The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-26
A LITTLE LEARNING.
Is 1t More Dangerous Than a Great
Deal of Learnings

San Francisco Post.
Andrew Carnegies proposal to make the
United States government Junior partner
in the steel trust by transferring to the
secretary of the treasury bonds of the
United States Steel Corporation to the
amount OF $4,000 900 for the purpose of
national university has been modified.
Mr.. Carnegie ate lunch with the President
yesterday, and the scheme was discussed
in the light of popular objection 10 govern
mental partnership interests with a con-
Germ whose rapacity may have to be curDed
by legislative regulation. 1t Is said that
Mr.. Carnegie on mature renection whlIe
tea was being poured acknowledged that
his proposal was not exactly in accord with
the spirit of American institutions or with
the traditional independence OF the Amerl-
can people as formulated In the famous
Declaration. Finally, 1t is reported, he
agreed that his donation should be in cash
or ''unobjectionable securities. 1t Is also
stated that Mr. Carnegie pledged himself,
on condition that the American people
promised TO behave themselves, TO Increase
his gift 100000 to s15,000,000 or even go
900 900.
In the meantime the Carnegie proposal
is being discussed by experts all over the
world, and the consensus of this opinion is
adverse to the practical utility of what the
altruists and enthusiasts call 1.-THE higher
education" applied in the affairs of every
day life, where horse sense" is Of more
value than a knowledge OF Greek or the
ability to demonstrate a theorum in comic
sections.
TOO much learning" says DR.. Won Stra-
donitz, rector of the University of Berlin.
"if not danger, is at least Improbable. >"
Evidently the wise doctor is not in accord
with that other wise doctor, Alexander
Pope, who said:
"A little learning is dangerous thing;
Drink deep. or taste not the Pierian spring;
There shallow draughts intoxicate the
brain.
And drinking largely sobers us again.
The German doctor, however, speaks
from experience; the philosopher of
Twickenham reasoned priori according
to the rule of DIR. Kant, who discarded
the teachings of experience If it disap
proved the deductions of metaphysical
logic. DR.. Won Stradonitz says that they
are suffering from this overplus of learn
ing in Germany, where they are burdened
with an unproducttve class who look with
inherited scorn on those whose education
has been merely in the art of breadwin-
ming. The doctor commends Carnegie's
original technical school endowment, but
confesses himself unable TO commend the
millionaire's national university proposal
When doctors disagree who shall decide?
The answer is plain. Common sense
horse sense" If you please-shall decide.
If q man or woman has the capacity for
higher education" let the man or woman
so endowed have all the knowledge he or
she can hold. But do not try TO pour a
gallon into pint measure. If you do the
measure will slop over and the precious
Pierian "draught' will be wasted.
The so-called higher education" as a
rule, units a man woman for the or
binary duties of life. The man who has
earned the initials that imply the scho-
lastic dignity of master of arts will not
jerk the grip of a cable car until starvation
compels, and the woman who has been CO.
educated In sociology up TO the degree Of
a bachelor of philosophy would not stoop
to chamber service or kitchen labor under
any condition.
1t is not problem" however. All that
is necessary is to take Mr.. Carnegie s
money and apply ii to the education of
men and women who have the capacity for
the higher learning" These are few and
the graduates of the Carnegie institution
will not be compelled to meet the compe-
tition that worries the ordinary output of
the other colleges and universities. Let
Mr.. Carnegie find the men and women
who can drink deep of the Pierian spring,
to the end that they may drink largely
and become sober again from the intoxicat-
ing influence Of the shallow draughts''
tasted from educational rivulets flowing
from the universities and colleges of the
various States.