Short Fiction · Chapter
Binkley's Practical School of Journalism explained
A ragged man named Binkley recounts to a Post Man how he founded a school of journalism that combined practical training with a real newspaper.
What happens
A ragged man named Binkley recounts to a Post Man how he founded a school of journalism that combined practical training with a real newspaper. After hiring a staff of inexperienced but enthusiastic students, the paper published libelous and scandalous articles, leading to violent retaliation from the public, lawsuits, and the collapse of the venture. Binkley concludes by attacking a former correspondent to satisfy a lingering grudge.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Binkley's ragged appearance belies his intelligence and education; the newspaper's promise of practical training masks its disastrous execution.
Ambition and Failure
Binkley's ambitious scheme to profit from a journalism school ends in financial ruin and personal disgrace.
Humor and Irony
The ironic contrast between Binkley's grand vision and the chaotic, violent outcome, including the absurd details of the staff's battles.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The Post Man who observes the fight and later interviews Binkley in the saloon.
- Billy Keogh
Not directly present; no match in excerpt.
Key passages
“After all, the pursuit of revenge gives more pleasure than its attainment. I have robbed my existence of its aim.”
The chase for revenge is more enjoyable than actually getting it, and now I've lost my purpose.
Binkley reflects on his attack on the correspondent, revealing his twisted satisfaction.
“I gave him carte blanche to send in what he thought best, and he wired us 40,000 words the first day about the mockingbirds singing in the trees by the courthouse, while the snow was three feet deep in Dakota.”
I let him write whatever he wanted, and he sent an absurdly long story about local birds while ignoring major news elsewhere.
Binkley's complaint about the correspondent's impractical reporting.