Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-05-20
PURLEC MoRALs.
Influence and Misdeeds Og the Press
What IL Should belts Tone n
Purpose. q


EDITORS APPEAL-A daily Memphis
newspaper has been handed to me by a
young spiritualist, requesting me to read
the account Of the fair at Rocco Hall, ia
connection with the Central Methodist
Church.. Ipass on to the words "Flirta-
ton Hail. meet my eye. Then follows
sit is q ladies' retreat, into which gen.
tlemen may enter upon payment Of a
small sum, and may enjoy a tete-d-tete
with some of the most charming Of the
softer sex, which may or may not re-
solve itself into a Irritation. Over this
abode of bliss and beauty is %appropri-
ately suspended a painting representing
an attectiOnate swan and maiden IN
close and dangerous proximity, which
may or not resolve itself INTO a.firta-
tatiOn.n How devoutly this cOnsum-
nation should be wished for.
! had never thought before that tiirt
was a complimentary term; had thought
that firts should be stunned, and that
fiirtatiOns should be discOuntenanced,
and that, more especially, by members
of an Evangelical church.
If the painting over this " abode Of
bliss and beauty be appropriately"
described by the reporter, 1 think it was
very much out Of place. | do not know
any place I would like to Suspend such
a painting.
rather think the reporter is atfault in
the description he gives of the painting.
1t is strange, too, how often such mis-
takes do occur in some of the Memphis
Journals especially if they are, willingly
or u~nwillingly, writing of churches or
Sabbath-schOOI celebrations.
They viii be talking Of how pleasing
it is to see thousands of beautiful chill
dren joining in the songs Of Zion, and
just then fly Off into a vivid deserip-
ton Of mackerels fighting for lemonade,
as If they had any cOnneethOugwith Sab
bath-schools, 0 any good Institution
whatever.
A man is shot down on II of the
streets. of Memphis for scarcely any pro-
vocation, and some reporters call it a
shooting-scrape, and often turn the
whole into ridicule by what they may
consider a witty remark, but which,
would designate as a nasty and clumsy
one.
A man is unfortunate enough to be
hanged, and his struggles, etc, are de-
scribed more like those of a shot buffalo
than of a human being.
1 do wish some of our reporters would
learn, when speaking Of the church and
her festivals, to speak in language be-
coming the subject, and not to use fig
ures and language, in general, calculated
to call forth the just reproaeha of those
without her pale-yes, calculated to
crimson the modest cheek OF the young
lady when reading such accounts to her
friend. Let the tone Of the press in
Memphis be exalted and pure, and we
shall soon see crime and vice of all
kinds lessen in a large degree.
A free press is the greatest blessing a
country ever possessed, but it is only
when the press is high-toned and pure
as well as free, that a country grows
great, physically and morally; a pure
and healthy literature, a pure and brave
people. Memphis is growing, in many
respects, and L do hope her literature
viii keep pace with her standing in the
estimation of other cities. There is
room for improvement.
AN OBSERVER.