The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-08-29
DOES EDUCATION PAY:

Certainly great learning does not pay in
the sense that it brings in pecuniary re-
turns i'll proportion to the amount of money
few prizes to be reaped as in the case of the
fish culture scientists. The most wonderful
thing about this science has always seemed
to me to be the fact that men get well paid
for watching fish eggs. Remarking upon
this to Mr.. Gillian, of the Philadelphia
Record, who is as bright in conversation as
he is with his pen, he replied that that
was not half as astonishing as that people
get paid for writing about things that
everybody knew"
Now it is true that everybody who reads
newspaper looks at the comments ON the
weather. We all know how hot it was
yesterday, from the best of all tests. per
sonal experience, yet it is pleasing t. learn
what other people thought of it. Underly-
ing this curiosity there is deeper interest.
Our sensations are generally indicative of
our physical condition. If we were no
more Inconvenience than the majority of
those subjected to the same climatic influ-
ences, it is to be inferred that our state of
health is up to the average. If we are not
SO much Inconvenience as others, that
shows that vitality is abundant. bnt if we
suffer from heat or cold more than others it
proves that there is some depression of the
system. Therefore the state of the weather
is an inexhaustible subject, and the general
predispostion to talk about it does not
spring from mental yacuity but is the re-
suit of a natural important interest, both
general and individual.
To return to education, however A
gentleman who did all the work of getting
up German and English dictionary for
wealthy firm, having finished that, is out
of employment. The weekly wages he
received for this severe mental effort were
not equal to those of day laborer. A
classical scholar and a lingust he cannot
find employment to give him bread. He
has the best testimonials from the most
prominent people, and as many of them are
very liberal in giving handsome donations
to public charities, WHIT ! think about it
is that for man they esteem so highly,
they might put their hands in their pockets
and support him as well as foreign missions,
hospitals in Japan. and other remote benevo-
lenccs about which they can have no per-
sonal knowledge.
A young girl Whose family made great
sacrifices to educate her as an artist. can
get nothing to in the way of her profession
more relnunerative than four dollars week
for decorating china.
The more generally education is differed,
the lower become the wages of educated
men and women, and the only question re-
manning for those who aspire toitis: Can
an educated person make his living more
easily than one who has not acquired so
much technical knowledge 1t seems
easier to sit at desk all day than to load a
cart. but there are maladies which come
from constant sitting that the outdoor
laborer does not have to contend with, and
it is not every one who has the strength
for manual labor, so perhaps it is only right
that one should equal the other, in final
reward of industry.
Our complex civilization necessitates
education Without it the work of the
world could never be done, and the day has
gone by when society at large will support
those who ought to work for themselves
This throws a heavy burden on parents who
must maintain their children while they
are studying The girl who graduates with
the necessary certificates to entitIe her to
teach must be fed and clothed from eight to
ten years while at school. To rich people
this does not much matter, but the poor
find it serious undertaking and no doubt
will now give up the attempt. since the posi-
bility of securing teachers place is made
so difficult of attainment.
The change made in the system of adj
mission to the Normal School is disastrous
to the poor. If the child of rich parents
fails in her examination one year, she can
spend another i'll study, but the poor girl
cannot ask her parents to give her another
chance. The grammar schools of the
Weather wards will. under the present
methods of admission to the Normal School,
cut all the poorer wards out oftheir chances,
and probably the final result will be that
the profession of teaching will become
hereditary in families. as it is now to a GER
tain extent 1t seems so strange to me that
the people submit to this sort of thing.
They ought to insist upon their Councilman
refusing to appropriate money for the Nor
nal School unless fair proportion of the
children of each ward have fair chance to
share in its benefits. If there was prize on
top of pole. and six boys We're told to
climb for it, and two or three had ladders
and the others had none. would the friends
of those who were without contribute t.
the purse from which their proteges were
practically kept hack?-.Hrs. +. s. Blddel'
IN Phiiadelyhia Sunday Times
THEOLD HORSE
The old horse requires more time to cat
his meals and rest his nerves. OF all ami
mails, the old horse is the worst abused.
Althourh he has been our most faithful and