The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-12-31
THE coILEcE-aREp MAN.

Answering CORES ondents in let
ter in the Chicago Record-Herald. i
William E. Curtis says that the col
lega-bred man stands the best chance, \
both in Journalism and in bu-iness- [
Preliminary TO delivering this opinion
he explains that 10 be successful
reporter. correspondent or editor re-
Quires peculiar traits and talents; es-
pecially the faculty of acquiring In
formation, and the ability TO COM
municate it N an interesting way
These qualities are Unborn, and can
not be acquired by any amount OF edu-
cation Mr.. Curtis says II this con
nection:
ut is the same with an artist or an
/ orator. or q musician, or an engineer;
each OF them must have natural gifts
which distinguish one from another,
and the cultivation OF those gifts is
necessary for success in the profess
sions they represent. In other words
man or a woman with beautiful
voice and a refined taste for must.
viii undoubtedly make partial sue
cess If self-educated, but If the tai
ents God has given them are develop
ed and expanded by the instruction OF
master their success will be cor
respondingly greater 4 child with an
inventive genius may do some wonder
!. ful things without education, but the
training TO be obtained at a weli-con-
, Quoted technical institution will give
, the same talents wider usefulness
and enable them 10 contribute 10 the
happiness and welfare OF the world
to a greater degree than an ordinary
common school education
The late Alexander K. Mcclure OF
E the Philadelphia Times, one Of the
q most successful newspaper men OF his
2 generation, once declared that Jour
nalists are the greatest OF teachers
/ and there is every reason why spec
ial education should specially fl them
for such duties" Mr.. Curtis suggest:
that he might have added that tbs
value of all teachers can be en-
: HANGED By increasing their knowledge
cultivating their intelligence and
y training them to use both to the great
s est advantage AS to the value o
2 knowledge in general, Mr.. Curtis vel
says:
"One cannot get too much informa
u ton OF the right sort; and all train
n ing is valuable which improves III
a. ability to apply to useful purpose
% knowledge obtained from books o
v teachers. knowledge is power Tn.
: more a man knows, the more usefu
!. he can be if he is able to apply hi
: fund Of information. Il is impossible
u for some people to do that because Q
natural defects, which comman
sympathy. I know several lelrne
IT men who are unable 10 communicat
ID their thoughts and ideas. because the
N were never trained 70 do so. y
i school OF journalism can make up &c
:. the natural defects, but sensible
- practical training can improve th
~ usefuless of everybody. No school {
ne journalism, no college nor uniyersIt
I'll can make silk purse out of SOW
at ear, but even the most stupid an
awkward Of us can be improved b
proper training"
,a Mr.. Curtis adds that practical ii
ty struction in the work Of publisher
i. editors, correspondents, reporters. a
IN yertisement writer's and othf
- branches OF the newspaper professso
OF can prepare a person for actual e
perience. and while practice does NJ
n always make perfect II should be in
e proving Furthermore. it IS sn
~ gested. the principles that shoui
1T actuate every writer and publishe
the basis Of dignity. power and j
=. auence, can be drilled into a your
~ ~ man at school better than after !
~ gets out into actual work. when !