Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1901-09-13
PROPER READING MATTER.

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The old and trite saying, "As the
twig is bent the tree is inclined, " is
only another form expressing the
words of the wise man, "Train up a
child in the way he should go, and
when he isold ne will,not otdepart from
ii" This truth may as we'll apply
to the habits of reading as TO the
morals of the child. IL is a duty of
parents to provide proper reading
matter for their children. AS this
habit is formed it is likely to re-
main fixed. A child allowed to read
trashy books or papers will not be
apt to turn to more solid reading as
it grows older. The sensational
and sentimental will still be its
choice and delight and instead Of
mind stored with valuable and use
full information it will possess a ca
pacity for that only which is trivial
and morbid. Good books, of course,
always, and next to them those
great educators and informers, good
newspapers, are essential. A child,
and as we'll a grown person, should
keep in touch with affairs in his
own county and state, as we'll as
with the general news of the world
and its doings. Without decrying
the value of any outside paper for
it's county or locality, what informa-
tion does it furnish regarding the
matters and things in your own
county or community, of which you
should possess a knowledge so as to
act intelligently and for your best
interests and those of your neigh
bors. Put such papers in the hands
of your children and they become
informed of events which are of no
material concern or benefit to them.
They remain ignorant of the things
which it is important as citizens
they should know. You can obtain
such information only from your
county papers. In supporting them
you aid in building up your own
interests and you advance the in
terests of your own county as we'll.
What does it benefit you to bestow
your custom on people who pay no
taxes in support of your county and
who have no interests here except
TO obtain your dollars, which they
spend elsewhere in adorning and
building up places to compete with
yours? Thus you furnish the means
for your own undoing. This is not
a selfish view. You expect your
county papers to advocate home in
forests first and foremost and to ad-
vance the general prosperity of
your county and to do this while
you are giving them no assistance
or encouragement. You want them
up-to-date, newsy; you are critical
as to their contents and appearance,
yet you withhold your support and
give it TO their competitors outside.
You want local mention made of
your church fairs, you want the
names Of your friends and visitors
TO appear, good obituaries Of deoeas-
ed members of your families pub
lished, your sons or daughters
wedding written up in excellent
style, your neighborhood praised,
and occasional mention made Of
yourself as q prominent citizen, and
If You run for an Office you expect
to be lauded as one able and compe-
tent TO perform all its duties, you
wish your wife to appear as a lead
ing member OF society, your child
ren as being especially charming
and bright, and you want this read
by people who know you, for out
siders do not care a rap whether
Sou are a ditch digger, your wife a