The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-01-25

anu SuSplclOub, LnuJ changes among llS leS-
idonts are 80 frequent, and that there is an
all-pervading fooling OF Insecurity" 1t is
run In accordance with a beautiful theory,
but one which, unfortunately, Is fundament-
ally defective, In that it takes no account OF
human nature.
Asa speculation Pullman may be SUCCESS
full venture. but It's failure rs social expert
mont was inevitable from the start People
want to regulate their own lives, and they
enjoy freedom even more than they do Wilton
carpets, and velvety lawns, and scientific
drainage with despot, even philanthropic
despot, to mark out their path for them.
A Little Gossip With a Distant Friend.
A subscriber and reader Of THE sun, whom
we have never had the happiness OF seeing,
sends US the following communication from
Pennington, in that beautiful part OF Mime
sofa which lies south OF st. Paul and raises
mighty crops Of wheat:
To rHr EDITOR or rur suN-sir: I take the liberty
Of writing to you for the purpose of thanking you
for dong much good. 1 have been . subscriber
to The WEEKLY Sun. man and boy. many years. When
young fellow, working q farm for SIS month.
one dollar always went to The Sun. When newspapers
revled you. never fstered. but chung the fonder.
When you hurled your bold words the Infamous
measures of the Republican pary-it mighty task
to lay hands that party in its zenith Of powet took
q with an iron will and Spartan courage. See tho
host Of great the suS has dethroned-a gone.
save GRANT alone, and he passing away
Where IL BABcocx GARFIELD and CoLrAx. who lately
died In this State often felt the smart OF your unerrng
LASH Through all these years you slept at
post You have caused my mind to be educated not by
actions but by principles The thought Of writing to
You was suggested in a talk with my wife. didn't
quite with you this fall your concerning
the man Of destiny GRovER CLEVELAND but may he
right Time will tell.
What satisfaction 10 II to be great soholaft Ia 1t In
the mind in what wealth may be accumulated In an
eventful lifef Now. am . poor man. in middle life.
struggling with poverty and large family possessed OF
extra talent for anything anticipate your answer
that don't read The SUN carefully enough We all like
in others what 10 deficient in ourselves That accounts
for my liking you that never expect to
Experience must have taught you many lasting lesson.
and want you TO give of them to the world Tor
they may benefit many like Does greatness
exist in tho or his educa Or NAV expect
lacks scholastic education for II he honest and faith
full though such person can't buy the necessary
books to improve his mind before he attempts the effort
Don't refer to the history of the past. Iwant
caustio thought MILLION BACON. MACAULAY. and DICK.
dead. but they still live in the heart of
Life cheered from their living pages Now trusting that
may have long and peaceful LIE before you. and
that Sun set in the evening Of time uncouded
remain your sincere friend, DANIEL O'CoSSoR
FARNINGrON. jan TO-
Some Of these questions are rather hard to
answer. "What satisfaction" says our
friend, "is it to be great scholar and
writer?" Well, VIC don't know. Great scho-
ars are very scarce products. and there are
few OF them around. We don't know a
man in this big city, for instance who can
DO truly described as great scholar in tho
comprehensive meaning CT that word There
ore useful scholars in plenty. and we dare
say tho satisfaction Of putting ample learn
ing and intellectual ability to service In
sensible and manly way must be
very great indeed. Yet certainly this sat
isfaction Is in the mind, and not In any wealth
the contest. We will bet dollar that there Is
more oontentment upon farm In Dakota
county than can be discovered In the palace of
amillionaire; and DANIEL o 'CoNNoR In Farm
ington may be more independent in thought
and action than JAY GOULD In Wall street,
fighting for the fifty millions he has got and
the other fifty he would like to have.
docs greatness exist In the man or In his
education 2" asks our friend. We suppose
that 1t exists In the man, II it exists at all.
Tho force and character OF the man are the
main thing; tho education Is subsidiary and
more or less accidental. The best educated
men have never been the greatest. Much
education Is rarely combined with extra
ordinary original force. The scholar seeks
quiet. study, meditation; and the more he
learns, the less self-confldent and the less az
gresslve he becomes. The man OF energy
picks up his education as he goes along. He
acquires what Is necessary for his purpose,
and docs not waste his strength upon &C.
complishments that are not indispensable.
VANDERBILT. ono of the most
powerful characters that We ever know, had,
80 to say. no education at all. except what he
had gathered by the roadside as he won't
along. 1t Is true that his powers were
devoted to money making only. and that
his scheme OF life was comparatively
narrow and barron: yet tho power was in
him. Probably In all his days he never in
dulged in rs much reflective thought as ap-
pears in the letter Of our correspondent
which wo print above; and tho amount of
good which he got out of life and the amount
OF good which no accomplished for others
were, after all, but limited. Yet no was an
original and powerful man. and left his mark
upon tho world around him; and education
had very little to do with 1t.
But our friend must not think that weundcr-
value education. 1t is "A well-nigh ines,imable
boon. II endows the individual with the in
treasures that the human race have
collected from the beginning; and the more
It is dffused and enjoyed, the fewer cxcep-
tional men-and these are what are called
great men-will make their appearance. 1t
Is only in a world Of pigmles that giants are
sure to DO discovered.
Every ono must follow the bent Of bis