The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-09-19
Per.omaIJowrn

The editor OF the News is deemed an
"old fogy," aud decidedly behind the age
OF Newspaper progress, because he does
not kindly take to the new departure in
journalism, in the matter OF "Society
Gossip" personal ITEMS" sc. Well, be
Is so--we plead guilty to the "soft i'm
peachment,' and are intent to be classed
ss "bchind the age in this, TO US, dis
tasteful method of dishing mp the news
for an intelligent snd rejecting commu-
atty. We cannot lend ourself 10 the be-
lief that it is the correct province of a
public newspaper 10 advertise the move
ments and actions of private citizens in
their daily walk through life. W. see no
just reason to parable the names of modest
ladies necessarily before the public in
matters purely domestic OF soeial; nor
are we willing 90 cater TO what.o believed
TO be o corrupt and vitiated taste-a NOR
bid desire to initiate conceited pigmies
into undue Importance, aud I'LL up our
columns with series Of trashy ''person
ais" of no earthly solid information to the
sensible reader, to the exclusion OF more
valuable reading. In our view, the pub
lie newspaper should be devoted to the
promnlgation of an intelligence pertain
ing to public affairs, public men, and his
tory that walks the highway-not 20 the
private motives or acts of men and wom-
en- who desire no notoriety and court no
fulsome public parade of their actions
Henderson News.
JUS, right, and these personal
items" are run into sheer taffy. dis
graceful to the editorial profession
The conscience of an editor ought not
TO be entirely deadened if be
does publish paper in small town.
aud yet all this trashy society gossip
is q mixture Of toadyism. tatfy and
downright lying. For instance, m en-
who are known to be dish ouest-who
couldn't buy beef.stesk on credit
must be noted as our worthy fellow
county man visited the city yesterday"
or women. who are remarkable only for
their hcmeliness. are chrooicled as the
"charmiug. beautiful and accomplish
ed" SC, &c. What would be thought
OF an editor who would thus follow
the movements aud actious of citizens
10 their daily walks of life, aud in ad
vertising the same always tell the
truth and nothing but the truth? For
instance. how pleasant would this "per
sopai" read:
''The hoIaeiy and silly Miss Sallie
Smith, sfler several weeks visit to rela-
tives, returned home Wednesday"
Or, what would be the result, if such
. paragraph as the following should
appear in the CouRIER
John Smith. . back W Gods circuit rider,
preached sermon At the - church
last Sunday evening, that tired most OF
his audience, and put several Of his con.
gregaiion to snoring"
II might be the truth. aud. certaiu-
ly, if,an editor writes about anything
be should write the truth. and yet
ouch paragraphs would give ofIense
Iu matters purely social aud domestic
il slways struck Us as bad taste to con
tinusIly parade the names Of modes
ladies and girls thus before the public
We think the papers Of this day ar,
mistaken in assuming that the cducst
ed public sentiment demands suci
gossip as news, but If public sentimen
does demand such aud newspaper
have to cater to it, why proper senti
ment must agree that the papers should
so word such paragraphs as to keel
within the bounds of truth. For ou
part, we've never been to Congress
robbed bank. or murdered any one
and claim oniy to be reasonably honest
but We are now too old to lie abou
such small things. It's the fashion
however, aud many good papers iudulg,
in whole eoIumos Of sueh matter; bu
il always reads 10 us like wsste o
space aud lowering of the dignity o
The profession, aud a beuc6t 10 one.