The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-11

directed blow with a printers towel
Five years should be devoted to the
study OF proofreading. In that length
of time the young journalist can per-
feet himself TO such degree that 1t
will take another five years for the
printer to understand his corrections
and marginal notes.
Fifteen years should then be devot-
ed to the study of American politics,
especially civil service reform, look
ing at il from nonpartisan stand
point. II possible, the last Ave years
should be spent abroad. London Is
the place to go II you wish to get a
clear, concise view of American poll
tics, and Chicago or Milwaukee would
be a good place for the young English
journalist to go and study the political
outlook OF England. The student
should then take a medical and surgi-
cal course, so that he may be able to
attend to Commissions, fractures and so
forth. which may occur to himself or
TO the party who may come to his Of
fee for a retraction and by mistake
get his spinal column double-leaded.
Ten years should then be given to
the study of law. No thorough metro
politan editor wants 10 enter Upon the
duties OF his profession without know
ing the difference between a writ OF
mandamus and other styles of profan-
.ity. He should thoroughly understand
the entire system OF American juris-
prudence, so that in case a certiorari
should break out in his neighborhood
he would know just what to do for 1t.
N. I'LL 4. Il. ext.
to see what Is required OF him and
enter with great zeal upon the further
study of his profession.
He will now enter upon a theologi-
cal course of 10 years and fit himself
thoroughly to speak intelligently OF
the various creeds and religions OF
the world Ignorance on the part OF
an editor Is almost a crime, and when
he closes a powerful editorial with
the familiar quotation, 1T Is the early
bird that catches the worm," and at
tributes IL TO ST. Paul instead of Deut-
eronomy, IL makes me blush for the
profession.
The last 10 years may be profitably
devoted to the acquisition of prac-
teal knowledge of cutting cord wood,
baking beans, making shirts, lectur-
ing, turning double hand-springs, be-
ing shot out of catapult at circus,
learning how to make a good adhesive
paste that will not sour in hot wealth
er, grinding scissors, punctuating. cap
italization, condemnation, syntax,
plain sewing. music and dancing.
sculping, etiquette. prosody, how to
win the affections OF the opposite sex
and evade a malignant case of breach
of promise, the ten commandments,
every man his own tooter on the flute,
croquet, rules of the prize ring, rhet-
oric, parlor magic. calisthenics. bot
any, poker, international law, high
low-jack, drawing and painting, faro.
vocal music, driving, breaking team,
15-ball pool, how to remove grease
spots from last years pantaloons,
horsemanship, coupling freight cars.
riding on rail, riding on a pass, feed
ing threshing machines, how to wean
a calf from the parent stem, teaching
school, bull whachng, plastering,
Waiting, vaccination, autopsy, how
to win the affections of your wife's
mother, every man his own washer
woman, or how TO wash underclothes
so they will not shrink, ETC., etc.
But time forbids anything like a
thorough list OF what a young man
should study in order to fully under
stand all that he may be called upon
to express an opinion about in his
actual experience as journalist.
There are a thousand little matters
which every editor should know, such,
for instance, as the construction of a
roller composition. Many newspaper
men can write good editorial on
Asiatic cholera, but their roller COM
position is not At to eat.
With the course OF study that |
have mapped out, the young student
would emerge from the college of jour
nalism at the age OF 95 or SO ready
to take off his coat and write an
article on almost any subject. He
would be little giddy at first and the
Office boy would have to see that he
went to bed at proper time eacn
night, but aside from that he would be
good man 10 feed waste paper
basket.