Gazette Of The United States

NEWSPAPERS—AN EXTRACT.

WAS not, a little pleased, the other day, upon paying a visit at the house of a person of distinction in the country, to find the family assembled round a large table, covered with maps, and globes, and books, at the upper end of which sat a young lady, like a young professor, reading from the chair. In her hand she held a newspaper. Her father told me he had long accustomed her, while reading one of those vehicles of intelligence, to acquaint herself with the several towns and countries mentioned, by turning to the names in Salmon's Gazetteer, and then finding them out upon the globe, or a map; in which she was become so great a proficient, as to be at that time in truth giving a lecture in geography to her younger brothers and sisters. It was his farther intention he said, that from Campbell's Present State of Europe, she should acquire a sufficient knowledge of the history of the kingdoms around us, as well as our own, to form an idea of their importance and interests respectively, and the relation each bears to the rest. Verily, thought I to myself, this is reading a newspaper to some purpose.

Children, very early in life, are eager for the sight of the newspaper. By being called upon in a free and easy way, for some little account of what is in it, they may gradually be brought to read with attention, and to fix upon those articles which are most worthy of notice; as also to remember what they have read, from one day to another, and put things together.

While we are in the world we must converse with the world; and the conversation, in part, will turn on the news of the day. It is the first subject we begin upon, as a general introduction to every thing else. All mankind, indeed, are our brethren, and we are interested, or ought to be interested, in their pleasures and their pains, their sufferings, or their deliverances, throughout the world. Accounts of these should produce in us suitable emotions which would tend to the exercise of different virtues, and the improvement of our tempers. We should accustom ourselves hereby to rejoice with those who rejoice, and sympathize with those who mourn.