Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1906-12-10
A MERE ADDENDUM
TO LESSON NO. iii
Some Observations Upon the Mental
Characteristics Of Students of the
Art OF journalism.

This. my dear children. is not Lesson
for the Primary Glass in Journalism.
but rather a continuation of or adden-
dun, as it is called. to Lesson iii, and
1 desire you to give it consideration
Herewith.
This lesson deals not so much with
the technical work OF conducting
newspaper or the ethics of the profess
sion of journalism as with the mental
characteristics of those who like you
are about to take up this noble art.
Some Of you, l notice with regret.
Especially the Evening Outcast are OF
refractory or impatient disposition.
given TO childish complainings and fits
of resentment which are calculated TO
excite the ridicule Of the public There
can be no greater mistake at the outset
of a journalistic career.
Those who in any manner make
themselves the objects of derision in
the communities where they reside. be-
come what are sometimes called con
tributors TO the gayety of nations"
| though they themselves are never gay.
on the contrary they take themselves
and their affairs too seriously. I
know of no beast of the field or fowl
OF the air so serious in his appearance
and general demeanor as the ass. yet
there is no other animal the mere sight
of which is so calculated to provoke
contemptuous though good natured
laughter.
You must not my dear children, feel
that the public is I'm any manner inter-
ested in your loudly heralded goes.
The world is sympathetic. yet 1t is re-
sentful toward him who obtrudes his
troubles upon II and ii calls him by
such opproprious and vulgar names
as the wilmer" the ''bellyacher," etc
once a man has established a reputa-
ton as bellyacher. his influence for
good in the community is gone. He is
thereafter of the same force and influ-
ence as the under dog which. with his
four legs in the air, attracts attention
TO his distressed condition by his loud
whining.
The relation to the world. Of the
complainer. who thinks the public must
be interested in his fluctuations, has
been suceinctly embalmed and compre-
hensively set forth in the following
beautiful lines:
Laugh. and the world laughs with
you;
Bellyache. and you weep alone"
l have observed with pain. the tend
ency OF the Evening Outcast TO dis
turb the people by public wailing.
doubtless believing that since II has
foolishly proclaimed itself the "Peo-
pies Organ" II has a claim upon the
peoples lint. liniment. bandages ana
emollients. 1 have pointed out that
there are no more Peoples Organs"
Peoples Forums" Popular Tribunes"
and "Palladiums of the Peoples Liber-
ties" They have all given place to the
modern newspaper There are after
all. | suppose. in remote parts Of the
country, still some journals which i'm
agine that they exist for the public
good and bear the motto. PRO Bono
Publico.' / am informed that one OF
these, the Billville Bugle. is still eking
out a living. by bestowing unsolicited
care upon the community and receiv-
ing its honOrarium of pumpkins and
cordwood. But this is not Journalism
as we understand II now.
But returning to our original theme
I
You, do not groan. There was never
a groan so nearly musical that was
attuned 10 a harmonious note. The
groan is 4 discord in the universe. and.
pardon my play upon words. or bon
mot, the man who creates a discOrd
goes into the discard"
II you and the Evening Outcast
should ultimately succeed in entering
upon a journalistic career. you viii
probably at some time become involved
in controversies with other newspa-
pers. In such a case bear yourselves
like men. not like children. Possess a
lofty and serene soul and so retain the
respect of the community throughout
the struggle. newspaper quarrel. for
such controversies are frequently mere
quarrels. should be conducted in such
manner as to cause your readers the
least possible inconvenience. otherwise
they will become disguised, for as !
have saids they have no interest in
your complaint. Readers want tha
news and the advertisers want readers.
nothing more.
Next to the groan, the grunt is the
most discordant sound | know OF,
wholly irreconcilable with harmony. \
grunt may make the public laugh. but
the laugh is always derisive The
grunt signifies that you are attempting
something beyond your strength. Do
what you can easily and gracefully and
in doing this you will day by day gain
strength to do more, also easily and
with grace.
| am minded to speak to you on this
subject by the efforts or one of you.
the Evening Outcast, to do something
1t hardly knew what. and still less
knew how. / refer to its recent issu-
ance OF two special editions called
extras" to which l alluded i'm the
early part of this Lesson No. iii. The
public, that is. the intelligent public.
doubtless regarded each of those I'M
fortunate extras as n grunt and smiled
accordingly.