The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-07
FAMILY STOCKS,

FAMILY STOCKS.
President Eliot, Of Harvard universe
ty, in the December Forum, argues in
favor of perpetuating good family stocks
in America and contends that the cond,-
tions are just as favorable to that end
as in European countries. The first
condition, he says, is country life and he
adds:
I'm this regard, democracies have
much to learn from the European arts
tocracies which have proved to be dura-
BILE. All the vigorous aristocracies of
past centuries lived III the country q
large part Of the year. The men we're
soldiers and sportsmen for the most part,
and lived on detached estates sparsely
peopled by an agricultural and martial
tenantry. They were oftener in camp
than in tho town or city. Their women
lived in castles, halls, or chateaux in the
open country almost the whole year,
and their children were born and
brought up there. The aristocratic and
noble families of modern Europe still
have their principal seats in the coun-
try, and go to town only for few months
OF the year."
Another essential, Mr.. Eliot holds, is
pernanency OF domicile:
''In American cities and large towns
there are as yet no such things as per-
manent family houses. Even in the
oldest cities Of the east, hardly any fam
lily lives in a single house through the
whole OF one generation, and it is very
rare that two successive generations are
born in the same house. Rapid changes
of residence are the rule for almost ev-
erybody; SO that city directory which
is more than one year old is untrust-
worthy for home addresses. 1t is al
most impossible for the human mind to
attribute dignity and social considera-
ton to a family which lives in hotel,
or which moves into new fiat every
first of May. In the country, however,
things are much better. In the older
states there are plenty Of families which
have inhabited the same town for sew
eral generations; there are a few families
which have inhabited the same house
for three generations"
And a third means of promoting
family permanence sis the transmission
Of a family business or occupation from
father to son. In all old countries this
inheritance Of trade, shop or profession
is a matter Of course. Under right con-
ditions, transmitted business tends to
make a sound family more secure and
permanent, and permanent family
tends to hold and perfect valuable
business. This principle, which is &C.
curely founded on biological law, ap.
plies best in the trades and professions,
in ordinary commerce, and in the indus.
tries which do not require immense cap
itals; but in Europe many vast industries
and many great financial and CONNER
cial concerns are family properties, and
there is in our own country already a
distinct tendency to this family manage
mont OF large businesses as being more
economical and vigilant than corporate
management, and more discerning and
prompter in picking out and advancing
capable men of all grades"
! But after he has obtained all these
conditions will Mr.. Eliot have secured
the highest type of American man? We
doubt it. He may have produced ami.
able and cultivated gentlemen of excel
lent qualities, but not men Of the heroic
mold. Such are not made under the
easy and pleasant environment he pre-
scribes. Abraham Lincoln started il
life in backwoods cabin, and began hi
education on a Mississippi fiatboat; hi
son Robert grew up in the atmospher,
OF the white house and was graduated
from Harvard. Which is the more 70
bust type Of American manhood
Grant started in the unsavory environ
ment of a lanyard; his sons under tn
most favorable auspices that thei
fathers illustrious name could LEM
them. Mark the contrast! And so
is in hundreds of other cases
There is nothing in the world that 8
develops and brings out the best an
hardest types of character as the Amer
lean school of hard experience. 1t
worth all the academies and schools, a
the pedigrees and family names CON
! bined. From Andrew jackson to Gre
, YER Cleveland all history proves it. Th
J men OF greatest prominence and usefu
: ness are born of obscure families and {
parents of the restless, migrator
American race.
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