Repository: UIHistories Project: Sophograph - 1890 [PAGE 8]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

____^^_

THE SOPH OCRAPH.

ing for their duti. since an intelligent public demands a corresponding degree of editorial ability. An important editorial function is the digestion and' condensation of current thought and investigation for the convenience of busy men. Since the success or failure of a new book or periodical depends, to a great extent, upon the verdicts of newspaper critics, the value of a competent critic is apparent. Universal applications of science to all arts and industries make a considerable degree of scientific knowIge necessary to a correct understanding of industrial interests, and this is most easily and satisfactorily obtained by means of a college course. It often happens that the journalist must thoroughly study the methods of some branch of industry, in which pursuit he is seriously handicapped by meagre scientific attainments. Reporters ai [uentry exposed to ridicule by their bungling re] < f scientific meetings and investigations, wnile their > comprehension of new inventions and manufacturing processes is greatly enhau I by some amount of scientific

e d u c a t i o n . T h e a n a l y t i c a l h a b i t h a s a l r e a d y b e e n noticed, while t h e s c i e n t i s t . - discipline > close a n d a c c u r a t e o b f s e r v a t i o n can n o t fail t » t h e g r e a t e s t value t o a f w r i t e r for t h e p u b l i c pr< . Tin- m o r e p a l p a b l e a d v a n t a g e s of a liberal e d u c a t i o n

monly a result of education a n d t h e s c h o l a r ' s h a b i t s of rigid self discipline are qualifications which are manifestly too v a l u a b l e t o b e overlooked, while t h e influence of

men of lofty, if practical, aims is one great end, which is

BOUght b y i n d i v i d u a l s a n d b y s t a t e s in t h e i r e n d o w m e n t s

of colleges and universities. Every argument for a liberal education as an element of professional training

will a p p l y with t h e g r e a t e r effect t o t h e pro* sion of j o u r n a l i s m , for p r o b a b l y n o o t h e r now wields an influence

so wide and so commanding.

Practical men of good

e d u c a t i o n a r e always welcome r e c r u i t s t o the rank > t h e f profession; b u t m a n y of i t s most brilliant m e m b e r s h a v e been self-made m e n . A certain d e g r e e of k n o w l e d g e and t r a i n i n g are essential t o success, a n d when self i n s t r u c tion is relied u p o n , it is p r o b a b l e t h a t t h e exigencies of b u s i n e s s will leave n e i t h e r tine- nor o p p o r t u n i t y for -elf-

improvement. The verdicts of the most successful newspaper men is that a college education is "valuable but

not i n d i s p e n s a b l e . " T h e benefits of a college t r a i n i n g h a v e b e e n miew h a t fully t r e a t e d ; an i m p a r t i a l d i s c u s s i o n of t h e s u b j t

requires that its deficiencies and positii

disadvanta^

to a writer in the variou

b e e n di

lepartments of journalism have

b e n o t i c e d . T h e c o m m o n c o m p l a i n t a g a i n s t t h e c o l l -3 m a n is t h a t h e is not p r a c t i c a l a n d t h a t h e ex] quick a n d easy s u c c e s s in p r o f e s s i o n a l life. H e h a s n o t m i x e d with t h e world at an age w h e n b u s i n e s s h a b i t s a r e »m-

i s o m e w h a t in d e t a i l ; it n o w r e m a i n s t o

monly learned, and must begin his practical

lucation

ider the indirect and general benefits accruing from it .-^session. First and forem< in importance to the press i to iciety is the power of a trained and disciplined intellect, and it is perhaps the most important Berwhich tl renders to the profession, greater in its effects than the po onof knowledge itself. Acbilitv t< dl nir of information, which is gained by a familiarit nth Literati an important instrur c t of a wri s equipment, for knowing where to find {act ud only in value to knowing tin- fact itself. Culture and j h g from tin ocietj of eduited ] pie. with whom tin tudent commonly mingles, raent of lucatiou which is of permanent value,

'J h e I.elevated s t a n d a r d of HUCCCHH, which is COEQ-

after h i s n a m e h a s b e e n a d o r n e d with B. A. o r B. L . . while t h e g r a d u a t e h a s a c q u i r e d a refined a n d c u l t u r e d

taste without having the immediate means for its gratification. He has lived in the comparative -lusion and

isolation of college lit at a p l a s t i c age, a n d s h r i n k - from

the rude knock which ho encounters in the cold, Hiding world, lint failure is generally attributable to the

m a n himself, a n d is m a d e only m o r e tnspicuOUfl b j tl. a d v a n t a g e s which he h a s enjo d. An h o n e s t pa "ii will s h o w that a •liege e d u c a t i o n o r i t - e q u i v a l e n t , Combined with ability, i n d u s t r y a n d c h a r a c t e r u fails to c o m m a n d BUeeess in t h e j o u r n a l i s t i c field. T h i s p a p e r Would be in m p l e t e without n o t n t the " so-called pi h e a l e d u c a t i o n at t h e p r i n t e r \vh h