Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-22
A NORMAL LECTURE.
MIR. e. G. Carstens Addressed Nor
mai Students Upon m Interesting

/
The first of the weeks lectures to be
be given 10 the students in attendance
at the Marshall county normal institute
was enjoyed d the high school AUDITOR
l1um Monday night, when Mr.. c. c. Car
stems. until recently principal OF the
high school of this city. addressed the
students and a number OF visitors upon
the subject The Social Function OF
Modern History.
Mr.. carstens is an able historian,
thoroughly interested in the subject
and Is soon To enter the University of
Pennsylvania To take d two years post
graduate course in his chosen study
His subject for the evening was ably
handed and gave the impression that
ne had studied closely every phase that
was presented.
| Mr Carstens began by saying that
there are those who would strenuously
object to the implication that history
has social function to perform. but
he added that even a casual reader of
/ history can not fail to see tendencies
that go to show that the human race
has in this century for the first time be-
come conscious OF its own ends. its re-
Ilations, powers and possibilities.
In looking at the views of history
he said. as a study of humanity, held
by thinkers of all ages, We find Josephus
referring TO the Jews alone, Aristotle
considering the philosopher as the di-
|rective force Of the universe and Lotze
calling it the immanent spirit
The study of history has so far pro-
duced little effect in the education of
the race. Its teaching has as often been
vicious as it has been ethical History
has too long been pre-empted for the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the Individual hero.
/ The study of the conditions, ideals and
progress of the common people is neg
.Ilected. 1t is the social side of history
THAT appeals TO and improves the indf-
Ividual so that he shall live as one OF
imany and not as one for himself If
history has a social and ethical value
i it must be applied to the solution of the
manifold social problem. The greater
number of social evils come from NAL
adjustment of our social relations
The riots in England late in the last
century, the dangerous power of enor-
Imous aggregations of capital. the work
of Judge Lynch and of vigilance com
Emittees, bribery in elections, troubles in
the south during reconstruction days
leven religious questions indicate above
Iall a need for social adjustments.
Young people are conservative of be-
lliefs and theories in lines where they
have no experience. History can be
made one of the great sources for po-
litical and social thought.
Il But the treatment must be tolerant
sympathetic, fair. The northern and
southern school histories seldom have
any of these qualities. They above all
breed sectional bias.
The prediction was made few years
ago that at the present rate of urban
increase in 1912 this land would be dom
mated by it's urban population. This
growth of the cities is bringing to oul
attention the problems of city life-gooG
water supply, good drainage, good ano
cheap light, rapid and cheap transpor-
tation and sanitary housing These
problems can be solved alone by an in
telligent citizenship which will make 8
man willing to work honestly in groups
! with and for his fellows.
The unsocial man, developed by the
conditions of pioneer life in our land, Is
J still powerful factor with us. But
history will, when intelligently laugh,
! and read cause to grow up in the youth
J interest of the richest sort, observation
Of the truest sort, so that he will be.
come useful factor in our social life