The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-06-02

Rev. Henry Ward Beecher lectured be-
ore fair audience at Macauley's last night
spite of the impoli,ic prices charged to
hear him. The subject of his address was
"The New Profession" by which he meant
tho profession of the teacher. He paid
his respects to nearly all the professions, not
negec.ing his own. The lecturer was hunt,
ing for a profession which would preserve
the republic in its intactness. He said there
were were about 5000 900 people in this
country who could barely speak the English
language. Some Americans looked upon
this immigration of foreigners as u menace
10 our country. lie didn't If lion ate An
OK the lion didn't become an OK, but the OK
became lion. Just so wo would absorb and
digest foreigners if our stomach was no ,lthy.
MIR. Beecher regarded education rs the
digestive organs, ana in it no saw the salyss
ton of our stiluions.
IL Was necessary, he said, to begin with the
children. The newspaper no seemed to re-
gard as a rose with thorn. lie spoke of it
substantially as follows: "What a newspa-
per regards rs news is not always informa.
ton. Some phrenologist said that il you
draw line around the head at certain
place, all the high faculties will BIO found
above 1t, and the low ones below it. The
newspaper deals with those below tho line.
1t publishes great many things which serve
no purpose but to feed prurient curiosity.
For instance, it chronicles robberies, thefts,
rapes and murders. In the case of murder,
tho crime with all i,s revolving details ia laid
before tho public. Then the srrest of The
criminal, his trial and his conviction, His
minutest actions are laid bsra, and then if
there is 10 be an execution, no is visited in
j.l. Pious people send bin bouquets; ladies
visit him and pray around him and over him
and under him; he Is found 10 be sick; he is
sicker; he is sicRos'; IFS all thosc; he is exc.
culed, and there is an account of it, with II
resume of his life previous to tina. even; then
there is an account of his funeral. Why,the
newspaper keeps up II murder for about
two months. Tho ditors say that they don't
approve these things, but there is a demand
Tor them, and it is necessary to place before
the public just such goods rs IRE wanted.
And there is some truth in what they say. |
have seen good, pious mon who condemn
these things, reading them slyly. They
don't approve of them you know, but they
want TO see them, On the other hand, the
press publishes Ievery day the principal
events going on in Europe, and much other
valuable information which can 10
obtained nowhere else. kaow men Of the
press who are OF tho very highest Character.
Thcy arc tho peers of ministers and LAWYERS:
thoy arc the peers of congressman, which.
am Gtraid, Is not saying much for them,
But tho work of the journals. appeals 10
adult Intelligence; i! does not holp the boy
or GIRL
There Is considerable truth in what MIR.
Beecher says about tho press but no has
drawn the dark side IN rather strong colors
us compared with tho light. Il is necessary
10 bold up vico TO public scorn the minis.
tor does II in his pulpit; the author does il in
his books, and tho journals, can hardly DO
censurei for following tho example of the
moralrt; no is opon TO consure when he
,ndeavors to present 1t in attractive colors.
1t has not been many months
since disreputable house in this city, whore
school girls were invelgled into a lifo of
shame. was the object OF such public ind,r.
nation, that II WAS precipils,ely abandoned,
and the infamous proprietress and her hus.
band were made ~ suffer In tho courts and
branded with infamy. The power that did
this was simply the careful, accurate collec-
ton Of facts by tho reporter, given TO the
public. 10 the mass Of the people an execu,
ton is an interesting event; this Is unfortu.
nate. but II Is true. All Of us like 10 read
descriptions Of battles; We thrill at Their.
mopylae, not because Of tho display of
patriotism, but because bunch Of Greeks
killed a thousand or more Of the enemy.
Every body reads the detail, Of Mary Queen
Of Scots, tho assassination of President
Lincoln, tho execution If Andre. Tho
greatest historians do Of h. state 10 70 into
the mlnu,est details OF tseso events.
To DO n good newspaper man requires
application. more reading and more energy
than would be found Necessary to make one