Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-03-04
CHEAP AND COSTLY.
The Comparative Value Of the
Newspaper and the Book.

Newspaper and the Book.
One would naturally think that know
Ing so much as he does the Newspaper
would be pulled up with pride to the
point of explosion-that is, one who is
not intimately acquainted with the
Newspaper, and foolishly judges him
by the people whom he does know,
might think so. But he would make
serious mistake, besides doing worthy
object great injustice. Although he
is filled with information from his date
line to the blank space at the bottom of
his four pages, he is modest to a de-
gree. His editorial page bristles with
facts which require years of study to
write. His news pages are filled with
information CLEANED from every part of
the world, and his selected miscellany
Is culled from the most esteemed con-
temporaries printed in the language.
Yet, in spite of so much learning, he is
undemonstrative, retiring and as un-
pretending as the calf-bound enclyco-
pedia under the deep layer of dust on
the bottom shelf OF the bookcase.
Even the rattle he makes when he is
mfolded is deprecatory, and not ow-
ing one-half so much to his self-asser-
ton as 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 a Book of poems bound in
blue cloth and glittering with gilt.
This Book is the very opposite of the
Newspaper. Although he is not wise
nor filled with facts he is presumptive,
and makes up for his shortcomings by
large supply of personal vanity. He
is pretty, and what is worse, he knows
it and is proud of it. This, however,
is only to be expected. He is a
presentation copy of an edition printed
ut the expense of the author. He 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 SUBJ
scribed for the Newspaper had laid it
down after reading the morning news,
and it fell beside the Book, who looked
up to see what was the occasion of the
disturbance. rsi.
"Well," observed the Book, some
what testify, whats all this noise
aboutp"
- beg your PARDON" replied the
Newspaper, politely. =" trust have
not disturbed you"
mot to speak of" responded the
Book, comfy think he ought to be
careful where he throws his news
papers,"
" He was probably in hurry" ex-
planned the Newspaper "and didn't
happen to see you"
"Don't fatter yourself, answered
the Book, haughtily. "He never for
gets me-" eE
II beg pardon" again apologized the
Journal
Don't mention it," said the. Book.
81 presume you never heard of me.
You are so young. You are not to be
blamed for that. 1t is not your fault.
Twas 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." ~
"Where 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 it to her OH ac-
count of old times. Oh! 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 is
your priceP"
1.-TWO cents" responded the News.
paper, modestly.
80 little as that How excessively
common. But 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.
81 have the news" replied the News
paper. II contain everything thai
happens. l am a history Of the WORLD
for one day."
"How it must bore your" observed
the Book, pityingly. You must fee
like a bulletin board that every ont
writes on. How stupid, too"
mot at all, responded the News
paper, with interest. II do goot
work and enjoy it thoroughly. | tel
the world what is going on. l giv'
notice to the well of those who are sick
tell the living of those who are dead
tell those who are married who hav'
separated, and to the old tell wh'
are born. tell the people what thei
servants, the office-holders, are doing
l record the movements of govern
ments. l tell of wars. of peace-mak
ings. The meetings of Kings and tn
conventions of workingmen | recor'
mpartially. Nothing is too great no
too small to come into my columns
Many heart-rending tale of distress
many a tragic story of death, many |
murder, many suicide is first know
to the world through the medium o
myself. l help unrsvel mysteries.
correct mighty wrongs. | make mel