Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-02
The Trend o. the Time.


To the Editor of the Dispatch:
Carlyle. In one OF his works. speak
contemptuously OF the modern specials
as mentally lop-slded and compares him
20 the workman in the great neede-fac-
tories al Birmingham. whose sole duty
IS 10 punch eyes In the delicate little inn
Elements. He knows nothing but needles
eyes, and can make nothing else, conse-
quently he is almost certain TO become
narrow in all his ways and restricted In
his views.
This same thought is brought out by
one OF the most eminent OF our modern
sculptors. William Ordway Partridge. In
recent lecture he remarked that the art
Of to-day is suffering from "a chronic
ard acute attack ~ the division OF
labor" He went on 10 explain Baat ne
meant by saying that so much is done
FOR The artist Of to-day and so lttle COM
paratively by him that his work does not
receive enough Of the stamp OF his indl-
viduality. The sculptor Instead OF carving
out every stroke Of his work himself has
his mould prepared for him, and needs
but to put the finishing touches TO II.
In many cases he could not prepare his
own mould If he tried. The architect, In
stead Of being a builder and handling his
material himself is to-day little more
than man OF curves and angles and
paper plans. 4
one reason hat we have no world-as-
tonishing artists to-day IS because ths
division Of labor has made men special
lists, and the artist and artisan have be-
come two distinct classes. Michael An
selo drew his own plans. painted his own
forms. moulded his own models. and then
touched into life-iike reality those noble
creations OF his wonderful brain. The
architects Of those marvellous cathedrals
Of the Middle Ages. whose massive fronts
and delicate spires still attest the genius
Of their constructors, conceived, planned
and executed their own work. they them
selves handling the trowe the hammer
and the brush. The artist who knew
every branch OF his craft. every trick Of
his trade. who used no labOr-savng con-
trivance. but worked hard with his hands,
touching his materials and having their
CRIME on his person. wrought most beau
tifuly.
Mr.. Partridge pleaded for a whole a
fully-rOunded mana man who knows ma
ture at first hand and is equipped with
that practical manual education which.
IN my judgment. Is the complement OF all
virile culture. The subject thus opened up
IS one that runs into all departments OF
life, and IS making more problems Cor Us
than Adam Smith ever dreamed OK when
he wrote his fascinating chapter on d.
vision OF labor
The medical journals are bewalling tbs
passing Of the Old family physician. with
his all-around practice ard his general
knowledge OF the physical needs Of his
PARENTS. He is being supplanted by the
specialist. and the patient Is passed on
from one Office 70 another much as pieces
OF iron are sent on from process 10 pro-
cess 10 attain their final dignity.
h.. A.
come from this same specialization IN
industry. and the rapid transitions I'm tho
kind OF special work required In art.
literature, science. theology, and Industry
the tendency Is / am sorry 90 admit, the
same, and 10 seems % be irresistible and
irreversible. One Of the most important
faculties In the human body IL the CO.
ordlnating faculty. as sc all know. Every
step taken. for instance, requires not
only the exercise Of many different mus
clcs and members, but their harmo-
Nous action. each working az the right
time. in the right place, and with the
proper degree of force The muscles may
be all IN excellent condition but r that
part OF the brain where the co-ordinatny
faculty resides be out OF order the body
goes numbering forward or plunglug down
ward like the body OF an inebriate.
society. come people maintain. Is an
organism and. perhaps. Il Is. one thing
certain IS. thar it requires "a c0-ordinat-
ing faculty as badly as the human body
does. society composed of specialists
such as all our STANDARDIZATION seem
destined TO be-what Will become OF ~?
We look with amusement upon the rigid
caste system OF the Old Oriental peoples.
but is not division OF labor. by this spec.-
alist business. surely producing FOR as
new caste system that will. with age
become as rigid as that OF Chinag-a
caste not. perhaps int0 which ore IS
borne perforce. but into which one -
speedily educated. aud out OF waich ore
cannot nft ones SELF afterward Tho
very same vital processes that make the
child grow into a mature man. prolonged
further. make the man grow again. BIO
second childhood. So the same prOccstes
that are making our western civilization
so mighty and so expansive. may In time.
carry US into the same rigidity OF SYSTEM
that has already doomed more than one
civilization and is booming China to-day,
to apparent extinction. And then? And
then another and higher civilization will
take rs place and the world will keep on
vhrlDg.
: yet, l doubt not through the ages
one increasing purpose runs.
And the thoughts OF men are widered
With the process of the suns"
JOSEPH al. SHEPHERD