The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-20

edge most needed by them and most use
full In their daily life and work: like John
Locke. who eloquently condemned the use
less methods OF education OF "the clols-
teral period" of the Dark Ages" and
urged as earnestly and effectively the in
stItution Of systems OF instruction in the
branches Of current knowledge which best
serve the man In daily struggles with
poverty, Illness and crime. which give
him the greatest advantage in the life
which he is to lead; like John Milton. who
never ceased his inyectiyes against, on
the one hand leaving a people in igno-
rance. and on the other. teaching the
wealthy and leisure classes only gymnas-
tic forms of education
These mighty intellects long ago.
thought out what is but now coming TO
be the system Of general education of
the people of a nation for their life and
work. Count Rumford, a century ago,
established for the benefit Of the beggars
Of Bavaria 4 Mhtonian system Of instruc-
ton. The nations OF the earth are just
doing as much for their worthiest citizens.
An ANCIENT sTkAM ENGINE.
The MARQUIS of Worcester is famous as
the inventor OF a steam-engne two cen
turtles ago: but his grandest efforts were
toward the institution Of schools OF ap-
piled science for the people Of Great
Britain. We remember Descartes as a
wonderful mathematician, a great philos-
opber: but the best evidence Of the power
az his Logical mind and Of his philosophi-
cal attainments is found in his advocacy
| Of schools for the people 10 teach the
useful knowledge desired and needed by
| the people.
John Scott Russell was a great shin
| builder and naval architect. and states
man. but his grandest claim upon the
respect and gratitude Of the world lies IN
| his splendid work in promotion Of the
| techinal. the practical, education OF me
! English people, and the best evidence OF
his greatness as a statesman is to be
! found in what he has written il ms rs
natkable book Of that subject, with us
eloquent appeal to his sovereign In favor
OF the direct and active employment OF
all ROYAL power ana influence in the pro-
motion Of this, the greatest Of all great
| peoples causes
All the world Ia now beginning 10 IN
derstand this mightest OF the world s
great problems, and in every country may
now be seen the development Of the
newer education.
NEWER EDUCATION.
This newer education, which has simply
grown. by a process Of steady and per
fectly natural evolution. out Of the old
endeavors TO give TO every one the extent
and kind Of instruction which will beht
him for his future life and work, and for
fullest enjoyment Of its later years. which
should be years Of comfort and leisure.
1t gives instruction in the essentials of
all preparatory learning substantially the
three rs" Of our fathers, follows II
with the natural sequence Of common
school studies: but incorporates into the
older system the manual training school,
the trade school, and the schools of en-
gineering and of other techinal branches
The study Of science is thus accompanied
by the application Of such knowledge tC
| the better prepare ton of the student FOR
doing his work in life. lie is given. not
only Intellectual knowledge. but skill in
the use Of tools, not only scientific educa-
ton but a good professional training.
As some one has said in similar con-
nection-and the observation never loses
its force, though II may seem trite
enough-that The cheerful worker is the
happiest of men; the idle man the most
miserable. He who makes something
grow where nothing grew before, he
who makes something useful TO man
!
benefactor of his race" And this is the
privilege Of the mechanic in every depart
ment. Happy in his work. fortunate il
its outcome; contented because he is bust
~ engaged through the working hours
satisfied that his working is producing the
most needed forms of product; that it j:
at the same time giving him assurance
of comfortable support for himself anC
his family, the skilled mechanic is, on the
whole, probably the most fortunate anC
happy man on the face of the globe
But his success and his happiness de
pend largely upon not simply manual Sill
power TO handle tools, AMI TO give cor
rect form or fine finish 10 his work, bu
I'm It's highest form, on a familiarity VIII
science, mathematics, and the laws o
nature, with the nature, sOuece, methods
of preparation and Of utilization TO bes
advantage Of the materials Of construc
: ton; with the principles Of strength Of
materials; with the methods Of design
OF giving form and correct proportion
to parts. with the best constructions o.
machines rs whOles; with the latest anC
most scientific methods Of design, con
s,ructon, operation, and OF tests o
> effectiveness with, 10 put the matter II
a word, the methods which lead to th'
attainment OF the prescribed end in tn
best way, and at the very least cost o
continuous operation.
THE TELEPHONE.
, That most wonderful, most Aladdin
, like of all modern inventions, the tele
pnone of Professor Alexander Graham
I Bell. is the outcome Of pure scienuu
e knowledge Of electrical physics and i
! the product OF the active brain, not OF
= skilled mechanic. but OF student o
. nature simply, possessing, no doubt, tn
divine genius OF invention, but a scholar
t rather than a mechanic, nevertheless. To
4 day. this marvellous annihilator of tim
! and space spreads a network of hal
million miles of wire over the Unite
states alone. employs 10000 instruments
! allows l. quarter OF a million of peopl
Il IN talk with one another at distance
[ If miles. of a thousand miles, If need be-
and AS easily as II face to face. WI
knows but that some one OF our inven
d tcrs-America is famed throughout III
world for their successes already-ma
: vet brirc, these friends 10 see each othe
e lace 10 face. though a thousand mile
=. apart. or separated by the broad Al
II lantic? Three thousand inventions re
lating TO telephony, are recorded in tn
: United States Patent Office already;
= would be remarkable If such an army {
= inventors should not succeed, IN time,
= Wrestling from nature every secret poss
bility. ..o,,.,