- : * < *
'Cbe Conservative ,
ilege , but n mind without ; trained habits
is like the butterfly ; it will flit from one
attraction to another , sip here and there ,
only pausing long enough to taste the
varied sweets , until onuuied and sated
with pleasure , it ends a brief and pur
poseless life , without having constructed
or stored a single cell.
Since the introduction of sciences ,
isms and elegies , in the primary grades ,
teachers have repeatedly assorted , how
astonishing it is that little tots are able
to understand such subjects. Does it
follow that because the infant mind can
grasp and appreciate the wonders and
beauties of nature , that muturer years
will unfit it to understand , or lessen its
ability to grasp such subjects ? In early
\ ' life , memory and habits are easily
\ : trained and formed ; after a few years
it is too late. Then why not devote
those early years , before the reasoning
faculties have wakened , to learning to
think and remember , to learning how to
use tools. One who has chests of tools
| . and knows neither their use nor names ,
will be quite apt to get the wrong tools
in the wrong chests at the wrong time ;
one who has not learned to run a think
shop , will find little employment or
honor in the department of higher
education , even though he dons its
uniform and parades in its robes and
insignia , and knows some of the pass
words.
Failure and its Excuse.
By questioning pupils , it is found that
the standard of excellence is not "the
best which each individual is capable ol
attaining , " but is based on the compara
tive acquisitions of each other. Exposec
ignorance is not followed by discom
fiture and speedy efforts to remedy de
ficiencies , but the chagrin of imperfec
tion is expunged by the boast : "lam
not any worse than the others. " In
other words , a quart cup , though only
half full , is satisfied if containing no
less than its associate pint cup.
The attempt to apply to the evolution
of mind the same principles of speed
high tension and distribution which
characterize the present century in
mechanical and electrical lines , may
turn out men and women with high
ideals and lofty aspirations , but often
without spirit or training to use their
powers in conscious service.
Lessons.
If the machinery of our vast system
of public schools could be attached to
the world's burdens of service , if eaol
life could be estimated , not by what i
draws out of environments and institu
tions , but by what it deposits and puts
into life as a legacy to the future ; if
the drill of the old time could precede
the freedom of the modern for the indi
, . vi rtdual ; if the present commodiou
' * > superstructure could be erected on the
. " % ' sure and solid foundation of the obsolete
V''v " * * th'reb B's ; if the 'think shops were con
tructed to manufacture whatever comes
o the market , into something of com-
nercial value and what the world wants ;
f there could be incorporated into the
curriculum , of general development ,
essons of quiet industry , obedience to
mthority , clear perception of the differ
ence between right and wrong , the in
evitable relation between cause and
effect , the happiness of devotion to
daily duty , whether praise bo given or
lot , then , might we determine the
efficiency of our public school system ,
lot by national prosperity and expansion
alone , but by the records and output of
individual independence and character.
W. S. S.
Lincoln , Neb.j May 10 , 1901.
ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY.
The real battle of our time is in the
direction of aggregated capital and or
ganized labor. The conspicuous feature
of the movement of our age , is the turn
ing away from the mere individual , and
the recognition of a greater degree of
associative action and control. Far-
reaching , economic consequences have
followed the inventions for saving labor
and cheapening production. Marvels
have been wrought by the application
of" inventiveness to material substances
and natural forces. A larger and largei
amount of population is becoming de
pendent on industrial chiefs , whose judg
ment is every year undergoing a more
severe strain. The growth and effect oJ
administrative machinery are making
greater and greater demand lor tne
capacity to manage largo enterprises on
certain principles and by certain methods
which will give reasonable assurance oi
good results. The working class , on
whom the consequences of mistakes
fall , are an immense and growing body ,
and are beginning to show a disposition
to question their employer's ability to
successfully manage business or to watch
the markets with insight and intelli
gence. It is impossible not to see , in
their discontent , the germ of interfering
legislation. There are plenty of signs
that already our affairs are making
greater demands on the administrative
capacity , the mastery of executive de
tails , of the country than the limited
amount it possesses can bear. Every
one who is conversant with afiairs will
admit that , in every field of activity ,
in all branches of trade and commerce
in manufacturing , in transportation , by
rail and water , and in everything in
which sagacious direction or officieni
superintendence is needed , the demand
for presidents , for managers , for liigl
executive officers of all kinds , is de
plorably greater than the supply. We
have a great deal of difficulty already
in finding even competent mayors , pub
lie commissioners and common council
men and , by competent , is meant , pos
sessiug a combination of certain meuta
with certain moral qualities. We have
more money invested ) or waiting in
vestment , than we can find competen
men to look after it. We have more
railroads , factories , banks , trusts , syndi
cates and educational institutions than
wo can find first-class heads for ; more
governorships and legislative bodies than
we can fill with oven ordinary states
men.
men.Men may be oracles in the arts am
sciences and infants in the affairs of life
This truth is beautifully expressed by
Milton :
"But to know
That which before us lies in daily life
Is the prime wisdom. "
Causes of Some Business Failures.
Two-thirds of the failures in the busi-
icss world are duo to the lack of ad-
niuistrative power on , the part of those
n charge of them ; that is , the power
of adapting moans to ends , of getting
other people to submit to rules and
regulations , and to carry out instruc
tions faithfully. In that treasury of
wit and wisdom , Soldon's "Table Talk , "
a horseman inquires of a passing rustic
whether ho can reach his destination
that day. The answer is : "Yes , if you
don't ride too fast. " The proper inter
pretation of this is , not that to accom
plish his purpose one should proceed
slowly or hesitatingly , but that he will
accomplish the most who plans most
accurately the work before him , and
adheres most assiduously to the business
of the moment. A heavy tax is levied
on all forms of success , and men of no
especial , shining qualities get into the
places that would seem to belong to the
men who create them , because they are :
"Strong in will ,
To strive , to seek , to find , and not to
yield. "
Government Administration.
What has been said is as true of gov
ernment as it is of trade and corpora
tions . Every civilized nation is suffering
more from the difficulty of adequately
filling executive offi6es , of different
grades , than from any other govern
mental problem. The laws in nearly
every country are far better than the
administration. In matters of govern
ment , however , this want is not as
strikingly visible as in industrial enter
prises , because , political mistakes and
shortcomings are not followed by the
same penalty. When the president or
treasurer of a corporation brings it into
difficulty by his mismanagement , he
cannot levy assessments , indefinitely on
the stockholders to fill up the breaches
made by his errors. The concern goes
into bankruptcy or a new man takes his
place. But when rulers of states make
mistakes , they are covered up by the
perennial flow of the taxes. You cannot
wind up a nation because its managers
have proven incompetent and its affairs
are in disorder. It has to go on and
make the best of the situation.
Decentralization. .
Even as society now is , with all its
imperfections and shortcomings , there
is no country in which the work of gov
ernment is not kept close up to the limit
of the administrative capacity of the
people. All the great legislatures of the
world are overburdened by the work
they have to do , or are trying to do.
From all of them comes the same cry ,
that parliamentary government is en
dangered by the magnitude of the re
sponsibilities it is assuming , and that
salvation must be sought in decentral
ization , and in the resolute refusal of
private business. All recent changes in
state constitutions and legislative enact
ments have been in this direction.
Largo as the demands are now made on
the administrative capacity , they are
nothing to what would be if the re
sponsibility of the government for in-
individual happiness and success were
increased as some propose. In truth the
administrative difficulty furnishes the
real refutation of all socialist ideas.
BOYD WINCHESTER.
Louisville , Ky. , May 6 , 1901.