Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-07-29
COLLEGIATE JOURNALISTS.
hvslaabis Suggestions for tho Founders
of Schools Of Journalism.


AvsisAbie Suggestions for tho Founders
of Schools OF Journalism.
The proposition Of Mr.. Charles E.
Field, editor Of the Rochester Demo-
erat. Chronicle. that our colleges cstab-
lish Especial course Of instruction in
journalism is q good one, and we trust
,oon to see Il acted upon by all the
aniversi.iei in the United States; for
!here are many things which are essen
tial to the equipment Of a tirst-rate
journalist, and which can with difficulty
be acquired outside of thorough and
especial course OF study.
Ono OF the desiderata, for example,,
without which no person can fairly
presume To call himself journalist il
the faculty, to speak Of it by no higher
term, OF making use Of the greatest
possible number of words to express
the least possible quantity Of idea; and
and II saoh q course as Mr.. Field sug-
gests bo established in any one Of our
colleges, it is TO be hoped that this
branch Of instruction shall constitute
the A G and controlling motive OF
tho curriculum. Any ordinary person,
quite uulesrncd. may write concisely,
and say, for instance, that "the man
died;" but to put the Same crude
thought into journalistic language, and
announce that 1.-The unfortune individ-
ual passed from the confines Of the
movable aud entered the dark and
eso,eric vistas OF the land beyond the
curtaincd grave" requires either high
order Of natural intelligence or n long
and careful training in journalism.
And there are many other matters
which must not be overlooked. The
student should be taught that the near
is vulgar, while the remote is the es-
sence OF good taste, and that conse-
qucntly tho plain and homcly word
should never be used wherever and
whenever rare or obsolcsccnt one
can be availed OF. Indeed. it should
be large part Of his training to search
out and select rare words for the sole
purpose of building thcreupon long
and labored articles.
Among the other essentials OF study
Is the subtle and graceful handling Of
tho scissors and the dextrous welding
of the dextrine brush-though, to be
sure. these matters may be deferred
until the pupil has shown himself quail
ified, by excellence in the lower
brsnces Of composition, for introduc-
ton to these higher realms of knowl-
edge.
The student will also, no doubt,
have the benefit OF lectures by eminent
professors upon the proper way in
which to describe "lurid conilagra-
ton" (vulgarly called "ire'O, Il
murder, An elopement, the breaking
of Mrs. Murphy's Uranium while Mrs.
NJ. is under the influence of alcoholic
refreshments, or the latest scandal in
high or low life, rs the case may be,
and how to indite y puff for Mr.. Pill
rollers all-cmbracing cure-all or
Haberdasher. Grosgrain & Biasfold's $
patent dress improyer.
When sufficiently advanced, the
student will, of course. If he discover
true journalistic talent, be introduced
into the classics of the profession, so
to speak-the arena Of art. Here he
shall learn how to make diagrams of
whatsoever he may be encrusting with
his ornate rhetoric. and after time he
shall be able to give you diagram of
wedding or a murder with equal
facility and with such surprising ac-
curscy that either might answer for
the other without violence TO ones
sense of propriety.
The student will necessarily bo fully
instructed in how to make an intcrro-
cation point of himself. and rs an in
terviewer misreprcscnt the hapless
wight interviewed in free and Or
nate manner. and he will also be
taught as to the most expeditions
fashion Of Draining Doors, pitching
poets out OF the window and immo-
lating exchange fiends.
The subject is by no means ex-
hsusted, but space prevents our doing
h full justice at this time. Many other
branches will naturally suggest them
selves to the reader. 1t only need be
added that poetry and editorial writ
ing might be thrown in as electives.
They are not essential, as anybody can
do either. but it is well to have some
ornamental features in the curriculum,
~ sort Of pastime and relaxation to
the hardly-worked student. - Boston
Ns~script.