The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-30

work has been done as TO how II mas
been done. There has. been no restrlc-
ton calculated in any way to hamper
the most perfect freedom, Wnether III
membership discussion, or study. The
Union has no constitution, and there are
not even any house-rules. There Is never
any trouble about discipline, tor that
takes care of itself There is a sfnali
membership fee, but on payment OF that
anyone may join. There is no election
of members and no investigation as to
character If a man expresses his de-
sire to enter the Union. that fact in It
self is a sufficient qualification
DEMOCRATIC SPIRIT.
The composition of the first executive
committee illustrates very well the
Democratic spirit which has always pre-
vailed Three working mon. two Har-
ward students, a Harvard professor, and
a clergyman were elected. Inc Union
is frank in admitting that it is incon-
sstent in limiting its privileges to men,
but this is done for practical reasons
Most of the teachers from Harvard. it
states, prefers to have men only in their
classes, and the workngInen themselves
it seems feel more of Il sense OF free
dom and less timi6ity in exposing their
deficiencies in education in the presence
of other men than if women also were
present
It will readily be seen that so far as
the student teachers from the JniVer-
sty are concerned, the good which they
receive by regular, faithful work among
men. often OF an equal degree Of inteli-
sence with themselves, though in Diff
trent lines. can only be an advantage in
every possible way. But the question
has been raised more than once as to
what use the wor!aingman himself gets
from studying an hour or two on one,
two, or three evenings a week. for halt a
year The officers of the Union have
answered this question SO well that it
seems worth while to quote q little of
what they have to say in justitication:
"Why should a Wage-earner beJtapght
French or Latin. rather''t!la1l something
which will be of direct practical value
to him in earning his daily bread? 1t is
indeed often better that u man should
study what will be of Immediate use to
hiu-the English branches which con-
stitute a common-school education, mathe-
mates. the natural sciences, drawing,
and the like But sometimes it is bet
ter that a man should enterta ciassEln
a subject remote from practical use, Tor
the mental discipline and SroadennS
effect to be thus secured. Machine
methods in manufacturing, and the IN
finite DIVISION ana SuD-GlNiSiUli VI ietpoA,
tend to make of manual workers machine
men. That tendency should be counter
acted Experience has proved that in
some cases the studies apparently OF least
practical value are quite as desirable
as any others; and that often the choice
of a particular study is not nearly so inn
portant a matter as it seems. Not what
is studied, but to Learn how to study is
most important.
But are not wage-earners unified for
their work and made disconnected with
their lot by being educated in some degree?
1t rarely happens that a Prospect Union
puDi inagines for any length of time
that he ought to be q lawyer or a doctor
instead of carpenter or blacksmith
When this does happen. the Union tries
to be a good adviser and to discourage
unwise ambitions. Occasionally men who
know what they are about are aided at
.the Union in fitting themselves for col.
lege, but not often. There is a kind OF
discomfort, however, to the propagation
of which IN the minds of wage-earners
the Union pleads guilty-a sensible dis
satisfaction with things with Which it is
stupid or immoral to be satisfied when
there is a possibility of hetterment; the
discomfort of the healthy, growing human
being; the discomfort of q true manhood.
The cGntentment of the poor earth-clod,
the drudge, the incompetent hireling, the
Union does what it can to remove