Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-21

t
schools in existence. though we are not
prepared to say what has been their
success. The Brooklyn enterprise tsa
Judge from It's advance literature. IS
worthy OF attention, and if its STAFF and
officers do all they promise, some inter
esting results may be expected.
When the idea of establishing schools
for the training of journalists. was first.
preached, the average editor was inclin-
ed to scott at it. and not few openly
ridiculed the proposition. The old or
for common sense" practical experience
as opposed to theory, education gained by
obseryat ton and all that. was raised.
Many went so as to hint that
a newspaper man whose preliminary
training had been gained at school ana
not in newspaper Office. would be equiv
alent to no newspaper man at all we
fancy, however, that these narrow IDEAS
are being succeeded by more liberal
ones.
If the theory concerning the advantage:
Of practical experience over theoretical
training Is given too liberal play. 1t VIII
make laughing stock Of all educationa'
institutions. The United States Mihtary
Academy at West Point, and the Naval
Academy at Annapolis would particular
" suffer by such a view, for certainly
no one could be much more ignorant OF
actual warfare than the young off,
GERS who graduate from these splendid
institutions.
It seems to US that the college-bred mar
-be his alma mater what it nay-wht
enters the journalistic world, will stand
equally as good a show in that line
business as he would in any other. Tha'
he will be raw and inexperienced a
first, goes without saying. He would tt
equally so in any other line Of work. Blu
once the rough edges are smootfed dowr
on the emery stone of experience, hi4
chances for expansion will be far greater
than those of other men whose education
al advantages in early youth were less.
We are, of course, considering the case
Of young men Of intelligence, industry
and zeal. The newspaper business as
suredly is not the business for fools,
sluggards, or shirke-s. tho we fancy tn
representatives Of other vocations viii
say the same of their work.
Now, if the ordinary collegiate training
gives man a nucleus for newspaper
work on which he can build and expand,
how much greater should be such a foun
dation obtained in an Institution specii
cally intended for instruction in jour-
nalism! Take for instance the Brooklyn
school mentioned. 1t promises a three
years course in such subjects as the art
of writing English, the history OF Eng
lish and American literature, American
and English political and constitutional
history, elementary law, literary criticism
Biblical literature, and pledges constant
training in reportorial and editorial prac
tice. Presenting that there will be eA-
perienced journalists connected with tn.
institution, this curriculum strikes us as
lust the thing needed. We suppose tina
there will also be connected with the
school a printing Office sufficiently equip
ped to give students slight knowledge2oft
the mechanical side Of newspaper OF
fee. The value of this knowledge can
not be overestmated, especially in con
nection with the publication OF country
papers, where the editor is brought
closely in touch with composition and the
make up of his sheet.
Far be it from us to intimate that Tho
graduates of such school would b.
newspaper men the day they got theil
diplomas. At best they would only b
capable of approaching how little they
possesses that peculiar kind Of apprecia
ton, he is not apt to stand Still long
The rest will follow with the lapse of a
few months.
The severely practical side of journal
isIn-that side which does not involv
education, but a knowledge of men am
the way they should be dealt with-is
quite another matter. Frequently thi
acCOIlpllSlllQeuC-1OI ACCOMPLISHMENTS ~
surely is-comes only with maturity
Sometimes it never comes. The young re
porter must fight out his own salvatio,
along this line Nobody can help him
Where ne errs he is very likely to b
promptly reminded OF it, and the older
he gets the more careful he will grow.
1t will not take him a twelve-montf
however, to find that accuracy, courtesy,
good breeding, and consideration for the
feelings Of others, are all important fac
tors in the success of the accomplished
reporter.
We know Of no business in which per
sonal popularity counts for more than
does in Journalism, but it is not within
the scope of this article for us to give
our ideas as to the way to win friends
The standard for the true gentleman !
the same in all callings and in all pro
fessions.
Nor could we undertake to say just what
makes the most brilliant writer's unless
indeed, 1t is something that is born
them" Constant care in preparing manu-
scripts. the study of the strong points
o+l, VII =,