The Democratic advocate., 1878-12-14
LETTT;R FROM BALTIMORE.
Correspondence of the Democratic Advocate
BAIrIMoRE, December IL, 1873.

thoroughly Democratic it has commended itself TO
fhe public less by the honesty OF us course th4h
Inv its intellectual ability.
O'Tbis Language is one of the numerous evidences
of a fact worthy of note, namely, that the higher
Journalism of these days is becoming practically
separated from the political partlsanshlp that was
once deemed essential to IT, Ina. TINS Is an out @
yrowth of that advancing civilization which has
marked so many other lines of thought and activity
in this century, few can doubt As sucn II must be
hailed with satisfaction by all who watch with inter
ast oIIr intellectual progress as people, and who
recognize in journalism one OF the prnclpal cnan-
nels through which the public may be made TO feel
the currents of the best contemporaneous thought
and sentiment. Representative American Wrlters
are mentally and morally vigorous TINS Vlgor gives
birth to courage and courage demands sturdy IN
denendence The distinction is now made III prac-
rice which it was never difficult to make in theory
that the acceptance of certain formulased pontcal
r;ncinles does not necessitate approval of all the
measures adopted by the majority of the constituted
defenders of those principles. ,v
The party organ strictly so called, mas become eA-
eeptioIal The great newspaper no longer pourS
fourth its volume of praise or censure irrespective Oh
facts. .,, 80 a. INC
set forth by Mr.. Parke Goodwin:
THAT species of composition is not confined 10
cbrnnclng events or to fighting the battles of tran
sient parties. Higher objects often engage IT. Inc
instruction of society in the nature OF government,
the inculcation of great principles the application
of udicious criticism the development and control
of social tendencies the direction of public opinion
the exposition of public characters the prosecution
of grand moral reforms, and the correction OF pre-
yailing niquities and frauds, are among It's primer
pal functions Journalists are Nv what n Sofe Ser nos Of
their vocation it is because society aIs snort III ls
demands -. :. . o1,, d;snos
Dassionate and impartial manner direct the atten-
lion of YOUR readers to the journals supported py
this community. l beg to say that, while IL Is not
nv purpose to attempt an exhaustive consideration
of their merits, possibly my remarks may be OF ser
vice in showing, to some who may not yer reaiZe IT.
that there is way of judging newspapers without
Dassing at all upon their political tenets:
In noticing the newspapers of Baltimore, am am
persuaded that competent and closely scrutlnlzng
ionrnalist would begin with The Sum- In Its career
of nearly half century this paper has attained SUM
cient breadth and editorial 10 pc
terstics is that il is conspcuously adapted ake 70
the wants of the highest and the hum6lest respect
fully needing the intellectual status, the social usages
and the enlightened opinion of the community 10
which it bears important relation, IL displays
fine critical Judgment, not only IN the collectlon
measure and arrangement of the news it publishes,
hut likewise in the nature OF that wmch ~ eAcluues-
Possibly its scope would be somewhat wldened Dy u
full recognition of the fact that it IS the one paper
which nobody of whatever party, can well do with
out think, however, the widening process is now
going on. The letters OF Mont, the regular 1orelgn
correSpondent are often pedantic verbose and care
essy written though these characteristics are not
50 observable lattery but they give evidence OF
,,,cb diversified knowledge and manly spirit are
nearly always interesting and frequently brilliant.
The New York letters of Stuyyesant, teilcltouSly
chosen pseudonym, are very pleasant reading. IN
mstakabe in principle. conservative in tone reserv-
edIy independent in the treatment of public ques-
tios The Sun cannot fail to weld potent influence
Wherever its character is known. Mr. Edward Spen-
Ger an accomplished lMerdtea, has recently been
a6
liberal in the collection but less wise in the selection
of news than its competitor; 1t is more impatient
amid untoward circumstances, and more spasmodlc
in its efforts to hasten progress and 1t has at times
seemed to to be more given TO the dlscussson OF
matters of little local interest But there are times
when its extended reports of occurrences OF interest
are Invaluable The dramatic articles deserve men
ton. The commercial department ranks nigh, un'
derstand among merchants. Jennie june" the
New York correspondent is versatile woman and
an easy and graceful writer whose weekly letters
may be read protaby BY our students OF social ques
nf iUh
True to its principles, and outspoken IN the adTo
cacy of them The american yet evnces occasionally
toward those of the opposing political faith frater
nal spirit that is worthy of hearty recognition On
the whole this old journal which was establishedm III
1773 may, like The sun be Pron0uneed one OF @ lne
York. Mr.. Harry Ford a capable young journalist
has l have been informed, lately been promoted to
the position of managing editor
AS an afternoon paper, the EueniRg Bulletin is, nc
doubt the best the city has ever had. That 1t IS In
dependent in politics the IN y41i ~
bores. 1t assumes that its readers have read the
morning papers; and when one has finished its out
side pages on which he has found not little foreign
and focal news and turns to the inside with the eX
pectation of finding interesting comments on cur
rent affairs, it is rare exception II ne pc dlsap,
pointed. There no long and compact leaders OF
forbidding aspect to be skipped but the editorials
are of readable length and material often taking the
form of brief notes. The literary and dramatic no
tices though not elaborate, show culture. The
Table Talk is entertaining and the scissors do good
work in "Odd Moments" In short, when one un-
TO the fireside with genial friend.
