Evening star., 1901-02-16
THE LAND OF YOUNG MEN
SO AMERICA Is STYLED BY An ENG
LISH PAPER.
Reasons Why Our Country is Ascend
Struggle Between the Nations.
From the London Times.

From the London Times
1t has been asked, what are the Amcri-
can manufacturers advantages over his
British confrere, and To what these ad-
vantages are due? 1t is a bigger question
than can be answered In Il few words; but
1 will attempt To set down what appear tn
me to be the chief moving causes. Apart
from physical resources-such as mineral
wealth, etc, a subject already dealt with
in former articles-perhaps the primary
cause, If not the handspring of American
enterprise, is the consideration shown To
youth
Mr. Lecky has said In the introduction
to Democracy and Liberty: THE re
spect for old age is one of the strongest
of English instincts. and is often carried
so far that it will be found that men only
attain their maximum of influence at a
time when the faculties manifestly de-
clining." The truth of this is strongly
brought home to an Englishman on first
visiting the United States. There one finds
young men at the head of affairs every
where.
In the whole course of my last trip 10
the United States. when ! made the matter
one of close observation, | can remember
only two instances of elderly men taking
the leading part in the management of
works. and in one of these the business, al
though of great reputation, did not give
promise of further advancement
The Americans go on the principle that
youth is the season of energy. As a mai
advances in life he has less to hope;
something has gone out of him. He ven
lures less and wins less. In this country
we are overcautious; and, though our eau
ton may avoid. some mistakes. 1t loses
more good chances.
That the young men in the United States
successfully fill positions for which We con-
slider matured experience a first essential
is due, no doubt, to a variety of causes
the first of which is to be found in the
early treatment of children. l have some
times been almost led to think there are no
children in America, only some immature
men and women. American children are
mostly what we. or perhaps our mothers
would call 'spoilt." But, however unpleas-
ing-to strangers-this may appear. / am
bound to say the system works well In the
long run.
The American child being seldom
checked, grows up without any feeling, of
restraint. and thus early becomes comphn-
iOnable. II is customary for fathers to dis
cuss their business affairs with their sons
in a way that is quite surprising TO an
Englishman. These apparently small
causes have far-reaching effect. The
youth, when he leaves school CT college and
enters on his business career has feeling
of wel-sustained self-coniidence that is
more than half the equipment needful for
the conduct of affairs. Probably the ma
iority of successful administrators are ac-
tuated more by judgment than by prece-
dent, and the man who lacks judgment Mt
thirty is hardly likely to be succcsSful--iu
Confidence In Youth.
The confidence the American business
man thus extends to his youthful son is
reflected in many ways that seem curious
to Englishman. A good many years
ago 1 spent a few evenings with some
students of one of the large American col
leges. I was new to America then. and
heard with surprise these college youths
discussing questions that arose out of the
business in which their fathers We're
gagged. If We compare this with what gen
orally happens when lads of pub
lie schools young men at our own uni
Versities meet together-when any mention
| of the parental shop would be looked on
as the worst of bad form-I think perhaps
| there will be seen one of the reasons why
Americans are fitted to control business at
an earlier age than is usual in this coun-
| try. "As the twig is bent, the trees in
| clined."
The education limited at above, the spon-
taneous education of social intercourse. is
immeasurably above the mere learning of
lessons, which too often goes by the name
of education. 1 made many inquiries in
America to the value of technical edu-
cation. and I am bound reluctantly to con-
fess that, contrary to my anticipation, [
did not find much evidence of its efficiency
among many of those holding the more
prominent positions as administrators.
That, on consideration, is to be easily eX-
planned. 1t is a greater thing to be mold
er of men than of materials. and there has
yet been technical college for the DC
velopment of the former gift. Nevertheless
and 1t is necessary to say this, to pre-
vent misconcepton-the technical colleges
of all industrial nations in the present day
are doing Indispensable work. In the
United States there are some admirable
technical schools, but. speaking from per-
sonal observation and not by the book, L
should say we are as well OIL III England.
That statement is open to correction by
statistical data more comprehensive
knowledge on the part OF others AT any
rate in England we have many splendldiy
equipped engineering Laboratories Tor edu-
cational purposes and classes designed TO
give adequate instruction. To me 1t ap-
pears that the chief difference is in the
Young men themselves, and that is due 20
the previous home training, to which
have made reference.
Value of Our Schools.
Another reason for the adaptability or
American youth to business is to be found
in the schools. What we know as pubic
schools in England are very different from
the educational establishments which go by
the same name in America There, az
though there are wide differences pupiic
school might be likened to superior board
school so conducted that the children or
all, rich and poor. can attend Ihus one
will find the son Of a big manufacturing en-
gineer on the same form as the cnlIdren OF
the ordinary mechanics his father employs.
The educational advantage to both is very
great The leveling that ensues Is not lev
cling down, DuI leNclltlS up ftiA eoio
tbere is no hostility between the two
classes. but that their commingling acts as
a restraint On the one from doing things
| that are unworthy, while the other en-
| deayors TO prove the equality 1t claims to
be not undeserved. In Scotland we have
| somewhat similar conditions, though not so
pronounced as in America.
| The methsds of teaching, too. appear TO
| be diffeIt mt So far as can see the Amer
| lean system is more truly educational. less
pedagogic; the child is made to learn will
not say things that are useful. but things
that more develop his intelligence and rea-
soning faculties. l think any average Eng
lishman of middle age whether of a public
or private school, who looks back on his
school days must be struck by the vast
amount of time and tears he spent in ac-
auiring knowledge which he has entirely
forgotten.
The character of its people makes or mars
the destines of a nation and the characters
of men and women are not nodded in day.
China possesses mineral riches probably
as great as, perhaps greater than, those Of
toJ of h1t fey