New-York tribune., 1904-09-25

X DAYS like these when the necessity OF education
technical otherwise, Is strenuousy insisted upon
by all the learned worshipful, governmental and
dictatoria personages who sit County Councils,
talk away the precious time recessly IN Parliament
without apparently arriving al any decision OF definite
workable good for the nation. will not, PERHAPS be
considered obtrusive intrusive If suggestion be
PET forward the Importance OF one point The
necessity OF teaching peop.e 10 read
This essential OF education Is sadly lacking among
the general majority Of educated persons Great
Britain, and / think ! may say America-especally
among those OF the upper classes, IN both countries
When speak OF these upper classes mean
OF course those who by chance fortune have been
born either such rank such sufficient wealth
be lifted above the toing million, and who have
certainly had all the physical. mental and social ad
vanages that tuition training and general surround
ings can give them.
Yet it is precisely among these that We ind the
ones who cannot read who frequently cannot spell,
and whose handwriting IS bad be well-nigh
ilcgibe. When Is stated that they cannot read,
shat statement Is not by any intended to con
vev the idea that if a book newspaper be given TO
them they do understand the letters the print
which the reading matter presented 10 their eyes
They do But such letters and such print impress
meaning upon their minds. Anyone prove this
!y merely asking them what they have been reading.
In nine cases out OF ten they don't know
And if they e,er did know, during unusual
moment OF brain activity, they forget The think
which everything runs easily and drops 10 waste The
news Of the dav. be Il forth boldly IN
matter what startlngly stout headlines barely
cites their interest fOT than a second They
NAV perhaps glance d couple Of newspaper pacaTds
and AZ, observe Russia al il again but OF the
ns and Of policy the di cuties Of government,
the work OF nations they grasp absolutely nothing
Thus happens that when they asked their opinion
cn any such Of the hour may be making
history the future they display their utter ignorance
in such frankly stupid fashion that any intelligent
inquirer bound be stunned by their lack Of knoHl
edge, and viii perhaps muTnur feebly Have You not
read the news, To which viii the vague
.eply Oh, yes read all the newspapers but really
don't remember the particulars just nov
What they do Temembcr-these - cultured persons
land the highly they cultured, the more
tenacious Is thor memory the point IS divorce
case They always read that carefully and over
again. They comment upon II afterward with such
gusto make il evident to the merest tyro that
they have learned all its worst details by heart If
they only reve in the published shame and disgrace
of oe Of their very dearest friends they enjoy
and appreciate that kind Of mental fare more than
al the beautiful poems and i'd lie romances ever
written.
The million have long ago earned to read, and
reading The last IS the most important fact
and of those who seek TO govern them would do
v 70 remember; for their reading IS Of most strange
mixed and desultory order-and who say what
gy0rdrous new notions and disturbing theories may
not leap sprite-liBe from the witch's cauldron