Letters: Dec. 5, 1927

(3 of 8)

Sirs: TIME has played sparkling ingenue in my classes in journalism at the University of Minnesota. And TIME has done much more than that for us. It has materially helped me in my efforts to avoid disappointing keen youngsters who have, with glowing expecta tions, come into journalism at Minnesota. I thank you sincerely, and no doubt my students would thank you too.

Last year I used TIME in an editorial-writing class. The magazine enlivened student interest in situations which are the material for editorials. TIME'S vigor screened many im portant persons and many important events in concrete detail before their imaginations. The only trouble was that they all wished assiduously to mimick TIME'S style. I did not always object (they might imitate worse styles). TIME has wrought a characteristic manner; so has Mencken: both appeal incisively to students — I should rather have my students ape TIME than misunderstand Mencken.

This year I use TIME in the beginners' class and in an extension class of adults. One hundred and seven subscribe. As long as TIME retains its present character, I shall be an unofficial subscription agent.

We expect all our students to enter active journalism no more than all who "major" in literature or art are expected to be poets or painters. We are, however, fully aware of the cultural value in training the "journalistic mind," which make a virtue of superficiality. (The scholar knows more and more about less and less ; the journalist less and less about more and more—Old Saying). The "journalistic mind" makes no rules, strikes no poses as an authority, dislikes uninformed generalizations, is no bigot; it faithfully gathers information and reports, tentatively, the situation. TIME makes information amusing; TIME is no bigot. . . .

CLARENCE E. CASON

Minneapolis, Minn.

Underwood Congratulated