The Bossier banner., 1908-08-13

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pages of drvel and slush. Such an array
of names and inanity do not give informa-
tion-it only records the doings and move
ments of people in whom no one is inter-
ested but themselves.
The country paper has its faults of omis-
sion, and Of printing paragraphs that are
neither news nor sense. These instances,
however, are few, and in time, it is hoped,
these ::society journals" will develop into
newspapers, and really fill that long felt
want of their readers for news.
Many Of the country papers are follow
ing the city daily dallies in adding more
pages. They should eopdense some Of the
matter, omit great deal of the stuff that
is printed, and there would be still enough
room without enlarging. Perhaps the in
creased cost Of print paper will check this
expansion, and result in better edited
papers.
The newspaper is called the "Fourth
Estate" Why "fourth" in the list? 1t is
the most far-reaching intellectual agency
of modern times. All other professions
and intellectual agencies are largely de-
pendent upon it for aid, and the promul-
cation Of their ideas and the execution Of
their plans. 1t not only combines all the
so-called "estates,' but all Of them ac-
knowledge it as the necessary medium for
reaching the people. Its influence is in
proportion to the growth and education OF
the people, and in turn it promotes these.
The newspaper is an educator, and the
more educated the people the better the
newspaper. 1t represents the development
and culture of the age, and is part of it.
! To such newspaper the historian will anx-
iously look. speak of representative
newspapers-not sensational sheets filled
with drvel and garbage.
President DeGraffenried has compile
mented me with the request for an Essay,
and offer this on Country Newspapers.
| give my views of the journalism of to.
day, and of the past. There is much to
commend in the new journalism, and there
is much that cannot be commended. II
would be more beneficial, if it were more
independent. The "old style" journalism,
which some of US remember, was the ideal
type. The newspaper OF to-day can learn
a great deal from the newspaper Of yes
terday.
New Orleans Picayune: "Trampism y
commenced in this country with the Civil
War. The enormous hordes Of "bum.
mers" and camp followers who raided
along in the rear of Sherman's army ot
invasion when it burned and plundered its
way through Georgia and other Southern
Stares, established great numbers of mer
in habits of lawless wandering, which they
kept up for the rest of their lives. No sucl
hordes followed the armies that invaded
Virginia because there was no more pro.
lection for bummers in the rear than in the
front, but when Sherman swung off on hi:
march to the sea he met but little resistance
in front while his rear was almost wholly
undisturbed, and the famous march of his
famous more for the devastation wrought
upon an unresisting population and thei1
country than for any military proves.
. gained by it, became proverb for all tha
was horrible in plundering and burning {
a acountry through which an army marched
To Gen. Sherman's famous" march tt
the sea the entire institution Of trampisn
owes its beginnings, and it was that t.
outrages perpetrated by the bummers tina
followed his columns that he doubtless ap
piled his well-known truism that "war il
hell"
The Tai Mahal, at Agra, in India, il
said to be, and probably is, the mos
beautiful building in the world. It was
mausoleum erected in the seventeenth
century by the Emperor Shah Jehan, il
commemoration of his favorite queen, an,
is built of pure marble, inlaid with precious
stones, and is an artitectural marvel. Tn
whole cost of the building is said to hav
been 3,174,9O2 pounds sterling.
, In China the salt tax is a governmen
monopoly. 1t is one of the principal rev
enues of the empire, yielding abou
f,fta