The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-01-17
THE UNITY or
THEORY AND PRACTICE.

the realm OF thought. We are told
that tho practical man--the man OF
tho one that the world
needs. Here and there some pros
perous mSu Of affairs is held up rs
specimen OF pvacticaljty. He is
pointed out. Us a doer, and not
dreamer. We are told that he is
"self.madc," meaning, doubtless
that he is Il man who has persistently
turned his back upon theory and de-
voted his whole energy TO the actiN-
tiles Of life. 1t may be well to ask
whether there can be such q thing as
n "practical" man apart from the
theoretical man. Are not the two
ideas in reality but parts OF one great
whole? A theoriSt is one who sees,
comprehends, understands. He looks
out upon the great world Of phenom-
ena, he explores and contemplates
and formulates ideas. He is the man
Of ideas. He sees visions, he dreams
dreams. The practical man is the
man in action. He is tho man who
works. Why, then may Not man
blend theory and practice into one?
Is not that exactly what the practi-
cal man does? He looks out into u
certain realm Of thought. He sees,
beholds, comprehends, and shapes
the activities of his life in accordance
with his theories. A man must be q
theorfst before he can be the prlc til
cal man Of affairs, otherwise he can
not hope to be more than tool
blindly used by some theorist, or
worse still, must conduct all his ac-
tivities of life without any plan what
ever. Action is the child Of theory.
1t is the legitimate result Of theory.
1t is an evolution Of theory. The
full rounded man must be both o
theorist and practical man. In
deed every man who has ever been
noted for doing in the world, had de-
velopod largely in theory first. Be-
hind evory act there lay more or
less clearly marked thought. The
thought crystalized in action and
something was brought to pass in the
world Of activity. And it is only as
theory is thus turned to action that
COOL res ults to the world at large.
The theory of music may be compre-
hended to marked degree by some
mi nd that is gifted in that direction,
but the theory must turn into prac-
tice-the science must become an
act before the world is to get the
sweet harmony. The man skilled in
the science Of medicine must bless
thu world at large by turning the
science-theor Of medicine into the
art of healing. There may be delight
to theindividual mind that plunges
into these great mysteries and solves
them for it's own qualification. But
the theory must bring forth its legit-
innate fruit in activity before the
world outside Of the theorist is bless
ed. Yet no one will say that theory
in music or in medicine is useless.
Who would choose q doctor that had
no theory? You base your choice
largely upon the fact that he has
been filled with theory. The longer
he has addressed himself to diligent
study, the more readily you entrust
your case to his care.
There are various combinations OF
theory and practice. We often find
imperfect theory and excellent prac-
tice blended. The motherly soul
who uses q few simple herbs may
have poor theory Of medicine, and
yet her remedies prove helpful to the
sick baby. But no one will on that
account discredit the ability Of the
skilled physician. And to say the
least, bad theory even if blended with
good practice is not the best combina-
ton. There is often excellent theory
and very imperfect practice. Most
men know how TO live better than
they actually live. Their vision Of
life is excellent, their practical living
is abominable. Then there is the man
with very imperfect theory and very
inferior practice, the worst combina-
ton OF all. 1t brings man down to
the level OF the brute in both thought
and deed. He sees only bad in his
view Of life and lives in accordance