The San Francisco call., 1897-01-04
COLLEGE THEORY
OR HARD REALITY
Professor Ross Of Stanford
Tells the Socialists of
Enjoyments.
His Audience. However, Look More
to the Cold, Practical Features
of the Case.

One of the largest halls in Pythian
Castle, 909H Market street, was filled to
the doors last evening, the occasion being
meeting of the American branch of the
Socialist Labor party, at which Professor
Edward w. Ross of Leland Stanford Uni
versity was the principal speaker. Will
liam Costley presided, and Olivia Everett
and George Aspden gave recitations and
readings.
Professor Ross, who is the instructor in
economics at the university, took ior his
subject, Evolution of Enjoyment" He
held up the idea that the people of to-day
have the means of enjoy ing themselves
more than the ancients, and that the
present situation has. indeed, more
cheerful outlook than in the past.
The tall professor said that the present
trend of pleasure is more esthetic and
beautiful than in the past and is looking
more to the spiritual than to the sensual.
To illustrate his point he called atten ton
to the bloody amusements OF Rome and to
the pleasures of the barbarous tribes
whose greatest enjoyment is eating and
drinking to excess and idlirg away their
time.
The tendency of modern civilization, he
continued, is to the better. Instead of
brutal sports we have a greater appre-
citation for music. literature. scenery,
picture galleries. Gladiatorial battles
have given way 10 ootball lawn tennis
and tug-of-war matches. People are m ore
social and enjoy music recitais. lectures,
ETC., while formerly their enjoyment was
selfish. the greatest pleasure being possess
ion of wealth and display OF fine raiment
and houses.
Professor Ross contended that pleasure
is coming cheaper than formerly. Once
it was rated as great thing to have and
ride in carriage. Now hundreds own
buggies, and this shows that the caste
lines are not so severely drawn. The less
of their weather brothers. In fact democ-
racy permits closer approach Of the
various classes TO each other.
The very demand for things out of the
reach of the poorer classes brings to them
cheaper articles of the desired kind,
and the distribution is much larger and
the means of enjoyment are thus in
creased.
According to the custom at these meet
ings. those in the audience are permitted
to ask questions and make brief addres sses
on the sub ject under consideration.
The questions asked and remarks made
by q mum ber of socialists showed wide
difference between the Stanford profess
or's theories and the work.a.day laSorer's
experiences. One of the latter began by
asking how the thousands of over-worked
laborers can enjoy the estnetic pleasures
of music, picture galleries, carriages and
literature spoken Of by Professor Ross.
When a man labors like q slave from
eight to sixteen hours a day for just
enough to keep body and soul together he
is well satisfied 10 sleep, in order to be
prepared for the next days toll.
"Out on the hills near here,'' he re-
uup,ad 90 hppd rod Of man ip rrad
ing camp, working from sunrise TO sunset
In their clearinghouse the tin plates are
nailed to the ia BILE, and the knives and
forks are fastened with chains. The dish
washer washes the dishes by turning "a
stream from a hose on the table instead of
applying hot water and soap.
How can men working under such cir
cumstances be expected TO appreciate en-
ioyment, evoluted or otherwise2 Car
riages, books, literature, music or art gal
lerles are closed to them. Moreover the
cheap editions mentioned are the result OF
cheap labor, the cheap garments are the
product of the sweat-shops, and cheap car
riages represent urderpaid labor
Professor Ross suggested that If these
would keep out OF saloons and buy less
beer their condition might not be so bad,
to which another socialist answered that
the more man saved even on beer the
more he would have to contribute to the
capitalist, who is ever ready, upon seeing
evidence of thrift upon the part of the
laboring classes, TO cut wages.
1t is no wonder that the workingman
seeks to stupeiy his brain with drink and
to drown his cares and fears. 1t is 10 alter
this condition of affairs and SO place the
laborlng man socially and otherwise that
he will have confidence in himself and in
the future that socialism is striving.
A Great Shot.
The Duke of Ma akhoff was at battue
at Stra.h tieldsay and shot nothing, much
to his disgust, and when the day was over
it appeared that he would be extremely
put out unless he was allowed or enabled
to kill something. So. in spite of all the
gamekeeper could think, feel or say, a
pheasant was procured. tied by ITS leg to