Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1903-07-23

AS TO PERSONALS
Newspapers as q Rule are Very Merci.
ful.

One OF the legimate purposes and
functions of newspaper In this day
is to keep people informed concerning
each other and to tell the public what
1t has right to know Of social events
and persons who are interesting be-
cause of their prominence. In old
times when young woman came to
town, for instance, it was but a matter
of an evening and day to have the fact
circulated all through her personal
friends and acquaintances. AS COM
munities become larger, however, this
plan is impracticable. 1t is entirely
legitiment and proper to send to the
newspapers a quiet announcement
that any visitor is in the city and to
give the address for the information
of their friends. Certain social func-
tions, as, for instance, large church
weddings, are in measure public prop
erty. Many people are invited to see
them and they are made spectacular
and picturesque, presumably at least
for the pleasure of the guests. There
is no reason why an event OF this kind
should not be described in the news
papers respectfully and accurately.
AS to other weddings, proprlety re-
quires that they should be publicly
announced. The old rule was to an
nounce them simply by advertisements
containing the name Of the bride and
groom and official Clergyman, but pub
lie taste and interest, which we cannot
say are vitiated or depraved, demand
some more particulars, and we dc
not see why they should be with
held.
There is no need for any pretense
about all these matter. 1t is true that
some Of the people who are loudest In
denouncing the newspapers on all oc
casions are among the first to ask fav
ors Of them and that those who de
plore the invasion of privacy" and
turn up their noses at the personal ano
social prominence given to their
neighbors are ready, usually, perhaps,
after some little display of coyness, tC
go into the most painful particulars
and most minute details concerning
their own affairs--except when the
Iconnection happens to be some wal
unfortunate or shady, In which case
they are ferociously or abjectly O
otherwise earnestly intent on sup
pression. Yet these very same peopl'
are the first to grumble and accuse th
newspapers of subseryiency to socia
land financial influences when the de
tails Of a scandal or crime or misfor
tune involving some other family ar
suppressed or treated conservatively
All of this is part of human natur
land newspapers learn to deal with 4
good humoredly and as part OF th
days work. 1t is all told in the IA
miliar old fable Of the goring of th'
OK.
We are approaching sensible ant
business-like basis In which newspa
pers and people will understand eac
other. No reputable newspaper want
to intrude itself improperly on tn
sanctity of private life or desires 3
hurt the feelings or the character Q
anybody. AS a rule, the newspaper
are very merciful. They have certail
well established traditions and regu
lations as to what is and is not legiti
ment news. They violate these mucl
more frequently on the side Of mere
than otherwise. They try to give tn
public the information, personal an
and other, which the public pays I
, get and which it is entitled to hav
for its money. II there was less a.
lfectation and vanity among the goo
society, the relations of those peopl
with newspapers would be entirel
satisfactory, because any family G
group Of people by frank and homes
, dealing can readily come to an undel
standing with its local newspapers a
to what shall and shall not be don
concerning its affairs. .-Richmond(V va
Nescs Leader.