The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1908-11-13
Clean Newspapers
VIII be Demanded.
What IheY Are Worth to the COun-
try and the WrrlG.

try and the WrrlG.
The present editor Of The True
Democrat is reioice0, that he succeeds
a gentleman whose tnn0bling purpose
in life was the publication Of a clean
newspaper, one that would not soil
the mind or the heart Of the purest
reader.
The tendency Of the world today is
for higher, purer and more Christian
living. and the people are even now
demanding cleanness ia their news
papers.
Along this line l dnd the following
excellent contribution in the Christian
Science Sentinel:
"The tendency OF the Grecians 10 be
always on the qui vive for some new
thing was not unique. A desire for
news seems 20 be a human character
istic. The barber shop used to be the
clearing house for town gossip. Then
some thought Of sending the gist OF the
talk In q news letter 10 out-of-tOwn
friends, and thus began the newspaper,
occupied at first with clever essays and
sage Advertisements as well as items
Of news. Today advice is given In a
temperate way by editorials, and the
news is presented so as to produce
shock and establishment as much as
possible. Consequently "the evils that
men do" are exploited 90 as to arouse
sentiment and sensation, and the false
position is assumed. that in human az
fairs terror and pain, horror and dis
cord predominant.
THE day will come when men and
women Will occupy their minds with
their own duties. and will so perfect
their occupations that In the business
world there will be q fine fellowship
Of competent workers. At present II
seems irksome TO the average man to
mind his own business and ne has a
curiosity, sometimes Unsuitable In re-
gard to his neigbbOT's affairs Minstrel
and trOubadouT used 20 travel from
place to place, bringing TO castle and
palace and roadside i'm tales II the do
ings Of men, and In newer countries.
the travelling peddler and I e peripa-
tetic tailor used to carry fsteresting
gossip The circuit-riding inrs who
carried their libraries In heir saddle
bags, we're welcomed, doubtless, as
messengers of heav IN, but the well
come was ttnged by pleasure in the
thought that they had news to bring
about human beings on earth.
1--WE who cus.0narily greet a friend
with the query, What's the newsY
may as we'll adm!. this deeply ing I'm
terest In the happenings OF the time
and in the actions Cf men, and con-
cede that It NAV legitimately be min
istered TO- but we have no right 10
assume that this interest is a morbid
curiosity TO be satisfied only with
gruesOme records Of human agony and
pitiless exposures Of human mistakes,
or cruel denunciatiens OF human faults
and errors. There Is an interest which
has nobility In It. There is a desire
10 know Of worthy activities. The trou-
badour sang often Of heroic accom-
Dlishments; seldom OF court scandals.
They set on fire the minds Of youth
who aspired to knightly endeavors.
May not people Of the present day be
inspired to practical goodness even as
ardent minds In times Of old were in
spired by the heroes Of romance to de-
vote their lives to high ends? Men say
romance y dead" but never was there
so much opportunity for that fine fla
vor of interest in the deeds Of man
which we name romance. as in the
present time. when the toll OF a month
will accomplish what once the labor Of
years could not do.
Why should the story Of a tragic
murder In a Public park All newspaper
space and touch ten thousand lives
with fear and horror, when the history
Of the building Of that park would
find but scant attention? Are men not
interested in what Is normal and bene- |
lcial? As a matter Of fact, they are |
only this interest has not been ap-
pealed TO nor trusted sufficiently; but
the time has come when mems minds
do not respond t. the stimulus OF the
sensational as onse they seemed &c do. |
The human mind requires food, and
the food should be wholesome. To feed
the body on piquant sauces and rel |
ishes and sweetmeats alone would re-
sult In nhvsical inefficiency. The crav- |
inc would come fu' plain and common |
food. So does the Overstimulated mind |
rev"lt from sensationalism. and desire |
the rest given by consideration OF nor.
nal conditions. II we mistake not. |
the revolt has already begun. People |
are honestly tired Of incessant appeals |
70 their emotions OF fear. horror. |
amazement. They would like whole !
some stimulus TO be daily given them |
by the newspaper Of their choice.
There is an uplifting influence
which zones from every presentation |
1T the ideal. When some man has made |