ading magazines and
newspapers is constantly increasing, I think we must assume that it has
come to stay. If we cannot check it, we can at least turn it to good
advantage, systematize it, and discipline ourselves.

Among the subjects continually described in newspapers and magazines,
and even on billboards and in street-car advertising, is the subject of
hygiene. No greater service can be rendered the community than for
those who are conducting discussions of health to teach people how to
read correctly this mass of information regarding health, to separate
misinformation from information, and to apply the lessons learned to
personal and public hygiene. There is no better way of doing this than
to teach a class or a child to clip out of magazines and newspapers all
important references to health, and then to classify these under the
subject-matter treated. A teacher, parent, or club leader might
practice by using the classification of subjects outlined in the
Contents of this book. It is surprising how rapidly one builds up a
valuable collection serviceable for talks or papers, but more
particularly for giving one a vital and intelligent interest in
practical health topics.

Interested in comparing the emphasis placed on health topics in a
three-cent paper having a small circulation with a penny paper having
twenty times the circulation, I made during one week thirty-eight
clippings from the three-cent paper and ninety-five from the penny
paper. The high-priced paper had no editorial comment within the field
of health, whereas the penny paper had three columns, in which were
discussed among other things: _The Economics of Bad Teeth_; _Need for
Individual Efficiency_; _"Good Fellows" Lower Standard of Living by
Neglecting their Families_. The penny paper advertised fifty-two foods,
garments, whiskies, patent medicines, or beautifiers urged upon health
grounds. In the three-cent paper twenty-six out of thirty-eight items
advertised food, clothing, patent medicine, or whisky. One issue of a
monthly magazine devoted to woman's interests contained twenty-eight
articles and editorials and fifty-five advertisements that concern
health,--thirty-seven per cent of total reading matter and thirty-seven
per cent of total advertisement.

Excellent discipline is afforded by this clipping work. It is
astonishing how few men and women, even from our better colleges, know
how to organize notes, clippings, or other data, so that they