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The Writing Game
By Jesse Lee Box
A MILLION REVIEWS
There once was said, "A million reviews of
Shakespeare’s plays have been done so one more
won't hurt.” This is true of this "writing game'
one more won’t hurt! This review will not be
complete in its origin or for that fact, will it ever
be complete?
First, let us ask "what makes a man or person
desire to write?" This, in the next few para
graphs I will try to cover for you. If we arrive
at the correct answer, which we will not, chalk
one up for a very humble man. "A million re
views have been done but one more won’t hurt."
EXPERTS SAY
Experts say "the urge to write is the urge to
get something off of your chest." Maybe this is
true, but then let us consider the writers who
write for pecuniary gain. Do they write because
they have a grievance or the "urge to get some
thing off their chest?" Maybe so, maybe not,
anyway I don’t think it is for money that people
write. It is never a proven axiom—in the money
sense—that an author is a "rich author." The de
sire to write is the innermost feeling of a person,
urging, pushing forward to express his view, his
ideas; these views and ideas he desires to put
forth where John Q. Public can see and read
what another feels.
OBJECTIVE WRITING
One of the pertinent examples of contempor
ary journalism is Mr. Ralph McGill, of the At
lanta Constitution. Mr. McGill, in his editorials,
in daily accounts of his travels through the coun
ties of the state, has picked a subject that all
writers in their sojourns pick—that of nature.
Natures beauty—one of the most common
topics of writers —but not common in its com
plex interest stirs man’s soul to the breaking
point. The writer sees a beautiful sunset, a
snow-capped mountain top, a bird, a beautiful
river, a forest, a field of corn, a heard of cattle;
these give the spark, the impetus to write.
The writer must not only have a high sense of
perception, he must be able to form in construc
tive, clearly defined sentences, the last unseem
ingly unimportant detail. He must have a speci
fic knowledge of everything that goes on about
him. On several occasions, the small unimpor
tant detail that a less thorough person has over
looked will mean a "scoop" for the competent
Journalist. In several instances the "unimpor
tant" detail has raised the "cub" reporter from
"rags to riches."
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES
Take, as an illustrative example, the horror of
an accident. It is too ghastly to relate by mouth,
so the artist desires to set it forth in a more ex
plicit manner—a manner in which his words will
not erode by the passing of time.
I recall one instance which makes the life of a
journalist somewhat easier. A stranger stopped
by our small weekly shop in search of Indian ar
row heads. This stranger, by all appearances
was not wealthy; his garb related part of his
story. He wanted arrow heads and knowing no
one in the county he quickly came to the weekly
news office. Leaving the office he remarked, "a
journalist must know a lot about everything.”
Those words are .cemented on my memory for
ever. The essence of this remark, surveyed in its
literal value means, that a journalist must take a
few facts, grasp the meaning and construct it in
to clearly defined sentences! Why do I write?
Maybe it is to get something off my chest!
SUMMER SCHOOL STAFF
The West Georgian
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF. Jesse Lee Fox
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Bill Anthony
FEATURE EDITOR Vanvoorst Simmons
SPORTS EDITOR J<> hn Acrec
CIRCULATION MANAGER Lonnie Bell
BUSINESS MANAGER Ruby Traylor
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: $1.25
GEORGIA JOURNALISM
By Charles Smith
The thought came to me the other day. Do we have freedom
of the press in Georgia?
Before we are able to answer that question, we must ask our
selves just what freedom of the press is.
I suppose that freedom of the press is merely the right of the
editor and staff of a paper to print the things in their paper that
they desire to have printed.
If that definition is correct, then we certainly have freedom of
the press in Georgia. Therefore, we must look elsewhere to find
the trouble. (Taking for granted of course, that there is trouble.)
I contend that there is editorial inconsistency in our papers to
day. There are several outstanding examples that could be cited
but I will only give one to back my contention.
A few months ago, "rable-rouser" Gerald K. Smith came to
Georgia and was refused permission to use the facilities of Doug
las, Georgia in holding his meetings.
This move was applauded editorially by Mr. Ralph McGill’s
Atlanta Constitution. The honorable citizens of Douglas had done
the nation a great service in preventing him from speaking.
A short while later, "semi-Communist”, Henry Wallace was
scheduled to speak in a Federal Auditorium in Washington, D. C.
A group of citizens attempted to prevent him from using the Au
ditorium.
Mr. McGill’s Constitution was quick to condemn these peo
ple. They were attempting to deny Mr. Wallace the rights of free
speech. Mr. McGill stated that Wallace had a right to speak there.
In this article, I am not defending Mr. Smith or condemning
Mr. Wallace. I am asking a simple question. If Mr. McGill
thought it was right for one to speak, then why was it not right
for the other to speak?
Let’s not call it prejudice on the part of Mr. McGill. Let us
call it editorial inconsistency.
