Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-07

From the Atlantic Mopthlv.
In his Judgment Of the scholar the average
American citizen has usually only one definite
idss-that he 10 dreamer quite out Of contact
with actual life. Consider for moment the
genuine amusement and dismay with which the
average citisen regards . serious attempt on
the part Of educated men 10 exert their due In
nuence in the solution Of Q great political or
economic problem. He seems to look upon
them somewhat a. he might watch group OF
monkeys escaped from their cage and engaged
in some mischief. the effects Of which they
cannot be made 10 comprehend; or, 10 substi-
tute simile somewhat more complimentary,
that = throng Of excited passengers had a.
tempted to dictate the management Of Q great
ocean steamer
OF course no such view of scholarly activity
in the political Geld will be submitted to. The
men who devote their lives to the study Of the
records OF human experience 90 transmitted in
history and liturature have not less, but in
fnitely more, claim 70 be heard on any i'm
portant subject than those engaged only in the
vulgar scramble for wealth. Emersons brief
essay on politics outweighs and will outlast all
the floods OF campaign literature and selfish
demagogic eloquence which have 90 often since
then deuged the land.
But is there one Of the older civilized coun-
tries where the organs Of the horde Of money
getters would dare TO stigmatize the whole class
OF literally educated men as visionary theorists2
Imagine university education regarded in
England Is Q disqualification for high public
Office! Even in Germany, where political
leaders and great scholars seem more nearly
the representative men Of two distinct castles,
the IIustrious double career Of o Mommsen
shows that the gap lie not yet impossible. The
condition Of things among ourselves is an alarm
ing symptom, indicating how far the most
highly educated and wisest men have lost their
proper leadership in the national councils and
the national life.
Now, do the colleges, and the limited body OF
cultivated, reflective and earnest scholars gen.
orally, appeal az directly and sensibly to the
average American as they could and shouldi
Among the philosophic few ii is an axiom which
one rarely thinks Of even stating, that wider
knowledge, closer contact with the wise and
good of all ages, the assimilation Of their best
| thoughts, the contemplation Of their glorious
deeds, are the employments which ennoble
young and old and make men truly happy.
But the typical American, as Professor Shaler
has very clearly set forth in q recent essay, ID
only dimiy conscious that he ever had any an.
cestry at all That the achievements of other
races and peoples in the past or present have
any lessons Of overwhelming value to teach Us
he certainly does not believe. That the poetry
the philosophy, the architecture, the plastic
arts can be used to make life more beautiful
| more happy. better worth living, he under
stands at best very imperfectly. Perhaps he ii
open to conviction: Is q proper effort beins
exerted to make him realize all this? Ameri
can men read to q moderate extent. The wo
men Of America have large leisure, q liberia
share of influence in home and social life and
surely also lofty consciousness of their duty
as mothers of the race that is TO be. To them
it may be chiefly, we may hopefully appeal.
Again, there is o widespread feeling thai
American literature 10 not holding the heigh'
attained in the last generation. The subject il
quite too large for reviewer, possibly rather
too serious for protested optimist. But If on,
literature is losing, or in danger Of losing. III
vital power, its hold on the national life, may
we not find partial explanation in the fact thai
q great body Of men, claiming, no doubt Justly
that they have accumulated knowledge worthy
to he widely disseminated, nevertheless disdair
to learn and practice the art of adequate and
graceful expression?