SUCH A SHINING BEACON FOR ALL OF US TO EMULATE!

Excellent piece. Permit me to elborate on the newspapers of that era. As i am certain you know, the duality of American life was absolute then.
Students beginning this study are usually astounded to find that the cities of the 1850's were essentially similar to those of today. The "Urban Problems" were already extant and the Sociology Industry was in full swing.

In the cities, however, the newspaper served a particular political party, deriving its deficit financing from some party deep pocketed stalwart. Usually The Party created its own newspaper. that did not, however, preclude the news. The "news" was primarily marriage licenses, birth certificates and death certificates. Obviously, The Party controlled the "editorial and op ed pages." Even in the opinion pieces, though, fact verification ruled.

Newspapers have never been a good bet for "making money." That's why the "papers" of today are only shills for global holding companies. They fold all descriptions of wealth and property into the "paper's" corporation. An interesting study.

In the villages, the other half of the national dichotomy, the newspaper was political only in the sense that the publisher reflected the views of the preacher, teacher and General Mercantile owner. Almost 95 per cent of the village news columns were "local." One small town editor even ignored the killing of a Chicago gang boss in front of his newspaper, because "Mrs. Blank's twins and the weather" had already claimed the front page. He was applauded all over the world in a legendary sense. Thanks. Good essay,