Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1889-10-05
THE SCHOLAR in AAA:RIcA.
slis Real yaluo Is Not Appreciated by the
Mass of tie People

HE SCHOCHR in RNS-oiSN
His Real ynluc Is Not Appreciated by the
Mass of the People.
In his judgment OF the scholar the
average American citizen has usually
only one definite idea-that he is
dreamer quite out of contact with ac-
tual. life. Consider for p,onent the
genuine amazcment and dismay with
which the average citizen regards a
serious attempt on the part of educated
men to exert their due influence in
the solution of great political or cco-
monte problem. He seems TO look
upon them somewhat as he would
watch !, group of monkeys escaped
from their cage and engaged in some
mischief. the effects OF which they
cannot be made to comprehend; or,
TO substitute smile somewhat more
complimentary. that a tixong Of eN-
cited pISengcrs had attempted to dic-
tate the management OF great ocean
steamer.
Of course no such view of scholarly
activity in the political field will DC
submitted to. The racn who devote
their lives to the study Of the records
Of human experience us transmitted IN
history ard literature have not less,
but infinitely more, claim to be heard
ON any important subject than those
engaged only in the vulgar scramble
for wealth. Emerson S brief essay on
politics outweigils and will outlast all
the floods OF campaign literature and
selfish denagogic cloqucncc which
have SO often since then dclugcd the
land
But is there one of the Older civil
lied countries where the organs of the
horde of money gettcrs would dare to
stignlatize the whole class OF literally
educated men as visionary Theorists
Imagine university education ie-
Sart.cd in !Ingl;eld as disqualilica
ton for high public otlicel Even in
Germany, where political leaders and
great scholars seem more nearly the
castles, eiillustri0usF double career Of
d Momnlsen shows-that the gap is not
yet impossible. The condition OF
things among ourselves is All alarm
ing symptom. indicating how far the
most highly educated anu wisest men
have lost their proper leadership in
tile national councils and the national
life.
Now. do the colleges. and the limit
cd body of cultivated. reflective and
earnest scholars generally, appeal SIS
directly and scnsibly to the average
American as they could and should
Among the pliilosophic few it
is an axiom which one rarely
thinks of ever 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 enployments
which cnnoble young and old and
make men truly Happy.
But the typical American, rs Pro-
.eser. has clearly set forth, is
lessor OnafS- ~1nflle thai I've ever had
only tlimly conscious. $3.50
any ancestry at all. That the achieve
ments OF other races and peoples in
the past or present have any lesson OF
overwhelming value to teach us he
certainly does not believe. That the
poetry. the architecture the plastic
arts. can I've used to make life more
beautiful. more happy, better worth
living. he understands at best very
imperfectly. Perhaps he is open to
conviction Is proper effort being
exerted 10 make him realize all thisf
American men read to moderate en-
tent. Tie women Of America have
large leisure, liberal share of innu
encc in home and social life, and
surely, also, lofty consciousness OF
their duty us mothers Of the race that
is to be- To them. it may DO chiefly,
we may hopefully appeal.
Again, there is widespread feel
ing That American literature is not
holding the height attained in the last
generation. The subject is quite too
large for reviewer, possibly rather
too serious for protested optimist.
But if our literature is losing. OF in
danger Of losing. its vital power, its
hold on the national power, may we
not find partial explanation i'll the
fact that great bod. II men, claim
ing, no doubt justly, that they have
accumulated knowledge worthy to be
widely disseminated, nevertheless dis
dain to learn and practice the art of
adequate and graceful expresslon'I
Atlantic Monthly.