Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-05-11

only purveyor of light and restricted
gossip; but as time passed and eiviIiza-
ton advanced It assumed larger fnne-
tons ana invaded more and more i'm
portant fields. It's process of develop
ment has gone forward step by step.
with constantly increasing energy en-
terPrise and excellence. In short it
has made itself Indispensable. Society
could not now get along without 1t, so
thoroughly has its usefulness been
demonstrated and so firmly has its
place been fixed among the accepted
agencies OF progress. It Is not per
feet by any means, and does not pre-
tend to be; but it does its work. never
theless, with a remarkable degree of
success, the world must acknowledge
does acknowledge, in fact by giving it
such liberal support and treating it
with so much respect and confidence.
If the people were required to make
choice of the one source of satisfaction
and advantage which they prize the
most in all the list Of modern institu-
lions, 1t Is hardly to be doubted that
they would select the daily newspaper.
1t Is said now and then that this po-
tent and pervasiYe force is becoming too
absorbing IN its aims and too anxious
to ind new opportunities for its restless
but those who take that view
do not understand the situation. The
principal province of a newspaper, of
course, Is to gather and print the news.
That is the sign by which it conquers,
the duty to which it must give supreme
devotion. But what is news? By what
rule of discrimination shall the contents
Of a newspaper be so made up as to
answer the true purpose of enlighten-
ment? One reader wants the proceed
1ngs of congress, another the huctua-
tlons OF the markets, another the de-
clsiOns of the law courts, another the
occurrences Of the social world, and
others reports of sermons, lectures,
dramatic performances, military move
ments, criminal exploits, and so on. All
Of these things are news to the differ
ent classes who are interested in them.
1t viii not do to say that news consists
only of such matters as a given portion
Of the community is accustomed to read
with approval and pleasure. There
trivial in comparison with the score of
a base ball game. It is even conceiv-
able that men may exist who regard an
essay on the tariff as the most Who'll
some and invigOrating news tina
tpaper can supply. These differ
readers are all right from their resp
tive points Of view; and the editor
bound to recognize and provide for their
various tastes in appropriate measure.
A newspaper that should cOnfne its
self to a few only of the many kinds of
for which there is more or
less demand from day to day, would be
loved of the gods at sight, and glide !
easily into an early grave. 1t is by
giving all classes what they desire that !
each class gets what it wants, and that |
newspapers are able to live and grow
mad extend the sphere of their sleepless |
activity. If they expect to hold their !
lrOund they must cover over every de- |
Oartment of knowledge within their |
each. They are under the spur not |
)nly of close competition among them !
selves, but also of a steadily increasing |
public call for the improvement and ex-
enslOn Of the service which they stand /
pledged to perform. The obligation of |
continual conquest is upon them. They
Lare not rest content with victories al
eady achieved; they must 90 on win
ing triumphs or forfeit their prosper
ty and power. Thus it comes that
hese daily histories of the times in
which we live keep on adding to the
ariety and quantity of their contents.
t Is difficult to conjecture where their
dventurOus policy VIII stop. Ger
ainly it has not come to a point where
here is any sign of WEAKNESS or any
feicatiOn of waning faith in the posi-
ilities of the future; and we may
onfidently look, therefore, for still
anger and better newspapers.
Farm Mortgages.