Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-10-02
THE NEWSPAPER.


County Teachers institute Prof. Mac
Kenzie said some wise things about
newspapers and newspaper reading.
His tribute to the newspaper as an
educator and a developer of the indi-
v;dual should belpondered by the teach
ers who heard him speak and by the
people who ran across his words in
print. His commentator of the news.
paper for supplemental" study by the
school pupils is based upon knowledge
OF the part the press plays in the daily
life Of the world. The newspaper is the
history of the period. 1t is as essential
that the youth of the land be educated
in current history-be informed CON-
pletely on the events, conditions and
questions of his own lifetime-as to be
learned in the history of the ancient
ages. The classics, academic branches
and languages are not to be despised,
of course, but they profit him little if
he be oblivious OF what is going on
around him in his own generation. In
the old days, when the newspaper was
not so common nor so complete as it is
today, it was not ranked so highly as
an educational factor. In the twentieth
century its title is not to be gainsaid.
The newspaper today makes the
world 20 around. Business transac-
lions, marked conditions, political ac-
tivities, routine affairs OF all walks de-
pend upon ii. 1t is as necessary as
the railway. 1t reduces the circumfer-
ance of the earth so that reader on
one side Of the globe knows in few
moments the current history OF an
other side. 1t quickens thought. Ii
stimulates instructive discussion. 1t
broadens. 1t informs. A person with
little schooling might attain good de-
gree of learning through reading daily
newspaper, granted this newspaper be
one in the dignified meaning of the
term. Its news columns give him knowl.
edge of the activities in the world Of
politics, arts and letters, religion and
commerce. Its editorials, prepared by
students and trained writer's, provide
him an analysis of the news and in
structive comment.
''Under the guidance OF a competen,
preceptor, said Prof. Mackenzie, ga
newspaper can give peerless oppor-
tunity for the study Of human nature.
II may help to steel him against the
corrupting influence of certain ideals
which neither time nor distance can ef-
face. Every good newspaper is col
league for the teacher and its place
in the realm of education can be ef-
ficiently filled by no other agency" 1t
is because of these circumstances that
the newspaper worthy of the name is
always conscientious and careful. 1t
will never wilfully mislead. Being the
record of current history, it is vigilant
in seeing that that history is correct
ly recorded. The newspaper that is
not conscientious is false TO an obliga-
ton, recreant to trust and an in
fluence Of evil, and it does not deserve
to live.
The real, true newspaper-the news
paper in the highest sense of the word
becomes year by year greater and
greater institution and more and
more indispensable article. No home
is complete without the daily news
paper. 1t brings the whole world into
the dwelling. II tells the business
man what he wants to know and gives
the professional man invaluable facts.
Young and old come into contact with
great statesmen, leaders and thinkers
as we'll as more obscure members Of
their race, through its columns. The
housewife this may be incidentally
mentioned-who buys, and the mer-
chant who sells, communicate with
each other through the newspaper-in
fact, buyers and sellers generally reach
each other this way.-Courier Journal.
DOCTOR THE ITCH WHERE THE ITCH Is.