The San Francisco call., 1896-04-11

Enabled Dy the special opportunity given
him to become acquainted with the best
thoughts of his time. he may help his fellow
men 10 revise their conceptions, to read1ust
their minds as science grows, andthus II them
to live in the modern world. The preachers
work, though general IS, II properly per
formed, of immense value. Though partly in
tellectual it is mostly in the region OF senti-
ment-and in the human world sentiment
plays a very great part. The press, the pulpit
the library and the school are all working for
the same end-the education of humanity, and
the good one does is help 10 all. Leaving
aside all comparison as to respective merit
cannot each feel that it is enough 10 have
part in helping the world in its onward and
upward way?
press. and these are among the things that
he said
Less than 100 year ago the newspaper was not
much of a factor in political, religious or social
lie. 1t was in embryo. 1t was rather de-
spised avenue OF intelligence. Its mission
seemed TO be to promulgate essays on abstract
subjects written by overserious men, to give
the light to poetic effusions, and to tell news
was undersized, smudgy, badly printed and
badly arranged. There was no attempt at
editorial expression, and not q glimmer of
that news feature that is now developed to
such a superlative degree.
Probably each of you who have to do with
that other great modern institution, the public
library, is able to find in your respective
archives copies of journals printed 100 years
ago that fully bear out my idea l rememb Der
one such ancient journal that has been extern
sively reproduced in fac-simile. 1t is the Ulster
Gazette, and 1t contains an account of the
death and burial OF George Washington. The
events described were two weeks old and the
description was perfunctory and overfulsome.
Not single one of what we would in this day
consider to be the news features of the incident
was elaborated. Besides this great historic
incident the paper contained very little There
was smattering of European news, obtained
from the captains of ships that had recently
arrived, and which related to events three
months old.
Napoleon was conquering Europe at that
time-amazing the world and terrifying the
great rulers Of the earth-yet his doings were
considered In a few vague lines, tenth as
much as we now devote TO the revolt OF an
African chief.
From the Ulster Gazette TO the great news
paper of to-day less than a century of time in
tervenes, but 1t is q vast cycle of progress. The
marvellous stride made in mechanics - the
miracle OF the telegraph, the telephone and of
electricity-these in some degree have relation
TO the great advancement OF the press; but
neither in itself is more wonderful than the
progress OF the press.
In round numbers there are &c, 900 periodi-
Gals published to-day in the United States.
There is publication of some kind for every
300 of population. Twenty-Five years ago
there only one publication for every $500
of population. Very recent inventions in
printing appliances have served TO enormously
increase the output OF printed matter, espe-
clally Of newspapers, and the cost has been re-
duced to a small fraction of that which pre-
vailed in the olden time.
The newspaper of third or quarter of GEN.
tury ago welded its influence through its edi-
torial columns. That was the era of personal
lty in newspaper making; it was the golden
period OF the great editor Some OF you know
from personal observation of the time, and all
OF you from history and tradition OF the mighty
men who nodded public opinion in that stir
ring epoch. Horace Greeley stands forth a
luminous figure in American journalism as
well as in American history. To speak of
Greeley in that day was instantly to suggest
the New York Tribune. To refer to the New
I ~ a
nett. The Evening Post and William Cullen
Bryant were synonymous, and the Louisville
Journa! was known because George D. Prentice
edited 1t. There is just one survival of this
old-time rule, and that is in Charles A. Dana
OF the New York Sun.
The press of to-day has popularized scientific
subjects. 1t instantly seiZes upon the latest
discoveries and deductions and places them
before the people. 1t is the only up-to-date
encyclopedia. Mankind does not have to await
the tardy appearance of books embodying the
discovery OF new truths to inform themselves
thereof. The deep things that are profitable
to know are simplified and made comprehen-
vast mirror OF news, but it is a compendium
Of science, OF philosophy, of usaful knowledge,
OF the innumerable incidents and transactions
that illustrate human life and afford a better
insight of nature. And the modern news paper
brightens life with its quips. The ancient
newspaper was very solemn affair. The old
time journal was prosy and over-dignified, but
the modern journal scintillates with humor,
giving to life a brighter side. And this with
out in any way detracting from its more seri-
Gus features. That is a point that should be
taken into full account, for the man who m axes
another man laugh does him service ofvalue
The complaint is often made that the mod
ern newspaper is remorseless and that it ruth =
lessly invades the home, and with brutal
hand lays bare the private lives and affairs OF
men, without justice or reason. This in many
instances seems 10 be well-founded COM
plant, and yet the very fact that the press is
such seeming juggernaut is its chief lever in
the great work OF elevating humanity. l shall
n fnFaR thnr
TO be lack OF discrimination in the public ca
ton of personal matters that sometimes need
lessly wound and injure, but L make bold to
say that no power in government, no usage or
custom OF society has such restraining force
on Wrong-dolng as newspaper publicity. The
fear OF getting into the newspapers has pre-
vented many crime and kept many a man
straight. And it is not q fear of being
scourged by The newspapers, but OF having the
unyarnished facts told.
Superintendent Sullivan spoke extern.
poraneously on the relations of the library
to the public school, insisting on the yalue
of the library. Ergo Majors, member of
the High School, read a clever history of
llbrarles, from the famous Alexandria col
lection to the Libraries in every town to.
day.
J. g. Rowell, librarian of the State Uni
versity, presided Librarian feelings OF the
Mechanics Institute in San Francisco
acted as secretary.
The next meeting will be held in Stan
ford University.
AT this convention one of the features
OF special interest to the Librarians was the
discussion of the plans for the library that
is to be built. One of the designs submit
ted is by Architect G. Alexander Wright.
who proposes q classic structure to cost
$40, 400. This plan is of building to con-
tain about $500 square feet of floor space
on the first floor, SO arranged that gal.
lery all around 1S feet wide and II feet
high might be easily added at any future
time. if required for library purposes or
public museums. This gallery would con-
tain about 1000 square feet OF hoor space
and be lighted by circular windows.
The dimensions would be "a by so feet.
A 12-foot basement would afford $3.50
square feet of floor space, though Mr..
Wright believes that there should be no
basement, preferring to dispense with the
long flight OF entrance steps. The library
room would be 25 feet high. Brick would
be the material used in the construction.