Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1907 — CHARM OF VARIETY. [ARTICLE]

CHARM OF VARIETY.

Tendency of tbe Times I# Aisinnl Individuality. The greatest charm and Interest In life lies In Individuality, and, Instead of falling In with Its gradual elimination, we should do all we can to promote and increase It and give opportunit?- for its expression, says a writer who has good.ideas. Undoubtedly the most powerful engine for its suppression is our public school system, as administered to-day. The child as a unit, each with Its peculiar susceptibilities and capacities for development is not considered. The system Is ever?dhing. and every one must be made to conform to it The grist is turned into the

hopper and comes out with a little milk and water added, mush. This result of the public school system has been discerned in Germany, and they are establishing district schools for the more promising and capable children, and those with special aptitudes, where they can be trained along tbe lines of their bent and their Individuality studied, drawn out and made the most of. It is a hopeful sign, and every community here ought to have at least one such school, which could be filled by selection from the others. Tbe same system has prevailed to a large extent In our colleges and higher Institutions of learning, and It is a common thing to bear a man say he never discovered in the least what he was good for, until his education, so called, was over. To educate in its original sense means to draw out while, as generally applied, It means to repress and force all minds Into exactly the same mold and fashion.

There is no reason why we should continue the effort to make ourselves all alike. Let us rather each one for himself —and as far as possible for every one else—try to develop Individuality of character, or belief, or taste; yes. and even dress. Would It not be pleasanter, more picturesque and Inter esting If we could see upon our streets, and in social gatherings, and In holiday crowds, more of the variety, and color, In apparel which our ancestors delighted In, and which gives such a charm

to work of the greatest artists. The love of color Is natural, and colors harmoniously blended a source of the highest aesthetic enjoyment What can *Be more monotonous and commonplace In appearance than an America crowd, and how easily it might be lightened np and niade picturesque and attractive If every one were trained to cultivate a knowledge of color and how to use It tastefully and effectively in dress.