Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-04-12

inc BOOK comes First, then the
Periodical or Magazine, and tho News
| paper Is in the Ruck.
| The following paper was read by Mrs.
Isobel II. Floyd before the members of
the Men and Women Club in the New
| Century rooms, upon the occasion of a
| discussion, Tuesday evening last, upon
the question of "'rhe Comparative Intlu-
ence of Newspapers, Magazines and
| Books:"
| have a sincere esteem for all the
great family of printed matter, but as in
all families there will be one branch of
it, which by its force of character and
native traits, towers above the rest of its
kin, SO in this household there is one
division Of it whose influence, beyond
question, is the strongest.
Newspapers crafty our thirst for the
new, satisfy our normal bump of in
quisitiveness and curiosity; magazines
please our restless fancy in the variety
of topics they offer to us, but books are
our guides, counsellors and friends,
whose companionship is ours, if we
choose to have it.
Satlated curiosity, gratified fancy, or
satisfied heart and brain-which in
huence is the stronger2 BY influence,
we mean an effect physical, mental or
moral, brought about gradually by some
quiet process. Anything which sways,
controls, restraints, or persuades, in
fuences US. And surely it is a self.eyi-
dent truth that that influence is the
moro powerful which is the most last.
ing Newspapers are like trees along
the pathway of knowledge; they supply
| you with fruit, shade and temporary
shelter. Magazines are sort of half.
way house along the road; very good to
stop at and rest awhile, but only inns
after all, not the homes of your friends.
Magazines have the inherent nature OF
riodicals-limitation and transform
ness; therefore what we hold true in
regard to newspapers, in the main, is
true Of them.
| Articles in newspapers are limited in
space, therefore their influence is apt to
be weak. Not that in an abundance of
words there is wisdom, but that the
average writer is not genius at con-
densatipn, therefore an ordinary edi.
torial leader can seldom do more than
indicate his subject. An editor rarely
/
mind. Just as he gets under full swing
on some tariff or reform measure he re
members that he has come to the end OF
his "stick," and that "Jones' Marriage
or an account of Lecture by Smith
last evening" has to have Its space.
Articlesin newspapers are of necessity
written hurrledly, without much DELHI
GRAFTON or thought, therefore they are
apt to be correspondingly weak or in.
accurate. Many an editor has given
forth his views on vital questions of the
day when weary in mind and body
and unable to take the time 10 dc
justice to himself or to his readers
Many reporter has given in rumol
as fact, not having the needed moments
to verify the particulars.
This necessary haste tells in the
quality of newspaper work, both as re,
CARDS strength and truth. Newspapers
crafty an unhealthy interest in per.
sonal affairs. The reading as we'll as
the talking of gossip, has bad effect
on character. The petty, unimportant
happenings of our neighbors' lives, are
none Of our business, and newspapers
cater to depraved taste in dishing up
details OF family scandals.
The complexity OF subjects in period.
Gals detracts from their strength. Wit
ness the nightmare of our modern Sun.
day newspapers. Everything under the
sun is in them, from how to wash dishes
up to the latest wonders in astronomy.
They are like huge apartment houses;
you may find one friend sandwiched in
between the layers, but the rest of the
floors above and below, are indifferent
strangers to you. ......
1t is said that newspapers supply in.
formation. That is true to certain eX-
tent, but it is more widely true of books.
Sec our books of history, scholarship,
the arts and science. Periodicals supply
news, but the major part of that news
is the relating of facts that crafty only
our curiosity. They rarely answer legiti.
mate questions of deep interest
Too much reading of periodicals is
bad for the brain. Newspaper reading
is like DIR. Weir Mitchell's massage and
rest cure for nervous prostration; the
patient does nothing, only receives. lie
Is fed by another, rubbed down by an
other, and he exercises his own muscles
only to sleep and to swallow. The
mass of periodical reading is informa-
ton cut and dried-cut into small pieces
all ready for mastication.
The reader does not think for himself
in return. He merely bolts the palata-
Bile morsels, (some OF which may be ell
tirely too rich for his blood). In conse-
quence he grows fat and mentally lazy,
and in time becomes incapable of taking
natural exercise.
1t is said that newspapers mould
public opinion. They might, if they
were consistent, but they are not. What
they state to-day as their ultimatum,
tomorrow they retract with deprecatiar
policy. They are Obliged for the sake
of their advertisers, often to compro.
mise. 1t is impossible for a newspaper
run on our modern business principle.
to be radical.
utperhaps the strongest point against
the influence of periodicals, is theil
emphemeral existence. They are the in.
sects Of u day, the butterflies of an
hour. They lead their little lives, we
feel their sting, or cry-how beautiful
and suddenly they have vanished into
the misty land of nowhere. You read
an article in your mornings paper Oh
in Hdrper'S magazine, and you say tc
your friend, "that was good, I'd like to
show it to YOU" You go to look for it
whoever can find yesterdays paper, OF
last months magazine? Its frall tenure
of existence has been broken, while its
sturdy brother, the book, is standing
quietly in your library, on hand when
wanted, and likely to be with you to
the end of your days.
In contra-distinction to the objections
| to periodicals are numberless Doints in
favor of the influence of books. Here