The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1903-03-01
THE RANCH.
sis is correct.

iiteracy Here is clipping from one of our best jour
nails Last August the national census issued pre-
limnary report ilteracy among men of voting age
city and country districts according to the census
of 1900 report interesting suggestive and alarm
ing.
The report incuoes under the term illiterate those
who neither read write aod also small number
who can read but cannot write.
In the United States whole, including Alaska and
Hawaii the male population at least twenty-one years
old and living cities having at least $4,000 inhabitants
$685. 644, of whom 339223, or per cent were re-
ported terate In the rest OF the country the NUMBER
of men voting age 15,24S 655 of whom 1949247
13 per cent reported as illiterate.
These figures indicate that illiteracy among adult
than half prevalent in the large cities as
the rest of the United States. The difference
the report says largely the fact that the urban
population the massed in the Northern and
States and teracy is less frequent there than
in other parts of the country
IliteTacy among adults the report says, is FOUND IN
large cities less frequently than elsewhere in all
and territories, except New Hampshire, New
York Kansas and Oregon The report continues
difference betW the large cities and the rest
of the country Northern States is affected by the
presence the cities of large numbers of iterate mm
grants in the Southern States the difference
may produced by the of the population
But after ALL this statement has very great sig
nfcance; for the ability to read and write is not an
education though, of course recognized by all as OF
primary Importance means to that end. or what
use would your knowledge of reading and writing be if
you obtain nothing to read except compilations
in Sanscrit Chinese? Or who will say that white
headed Uncle Rastus down by de big bayou" who re-
ceved his in handling cotton and befo de
wah,'' from overseer who used catOnine-tas as
the chief incentive to the requirement OF that very use
full knowledge, is not of use to himself, the COM
munty nation and the world than the schooled do
nothings' find in most favored localities, who
have been schooed from the of five to twenty-five
and digested less thoroughly (mostly less)
good-sized library of textbooks. Now the point wish
to make is this The day is past for calling human
being if the education has not vastly increased
her usefulness and capacity for helping the race
otherwise they be classed of with degrees
of difference with trick dogs trained bears and perform
ing monkeys. And alas! present system, to be
explicit lack SYSTEM educational lines, has forced
and some of my perhaps anxious to take
ceptions to it; but have that are not with
the unprogressive crowd who say to use words from
Popes Essays, Whatever is is right" We have heard
our system of public schools lauded much (and just
y too far system of providing textbooks instruc
all classes is concerned and the sensation OF
feeling that perfection has been attained is pleas
ant resfu wthal it is very annoying to have flaws
pointed out.
Some of the wise among my hearers have about
concluded that have carrying such load of ig
norance myself agricultural colleges with all
their splendid equipment provided by the Morrill, Bill
and other enactments, unknown quantity to me;
and so direct advantage is concerned that is in
a measure true Now do not conclude that am going
to begin TRADE against the Agricultural College. l
have forgotten the fate of poor Hayseed who made
the attempt through "The Ranch during 1901; but shall
make criticisms the agricultural college system
They together with universities. instruct few
tho of tha man q is