The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-03-22

orator and speech-maker are abroad in
the land and the writer stretcheth out
his hand over the sea and over the land.
and sendeth his rain OF words and
phrases alike upon the just and upon
the unjust. Never before was every
conceivable topic so discussed, ampli-
fed. reiterated and re-affirmed. What
ever is IS attacked; whatever has been
is denied: whatever is 10 be is loudly
predicted; whatever ought 10 be is set
forth in thousand lights, all differing
but each equally positive. Ready-made
opinions on all topics are abundant and
cheap and in ample variety. There is
no longer an excuse for any man 10 be
ignorant OF anything. Truly of max
ing many books there is no end
In this infinite variety two classes OF
reading matter are conspicuous, written
10 suit two classes OF readers First,
the newspaper for the average man.
who plainly is no scholar, but pr;des
himself upon being practical; second.
the novel, for the average woman and
school girl. History, poetry. biography
travels and science are written in a
much smaller though still sufficient
quantity, and are read by comparative
~ few. Consider the enormous num-
Der of weekly, semi-weekly and daily
newspapers published. They are "a
countless as the sand on the sea shore.
The morning or evening paper 10
the average business man is the sum
and substance of his reading. II is his
history. his poetry, his science, almost
his religion. And what is the charac-
ter of this great store-house of wisdom?
All will agree that we have some news
papers conducted with ability. decorum
and dignity, but what relation do they
bear to the whole number? Newspa-
pers may be the foundation of govern
ment or they may be the leaves which
pry out the props and leave a mass or
dismantled and crumbling ruins. 1t ia
proper then 10 inquire whether they
lead public opinion or follow it's worst
flights of fancy and cater to its lowest
instincts; whether they discuss disputed
questions with honesty and fairness. or
depend upon Misrepresentation and
appeals to lowest prejudices: whether
they observe truth, respect private char
acter. instruct and elevate their readers,
or delude and debase the. Some one
has said, If I can write the songs OF
the people l care not who makes the
laws 1t would be more appropriate
in our day to say, IF 1 can write the
newspaper opinions of the laws. l care
not who makes the laws nor what they
are. for can enact them or repeal them
at will
Whatever the newspa pers have done
or can do, they have certainly put an
end TO all human privacy. No man.
however humble or secluded, has right
to conceal thought, word or deed II II
will make an item. The reporter is
omniscient and omnipresent. If we
fly TO the uttermost parts of the earth
he is there before us, relentless, rapa-
cious, insatiate. With him sorrow or
misfortune command no sympathy; age
no reverence: woman no Difference:
death no solemniry and the grave no
refuge. Not less blamable is the habit
of wanton and malicious SANDER of po-
Gtical opponents. How few are the
newspapers that would refrain from
publishing on the eve Of an election a
scandal which they knew to be false
concerning some candidate of the OPP
posite party? Libellous abuse OF poll
teal opponents or of any individual
who has in any way excited the HOSTILE
ty of the editor, is so common as to at
tract but little attention. A still more
serious mischief to the reading public
is found in the unclean and repulsive
sensational narratives with which coll
umn after column of many papers is
filed. The criminal and obscene incl
dents, bad enough when merely report
ed as part Of the days news, are elabo-
rated with an infinite variety of dis
gushing details; the lives and conduct
of the vicious and profiigate are de-
scribed with minuteness; the most un>
savory of the contests in courts OF JUS
tice are amplified and adorned; in short,
all that can pander to the morbid and
depraved taste. There can be no ques-
ton that the publication Of the sicken-
ing details of murder and suicide does
contribute largely to the increase OF
crime. There is a contagion in such
things for morbid, unbalanced minds,
It is frequently observed that one crime
Of peculiar and startling circumstances
produces an epidemic and Is followed
by others Of like description IN various
parts of the country; and the exploits
Of highwaymen. robbers and prize-fght-
ers, gilded and glorihed, have turned
many a youthful brain astray.
Popular literature of today consists
largely of fiction. That the reading OF
fiction or novels, If you please. TO a
limited extent and with proper selec-
ton is both wholesome and consistent
with good education. good manners and
morals no one but a fanatic will deny.
Romance, poetry, history, pure thoughts
noble deeds and religion itself may be
blended in them and wrought out by the
magic pen of genius so that they may be
a feast of reason and flow of soul, and
an inspiration 10 pure and noble life.
But the average novel is a creature OF
another species. 1t is not written be-
cause the author is inspired by genius.
which will not let him be still. II Is
not prepared by years Of toll and study,
often in self-denial and want. II is
made to sell. It's author hopes for some
lucky hit, or fortunate circumstances or
JudiciOus advertising 10 bear II on the
flood tide Of popular favor, and If II sue
ceeds IL becomes a nine-day wonder,
only 10 sink again into oblivion. TO be
followed by some other OF equal merit. |
The ingredients OF a popular novel. re- !
peated in infinite variety. through thOus
ands OF volumes. are the story % the
courtship and marriage Of fictitious and /
impossible young men and women. The |
story is plentifully spliced with plots !
and counterplots, and detailed with in |
cidents more or less stale or startling. I
And when the imagination refuses fur /
Their supply, the gaps are filed with I
senseless and rapid conversation. all 4
tending 70 the same ma trimOnial end I
What food for an immortal mind "a /
its constant and daily diet, And yet |
IL cannot be denied that the great ma |
jority who read anything beyond the I
read only books OF this de- 4
scTiptioa. The records OF our circu- 4
lating Libraries show that 70 per cent % I
all the books taken out are novels OF 4
recent production and Of sensational .
nature. a library would not BE- patron /
lied i L were not stocked with the writ 4
ings OF such authors as Mrs. Holmes. z. 4
c. Roe and Rider Hagzard: not 70 msn- 4
tnon scores OF writers OF even less fame .
and merit a. natural and merftzbis