The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-31
NYE'S EARLIER HUMOR
The Humorist's Views on q School of
journalism.
HIS PLAN FOR YOUNG MEN.
The First Two Years Should 10 Devoted
Go Meditation and Prayer, and the
Apprenticeship Should Then Con-
tinuc Years and Years More.

| asked mo to express an opinion upon the
matter of an established school of Jour
nalism, as spoken of by ex-Mayor Hem
ry G. Robinson of Hartford, and many
moro through the west who are stran-
gers to me personally having written
me to give my views upon tho subject,
have consented i'll so far that will
undertake simple synopsis Of what tho
course should embrace.
| l most heartily indorse the movement
if it may be called such at this early
stage. Knowing little of the intrica-
cies of this branch of the profession,
am going to state fully my belief as to
its Importance and the necessity for
thorough training upon it. We meet al
most everywhere newspaper men who
arc totally untitled for the high Office of
public educators through the all power
full press. The woods are full of them.
We know that not one out of thousand
of these who are today Chased as jour
nalists is fit for that position.
I know that to. be the case because
people tell me so.
cannot call to mind today in all my
wide journalistic acquaintance q soil
! tary man who has not been pronounced
! an ass by one or moro of my fellow men,
This is indeed a terrible state of affairs
In many instances these harsh criti-
cisms are made by those who do not
know, without submitting themselves to
tremendous mental strain, the differ
ence between u Clover, case' q and the
old Calvinistic doctrine of unanimous
damnation but that makes 10 difference;
t,n .r-,n lice IL.
please the masses. He should make his
whole life a study of human nature and
earnest effort to serve the great reading
world collectively and individually
This requires man of course with
similar characteristics and the same
general information possessed by the AL
mighty, but who would be willing to
work at u much more moderate salary.
The reader will instantly see how diff
ticult it is to obtain this class of men.
Outside of the mental giant who writes
these lines and two or three others per-
haps-
But never mind. leave grateful
world to say that, while 1 map out u
plan for the ambitious young Journalist
who might be entering upon the broad
arena Va uCM pcIuOll anu pttpdTInE
himself at regularly established school
for that purpose.
Let the first two years be devoted to
meditation aud prayer. This will pre-
pare the Young editor for the surprise
and consequent profanity which in
few yenrs he may experience when he
finds in his boss editorial that God is
spelled with little G, and the perora-
ton OF the article has been taken out
and carefully locked up between death
notice and the announcement of the
birth of cross eyed infant
The ensuing five years should be spent
in becoming familiar with the surpris-
ing and mirth provoking photography of
the English language.
Then shorld follow three years devot-
ed to practice with dumbbells, sand
bags and slung shots, in order to become
an athlete. L have found in my own
journalistic history more cause for re-
greet over my neglect of this branch than
any other. l am pretty good runner,
but aside from that l regret to say that
as an athlete am not n dazzling sue
cess.
The above course Of intermediate
training would fit the student to enter
upon the regular curriculum.
Then set aside ten years for learning
the typographical art perfectly, so that
when visitors wish TO look at the COM
posing room and ask the editor to ex-
plain tho uso Of the hell box' he will
not have to blush and tell gauzy lie
about its being IA composing stick. Let
the young journalist study the mys-
teries of typesetting, distributing, press
work, gallies, italic, shooting sticks,
type lice and other mechanical imple-
ments of the printers department..
Five years should be spent i'll learning
to properly read and correct proof, as
we'll rs how to mark it on the margin
like Il Chinese map of the Gunnison
country.
At least / 8 years should then be de-
voted to the study Of American politics
and the whole civil service This time
could be extended five years with great
profit to the careful student who wishes
of course to know thoroughly the names
and records Of all public men, together
with the relative political strength of
each party.
He should then take medical course
and learn how to bind up Commissions,
apply arnica. courtplaster or bandages,
plug up bullet holes and prospect
through the human system for buck
shot. The reason of this course, which
should embrace five years Of close study
is apparent to the thinking mind.
Ten years should then be devoted to
the study of law. No thorough metro
polttan editor wants to enter upon his
DrOfeRSiOn without knn,uinn, 4ho d;aor