge that
it will be honestly and faithfully con-
Quoted, even though it is done, as was in
the case of the Shrewsbury murderers
without money and without price"
THE HENEwsPAPER.-We read that when
in ancient times Roman citizen wanted
to learn the news, he had to go down into
the forum, and there, unless he fell IN
with some recent arrival from the prov
inces. had to content himself with float
ing rumors. The Venetian GdzettG, COM
menced during the war of Venice with
the Turks in 1888, was in manuscript,
and was read aloud to persons who paid
for the privilege of listening. 1t was in
England, while the Thirty Years war
was ravaging Germany, that the newspa-
per really began its career. Small in size
aud limited in range, it improved slowly
during century and half. In the es-
says of the eighteenth century it first rose
to the service of literature, and essays,
PLAYS and poems were issued in the form
and with the dates and titles of journals,
as the 7dtyer, Spectator, and their success
ors 1t was not till the beginning of this
Aa+ ha took the
character, circulation and influence of the
present state. Mrn still living can re-
member when the London Times was first
expanded beyond the proportions now eX-
hibited by the humblest provincial sheet.
Most of us have seen originals or
reprints of early American newspapers,
and marked their diminutive size, scanty
news, and the absence of any thing like
able and forcible writing. Later our
newspapers were querulOus and brawling,
and one of the first of qualities of an edi-
tor was facility and power OF invectlye-
But the progress of our people is in moth
| ing better exhibited than IN the news
papers of the present day. Although
they are stin open 70 the objection of care
| lessness, want of accuracy, and want of
dignity, they yet fairly represent the in
telligence and the inquiring and progress
i've spirit of the age.
At the present time the newspaper Is
one of the most potent political and social
agency in the civilized world Not even
the influence of steam, which Mr.. Parton
SO graphically describes, can be weighed
in the balance against it. 1t is the great
popular educator it determines inter
national relations, and is recognized by
e oil II.
and safeguard of liberty. The form of
the newspaper enables it to penetrate
everywhere, reaching minds remote from
other intellectual influences. And the
modern newspaper is not solely occupied
with Political and social questions, it aims
at occupation of the whole field of intel
lectual effort, and has contributed TO every
department. of human knowledge. Science,
art, and literature are all indepted to the
gorgon which devours them only TO repro
duce them in new forms, by which their
empire is immeasurably extended.
One of the best pictures in the spring
exhibition of the National Academy repre-
sents blacksmith reading a newspaper
spread out on his anvil, while the tools of
his calling rest idle at his side. The pic
ture is emblematical of 4" The Nineteenth
Century" and of America. In America
the newspaper, to a greater extent than
anywhere else, is " literary daily bread"
Travellers of all nations note the fondness
for newspapers as one of our national
traits. Put any scientific or literary dis
cussion, however recondite, into the form
of a newspaper article, and it will BE- read
by thousands who would not approach il
in any other garb In the newspaper II
is brought within the range of popular at
tention and becomes part of tine news of
the day, and the appetite for novelty
which will not allow any thing unusual 70
be overlooked, insures its perusal.
The incompleteness and iosccuracy of
the newspaper, is unavoidable. 1t j.
necessarily popular, comprehensive, and
desultory. 1t is representative, and re
fleets the intelligence, EiDtellectual wants.
principles, and preindices Of its readers
The extent of knowledge is too great for
any but outlines TO be introduced within
its pages. The news of the world every
day, Is too important to il, and engrosses
too much of its space, for what Thoreau
called, "that which was never new," to
receive much attention. Hence we must
not look to the newspaper for that which
is beyond it's capacity; but be thankful
that it has become so excellent and useful
in the broad field which is legitimately
its own.-AB1erican BooLseJer's Gutde for
Nay.
:. when did You shave F''