New-York tribune., 1907-10-09
JOCRN4LISM.
Some Of the Qualifications Needful
to Success in 1t.

From Chambers's Journal
Journalism is the one vocation which above
C,NeIS otiler exercises a fatal fascination over
me youth Of the world. Other canings may
oIfer more valuable prizes in life more security
ana more ease; but none can compete in charm
,TI ~ lIIe career OF gentleman Of the press
Inc reason for this is obvious To the youu.,
ana lhlhltated, journalism holds out the most
uIiAg prospects. II casts hypnotic spell with
equal potency over the TWO most pronounced
types OF ambitious yOuJh-the literary and the
adventurous. What youth for example with a
love for literature has not felt his heart throb
faster while reading those we'll known and se-
CucuNe words of Anthony Trollope: If a man
can command q table. chair. pen, ink and
paper ne can commence his trade a literary
man. 1t requires no capital, no special eduCa-
uoh and may be taken up without a moments
oeiaE Less literary but more hazardous
spirits succumb to the same fatal fair. The
variety the excitement. the constantly recur-
ring opportunities TO visit new scenes. 10 meet
famous people and to undergo novel expert
ences enveOp the profession in a seductive
glamour TO which youth easily Yields And can
we wonder! To become a part Of that vast, In
definite and mysterious potentiallty which the
public both breads and worsh!ps: to step from
the door Of duh domestiCities or the cribbed,
CeD!l4ed d ana confined limits Of an obscure or
conventional existence into a world Of living
interest. a world that furnishes a livelihood
Wfl!e II entertains 50 royally-can we wonder
that youth is beguiled by the sirens sweet song!
Pernaps no greater representative of the jour
nalistic profession could be named than the
Iate NJ. De bloWitz- For over thirty years
Blowltz was the Paris correspondent IF the
greatest newspaper in the world, The London
Times VI. de BloWitz was Justly jealous OF
the honor OF his beloved vocation and ever
ready TO lend the weight Of his vast wisdom 10
al struggling aspiTants. At one time he
Ilcusly encouraged the idea of an international
school OF Journalism for the training Of young
men OF promise. But the project was blossom
OF Blowitzs fertile mind that never came 70
fruItlon. Beyond the advantages o. academic
or technical training he emphasized the neces-
slty Of an inward call" He looked upon jour
nalism as a secular priesthood 10 which men
are ordained by positive commission, ana
that no man must profane by insincere or per
functoTy attachment Here is his definition Of
the qualities which a should have who
would be a journalist: The man who would
enter a school Of journalism should feel posi-
tive cali TO this vocation, should have in him
the unwearyfng vigilance which is absolute
condition Of il, the love of dangsr-of civil
danger, that is. and q real peril-a boundess
curiosity and love for truth. and a special and
marked facility of rapid assimilation and COM
prehension"
The late Sir Leslie Stephen emphasized rather
the necessity Of sound knowledge. when my
young friends" said he, consult to the
conditions OF successful Journalism, my first bit
Of advice comes TO this: know something really
at any rate, try to know something; he the
slaves Of some genuine idea, or you will be the
slaves Of newspaper-a bit Of mechanism M
stead Of man"
The Hon. Whitelaw Reid. the American Am
bassador in London is one Of the present day
statesmen who have graduated in journalism.
Writing on Modern Journalism a Pro-
fession," Mr.. Reid after pleading for the
newspaper office as the proper place to learn the
newspaper business. says: We may next look
for whatever will facilitate wide acquisition and
persuasive expression. One must first know
things and where to find things; and in your
reasoning about them, acknowledgement knowl-
edge not a smattering-of the history of your
country is Indispensable and no historical
knowledge VIII come aHliss. Constitutional and
international law, at least. one must know, and
II take full course much the better
Modern languages Will be most helpful, and in
our great newspapers reading knowledge Of at
least three Of them-French. German and Span
ish-becomes every year more desirable. The
literature OF your own language should be
studied until you learn to use the noble tongue
20 express 10 the best advantage and In the
fewest words whatever you have TO say You
should know your own country. You should
know foreign countries and thus chasten the
notion that wisdom began with US. and that lib
erty and intelligence hardly exist elsewhere
You should know the people the plain every
day, average man. the man in the street-his
condition, his needs, his ideas and his notions
and you should learn early that he is not likely
10 be overpowered by your condescension when
you attempt to reason with him"
Like DR.. Whewell, the young journalist should
seek to know something. II IS ideal impos-
try TO take al knowledge as his province Every
issue Of a newspaper represents a battle-a
battle for excellence; and the man who can mar
shal the most knowledge in a clear concise
up-to-date and reliable fashion wins But over
ana aooYe TINS sroundlng IN general knowledge,
the young journalist should seek to make one
subject peculiarly his own Let it be the tariff
question. Continental politics. local government
etc, it will always pay in the end. Dr. Robert
son Nicoll remarks: Il consider that there is a
great opportunity for young journalists who
would 90 10 France or Germany and fhorou ebIv
familiarize themselves with the political life and
personages and aspects OF the Continent That
is a kind OF knowledge exceeding rare in this
country. 1t always commands its price and will
do more and more the Continent gets
nearer to US" II was the absence of specialized
knowledge Of this kind that NJ. de Blowitz was
accustomed 10 depore so deeply. He said: "The
lack OF knowledge and authority In French
Journalism is most strikingly seen in the matter
of its treatment OF foreign affairs and this lack
has already had the most unfortunate conse-