New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-05-31
4 NEV COLLEGE DEGREE.

The season has almost arrived when the college
degrees are distributed AM. DID,, LID,
Phi. d., and the rest. They in Boston that lar-
ward il going to make President Cleveland Doctor
of Laws and probably before May is some
newspaper will be recalling the delicious degree
story Of the great mathematician who having been
decorated with LID. twice in one summer pro-
ceeded to sign himself L 4, DE-.
While tie stage-the commencement stage-waits
tor the annual batch of degrees, it is proposed that
b. J. be added to the list of honorary initials. The
suggestion was recently made by Mr. Charles f..
Fitch the accomplished Editor of The Rochester
Democrat and Chronicle, in one of the lectures on
journalism which he has been delivering at Cornell
University. b. J. stands for Bachelor of Journal
ISM and it is Mr.. Fitch's idea that students who
purpose to enter our profession shall pursue a
special and graduating shall receive this
degree of b. j. In order that there may be no
question as to what he does and does not mean Mr..
Fitch ex plans that the degree would imply" simply
thai he who held it had pursued certain studies
preliminary to entrance upon journalism a pro-
fession; it would not that he was fully
equipped as journalist for it is agreed in all lands
that such equipment only be had in news
paper office and that experience in journalism must
supplement natural aptitude therefor"
The suggestion is calculated to lead to an inter
stand good chance of getting worsted The de-
gree rannot do any harm-Esquire at the end of a
mans name is non-explosive. On the other hand
being conditioned upon certain requirements of
which every journalist must possess himself sooner
or later it is calculated to enforce that preliminary
special training the absence of which has made the
college graduate journalist the subject of much
unhallowed lcvity. journalism is steadily growing
not only in power and dignity but in attractveness
as a field of effort to educated young men. Every
year the universities and colleges sending larger
delegations into its ranks Whatever tends to
insure profitable preliminary training for these
coming editors reporters and correspondents is to
be welcomed. Il. J. has greer sound, but SO
doubtless did LII. ID. until people got used to it.
The information is furnished that the State Cap
itol at Albany has already cost in round numbers
ST.. 800, 900. Republics may be unTatefnl, but
they are not what might be called phenomenally
penurious.
Surely there is reform under the present Jefier-
sonian Simplicity Administration. Commander
Emery, OF the Navy junkcting yacht Dispatch, has
made a requisition on Commander John McGowan,
of the Equipment Bureau, Navy Yard for several
hundred champagne glasses for his reception to
the President and members of the Cabinet" on
that vessel this evening. Under what statute does
the Navy Department furnish champagne glasses
for receptionsi
While the detectives who are searching for the
North Pole a,e taking a rest an effort is being made
to lind the oldest living member OF the Ncw-York
Assembly. Ex-Speaker AlYord of Syracuse OK
presses the conviction that no himself may be the
law maker in question. He represented Onondaga
County N the Assembly of 1914. "The three who
were with from this county," Mr.. Alvord tells
q reporter of The hyracSse Standard are dead and
all preceding members from this county are dead.
All the Albany and Rensselaer, members of that
time are dead. and ii is my impression that am the
oldest surviving member" Ii is interesting to note
that II Mr.. Avord BIO correct, then. although he Is
the dean of the Assembly, he Is by no means the
oldest living member of the Legislature. Henry A.
Foster, who sat with William Ii. Seward In the