Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1890-03-06
POSTAL Law.
SentstionaIReading.

tuTOupnOut TIE (WHICH WCTiu ibue''
this fact is so generally recognized as to
make the formal averment of il, as the
enunciation of striking truth, border
On the ridicuiously tame. The faeil
ties for the rapid gathering of news
from all parts of the world, which the
telegraph affords, and the rapid dissem-
ination Of the same to every portion OF
an extensive territory, which the rail-
roads give, make the daily newspaper
possibility, and since possibility, in
our commercial and progressive age,
virtual necessity. We would extol
the daily newspaper; not but what it
has faults, but it has Respondent merits,
and with all its faults We love it still
There are few things that can more
strongly challenge our admiration than
the daily issues of such papers as
the New York Sun, New York World.
Philadelphia Item, St. Louis Globe
Democrat. St. Louis Republic, or in
fact any other Of the great metropolitan
journals. Each, with measurable cor
rectness, claims to give in every sue
cessive issue, the history of the world
for day. Not only in all news given,
but given in the most racy and readable
manner, while the mechanical form and
typographical finish of the paper are a
work of art. EVERYTHING is made at
tractive, even advertisements. by the
cunning skill of professional word
builders become interesting reading,
and We sometimes find ourselves perus-
ing with degree of pleasure the reel
tai of the virtues of soap. The high
ly graphic, perspecuous and lacoDic
style which characterize the editorial
column contracts advantageously with
the labored though learned editorial
writings Of forty years ago. In fact
our great newspapers of to day are
faulty in little save their excess. Re
dundancy of matter and the elaborate
detail Of unimportant oecuranees are
the chief features to be criticized.
And why so much detail, giving all the
little incidents Of minor happenings,
which should be disposed Of, If notice:
at all, with a bare mentioning. Why
because large class Of readers de
mand and eagerly devour the most fal
and minute details of whatever is of q
Sensational character. The newspaper
that would enjoy the largest circulation
among such persons must pander t.
their vitiated tastes. The readers grow
by what they are fed npon and THEN
appetites for such nefarious literature
become still more abnonual.
Persons too, of correct and cultivated
tastes catch something of the infection
from the ever present pernicious para
graph and vice reciting columns; es-
pecially when the skill before referred
to is invoked to enhance the interest
To the best persons such reprehensible
matter. because of its constant ap.
pearance in the papers, looses much o!
its turpitude. Take one comparatively
recent example, not however of the
worst sort. Why should we have
heard so much Of the Nortans and the
Moores. They are not extraordinary
people, not even prominent. They be-
long to class which is possibly above
the mediocrity, yet except for their re-
cent eseapade they would never have
became known beyond narrow circle.
Already, after lapse of but few
months, their very names have been
nearly forgotten. Yet during the
autumn Of 'SS not only Kansas and
Missouri papers but leading newspapers
throughout the land contains lengthy
articles, headed with prominent type,
about the Norton-Moore elopement.
Do we realize when we read Of such
occurrences as the one instanced above
that We are learning nothing new of
human nature: That no facts are re
lated worth our consideration and that
we are permitting our selves To bee I'm
posed upon by habit of reading Shat
ever is prominently set forth in IL.
daily papers. These things are nat
true of all papers. The New York
Nation, for instance, and a number of
weekly papers, and perhaps some dali
les are notable exceptions To th.. gener
al rule, while of course the higher
;odicals are entirely free froia lie
ent line of criticism.
Two things we think may 6e J,
tably noticed, viz. First cur cudpns
to read what can not improve
Second, the opportuGiti.s al hard ,
. better selection OF reejiag ~
If We awaken to reaiiz stea 81
6rst We may be able to impose
cious restraint ppon ours- -.
We take note Of the sec,ni =
auire much useful knowIed-e
tivate a higher taste. 1t is d ehee
fact that there is marked increase in
the sale and reading of the best maya
zines and periodicals The Forum, \.
A. Review, Popular Science MONTH";,
Atlantic, No., Littells Liviag Age.
Century, Harper's, No.. and like pub-
locations have come to have circuia-
ton Unparalleled in past years hy liter