The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-05-12

1t has sometimes been made a mat
ter of reprosch that our people. and
particularly our business people, con-
6ne their reading chiefly to newspa-
pers. If the charge be true in point
of fact, and in regard 10 the masso of
men actively engaged in business We
persume it is true, the matter Is not
= proper subject of ~reproach. News
papers have changed their character
within the past twenty years. In
stead OF being mere political organs,
with occasional want advertisements,
they have developed to meet the re-
quirements Of the large and intelll-
gent constituency which looks to
them mainly for its mental pobuiam.
They have become comprehensive
repositories Of local Information.
With the extension OF telegraphic
facilities. they r enabled to present
each morning or afternoon an ept
tome OF all important news at home
aud abroad. They have become We
hicles of correspondence by which
nea and distant observers hold conf
munion with the public. Ia their
columns Of selected miscellany they
present, 10 abridged and readable
form, the choicest thoughts OF the
best minds Of the age. Their edito-
rial range has been largely expanded,
so as t. embrace all topics Of com
mon interest. They manage TO In
clude in some shape the whole round
of human affairs, and in this large
respect it may be said of them that
'sThey show, contain and nOgrish al the world"
The.e was a time when the dra-
matte stage vas the chief popular in-
struetor, aud in all ages the priest
has been an influential teacher. The
press has now become more import
ant han stage or pulpit, and we be-
lieve that making all allowance for
its im~perfections, it right wOrthily
meets the obligations of its response
bic position amidst the moving forces
Of the times. Il cheers, reerestes
and instructs Whilst the newspa-
pers have steadily been cheapened
10 price, the outlay for their equip
ment has been steadily advancing.
In this particular they challenge
comparison with all other enterprises
soliciting public favor. They are,
through the pressure Of a competi-
ton which yearly intensifes and an
exacting popular demand which ike
Oliver Twist ever asks for more"
urged on TO fresher and eostiier fea-
lures, yet their subscription aud aa-
vertiseing rates do not swell In ike
ratio. No wonder that they are a
popular medium of pleasure and IN
formation. But TO return to the main
purpose Of these remarks, are they
valuable rs educators? The general
Intelligence Of the people, the gener.
al growth and prosperity of the coun-
try settle the question afirmatively.
A tree is judged by its fruit, and the
Of this land certify by their
national shrewdnessH and good sense
that the school in which they have
been mainly educated is not an in
ferior one. Libraries may turn out
book worms but the academy of the
press quickens men for the business
of life. 1t may not be the profound
est learning. bnt profundity is not
needed for the average conduct Of
or for the natural demands of
social intercourse. The careful reader
of two or three good newspapers
will certainly become a well informed
person. In addition be will be prac-
ticslly advised of the living course
of events, the actual verities with
which be has to deal so that he is
forwarned and forearmed for the null
iiplied ~exigeneies of business. He
may ignore books but he cannot re-
puoiate the newspaper. If be does
the penalty of ignorance will in some
form fall heavily upon him. The
conclusion then at which We arrive
is that the press is the chief educator
and that its curriculum, though
neither exact or classic, is after all
best adapted to these modern times.