Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-04-22
SUNDAY PAPERS,.

From an American standpoint the
crusade now going on in England over
the Sunday newspaper is highly interest
ing. Several metropolitan publications
In that country have taken steps to in
troduce the seven-day issue, In line with
the prevailing morning newspaper sys-
tenn in the United States. The protest
has beer long and deep. Mass meetings,
addressed by men eminent in the social
and political life Of Great Britain, are be-
ing held in opposition to the Sunday
paper. The religious elements of that
country seem to be thoroughly aroused
and promise to boycott the newspaper
that profanes the Lords day with its face
freckled with the doings of the world.
1t seems to be tacitly understood that
the Sunday newspaper is one Of the most
powerful attacks upon the Sabbath which
modern enterprise can undertake, and
that the orthodoxy of the ages must rally
to the defense of that sacred day. It
may be said that the struggle between
the religious elements in England and the
Sunday paper is now under full Roadway,
and the outcome of the contest will be
awaited with much interest by the world
at large. Ar effort is being made to en-
list the ~workingmen of that country
against the seven day paper on the
grounds that it is ar invasion of the
rights of labor as they apply to the day
of rest. In fact, all sorts of arguments
are being used to protect the British pub
lie from the Sunday paper, and the sue
cess of such enterprises is by no means
assured. 1t will doubtless take a long
time to overcome this feeling Of opposi-
ton and insure to the Sunday issue the
successes that have been scored on this
side of the Atlantic.
Americans will be apt to poke fun at
their British cousins for the exhibition of
what may seem to be an unfounded
prejudice, yet, after all, there is method
in their madness. Unquestionably, the
American Sunday newspaper has in many
cases grown into little less thar an abuse.
When confined to it's legitimate sphere
as the purveyor of news it's issuance is
not so Objectionable, as the work done
upon it is performed Saturday night, tbs
Monday morning paper requiring Sunday
abor. 1t is the great metropolitan Sun
day paper, filled with numberless col
umns of unadulterated rot, that acts mis-,
chievously upon the community in which
it circulates.
1t defects the public mind from thu
class of reading that should be INDUCED
in on the Sabbath day. In this busy world
the average man has time to read bu'
little outside the daily newspapers durins
the week. On Sunday, his day of rest OF
recreation, as the case may be, comes his
only opportunity to indulge a class OF
reading along unitarian lines that feet
and strengthen his mind. BY such read.
ing he broadens out in his views of the
problems of life and becomes a bette,
citizen. If religiously inclined, his sou
is nourished by the mental food he select
for his Sunday reading; if secular or sci
entific in his tastes, he reads useful book
bearing on the lines of Investigation h
has outlined for himself and is made t.
look upon life in a clearer and bette
light; if of literary trend, his magma
ton is fed and his mind is peopled will
pictures of life that stimulate his brain
into activity and cultivate the too Otter
neglected sentimental side of his life.
The tendency of the metropolitan Sun
day newspaper is to destroy useful habit.
of reading and reflection. It's lurid illus
trations and vast amount of cheap sensa
tionalism attract the attention and alb
sorb the time, killing the better part o
the day with fascinating newspaper 70
that is destitute of actual value to TIL
reader. 1t is perhaps the sad havoc
which the American Sunday newspaper
plays with legitimate book reading, inso
far'as the masses are concerned, that ha:
done much to arouse English. prejudice
against that class of publications.