The asete is less bellicose than formerly, is some
ifs ifs egarV gan department taking foremost rank
The EUening Ne1cs merits its name, and, though
regularly partisan is popular seeming to aspire e
Free Press. and the Burlington HdJ3keye
The Morning Herald, our only one-cent paper, is
enterprsing and pugnacious, and promises to find
the room and nouriShment necessary for healthy
1t may be justly said, upon this exhibit, that oul
fir9Nhc fn6 IN fhD
ments of those who support it, and destined to grow
more and more influential Baltimore increases its
metropolitan proportions
tainment is the popular lecture system, which was
in vogue at the North some years before II was adop
ted here. The amount of good done by the literary
scientific and reformatory lectures annually deliv
cred in this country is incalculable. There was a
time when lecture was especially to the minds Of
the young, of the driest things imaginable, and
the gaunt lecturer with his goggles and his pile o
manuscript had to discharge his rhetoric at many
empty benches and few heroic listeners But now
we have new order of things. By making some
concessions to the popular mind in the mode OF ex
pressing his thoughts and by cultivating the graceS
of oratory, the lecturer has succeeded in winning
theatendance and enthusiastic support of the people
We have heard in this way, from time to time III
the last few years, many of the most distinguished
orators and scientists of this country and some from
abroad.
Our most valuable regular courses are those at the
Peabody Institute. Prof. Raymond, of Boston Uni
yersity School of Ora tory is now lecturing there
on Shakespeare and giving readings from his plays
Mr. Sidney Lanier is giving at the same place Sc
ries of lectures in separate shakespeare Course"
four o'clock in the afternoon, and will be followed
in the same course by Mr.. Edward Spencer and 9TH
ers A new scientific course has been instituted at
the Maryland Academy of Sciences, opening with a
series on Chemistry by Prof. Ira Remsen, of the
Johns Hopkins University. The Rev. Arthur Muir
SELL an eloquent Englshman, delivered lecture at
the hall of the Young Mems Christian Association
last evening Charles Dickens, and will deliver
one tomorrow evening on David Livingstone" On
the same evening we shall have at the Academy OF
Music the irrepressible, irreverent but singulary
gifted popular orator, Col Robert Ingersol who will
try to point out Some Mistakes of Noses" Joseph
Cook has been here this season. Some more of his
antidote will probably be needed for IngersolrS
poison.
The athletic exhibition, recently given at the
Academy of Music by the Wallis Club and their pro
fessionai assistants including some United States
Naval Academy instructors, was something new
here and something which, in my opinion, though
it was given under the best social auspices and was
voted quite success, would not bear frequent repe
tition True perfect physical development is greatly
to be desired and should by the most available
there will be danger of giving freer scope to those
brutal instincts which the officers of the law already
find sufficiently difficult TO restrain lallude to this
only as possible outcome if such exhibitions should
be continued and "popularized.
Miss Genevieve Ward, a talented and rising Amer
ican actress is playing Queen Katherine in Henry
the Eighth" at Fords Opera House. Miss Marie
Gordon the stage name of Mrs. John I. Raymond, /:
playing the chief part i'll the dramatization of Mrs
Burnetts THAT Lass o LoWries at the Holiday
Street Theatre, which, under its present manage
ment is again giving trst-claSs entertainments.
The "Midgets' have been the great attraction a
the Masonic Temple for some time. General Mite
fourteen years old, weighs only nine pounds! Lucia
Zarate fifteen years. weighs four pounds and three
0uartersl CHESAPEAKE.