The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-01-25
AbOut Education.

Our respected con temporary, the Laurens
Advertiser, last week had an article on edu-
cation, which, In Its way, was all very good,
but from our standpoint the benefits or pos
slble benefits of education were not as fully
stated as we should like TO have seen. We
assume that Lhat editorial was written from
the viewp lint OF the educated Citizen.
Now, suppose we ;ook al 1t from the other
side.
Tie masses OF the uneducated people ere
Jealous or suspicious of thei educated neigh.
bors. They rec, the greater prosperity, the
superior intelligence and the wider field OF
usefulness that is found In their neighoors Of
the educated class, and unless the individual
acknowledgedly towers far above them they
are at heart, as a rule, not the well wishers
of the more educated.
liza man has been born out of his sphere,
or has been fitted by education ~to.enter high.
er walks OF life than those in which he was
born, bis neighbors, and even his kindred
are the last 10 acknowledge bis true worth.
Conscious of their own lack OF success, or
their own inability. they are too often ready
to fall upon the "poor boy" who may have
given promise OF attaining honor In the
fields OF usefulness.
The "poor boy" who may in after life ex.
hlbit a degree OF the qualities which would
inspire him With ambition for the achieve
ments o fthe better things has first TO contend
with the jealousies OF his own kindred whom
he has outstrlpped, aud from whom the
nelghbors are too often ready TO take up the
line OF attack. And then the world, as a rule,
Judges the poor boy'' not by his own worth
and ability, but be is estimated by the poorest
and the most triflng Of his kindred.
Thus handicapped by In environment
which presents barriers that are almost In
surmountable he must conquer the opposing
elements, while his progress along the lines
OF what the world calls success is slower and
more difficult for him than 1t would be for
one born in the educated class.
Nc matter how trifing the specimen Of
manhood that Is born "ln the families" the
people Judge him by the best Of his kindred,
and the higher and the better educated peo.
pie, as a rule, hold up the hands Of their fsl-
tering kindred.
II a very poor specimen OF manhood Is born
In the circle OF the educated, and among those
who assume to be 1.-THE best people," he Is
sustained and held up both by kindred and
by boot licks Failure on his part is hardly
possible. On the otherihandt the "poor boy"
of superior natural endowment may fail be-
cause Of the lack ofintelligent direction Of his
energies, and beoa use OF errors OF Judgment.
Though his action may be well meant, 1t Is
hard for him to make as good success In life
as his more favored neighbor that was born
In the educated circle.
Educated people, as a rule, are ready TO
give the helping hand to those who are
striving 10 ascend the ladder. while those who
are jealous and ignorant are ready to pull
down one of their own number wheh they see
him outstripping them.
Educated citizens are the ruling class.
while the ignorances and the prejudices OF
the masses makes them dupes OF demagogues
or the tools OF designing politicians. II is
thus that the few rulethe masses.
As we see 1t the advice which the Lo I'd gave
to Abram, that he should leave the home Of
his nativity, Is today worthy OF all accepts-
lion. Ifs poor boy" feels the manhood in
him, and he knows that be is superior to the
common herd, then he should leave the home
OF his nativity and go where he will not be
handicapped by the previously conceived
opinions of his neighbors. A stranger ia gen.
rally accepted for his face value.
A prophet is not without honor save In his
country.
The great benefit of education does not al:
ways come to the learned individual
himself but his children will receive I'M
mense'%advanlage over the childen Of the on.
educated. The children Of the "poor man"
may bave more native ability, but when the
deficiency In their education is such as not
to enable them to walk In the higher way,
and to prevent them from falling into error.
the less favored man by nature. who has been
better,tahght, will outstrip him in the race OF
life. t- .