The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-12-08
THE POWER or rHg PRESS.

OF papers and books that moves the in
tellectual tides of life with never ending
ebb and flow. Newspapers move the
hearts and wrestles with the mental
forces of humanity with never ceas-
ing struggle for progression. We can
never become insensible to the power of
the press, which is doing more to en-
hghten the world than all the pulpits in
the universe. Gospel teachers are pow
erful in their places but without the
aid of the printers where would be their
influence. Art, science and philosophy
would be at q standstill and intellectu-
al development would be come para
lyzed Creeds impose a most effectual
restraint upon the reasoning powers of
men and women, leaving their magma
ton to wonder in uncontrolled regions
OF conjecture, creating a species of IA
naticism that serves to obscure the
mental vision and presents accurate
perceptions Of truth and sound judg-
ment; and with all this evidence of
progress men cannot understand what
they hear and see until they read the
analysis illustrating the whole matter
in the public press Men, creed-bound
IN their ideas, are to be pltied, for they
dare not venture beyond their own cir
cumscribed spheres OF reasoning, fear
ing they may wander into unpopular
avenues discovered through science or
art and proved by chemical philosophy.
Such men dare not go beyond certain
limits and treat everything with eau
ton; they act as if they fear stumbling
against the elements of soul-destruc-
ton.
Newspapers are like electric lights to
people of this kind The first flash i'm
parted by a lively paper makes their
eyes twinkle and their brains are vital
ICED, and before they realize it reason
and common sense has pushed them
into new conditions The press has
flashed upon them Examinations that
reveals the dark places and ancient
pathways through which they have
wandered. The newspapers are caus-
ing reasonable and intelligent men and
women to look ahead upon the social
and religious world with something of
the sensation of a man who comes back
to a realizing sense of being after a
long and troubled dream. They soon
relinquish their confidence in the alb
surd and impracticable ideas and spec
ulations of the past which have held
them in bondage Old records and ira
ditions do not satisfy. They crave solid
food and must have true knowledge to
crafty their hunger for mental food
seasoned with the salt of truth and
sharpened with wit and wisdom found
only in our stirring dailies, which pro-
vide mental feasts for all classes of in
telligence. 1t will take a long time to
revolutionize the mental conditions Of
men, as there are grand armies in the
field armed and equipped for battle
against the influence of old creeds and
traditions, and the countless evils re-
sulting therefrom. TO such an extent
have these evils Increased that learned
men are ready to believe in the widest
chimcras of the heather writer's and
poets rather than investigate or conn
promise with the principles advanced
by modern historians and writer's who
are we'll armed with scientific facts as
proof of the reality Of science. Tt is
laughable to witness the zeal in which
some Of our modern reformers seek to
illuminate the mysteries Of by-gone
ages when newspapers were not in ex-
istence-when editors and reporters
were not known. But their efforts are
not appreciated, not even by women
who are entering upon new and hap
pier lives since the weekly papers filled
with the best methods for domestic and
social Improvement are finding their
way to the poorest dwelling in the land
illuminating the darkest firesides with
wisdom and the art of making homes
comfortable with very limited means.
1t is pleasant to know that womens
gratitude to the press bears some pro-
portion to the zeal with which newspa-
per. publishers labor in their service,
and that some of the brightest orna-
ments in the literary world are women
who found the paths to honor through
the efforts and encouragements given
them by the press Of all nations.
Newspapers are among woman's most
just and generous benefactors The
women back in country towns have
caught the grand spirit of progression,
and while many of them may not hope
to be great, they hope to become influ-
entail to the degree that they may be-
come admirable helpers in all the reve-
lations SO much needed in this great
and still growing country of ours.
There are clever, intelligent women
among the laboring classes, among the
agricultural portions of the nation,
who love the country with the most
devoted zeal and patriotism, who are
learning through the papers the real
needs of the age, and their retiring del
icacy and modesty prevents them from
becoming active public workers But
their. growing sons and daughters are
being fitted for the future needs of the
world. The acquisition Of merely su-
perficial accomplishments does not sat-
isfy modern mothers for their girls.
The newspapers advocate the ground
ing them in the sober branches Of thor
ough English education, especially
those studies that fit them for useful
places as teachers and well-disciplined
wives and mothers. Frivolous systems
may do for the rich, whose education
requires the polish Of social life. But
the daughters of industry require the
accomplishments required by good
Judgment, well disciplined habits Of
exactness, punctuality and industry,
strengthened by practice.
This is what the press teaches, and