Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-09-24


Five years should be devoted to a
study Of the art of proof-roading. In
that time the young journalist can per
feet himself 10 such a degree that II
will tako another five years for the
printer TO understand his corrections
and marginal notes.
Fifteen years should then be devoted
10 the study of American politics, es-
pecially. .Civil-Service reform, looking AT
It from non partisan standpoint II
possible, the last five years should he
spent abroad. London is the place 10
90 II you wish to get q clear. concise
view Of American politics, and Chicago
or Milwaukee would be good place
for the young English journalist TO go
and study the political outlook Of
England.
The student should then take medi-
cal and surgical course. so that he may
be able to attend 60 contusions. tract
ures and so fourth which may occur 10
himself or to the party who may come
to his office for retract.on and by mis-
take get his spinal column doublc-lead.
ed.
Ten years should then be given TO the
study of law. No thorough, metropol-
itan editor wants to enter upon the
duties of his procession without know
ing the difference between a writ OF
ndHddmus an o,her styles Of proian-
ity. He should thoroughly understand
the entire system of American juris-
| prudence so that in case a ccriiOrdri
should break out in his neighborhood
he would know just what 10 do for i.
The student will. by this time. begin
to see what is required Of him, and en-
ter with great zeal upon the further
study Of his profession.
He will now enter upon a theological
course Of ten years and iit himself thor
oughly to speak intelligently of the va
rious creeds and religions Of the world
Ignorance on the part Of an editor is
almost n crime. and when he closes a
powerful editorial with the familiar
quotation: at is the early bird that
catches tho worm, and attributes IL to
St. Paul instead of Deuteronomy, il
makes us blush for the profession.
The last ten years may be proiitably
devoted 10 the acquisition OF a prac-
teal knowledge Of cutting .cordwood.
baking beans, making shirts, lecturing,
turning double hand-springs. being
shot out OF a catapult at a circus learn
ing how 10 make good adhesive
paste that will not sour in hot weather,
grinding scizzors. punctuating. capital
izRtion, condemnation, syntaz, plain
sewing. music aud dancing. sculpn Z,
etiquette, pro ody, how TO win the afvc-
tons of the opposite sex and evade a
malignant case of breach of promise,
the ten commandments, every man his
own tooter on the flute, croluet, rules
of the prize ring. rhetoric, parlor
mage, calisthenics, penmanship, how
to run n jack from the bottom OF the
| pack without getting shot, civil en-
| gineering. decorative art, calsomining.
bicycling. baseball hydraulics, botany,
poker, international law. high-low
Jack, drawing and pa anting, faro
vocal muse, driving. breaking team,
iifteen-ball pool. how to remove grease
spots from last years pantaloons
horsemanship, coupling fre ght cars,
riding on rail. riding on a pass, feed
ing threshing machines, how to wean 9
calf from the parent stem, teaching
school, bull-whackng. plastering
waltzing, vaccination, autopsy, how tC
win the affections Of your wife
mother. every man his own washer
woman, or how to wash underclothes
so that they VIII not shrink, etc. etc.
Bat time forbids anything like 8
thorough list of what a young mar
should study in order 10 fully under
stand all that he may be called npou tC
express an opinion about in his aetua
experience as a journalist. There art
n thousand little matters which every
editor should know, such, for instance,
as the construction OF roller compost.
ton. Many newspaper men can write
a good editorial on Asiatic cholera, but
their roller composition is not tit TO eat
With the course of study that have
mlppe out, the young student would
emerge from the college OF journalism
at the age of ninety-iive or ninety-siN,
ready TO take oil his coat and write an
article on almost any subject. lie
would be little giddy at first, and the
Office boy would nave to see that he
went to bel at proper time each night.
but aside from that, he would be a good
man 20 feed a waste paper basket.
Actual experience Is the best teacher
in this peculiarly trying profession. i
| hope some day to attend press con-
yention where the order OF exercises
will consist Of iiye-minuts expert
ences from each one present. II won
be worth listening t..
My own experience was little pecu-
liar. Il was my intention at first 70
practice law, when | went to the Rocky
Mountains, although had been warned
bv the authorities not 10 do so. still.
did practice in surrept tious kind OF
way, and might have been praclicing
yet II my client hadn't died. When you
have become attached TO q client and
respect and like him, aud thea when
without warning. like bolt OF electric
ity from a clear SKY. he suddenly dies
and takes ths bread right out of your
mout it is rough.
Then tried the practice OF criminal
law. but my client got into the penitel-
tiary. where he was no use 10 me imam
c.ally or politically. Finally, when the
Judge was In hurry, he would ap-
point me to defend the pauper crimi-
mails. They all went 10 the penitentiary.
until people got 10 criticising the Judge.
and finally they told him that ii was a
shame TO appo Mt me 10 defend an in
noccnt man.
My first exper'encein journalism was
in a Western town in which | was "a to-
tai stranger. went there with thirty
five cents, but / had il concealed in the
lining Of my clothes so that no one
would have suspected IL II they had met
me. had no friends, and noticed that
tvhon 4 erot oN tho train fha hand tyas
not there TO meet mo. entered The
town Just as any other American citi-
zen would. / had not fully decided
whether TO become a stage robbsF or a
lecturer on pnrenOlogy. At that time |
got chance 10 work on a morning pa
per Ii used TO 60 10 press before dark,
so always had my evenings to myself,
and liked that part of il Iirst rate.
worked on that paper a year, and might,
have cont nued II the proprietOrs had