The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-18
SOME INTERESTING POINTS
ABOUT NEWSPAPER READING

Too much newspaper reading would UNI
doubtedly make the mind dilatory; but
the same Is true OF all reading, says the
Portland Oregonian. The ordinary reader
OF newspapers turns to them after hard
days work. or In the morning before
work begins, and instead OF Weakening
his power OF memory and attention they
refresh it. Change of occupation. as Oar
win well remarked is in itself rest. The
mind applies itself TO Its daily task with
more keenness and energy for the time
spent over the newspaper. IL broadens
the outlook on life, exercises the SYM
pathies and intelligence and leads the soul
for a little while out OF the barren routine
OF existence to participate I'm the great
interests and emotions OF the human race
IL may be admitted that newspapers
exist to make money; but we may state
that the case moro fairly by saying that
IL they did not make money they would
perish. and the same may be said Of the
church and of all other human institu-
tions, worthy and unworthy. 1t is not
true, however. that the sole object OF
most newspapers Is To make money. Even
the poorest and meanest has some pur-
pose apart from profit. Not all OF them
advocate every good cause, but most OF
them advocate some cause for which theN
will in a pinch sacrifice subscribers and
even advertisements The newspaper
press is more ready to take up new ideas
than the pulpit. IL breaches morality with
more dlrectness, power and efficacy.
So far as morals go, the charge that
immortality makes newspaper popular is
false. No journal of large circulation is
immoral i'm any true sense of the word.
That they are sensational need not be de-
MED, but sensationalism is not immortal
ity. In fact. the exaggerations Of the So
called yellow" press are almost inva-
riably made to excite moral Indignation
or,rouse admiration for something worthy.
The stories about the late Mr.. White
were doubtless somewhat overdrawn, but
IL was done i'm the interest OF virtue.
One may regret that not all newspapers
confine themselves to these old facts, but
the fault Is not nearly so bad as IL
would be IL 1t were committed in the
interests of vice.
II may also he disputed that the
published news sends daily 10 become
-i.4aEe4- -Ae4aa+4t-tt-i. newspaper ftku
the pulpit tries to set forth It's wares
attractively, but those who have seri-
ously studied the matter believe that
they are coming more and more under
the rule OF good taste and moderation.
To print a falsehood is admitted In
the newspaper world TO be n disgrace.
Reporters are encouraged TO make
their stories interesting. but one who
obtained interest at the expense Of
truth would have only a brief career.
The competition among newspapers for
accuracy is quite as keen as that for
novelty. Reporters are certainly not
schooled in dishonesty, but in the oppo-
site.
Impartial criticism Is a very rare thing
either in newspapers or any where else.
Most publications. like most men, have
their bias: but readers soon discover It
and allow for Il; while the statement that
bribery and malice have perceptible infu-
ence upon the press simply shows that
the doctor does not know what he is
writing about newspaper whose opin-
ions were for sale would disappear be-
meath a food OF contempt both from its
readers and it's rivals The press grows
less partizan every year Fewer party
organs" exist now than formerly; intel
ligcnt independence Is more common and
criticism OF public men and events IL
more fearless.
That reading Fugitive" periodicals de-
stroys the taste for good literature is a
trite charge without foundation. Good
literature Is now more widely read than
ever before IL never was and never will
be popular like dime novel, but II takes
yearly n stronger hold on the public Mil
ton. Shakespeare and Burke sell better
today than ever before, and this increas-
ing love for the great classics OF the lam
guage Is directly induced by the univer-
sal reading habit which newspapers stun
ulate and encourage.