The Press: Daisy-Doser

Why newspapers? One answer was given last week by one Dr. Thaddeus Lincoln Bolton, professor of psychology at Temple University, Philadelphia. Said he:

"Suspense—the alternation between hope and depression—is, after all, something that our natures demand. And here is where the newspaper comes into our routine lives as a saving grace, snatching us from this dreaded, lingering death by boredom.

"Shooting the chutes, riding on the scenic railway and going to the daisy-doser in the amusement park supply the necessary prods to children. The modern newspaper performs this function for the adult of higher mental level. . . . We cannot possibly attend all the murders, fires, earthquakes, unsuccessful trans-atlantic flights and other occurrences of the kind in person. The modern newspaper does this for us and thus saves our consciousness from 'innocuous desuetude.' "