Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-07-31
THE E NEWSPAPER.

What is a newspaper? Fer thirty
eight years, boy aud man. l have been
engaged in the making, printing pub
fishing and editing Of newspapers ;
and yet l stand here, in this presence,
after all hat period, frankly saying
to You that l cannot answer my W
question In q aun which shall
either satisfy myself or instruct you.
One might as we'll ask what is a
human being?
We see them every day, we read
them, we magnify them, we glorify
them aud yet what are they? l speak
as we'll of one as the other. Both are
radiant with intelligent faces, both
speak q "varlous language" and leave
their impress on thought and mind.
In one sense q newspaper is a tangl-
BILE thing; q sheet which you can
handle; a piece of property which
you can buy and sell, worth five
cents a piece or $40 a year. As mer-
chandise they bring this. and n is
worth it nearly as we'll as another.
There is little difference in the cost
of them considered in that aspect. In
another sense q newspaper is all in-
spiration it is an influence; il is an
advocate; it is a companion ; it is a
household god. There Is no merchan-
disc in that part Of it.
Can a man cell his soul? What do
, you buy when you pay your tuition
at college or school? 1t is not the
manhood of president or professor.
1t is not the benches or which you
sit. 1t is not the building in which
you are sheltered. 1t is not two dol
lars worth Of anything in particular.
e You cannot measure off the exact
length aud breadth and depth of that
to which you are entitled. gu can
not tell at the end of your term
e whether you have realized the full
value of your purchase. Suppose you
d have got ,leas. What then Where
J. is your remedy Can you sue anC
l. Where is your liberality? Car you
IS be sued for restitution? When you
l. have drawn in all the inspirat,sl
e. which the college has to give, whe.
Is you have picked up all the knowledge
IN and wisdom and experience which
ly you eau find stored away i'll the ven
re cradle institution. and stored tn,
y. same away in your own minds, 70,
it have got all to which you are entitled
le and go home, having received til
,p perfect fulfillm. Mt of your contract
nd When it has breathed into you til
e. breath of all the life it has 10 bestow
ip and parted with its W knOwledg
to your good, it also has fulfilled, au'
to is entitled to receipt in full. But whs
II, in pursuance of agreement, you hav
ke got all that it has got, and take thi
y. precious burden away with you
an your several homes, there Is just q
lis much lett behind as there was befor
Eat you went away. You have bee
le- upon a fountain which is %exhaustle:
&c. aud immortal. The more it gives, tn
III, more it has to give. Your predece
e. aors have done the same before yel
he Your succes.ors will do the same aftt
Id you. All find equal and unfailil
ate sustenauce at the bosom of Ain
asst Mater.
lid AS with the school, so with IL
OF paper. You can pay your subscri
'ut ton at the counting-room ; you CT
acquire the right to be served viii
We a copy all that is commercial yc
lad can buy. But you do not " tt
tes paper. You did not start
,n- You cannot stop it. You CT
nal learn from it if it is a teacher
ors you can be Influenced by it if it ia
I'VE advocate ; and you eau love it il it
asst q companion. But though you rel
led it every day and fill yourselves wi
m its ample contents, it comes ba'
Tile again on the morrow freshly burde
ers ed with its wealth of thought and i
ed. formation, That 10 the newspape