The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-15
Writing and
 Responsibility

his profession. He would be better om in a worldly and professional way, If instead of making ribaId jokes about term which would uplift his avoca- fion, he would wear the der 1ised ap- pellation. and be treated az irnaiists The spectacle of a green -ad caIlow youth who has had three columns of his stun printed In a newspaper dub- bing himself "journaiist" Is suffi- eiently hilarious 1t Is true. But 1t is no worse than the sadder spectacle of trained and brilliant writer posing in affected humility as a mere newspaper man, whose only pride is that he Is not like, other men. because he believes that from his lofty mental height he can look with contempt upon those conventional things of life, that hu- manity holds necessary for the guid- ance and maintenance Of society.
 The green youth posing as journal ist Is merely humorous; but the man of brilliant attainments whose view of life IS so warped that he prefers cheap Bohemianism to useful living afford the sad spectacle of a misguided life. wasting rich opportunities. The jour -aalist ia affected but he is perhaps more sincere than the newspaper man who affects a lower place in life than that to which his talents entitle him.
 The writer in The Editor and Pub- fisher takes this unfortunate time- honored view of the profession out of which he makes his living. To show how common that view is. how gener- ally accepted among the newspaper men themselves he quotes some bril- liant definitions that poke fun at the man who wants to be a journalist rather than q newspaper man. This is cleyer--a definition given by an ac- tive newspaper man:
 The Conventional View.
 A journalist is one who wears a cane when he goes out on an assign ment."
 Bright as it can be, isn't it? Yet if newspaper men went better dressed and carried a larger stock of self-re- spect fewer doors would be slammed in their faces when they go out for news.
 But there were other definitions of 6 journalist equally clever. For inc stance one New Yorker wrote "A jour ualist writes pieces for a paper. A newspaper man writes news stories for
 Exactly. And the poorest returns in appreciation and pay for high-class mental work comes to the brilliant newspaper man who writes a news story that only too often is good liter Sture. DuL who views ms own Work more cheapIy than any other man; cheaper. even, than the man who is paying for it. If the journalist had the sway on the American press rather than the newspaper man, pay would E be higher, hours shorter and apprecia- ton more frequent How can the pro- fession be respected when those in it Rffect to despise 1t and cheapen 1t in the eyes of the outside world3
 No matter if his work Is done with Aaak bRiaaE sAnaas ~gaettes ess- ercIses a certain mental effort and he should be respected along with other brain workers. But he isn't. The world takes the newspaper men at his own estimate-so much the worse for. him. And yet respect is the just and natural due of the man who writes. Hs has failed in his obligations to himself and to his associates when he has not demanded that respect.
 q can call spirits from the vasty deep" said Macbeth's witch.
 Aye. so can l. So can any man." sai1 the Scotch chieftain. "but will them come when you call them?"
 The only man who can build up a respect for his profession Is the man himself who writes. As newspaper man he ignores. Perhaps if he dressed little better, wore a cane and held his head little higher he could call out and hold the respect of the world.
 Brains. don't talk to me of brains.