The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-06-13

up cry Tor It's execution by practical
man; the moment, a new system is.
suggested, people demand that it's au-
thors take themselves and their minds
out of the way, and leave it's Inaugural
ton and completion to practical meth
DDS. This is all very natural and in
some degree necessary; but we are in
cllned to carry our demand too far, to
the exclusion of the man whose brain
first makes new work or scheme DOS
slDle and to whom, as it's author, be-
longs by right most of the credit and
profit.
Common sense has been defined as a
capacity to tell how things will work.
1t this be true, and it undoubtedly is
true, then the man who can conceive
common-sense idea will, nine times out
OF ten, be able to carry it forward to
reality If only he is given fair oppor-
tunlty. But, as rule, he is forced to
struggle against strong antagonism to
his theoretic enthusiasm; antagonism
engendered by people who cannot un-
derstand that the greatest and most
lasting of all reforms and ACCOMPLISH
ments have been and always Will be-
born OF the thought, persistency and
devotion of the enthusiast.
1t enthusiasm which comes of honest
conviction and common sense is to be
derided, then even the practical man
himself is not safe. He may be an ex-
tremist in his ideas, quite as distinctly
as is supposedly the theorist. The only
difference is that his enthusiasm is
negative and cold blooded: for the
strictly practical man is content to s'let
we'll enough alone,' is willing to accept
things as they are and always have
been. Surely such an unprogressive
creature is as hurtful to society, as un-
qualified to administer the affairs of
men, as is the mere common senseless
theorizer who can speculate but not
achieve. 1t is only when both are
brought together in harmony and with
Ideas OF mutual help, that good results
can be obtained. These two elements
are essential to all social and political
welfare, and it should be the ambition
of every good citizen and every careful
home builder to combine in his own
personality the virtues of the man of
ideas with those of the man of deeds,
Find the man in whom are united the
push, spirit of research, persistency,
and energy of the theorist with the care
fulness. clear sightedness and business
perception of the so-called practical
man, and you will have the man, who,
contributes something to the strength
OF his nation and to the civilization of
the world.
Without the aid of such men as this.
the efforts of the theoretical extremist
and the practical extremist would count
for nothing; for, though wisdom and
genius may discover and invent, bust
ness sense must come forward to push
them into life and activity. In Edison
we find such an ideal man. Fullerton
was another; so was Stephenson. But
what would all the great genius of
Howe have accomplished without other
men to put his theories to practical
use? And is it not true that Morse,
another great thinker, could not have
succeeded alone? Our great need is
for more men like those of the former
group. The theorist is the real pioneer,
but it is the exception, not the rule,
that he receives that reward for his
genius to which he is justly entitled.
IT, therefore, we would bestOw honor
where honor is due, let us look with
more favor upon the man with theories.
He may not have the business faculty
of the practical man; that is his mis-
fortune, not his fault. But he has
brain whose strength and clearness pre-
pare the way for accomplishment, and
without which the road would be full
of insurmountable Obstacles He turns
the practical man from a stumbling
block into a helpful factor toward the
advancement of civilization. Why.
then. should he not receive more credit
and more of the worlds consideration?
Here is chance where we ourselves
may be both Judge and jury in the adj
ministration of justice. Boston Budget.
The Prison Mirror is paper that is
well worth reading. Every issue is re-
plete with words of advice and wisdom
that every young person could we'll af
ford to peruse The editor has been
called preacher by some more-nice-
than-wise men. If there were few
more such men with the fearlessness
of speaking against the wrong as ex-
hibited by the MIRROR man, there
would be a consequent reduction in the
annually sent to saltwater
Princeton Union