“_Sixthly_--Literary articles which convey _instruction_ with _amusement_ will find a niche in our paper. We shall not, however, seek to _amuse_ unless we can at the same time _instruct_. To excite or gratify the public taste for amusement alone we consider dangerous to our freedom. By such means Pericles destroyed the liberties of Athens, and Cæsar of Rome. Modern France, too, had her Pericles and her Cæsar; she followed them, and she is now ruing her folly. Similar must be our fate when we _follow after_ the siren song of amusement. We will never be the willing instruments of thus sapping our free institutions. If our paper can not find a sufficient support without this, let it go ‘to the tomb of the Capulets.’ For we will sooner breast the torrent of public feeling on this subject, though we are swept by it into the deep bosom of destruction, than glide upon its surface and trim our barques to its course. “Renick, Doan & Co.” Although ably edited--containing interesting, well-written and well-selected articles, the verdict was “_perpetual suspension_.” The inhabitants of neither town nor country cared to become “readers of newspapers.” The agrarian element of society had not extended to business transactions. The contracted condition of the “circulating medium” was such that it became absolutely necessary to ignore every luxury that required “spot cash;” while state laws made the credit system so dangerous, honest people kept as free as possible from financial obligations. They did not wish to take the risk of seeing their names posted in public places, stating the time the indebtedness would be sold by the sheriff at public outcry to the highest bidder. And the citizen continued on his even way, enjoying the chase--catching wolves and foxes; and hunting the deer, turkey and squirrel; and in summer tilling a few acres of corn--a small “patch” of flax--enough potatoes, beans, pumpkins, and gourds for the use of the family. The soil produced well, and with but little labor enough corn could be raised for family meal and to winter the small amount of stock--the fire-wood was secured from wind-falls in the “deadening,” and with a horse and cow, a few sheep, and a good dog, the “squirrel hunter” became wonderfully well satisfied with his environment, and had no desire for change. The amount he knew of things transpiring in the outside world was obtained by the word of mouth in the regular line of communication. The women carded the wool and hackled the flax, and spun and wove the same; and from year to year there were no changes in household appearances or landed possessions. The “deadening,” however, was a little larger in area, in order to keep up the easily-obtained supply of fire-wood, and to increase the amount of the natural grasses and green things in summer for the benefit of the stock.