The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-09-10

family gatherings or social entertainments.
This is the more noticeable in reference to
what are called brilliant weddings"
large private parties, private balls en-
aaasque, and those gatherings which were,
at an earlier day, not to be confined ex-
clusiycly to the immediate family with,
perhaps, sprnkling OF n few intimate
friends, on the occasion tenth, twenty
fifth and fifteth anniversaries OF mar
rage should, in the good providence of
God, the married life of Il couple be so
long prolonged known as tin, silver
and golden weddings. There was former
ly but little of display on these occasions,
and so great was the privacy connected
Herewith that few, If any, outside of
those directly interested knew that any
thing was Transporting or had taken place.
A still greater secrcsy, if possible, sur
rounded engagements of marriage" as
the parties thereto and their friends
shrunk from all unnecessary pub
licity in connection herewith. Such
tuluS 10 IiuhliIS newspaper
mention Of any one of these
affairs was unthought of. The only item
which newspaper contained of any such
event was the brief and ordinary announce
ment, then as now, published under the
head of I" marriages" in cases of weddings.
Bat this is all changed now. Privacy no
longer surrounds these gatherings. An
engagement for marriage is now considered
as legitimate subject for newspaper
item as is notice for public meeting.
Now, "a newspaper is expected to publish
as full report of a private party, of a
| masquerade ball, of wedding and its
wooden, tin, silver and golden annivcrsa-
| ries as it is Of a public meeting or an agri-
cultural fair. Why this change? The
| fault is partly with the newspaper and
partly, perhaps mostly, with the public.
The first to enter this line Of journalism
was. we believe, the Home journal, Of
| New York. Its first attempts were met
with scorn and indignation. 1t was ac-
cused Of unjustly invading the retirement
of the home and publishing to the world
that which should be known only to the
| friends assembled. individuals known to
be connected with that paper, or who were
supposed TO furnish information thereto,
were debarred from respectable society.
| The person who communicated to the pa
per The fact that an engagement for mar
| riagc existed, or wrote out n report of a
wedding reception or other private party,
accompanied by the names of those
was held to be no lon ger "a gentleman. y
But the Home Journal grew in influence
and increased in circulation and came to be
known as the 'society paper" The pub
lie became less squeamish-if so we may
term il, but we think, after all, it was but
a creditable constituencies and, in fact,
| liked to see their "names in print" Not
| withstanding reporters were tabooed, these
reports increased in number until it finally
leaked out that upon the principle of see
ing their "names in print the reports
WIN iu hiohSu W thS eiNSio VI tho ShtSi
tainmepts themselves. This was the break
ing down of the barrier and henceforth,
these reports became an every day matter
with nearly all classes of newspapers, moi
being confined IN this country to distinc
tive "society paper" There is much to b'
said for and against this practice, but thu
conductor of paper has thus much to say
namely--that he furnishes the news which
the public Graves. AS for ourself, W,
think that there are many grave and seri
Gus objections to this class of reports, ant
that we should not allow, if we could pre-
vent it, any such invasion of our privacy
So long, however, as the parties most in
tereslcd raise no objection thereto, so Ion!
we presume will such reports continue t.
be published by the press. A reaction will
come some day, and we shall return to th
good old times and, again, transactions il
a private house will be held sacred frou
the public gaze. Such d reaction, such
reform, however, will never take plac
without concert of action and of feelin
on the part of both the press and the PEG
pie.