The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-07

II now, by practice. find how TO adjust |
myself 20 the water. | will no longer sink, |
but hoat; II | plunge into the cold. well |
protected and engage in the activities Of
labor and enterprise. | no longer contract |
disease, but become strong and vigorous |
| In body and mind. II is thus that the |
hardy races Of the North excel And this
Is the true education for any man--to |
learn the adjustments the applications OF
all the relations that touch and act upon
human life. his own life especially.
In what | have said lies the whole
meaning OF the words practical educa-
tiun" 1t is an education that can he
practiced, II may be q full course OF Greek
and Latin for the professor; painting tor
the artist music for the musioiani and so
on; but any disarranging or mismatehiug
OF the purpose and the preparation In these
cases takes the education out OF the prae-
tical and makes 1t impractical. There Is
/ no objection TO the hoe as tool TO work
1 ground but as an instrument for cutting
wood Il can not he recommended because
that IL not It's purpose SO OF education
that which fts best for the work OF life in
any Individual case is the proper and prac.
tlcal one.
Have YOU watched the eagle pose him-
self on the crag before he gave himself 70
flight aud that before he can sail away
he must throw himself upwards by using
his legs Men have sung In poetic strains
the strength OF his pinions, but have yet
to read single poetic number about the
glory OF his legs; yet they are as indis-
pensable to flight as his wings, TOR de-
privc him of them and he iutters helpless
iy on the ground. Just so 1t is with re-
gard 10 the equipment of a well educated
mamie needs the common knowledge OF
life 20 succeed, no less than the adorn-
I, ments of the humanities and the classics.
, Each in its proper place aud relation Is
supreme.
The chief end OF education Is TO prepare
the average man, not the colossal leader
> who by virtue OF his very superior endow-
ments will find his preparation ana en-
couragement held out to him. The average
. man is the executor of civilization, the
a strength or weakness OF the Nation, II
is a law of physics that gravity is strong
T. est at the surface OF the earth--below OF
S above it the power is diminished. That
3 is where you find the average man--occu-
pying the middle position. He is neither
the capitalist nor the beggar tho philo-
= sopher nor the fool the miser nor tbs
= spendthrift the dude nor the sloven, the
s devotee nor the infdel, His home is not {
. palace nor hovel. He labors part o
d his time and seeks SELF improvement th'
l. rest, Not a profound scholar, he is non'
& the less keen observer. Hts delight Is II
, those who sit around his family circle
u In public movements he is not a leader
e but his intelligent following Is essentla
" to the successful leadership of others. TIL
n cities grow rich by his prosperity, thei
a parks are made beautiful by the simple
Il gaiety and modest dress OF his daughters
- and all business succeeds by his patronage
I, The State looks to him for her protection
~ and provides for him In her enactments
- Every one OF her laws, from those re
- straining trusts to those arresting tramps
is made for the benefit of the average man
, He is not apt 10 be our governor but yo
~ will find him in the legislature giving tn
. / OH horttV II 1p "a the ghprli
n OF your county. he is furnishing the publ
w sentiment that enables the sherin to en-
u force the laws. His moral development
- fixes the standard of life in your commun
a lily. and every improvement and sign o
aI enterprise comes into the town at the IN
IN vitation of his friendlness. He is M
rd father and yours, my brother and yourl
ne my friend and yours For him the publ
re schools and the churches are built. Is
IN a strange doctrine, then, to say that ic
az him rather than for his exceptional brotn
III err. all our educational measures and idea
nd should be framed? am sure | do not So
~ too much in affirming that II we PROVO
nd for this man, the genius or prodigy vi
take care Of himself. Let us eNalt u
en- common side OF humanity. Let us give IN
on material side its full need OF attentio
ly and honor without being suspected OF CIV
III ing It the exclusive place in mans compf
b. site economy. There is no danger OF d'
as grading the eagle by giving due important
ds 10 his legs; that is no rejection upon u
it power of his wings.
r. Such an education as ! plead for brln(
TO the highest attachments within the servlt
he of the commonest things, and in thus bow
a ing ennobles the common into the gran
like that old Englishman who, when
ny was made a baronet. had his crest OF noDl
mt ity painted on the wheelbarrow OF h
ms humber days, thus making noble WI
ial himself the labor to which he owed h
W early allegiance once beard a lad
ch saw. There are no common people ~
as was right; it is the potentlaities thi
to make the dignity of man honor the cra
re- apple Tor its son, the Wipe-sapi ana II ma
'ls is a ielly-hsh at one end OF his genealos
he Is an angel at The other Only eduea
nd him out OF jelly into spirit and the m'ra'
,ur is wrought.
i'm grumble because Of the mud whi'
zen soils my clothes, but my teacher tel
nut me he will educate the dirt so as 10 r
At move its offensiyeness and increase
yes usefulness. / am incredulous. but ne TAX
me IT, dashes it into a mould bears u O
Dor dries and burns it. In the kiln III II com
the out a perfect pressed brick and In due On
10 the millionaire mansion rises TO beaut'
you the scene.
dtd That mud had been educated The sa
not age wind bowls about my house on WI
M ter's night with all the fury Of demo
sci and the rising floods threaten my NE D
ma conhne the water in reservoir and Sc
lin il along the mains Of the city 10 pun
nee a great pipe organ; coax the WIND 10 pa
1ny through the pipes and soon by the min
81 trations OF these two savage FORCES su
A., waves of sweet melody are pouring a
w. rolling through the great church IN
~ every heart is melted to tears, the wa
a @' ward boy passing along the sidewalk
w drawn in. his heart is touched ana us
~ Is reformed by the wind and water eouc'
,a.. cd TO sing OF heaven and salvation raw
49,, than to threaten death and destruction
W. Such is education. taking the most lgL
~, ,.1I bic. the most dangerous, the most worl
80 80 less. OF materials and 20 controilhs
~ adjusting relations that mobility, pea
10Y. hepfuness, prosperity ana progr
MS siveness take the seats OF rlotous deslF'
,ess tlveness - a.
The trouble with the negro IS tnaI a.
30 mass he is below the status OF lhe as
a. age man He came into the ne" est
, az OF citizen and man OF AFFAIRS WIN
~, ~ experience in government and in bu
M ness without proper conception OF
.aa1 relations he should sustain TO the weal
s sob producing forces OF earth. He Dndgh
80 house from pride Of ownership before
'aie understood that it took moral ana y
,,Iar itual forces to make home. The doclt'
he so new in It's application TO him that