Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-10-27

weeks ago Boston paper had, in large cap
itals, one column headed in this wise
"Another mysterious death. Poison sus
pocted The wife of the victim supposed to
have murdered him" Then followed an ac-
count Of tho death and the rumor Of poison.
A day or two after, in small letters, in an
obscure corner, was found the statement
that the man had died Of opoplcxy, and that
there was no poison in the case. We think
that the anonymous reporter who, catching
up, or making, perhaps, such rumor intend
ed TO be published, causing to the bereavcd
wife, If she should see it, untold anguish
and producing a lifelong suspicion of her
in the minds Of thousands who saw the ilam-
ing charge, but not the obscure wiutation,
deserved the utmost punishment that the
law visits upon slaudercrs and. that the pa
per which, with no further authority, would
print that which, il not true, was an
atrocious libel, likewise deserved the rigor
Of the law and the scorn Of honest mon.
But in the attempt to produce sensation
something more is necessary than accusa-
ton; the crime must be presented in vivid
colors hence we find, in a case Of murder
for instance, minute description of the
place an attempt to portray the struggle
an account of the mangled aud murdered
body, and its appearance when found a de-
tail Of the feelings Of those who found 20,
together with the grief Of relatives and
friends in short, there j. everything which
can feed that strange sentiment Of mankind
at large a shuddering delight in the mystic
rious aud the horrible, when personal synpa-
thies are not appealed TO-
We believe that this is vicious in the ex-
IRENE. It is not good to look upon evil
We forbid our children reading the cheap
class Of literature called the dime novel"
and yet we countenauce the newspapers
which make il a point TO be the first TO re-
port all the scandals aud filth of society and
all the diabolical crimes and outrages which
occur, and compared to which the plots aud
events Of the dime novels are feeble esca.
pades. We believe that the newspapers are
partly responsible for the crimes they pub
lsh II il a notable fact that deeds are not
far behind thoughts, and when community
is fed with every detail Of crime, We expect
TO find crime rampant within it. II is Of no
avail for a man who is continually suggest
ing thoughts and modes of sin to decry it.
and say that it should by all means be
avoided. 1t will come, and he will be the
promoter Of it, aud the daily papers, while
they exclaim against the wickcdness Of the
times, are verify guilty of it, in no small de-
gree, because they feed ths public mind on
the very nourishment which is productive of
it. The general conscience cannot dwell in
an atmosphere charged with rumors and re-
ports Of crimes without being deadened by
it, Soon it will become calous to evil, and
then participant in it.
In the works of Thomas Hood there is a
picture of man Of villainous countenance
whose form is dimly disceruible within an
encompassing pyramid Of darkness, while
beneath is the legend, " My nature is sub
dued to what it works in." 1t is a forcible
Illustration. Deeds Of darkness are done in
the darkness The tone of the physical, in
tellectual and moral systems is in direct pro-
portion to the purity Of the air they breathe.
We call upon the daily papers to help clear
the moral atmosphere, by giving utterancc
TO thoughts which will ennobe and not de-
base. 1t is not necessary to publish the ac-
counts of every murder, rape, theft, arson,
burglary and execution that takes place.
Better that they should be unknown than
be sown broadcast, the seeds of future evil.
Let us rather have healthy discussions Of
healthy topics, and learn that tn, way to
heaven is not found by looking into the mire
and filth of the earth, but into the clear light
of the skies above