Year: 1867




ter class Ofcouuty weekly newspapers than
Tennessee. Her State press has always
ranked in ability and enterprise with the
first class weekly newspapers of other
States, and, as far as our observation and
experience permits of a comparison, the
Tennessee county papers have generally
been more ''newsy' and original. But
| they are by no means as good SIS they
might be if the encouragement to each was
as substantial it ought to be. The citi-
zens in every community which is now
supplied with newspaper, should interest
themselves little more in this matter, and
our State press Will then be materially ben
Gifted, and its sphere of usefulness great
ly enlarged and the interests, pecuniary,
social and educational of its constituency
be materially enhanced. One hundred new
paying subscribers to a county paper would
enable its publishers to employ additional
editorial assistance, perhaps, or enable him
| to present his paper in a handsome new
suit of type, and in any event, inspire the
valuable little enterprise with new hope,
courage, energy and spirit, and. in time,
so inspiring and inVigorating the communi-
| ty in Which it thrives and fourishes, and
advertising to the great big world outside,
the culture, refinement and progress of its
immediate locality.


The advantages of the local newspaper
are incalculable. There is no estimating
how much good it accomplishes in a quiet
and oftentimes imperceptible sort of way,
for it is always sowing good seed in the
most frequenIed and in the most out-of-the
way places. The county newspaper has
been the school and college of many a
poor mans child, who has, in after life, at
tained distinction in the world. The best
illustration of the efficiency ofthe newspa-
per as an instructor, perhaps. is afforded
in the fact that SO many of our great men
have begun their career in a printing of
fee. The daily and hourly reading of types
has planted thoughts and ideas in the mind
of the youthful composition, which in after
years, produced abundant fruit. No con-
stant reader of newspaper can be other
wise than benefited and instructed, and
the eager love reading and the desire for
the acquisition Of knowledge, peculiar TO
great scholars and men ofgenius, has Of
ten received its original inspiration frona
the unpreteuding little family newspaper.
A good newspaper should be in every fami-
ly, or, as Artemus Ward would facetiousIy
frame it-''no family should be without it,
1t presents the most attractive kind of read
ing in the most inviting shape, and is con-
stantly placing itself as it were, in the way
of your children, who learn to search it's
columns for matters of interest and amuse-
ment, or from curiosity, and so acquire a
habit of reading, which is a point gained
! ifno other good is the result. We always
) think we'll of the man who takes his own
: county paper, and we are in the habit OF
: accepting the presence of the local paper
es an evidence of the respectability Of the
: household wherever we see it in our ira
q Vels.


But leaving out of sight the educational
! advantages Of the little family visitor and


teacher, its importance to the trade of com.
munities is beyond question. It is the


leading commercial feature of every place


where merchants most do congrepate
n whether it be the merchant in country pro


duce or the established retailer fdry goods
d aud groceries, or the chairmaker and black
e smith. The county always ffourishes
J. in word, that supports live county news
Al paper, aud the county that hasn't one, or
ID having it, does not support it. does not de


to NJ Ill Al.
= even second in Importance to the villag,


church or the country college-indeed, W,
d have the hardihood to express our opinion


that it is even more beneficial and does NOR,


good that either, from the reason that II
l. influence is more widespread and general
1t We should like to see our Tennessee ez


changes prosper. We should like to se
to them all coming out with bright new faces


wreathed about with smiles of good-hu
,e mOred plenty, and sparkling with wit an,


originality. There is no lack Of talent Il


the country press-but there is a lack 0


industry 50 far as gathering the local ne vi
! is concerned.


But in this respect, hearty support from
= the communities where they circulat
: would stimulate the energies of the couduc


tors, and this much achieved, the couptrr
ID press would be an ornament to the State
N attracting capital and enterprise within he
7 borders. We would not be considered. i


these remarks, as assuming patronizin
il. attitude towards the Press of our State. a
h the self-cOnstituted lecturer to our cotem
= toraries. We have been influenced TO suo
\ gest the ideas here crudely thrown on


from an honest and sincere conviction tbs
in the country press is not Sustained AZ