Omaha daily bee., 1900-02-09
WOMEN JOURNALISTS TO ORDER.
Ambitious GIRLS Taking Practical
LcssOns In nn Enstcrm ScminnrN.


Some of the girls in Mount Holyokc col
lego are taking a course in journalism.
under the instructions Of Prof. stevens, a
woman professor, who, it is fair to presume.
has had some experience in actual news
paper work. As to the system being fol-
lowed, we quote from a descriptive article,
lately printed in the Lowell Mail. The
article goes on TO state that, after the
pupils had enjoyed some work upon
imaginative topics, they were to write an
account of a fire in Rockefeller hall. The
ball was not on fire. Of course, but that
made no difference. They wrote II up. or
the sixteen girls who reported the blaze, nine
dragged into their story statements about
the "devouring element" Several Of the
girls said many lives had been lost, but
failed to give the names and addresses OF
the victims. One promising reporter de-
scribed with great glec the dying moments
of all the girls whom she disliked and whom
she caused to die the most lingering and
painful deaths.
1t took at least three weeks to teach the
pretty reporters how to correctly write
up a fire. They were told first of all to
describe the destruction of the building it
self, the slaughter of its occupants and
the work of the fire department. After they
had been thoroughly drilled in this. they
Wv NdlblN w llNtSllSdlt Nut
ings with a view to find out If there were
any suspicion of arson.
They were next instructed in the delicate
task of getting the chief of the fire depart
mcnt's estimate of himself. together with
his criticism of the meanness Of the alder
men in not providing him with sufficient
apparatus. Next they were carefully drilled
in the task of getting from republican
politicians signed statements saying that
the fire could Cuiy have occurred under a
democratic administration
After the fire class the pupil passes into
the murder department. This consists Of a
full course in writing up mysterious as
sassinations. The girls concoCt plausible
killings. describe them and run down the
pCrpetrator.
There is 'also a course in municipal ad-
ministration and editorial writing. The girls
learn how to write an editorial on the
weather prophecy basis-that is, seeming
to say a lot, while in reality saying nothing.
An important branch is that in which they
practice writing sarcastic things about con-
temporary newspapers.
1T seems that the girls are not allowed
to enter the course unless they sign a paper
stating that they really desire to become
newspaper women" the Cincin-
natl Tribune. They will be at liberty to
change their minds after they rough 1t
awhile in actual life. They will be dis
appointed. too, for what they learn will not
be Of much value in actual newspaper life.
Almost every paper and every newspaper
man of authority is a law unto himself.
The same matter is handled in different
ways in different offices, and the competent
workers are those of experience, who know
how to adapt themselves quickly to the
circumstances in which they find them
selves placed. But the girl reporters and
editors will be welcomed to the field. II
they can stand days of toll and nights of
waking. in all weathers and under all sorts
of rough surroundings, they will do well.
But the bed they are making for them
selves is not a bed of down.