The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-07-26

fQQeT fteQQ BEFORE tnc CnQuJduQIU CcTCte.
A SIDE from humanity itself the
~ newspaper is the most stimu-
n lating force that was ever felt
in human history, having
outstripped every other material
agency until, by sheer force of
energy and enterprise, it has come
to challenge the admiration of the
civilized world. It is admittedly q
vitilizing and essential feature of our
times, and, by reason of initiative and
advanced methods, it stands foremost
as an agency of achievements domi-
nant and leading factor in every ques-
tion that affects humanity, whether it
be moral, spiritual, or material.
An almighty and unabridged power
for good or evil: "It both leads and
follows comm unity from the cradle
of one generation to the grave of an
other" (Watterson) serving not only
to chronicle the events of yesterday,
but also performing the functions of
an educator and moulding the opinions
of today in anticipation of the exigen-
cies of tomorrow.
So far reaching is its influence that
it can cause war or make peace, fire
hearts with patriotism or breed an
archy, excite universal sympathy or
inspire wholesale contempt. 1t can
administer an immunity bath to a
high priest of graft and make him ap-
pear as Immaculate and undeiled as
the goddess Diana seated on an ice
berg, or it can paint with mud repu-
table and inoffensive citizen and
make his character look as black as
the face of the dignified colored gen.
tleman that "blows" the bass drum in
the M. S. p band.
1t goes without saying that in scope
in method, and in aspiration, the evo.
tuition of the newspaper has been little
short of marvellous. Eventually su.
perseded by the telegraph, the railway
displaced the stage coach and the pony
express as vehicles for the trans smissior
of news, and, with the elimination OF
space, and the virtual bridging Of con
tinents and carpeting of oceans, the
world has been reduced to mere
province with the man in Bangkok
living next door neighbor to the mar
in Bangor. Thus the four corners Of
the earth have been brought into CONT
guilty to an extent that enables count
less millions of persons to learn of al
event almost simultaneously.
This has tended to revolutioniz
journalism, and the increased facili
ties for newsgathering have wrought
corresponding increase in the physica
resources of the press, with the result
that the few hundreds of newspaper
of few generations ago have ez
panded into the many thousands o
today-the growth in circulation hay
ing been immeasurably greater than i
number. This latter fact is Of itsel
significant, and incites brief compal
ison of the journalism of the old schot
with that of today, with its myriads {
men and women each constituting an il
ter-dependent cog in that great huma
machine which daily collects frol
every conceivable source, and tram
mits to it's readers, the millions {
ideas, and events, and occurrence
which 60 to make up the fascinatin
panorama called "Life."
Besides, in simple justice to our sui
ject, the comparison is essential sin,
we can judge but poorly of anythir
whilst we measure it by no 9TH
standard than ITSELF 1t is worthy
note that there are, or rather ha,
been, q few newspapers worthy
serve as the base line, or prime meri
ian, by which to Judge such Of tho
of the present as are entitled to
classed as newspapers, for, be it know
all printed sheets enjoying the pri,
leges Of mail of the second class
not newspapers in fact-s measursh
number of them being but the "hal
baked" product OF misdirected enere
Serving no worthy purpose tn
merely emphasize the abnormal dew
opment Of tho more objectionat
traits in modern character.
Americans, and American instit