The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-02-13
AMERICAN LIFE.
Its IRREGULARITIES Illustrated by Charles
DadIey Warner.

thing. This desire is not, by any means,
confined to Americans, but it is more
marked here than elsewhere because of
the absence of traditions, and because of
our flexible social condition. 1t con-
stitutes special danger in view of the
coming struggle for msterisl advantages
and prosperity. 1t is desire which
cannot be too seriously considered BY
those who are getting the elements OF
their education and preparing for
career. This desire, which is more than
tendency, may be described as dis
position to get place and rank, with
little regard to fitness for them. 1t
reverses the natural order, and presup-
poses that success in life is not due to
training and discipline so much as it is
to opportunity. Hence our many fail
ures of ali sorts, the direct result of our
eager assumption of Office, or business,
or trades, without adequate preparation.
The ambitious thought stirring in most
young mems minds is what career they
shall choose not how they shall train
themselves for a career. 1t is the ambi-
ton to do something rather than to learn
how TO do something; as we said, the
eagerness to get place rather than to
train ones self to the duties of that
place. 1t is unnecessary to say how
opposite this is to the method which has
made the Germans strong in every de-
partment OF human endeayor The
leading idea in gymnasium and univer-
sity Is traiuing-solid preparation for the
! chosen career.
A familiar illustration of our self
confidence without preparation is that
of the young lady who proposes to go
upon the stage with no training, and
seeks manager when she should go to
an elocutionist. 1t is the same in other
affairs. The young mans thoughts
business or of an Office are not so much
in relation to his ability to perform 1t
as to get into it. No doubt ali this
would be better dene-from cabinet
making up to law-msking-if people
had habit of getting ready to do things
before they begin. 1t is worth while
to stop and think to whom it is that we
intrust the most delicate duty performed
in human. society-the making of our
laws. OF course we know that our laws
are made by our legislature. And VINO
are the legislators? These lawmakers
are not the proper result of our political
system, but of our political machine.
And here again the young man has the
precocious wisdom OF his generation. If
he determines to go into politics, or to
enter the civil service of his country; he
does not prepare himself for the duties OF
the one, nor for the position coveted In
the other; he makes himself and adept
in the msniF uiation of caueuses and tpe-
securing the favor of those who can help
him. II he SEEKS consulate at Naples
he does no. study italian; he carries "a
his ward. Here, sgain, the American is
more eager 10 get something than TO be
something; aud yst il should be said in
resp.ct f., - -arviee there Is this
excuse for the young n-- tl9re Is no
other way to get into it than that naD.<1 .
Our civil service is what the English
was fifteen years ago, and it is about the
most undemocratic in the world. 1t is
closed to those who are not favored by
the accident of political influence. The
English service until recently was almost
exclusively filed by the sristocracy it
was the patronage OF parliament and the
ministry. Now, through the door of
competitive examination, is is open to
the humblest lad in the lsns if he have.
talent; and we may be sure that the
father Of the middle class will never sur
render this privilege fer the SOP. Nor
will the American people, when they
understand the subject, consent that so
honorable and profitable a career shall
be the subject OF patronage and the
perauisite of successful political mani
pulation. They will insist that it shall
be opel to the fair ambition OF those
| willing to it themselves for it. 1t will
become legitimate career, like law or
medicine; anu one advantage 81 i opening
it to public competition-snd it is not
unimportsnt-is the stimulus it will
give 20 education.
Such are some Of the present aspects
OF American lie. The topic il fruirtni
OF suggestions which We have no sba,a
to follow, and il Is useless to r2rs.iza
Long ago the philosophers decided that
it Is important Whist a man Is. not what
ne has. It was an spothegm of Scion
that Safety i generated BY wealth
and insOlencs BY safety :" and. again
that members Of a community are more
effectively deferred from injustice eff
nose who are not injured feel as much
indignation as those who are" Or, to
put this in modern phrases, we see the
danger OF 2 national habit that estimates
success py p session and not by chsrsc-
ter, and nurses the telu.ion Of equality
without symlstcy between classes.
ALL efforts 70 pOPuisuzs cremation in