The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-12-03
only q Country weekly.

It is only a country weekly! Yes,
that is all. But do those who allude to
it with an intentional sheer ever reflect
upon the duties and mission performed
by the poor, obscure country weekly,
which is as much, nay more. to its few
hundred readers i'll the country as is
the great metropolitan daily toits thou.
sands of readers in the city. Oh, no.
they never think Of placing any esti-
nation upon the worth.o of a country
paper; it has none within the narrow
limits of their superficial and contract
ed brains. They will not admit of the
utility Of any form Of newspaper save
one which is crammed full of Geographic
dispatches, giving the minute details of
some revolving and nauseating social
scandal; the hour at which the Cham
berlain Of the Imperial Palace at Ispa-
han put his Most Serene and Mighty
Highness, the Shah, to bed; that the
savage Gallas of Abyssinia had abjured
the tenets of the Coptic faith, and had
bowed down in alteration at the shrine
of Mecca's Prophet; that the poor, I'M
offending Papuan of the Celebes was be-
ing slaug htered by the Dutch invaders
from the neighhoring isle of Macassar.
and SO on, in an infinite variety of de-
tail, all Of which is read with an avid
ity that betokens the Importance of
these things to city gentleman. But
the financial, commercial, agricultu.
raj, religious and social condition
of the millions of his fellow citizens re-
siding without the environs of his
mighty empire of few miles in area is
a sealed book, he has never opened its
pages to inquire within; he knows
nothing ofit; put him to the test and
you will find he knows more about the
condition of the Berbers of Northern
Africa than he does about the people in
the neighboring county. We turn
away from the contemplation of this
human superficiality, of which there
are thousands, to turn to the practical
and common sense man, who wishes tC
be informed as to the pursuits, condi
ton, and prospects of the people of his
own immediate State and county. HI
finds in the rural paper the informa
ton he seeks. The country organ il
to him the camera lucida, which faith
fully portrays all that occurs it is, il
a great measure, the reflex Of the char
acter of the people comprising thu
county wherein it is published. Blu
what is the interest which even he de
rives from it. compared to that which
is felt and entertained by the country
people themselvcst 1t is everythin!
to them. In it is found news which
they alone, probably, can appreciate ant
understand information as to friend
and neighbors, the condition Of thu
crops and market quotations, which t.
the farmers and the tradesman in tn
country is of primary importance
matters of local consideration wherein
they are interested, and hundred an
one different things which affect and in
terest them, both privately and public
| ly. The country organ performs anotE
er function which can only be effectua
ly done by it. AS medium for advel
Using it offers facilities which are un
surpassed. By it the farmer, the labo,
er, and the mechanic become acquaint
ed with the goods and wares of tn
tradesman; they learn where they ca
purchase what they desire, and at tn
lowest prices. The county newspape
is to county what nutritious food is
a convalescent: it helps to build it u
and develop all that is good in it. Til
. county that is without one is like
waste pain without elevation, froi
which person desiring to examine tn
surroundings con make no observation
San Mdteo. lCdL..l Times.