Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1917 — ONE-SIDED EDUCATIONS [ARTICLE]

ONE-SIDED EDUCATIONS

We are. told that the demands off the times necessitate special education of our youth for special lines of endeavor —that the “all round” man is a misfit in American life. In a measure this, is true, but it is a theory that may easily be carried to excess. In the first place, education does not consist in acquiring knowledge, hut rather in the ability to acquire knowledge. The truly educated man is not so much the man who has acquired an extensive knowledge on a given subject, as one who has developed his intellect that is capable of acquiring a comprehensive knowledge of any subject. Frequently the most helpless and most to be pitied of human beings is the man thoroughly skilled in some one line, but with an abysmal ignorance of all else than his own specialty.

This one predominating trait for which the American character has heretofore been known for its adaptability—the power to measure up to any emergency. This trait has brought men from between the plow handles and landed them in the halls of congress. It has taken men from the cobbler's bench anl clothed them with the judge’s robe, it transported a Billy Sunday from the baseball diamond to the great tabernacles where thousands hang upon his every word. It is this quality of adaptability that must not be educated out of the American youth. Train for specialty if you will; develop skill in a chosen line, and develop it to the utmost. But do not destroy initiative. The value of this trait was never more forcibly shown than in the readiness with which our young men have adapted themselves to the .army life. The young clerk now shoulders his kit and takes jauntily to the long hike; the dreamy scholar- wields the nick and shovel in the trenches as though to the manner born. The young man who has all his life taken orders from others, now directs the activities of hundreds, while he who has heretofore had a small army at his beck and call, now serves in the ranks. In educating, let u.s first develop the power of application—after that is time enough to apply the power.

Senator Gallinger of New Hampshire has introduced in the senate a resolution asking that the agricultural committee of that body investigate the advisability o': admitting Chinese labor during the period of the war. The senator is thoroughly alive to the economic danger that threatens this, country unless there is a large increase of farm labor for the coming season. In an interview the senator is quoted as saying: ‘‘l think we

will be in a very serious fix unless we get farm labor. Crops everywhere are unharvested because the labor is leaving the farms.’ Complaint comes to me, some of it bitter, that while the government asks the farmer for increased production the crops cannot be gathered.” The resolution does not propose to admit Chinese as citizens or with a view to their permanent residence here, but oh somewhat the same terms as American soldiers are sent to France, under the control of their government, to be returned when their labor is no longer needed. The plan at least deserves earful thought. The labor

shortage is acute, and does not promise to be any less so in the future. And if the country is to produce the record crop expected of it another season, there is no time to be lost in arranging for an adequate supply of labor.

And what if Senator Calder of New York did own some S2O shirts? That's nothing to question a man's patriotism for. The senator is probably well able to afford them. When he bought them he enabled his • merchant or tailor to make a payment on a liberty bond; the whole- 1 sale house also gathered in a mite J of profit, and the manufacturers of the cloth, likewise the makers, and even the seamstress who sewed their seams may have had an extra: supper Ifrom the proceeds. It is such men as Senator Calder who keep the wheels of commerce rolling. If every man wore the cheapest clothes he could find, the higher priced ones would mildew on the shelves and famine would stalk through the land. Let the senator wear SSO shirts if he wants to and is able.

The Russian Bolsheviki seem to; have been handed a lemon in thej German peace proposals. The kais-, er's government modestly demand- j ed control of the Russian wheat! market for a period o#* fifteen t years, that she retain all Russian territory now occupied by her troops, and that all German-made j goods be imported into Russia j duty free. Doubtless there were a few minor concessions she would have also, but she hoped to have no trouble in securing these things when she had her victim securely tied. But even a Bolsheviki has glimmerings of reason and the proposition was not received with enthusiasm.

Jerusalem ik at last in Christian hands, and the preaching of Peter the Hermit has been vindicated. During the twelve hundred years in which it has been in the hands of the Moslem it would be hard to estimate the lives sacrificed in the attempt to wrest it from him. It should never again be desecrated by his presence, to say nothing of his control. The Holy City should revert to its rightful owners, and the entire territory of Palestine with it. They should have a free

hand in rebuilding a Jewish nation if they so will. Since the overthrow of the Romanoffs, things have happened so rapidly in Russia that the average editorial writer is forced to keep • a stock of effusions on hand to in-! sure getting the right “dope’’ and : even then a lot of perfectly good editorial efforts have been dumped into the discard. If things over there ever stay “put” for twentyfour hours on, a stretch, we may have something to say of them. The kaiser is quoted as saying that all he wants is justice, and the allied world is of one mind in the determination to see that he gets it—and ih full measure. The j probabilities are, however, that his j kaisership won't recognize the artij ele when he sees it coming. 1'• ' \ It might be well to suggest to j other beautiful young heiresses | that the gun method is not always ! the safest in disposing of an obI jectionable husband or ex-husband. c We are assured by Washington officials that profiteering in food will be ended. May the end be [ soon, and may it also be the end of the profiteers. A Russian writer claims his people are the most civilized on earth. The manufacturers of safety razors can disprove his claim.