Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-04-06
CHEAP AND COSTLY.
The Comparative Value Of the
Newspaper and the Book.


One Would naturally thlnk that KNOW
ing so much as he docs the Newspaper
would be pulled up with pride TO the
point of explosion-that L. one who l.
no, ,n,,n,d,oIu ...nat,,toI III A..
N'' "Sf WV" ."'
newspaper anu ioohsh'y luuses MIN
by the people whom he does know,
might think so. But he would make
serious mistake, besides doing A worthy
object great iniustice. AIthouoh be
;s slIod ,n;,,, ,n,o..,a,;o., - ~ 80 =.
m ",0u Wv" i"io' ''"'i'n i,o", n'S u"'e
iihe 10 tue oi"hk space AZ the bottom oi
his four pages, he is modest to de-
gree. His editorial page bristles with
facts which require years Of study to
write. His news pages are filed with
information CLEANED from every part OF
the world, and his selected miscellany
is culled from the most esteemed con-
temporaries printed in tho language.
Yet in spite Of so much learning, he is
undemonstrative, retiring and as un-
pretending as the cah-bound enclyco-
pGdia under the deep layer Of dust on
the bottom shelf OF the bookcase.
Even the rattle he makes when he is
pnfolded Is deprecatory, and not ow-
ing one-balf so much TO his self-asser-
ton rs TO the brittle nature Of his COM
position, which no fair-minded critic
will hold against him for an instant
Beside the Newspaper, on the desk,
there lies Book OF poems bound in
blue cloth and glittering with gilt.
This Book is the very opposite Of the
Newspaper. Although he Ia not wise
nor filled with facts he is presumptiye,
and makes up for his short -comings by
large supply Of personal vanity. He
is pretty, and what is worse, he knows
II and is proud Of it. This, however,
is only to be expected. He is
presentation copy Of an edition printed
at the expense OF the author. lie was
made to give away, not to sell; to be
advertised, not to be read, and it
would have been strange. indeed, un-
der these circumstances, were he not
rather inflated with the sense OF his
own Importance.
II so happened one day that these
two publications found themselves side
by side and alone. The man who sub
scribed for the Newspaper had laid II
down nitcr reading the morning news,
and II fell beside the Book, who looked
up to see what was the occasion of the
disturbance.
"Wcll," observed the Book, some.
what testify, whats all this noise
aboutP"
81 beg your pardon" replied the
Newspaper, politely. ~ trust have
not disturbed you"
7" Not to speak Of" responded the
Book, "only | think he ought to be
careful where he throws his news-
papers"
f" lie was probably in hurry" ex.
planned the Newspaper, "and didn't
happen to see you"
Don't flatter YOURSELF" answered
tho Book, haughtily. "He never for
gets me-"
~ beg pardon" again apologized the
Journal.
Don't mention 1t, ," said the Book.
al presume you never heard OF me.
You are so young. You are not to be
blamed for that 1t is not your fault.
/ was written by his sweetheart years
ago, and / have always been kept on
his desk ever since. He used to read
me, but OF late years he has contented
himself with leaving me where he could
see me whenever he wanted to-"
"Wherc is his sweetheart nowP"
asked the Newspaper, with professional
curiosity,
"She married an insurance agent
and has ten children now. She writes
to him every once in while for help,
and he always sends 1t TO her on ao-
count OF old times. Oh! l tell you, he
is very fond of me. He wouldn't dis
pose of me for the world. am very
expensive. cost her ten dollars, so !
have heard her say. May l ask what's
your pricep
1.-TWO CENTS" responded the News
paper, modestly.
$50 little as that! How excessively
common. But l ought to make allow.
ances for you. You have no poetry
about you, no sentiment, no romance.
You are all hard, cold facts, scandals
and politics"
II have the news" replied the News
paper. II contain everything that
happens. l am history Of the world
for one day."
"How it must bore youP" observed
the Book, pityingly. "You must feel
like bulletin board that every one
writes on. How stupid, too"
"Not at ALL" responded tho News.
paper, with interest. II do q good
work and L enjoy it thoroughly. I tell
the world what is going on. give
notice to the well Of those who are sick,
l tell the living of those who are dead.