Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-16

governme mt is in the regulation Of the sexes in
the interest of peace. The evolution Of gov
eminent is not from the militant to the Indus
trial.
Mai. Powell asserted that Spencer. desiring
to know how human conduct should be regu-
lated, turns his Investigations to worms, dis
covers the principle and then applies it to
mankind, calling this guidance by Fundamental
law.
According to Spencer fighting peoples, not
Just peoples, have survived. Nations have pro-
crossed by wars. not by the development of
knowledge, of internal justice, of industry; the
great agency of human evolution is war. A
street brawl is the Spencerian method for i'm
proving mankind, for there is a survival OF the
ittest There is the merciless discipline Of
nature, red in tooth and claw.
THE SURVIVAL OF THE FIrTEsr.
Dominated by such philosophy it is not
strange that Spencer pleads for the application
OF the survival of the fttest to man IN society.
Spencer lays great stress upon the Importance
of every man receiving the consequences Of his
own conduct. He claims that only in this man.
ner is it possible for society to improve, and
this thought is the keynote to the Spencerian
theory of human life.
A child may inherit poverty and improvi-
dence; society realizing the awful consequences
that result therefrom, interferes between cause
and consequence and obtains for the child an
education not otherwise obtainable. Spencer
resents this interference of society and con-
dennis it. Let the child remain in poverty and
improvidence that nature may correct the evil
by bringing it to an untlmely death. Under
the law Of survival those who work evil will
soon die out.
The opeucerian theory is the permission of
Justice: the theory of society is the promotion
of justice. The Spencerlan rule is. let every
one alone to conduct himself he will and
take the consequences of his conduct. The
consequences of good conduct are happiness.
Joy and peace; Of bad conduct, unhappiness,
pain and strife.
The Spencerian philosophy says let conduct
bring its reward. be it heaven or hell; the
philosophy of humanity says let us reform con-
duct that hell may be avoided and heaven
gained. Choose We between Spencer and
humanity.
The RURAL SCHOOL PRoBLEM.
Mai. Powell devoted one hour and thirty.
minutes to his remarks upon the theory of
Spencer. He then gave way to Mr.. Jas. II.
Biodgett to discuss THE Rural School Prob
lem" Mr. Blodgett said that the changing re-
iations between city and country or urban and
rural population in the past fifty years have
attracted general attention in Europe and
America. Something like a law may be recog-
nized in the experience of the United States,
where the farming land is not yet all in the
hands Of individual owners. There is likely to
be an increase in the population of
a newly settled agricultural town or
by which time the population is likely to be
at a maximum and then bcgins Il decline. I'M
migration ceases. the children of the earlier
settlers growing up. leave home to try their
fortunes on newer lands or in denser commun-
tiles. and q little later those prosperousiy
growing old in farm work betake themselves
to villages and towns for more ielsurciy life.
The best promise for wholesome future to
youth Is Ill communities sufficiently compact
to afford ready of modern improvements
,,,;th tb. bap ipNv Of
farm.
No school room exercises with children ac-
customed only to brick walls and paved streets
can do for them III certain important elements
of character and knowledge what is done for
this country child by his very conditions. even
with the drawbacks OF unrest and discomfort
with which SO many endure rural life.
ORGANIZATION AND DURATION OF scHooLe
Opposite social conditions influence the or
ganizntion and duration of schools in city and
country. In the city one motive to lengthen
the duration OF school attendance is to provide
a place of responsible supervision of children
who cannot be busy under the eyes OF their
parents. 1t is more difficult to organize a school
in the country than in the city. There are in
New England more than 200 schools averaging
less than six scholars each. Consolidation
of districts is a partial remedy for weakness,
but space itself m:.y be Il barrier. Maine and
Florida have each thnly settled district
lhfR ger than the STATE OF COnneCUcut.
The whole social life. including the schools,
would be elevated by facility of neighborhood
association. In the great corn belt of the
United States it nas been common experience
for travel the country roads to be abso-
lutely stopped by mud. Drain tile factories
have done more in the past generation for the
rural schools OF central Illinois than changes
in the school law.
The Congressional Directory gives a bit of
biography Of some 400 men An overwhem-
ing proportion. as boys. had only common
country school privileges, but carried studious
habits into mature life either with or without
collegiate opportunity.
Within few years industrial training has re-
ceived much attention. but its popular dcvel-
opment has been irregular and almost wholly
in the line of manufactures. The rural schools
| Of central Europe have gardens and orchards
for instructions; the school house is the teachers
home and his tenure is permanent.
We omit these features in our imitation of
the great European teachers and attempt to
copy Pertalozzi and Froebers kindergartens
without the gardens.
PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS.
From the nature Of things professional
teachers are absorbed by the strong schools.
1t would be helpful to all schools if there we're
more opportunities for scholarly persons to de.
vote brief terms to the best technical training
before teaching.
The danger Of too much legislation must not
be forgotten. Many laws secured In period
of rapid change presently bind like Chinese
girls shoe. distorhng further growth while
| they remain. The over-sanguine and those
with special interests are often eager for new
| statutes, but the tendency in the states ~ to
| longer Legislative vacations aud the community
at large has Q sense OF relief at the adjourn
ment of the law makers.
Without desire for knowledge and marked
degree OF vigor in the recipients external aid
but hastens the dry rot Of educational pauper-
ism. The chief reliance must be in intense
seif-h help aud the unlimited patience OF earnest
| friends
1t il q question whether the inadequacy of
rural schools is as serious relatively Ms some
| suppose. Many cities are unable to supply
| room for all their pupils. and in general city
schools have too much teaching to do TO give
! the pupils Q knowledge OF nature with which .
country child begins his school days. r-
While sinking an artesian well on the prop
| sv<v rsf the Midland Hotel in Kanaaa CITY