Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-02-18

man is born and not made. and 1t is a
true saying as far as It goes.
A man generally is born with Pc
culfar aptitude and prediction for a
certain calling or profession and it is
only in this that he can attain his
highest usefulness. It is a truth that
admits of no denial that the young
man who begins his career in any part
Of the newspaper business must have
practical experience before he be-
comes a practical factor in his bust
ness, but in many cases a young man
who starts out in that business with
a real capabilfty and ultimate fitness
is discouraged at the start by his ig-
norance Of the general routine and
the methods used in a newspaper Of
Ace. The newspapers also lose much
good service, especially in their editor
ial departments because TO so large an
extent they have 10 be schools of in
struction for ignorant and often incom-
petent aspirants for journalistic hon
ors. There is no managing editor
who, If he received an application
from a young man or young WON
al for a position, would not be glad
TO learn that the every day routine Of
the work was familiar TO him or her
and no time need be lost in Ticking
the applicant into shape" A college
course can not make a newspaper
nan. but it can make the making Of
one and it can also give to its stu
dents the knowledge Of themselves
which is necessary to weigh their own
possibilities and decide their course.
The National magazine says in regard
to the school Of Journalism:
The distinctive feature Of the
school Of journalism OF the University
Of Missouri is the conduct of the stu
dents, without university support, Of
a small, but well balanced daily after
noon newspaper, The University Mis-
sourian. This is a general newspaper
not a college journal-covering the
entire news field. It is maintained out
OF its own receipts for advertising and
subscription. while the work upon it,
other than mechanical. is done entire
" by students in the school of jour
nalism. They cover assignments, oc-
cupy desks, edit, telegraph, exactly as
bic, and the paper must come out on
time. In this way actual, practical
training in newspa per-naking is Civ
en-. II the instruction is faithful and
efficient. the students taking this work
will certainly be better equipped for
success in journalism than those who
have not had sucn training. II is not
expected 10 make journalists any
more than a lawyer can be manufac-
tured in a law school or a doctor in a
school of medicine. 1t is expected,
however, to train for Journalism by
adding to the intellectual attainments
and resources and the professional
equipment Of the students"
The old time editor who sees any
thing funny in this kind of a course
OF training must have forgotten about
his own early struggles and his sub
Sequent troubles in training men for
the simplest details Of daily journal
ism. The man who begins the prac-
tice Of any business or profession with
a thorough theoretical experience as
can be demonstrated in any school
course has a distinct advantage over
the man who gets at It by main
strength and awkwardness." Both
may succeed in the end but there is
little doubt as to who will have the
easier time and the more enjoyment