University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-06-10
THE JOURNALISM OF AGRICULTURE.

A country with an agriculture so di-
versitieG, complex and profitable as
ours, should produce nigh type ri
pastoral literature. technical ana pogu-
la!. We believe that il already IS
building in different regions OF Amer
lea. In iact, an occasional blossom
comes to pleasing notice. ana there are
others on the way
Within the next ten years We shall
witness the evolution Of a new type Of
digntied, instructive. inspirattonal. 10
etc prose-writns on rural affairs by
educated land owLers who snail under
stand the art and science ot farming
Some OF these enrichers OF our t.r,4.
agricultural literature are now il train
ing. They are receiving instruction in
agricultural! journalism al the Iowa
State College and the Wisconsin. Mis-
souri,. North Dakota and Michigan Col
leges OF Agriculture. Reared on farms
/ full OF the abounding lie that ambi-
| tious young men derive from resDGn-
sive contact with the soil, informed by
book. periodical and personal expert
ence of those phases nj urban lie and
commerce that root in the country. and
lifted by their training and aspirations
10 large grasp OF what ii means 20
own and cultivate land, these students.
after graduating and getting back to
farms, will work their way to that
lofty leisure in which most OF the clas-
.sic immortals have been produced.
An eager and poorly supplied market
awaits the products of their pens. Peo-
pie Interested in farming soon become
surfeited with the dry, lifeless facts
with which the bulk OF current text
books is pedagogicallv crammed and
they get a commercialized idea Of coun-
try life which breeds chean Clodhopper
instead OF wide-angled. -emotionod
farmers rich i'll personal resource and
power.
We need an agricultural literature
rich and beautiful enough &c quicken
the great depth OF lie. actual and prac-
tical enough to stimulate Tie money
making instinct, and so trauekt with
the personality and vital charm OF its
ripe authors as TO thrill il readers with
the beauty, calm. rest and Joyous. crea-
tive activity which lure men to the
land
All literary work OF this character
Will of necessity be largely au1obio-
graphical-reCords Of experience and
observation forced OFT OF rich lives t,y
"a divine altruism.
In Adventures in Cortantmert.
My Farm OF Edsewood. "Shorrhoru
Cattle. Alfalfa in America The
Lay Of the Land, Corn Plants. and a
few other books. as We'll as in some Of
the articles in the better class OF agri-
cultural papers, we have glimDscs Of
the new type Of agricultural literature.
Courses in journalism will greatly as
sist in increasing the output OF this
uncommon grade OF work and. wha
IS more important, make country life
a satisfying experience Tor those who
seek happiness and the less important
material result that can be measured
in dollars
While the public will always want
simple facts clearly and briefly stated.
1T will have an ever increasing appre.
citation OF artistic expression. Literary
workers who rise to brilliant heights
with sincere pens will never suffer Tor
want OF popular approval though The
man who has this unworthy object
in view cannot hold it il he attain it.
i higher motive than that dominates
writers OF large usefulness to the
world. Fame is an incident. not an
end
a writer who has made a little head
way is his own severcst critic. If he
has high purpose. and his conscience
in his work. clcyernass. picturesque
phraseology and cheap humor will ne
foreign 10 him. To please tEe public
VIII be the least OF his reasons for
careful thought and happy diction.
HIS on" sufficient object will be to
write truth i'll the pure beauty OF truth.
Every line. no matter how trivial the
subject 10 which it relates. will
inspire his best endeavor.
Carelessness and indifference in prf-
Vate correspondence or COMMONPLACE
discussions are lite~ary sins OF which
no honest. ambitious writer will be
guilty. In every aee he does his hest !
Persisten practice guided by this rigid
standard bring ultimate ease and an !
studied charm in expression. Con |
sc!entious writer's feel just bride in |
their productions; when their manu- |
script is coldly blue penciled By an
editor they are as keenly pained as /
mother whose naughty son receives I