At this point, I think it would be proper to explain that I am
not anti-McGill. I think he is an excellent writer and is on his
way to greater honors than he has already received. I would not
be surprised if the next generation doesn’t refer*to him as another
Henry W. Grady.
Many people have lost faith in the newspapers of the state be
cause the papers have been so obviously prejudiced. Some claims
that are made upon the editorial pages are insults to the intelligence
of the people of Georgia.
A good example is the claim made by one Georgia editor that
pastuerized milk is harmful to children because the dead bacteria in
milk are more harmful than the live bacteria.
No single faction of the Georgia press has a monoply on "edi
torial hypocracy." This "card stacking" technique can be detected
in both the conservative and liberal factions of the press.
However, there is nothing we can do about the situation ex
cept hope that the papers will clean themselves up and watch their
errors and false claims in the future. One of the best things that
could happen to Georgia Journalism is for the press to become de
vided upon issues. Differing views are as important to Journalism
as competition is to free enterprsie.
My good friend and fellow "arm chair editor”, Mr. Bill An
thony is writing a reply to this article and it is appearing in the
same edition of the West Georgian. I haven’t seen his reply, there
fore, at the risk of sounding "Voltarish", I will say, "I may not
agree with what Bill has to say, PERIOD ”.
THE WEST GEORGIAN
(Campus
ROBERT BRADEN
Robert began his span of life back in 1923 in
the town of Rome. He was the first of four sons
born to Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Braden. He attended
grade school and graduated at Rome High School.
Upon completion of his high school studies at
Rome High, where he played football and basket
ball, Robert, like so many others, joined the army.
On leave in 1942 before going overseas, Rob
ert married Miss May Evelyn Milam. They now
have a son seven months old.
Before coming to W.G.C., Robert attended
Emory for a year and a half. Here at W.G.C.
he was an outstanding member of the much de
feated first Brave’s eleven. Also on the Dean's
list. Braden is popular with the faculty and stu
dent body.
In the field of sports, he likes football, hunt
ing, and his "pet” is fishing for trout in the cool
of a mountain stream.
In the fall, Robert plans to continue his studies
at Emory or the Atlanta Southern Dental College.
DORCAS BAKER
In LaFayette, Georgia, on May 23, 1926, a
fine, healthy, beautiful baby girl was born to Mr.
and Mrs. O. C. Baker. Dorcas says her mother’s
first impulse on seeing the new addition to her
family was to scream; her father thought of sui
cide but decided against it on taking a second
look. A grown young lady now, Dorcas is some
thing of pride for her mother and father.
Dorcas attended grade and high school in her
home town. In 1943 she received her diploma
from LaFayette High School and began working
in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
From 1943 until 1946, she maintained her po
sition in Chattanooga. In the fall of ’46 she en
tered school here and immediately became a cam
pus leader.
For amusement she likes MEN, tennis, and
swimming.
Now that Mr. Reed needs anew secretary,
Dorcas has decided to fill that position for a time
before making any definite decisions concerning
her life’s work.
THE WAY OF A TRAVELER
At this moment I am very tired. I have gone many
miles, the way of the traveler is hard. The lines on
my forehead are lines of deep consternation. They
are lines of weariness, ugliness and also beauty. They
are lines of the past, lines of thinking of the future.
My soul is tired, tired of the hell and misery of the
world. Sick of the injustices, the sordidness of all hu
manity. Y t! My face is full of the glory of the past,
the glory of infant beauty, all the precious memories
of the once youthful childhood. Not only is my soul
tired, my very innards are tired also! lam tired in
the fashion that to go on is useless, to continue fu
tile, to resign disgrace, to q*uit dishonorable —to take
this defeatist attitude is wrong, but yet it is right.
There are other fields to conquer, other places of
victory, new places to go, new reads to traverse, all
these loom forward like a giant monster to be
slaughtered: Yet! I have killed too many monsters,
traversed too many paths, my will is burned out, my
spirit gone, all hope is lost—the glory—there isn't
any.
I will rise and fight back, I will take false courage,
mold it into true courage, as the glass maker molds
true glass. I will again travel new roads, slay new
fields, new conquest. I will rid my body of this
weariness, rise as anew flame and consume all ob
stacles to my destination. I will travel the world, I
will strike down all evil, no longer will I beg for a
crumb of bread; I will sleep a peaceful sleep; I will
not beg for a place to sleep. lam beyond frustration
—molded into a man of patience, of great fortitude.
My resources are limited, my knowledge great. I
have passed the cycle of youth, but the next sign
reads “Wisdom.” I shall consume wisdom as no oth
er before me—l will plant wisdom in the wind, the
sun, stars, you will hear me whisper—evil will shud
der, goodness will respond with vibrant life; I will
travel to the north pole, the south pole—cross the
meridian. I will rest my body where death overtakes
me—but will death overtake me? No! Death is b
yond—and I am the Traveler!
(Name Withheld by Request)
AUGUST 19, 1947