Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-04
THROUGH GERMAN EYES.

The western spirit is now, as it has
ever been, q popular subject for com
ment by the people Of the old Euro
pean nations. The American consul
general to Berlin recently stated that
it is impossible to pick up a newspaper
In Germany without seeing in its col
umns a criticism Of America and Amer
leans by some German who has just
returned from a trip in this country
and is retailing the Impressions and
information gained here to the mem
bers Of his verein OF to the local cham
Der Of commerce In the town In which
he lives. While admitting without re-
serve that America has many and
boundless possibilities for the ambi-
tious young man OF the west, our Ger
man critics object to the conplacency
with which the average American
Views conditions here, which same
conditions impress the slow going and
methodical fastener as too insecure
to last long. While the Germans
agree upon the energy, industry and
unsurpassed mechanical skill of the
people, the superioritey of our factory
system, the speed and cheapness Of
rail transportation, and the restless,
progressive spirit which is always
looking for a new and better machine
or method than the n already in use;
nevertheless the German experts
claim they have found defects in many
parts of the American system, which
unless reformed will continue to
weaken u country's grasp upon In
ternational trade.
Tho A ~, orioon qoo13~~ 30 ,oYS oo+lo
fed self-suf1ciency, the critics assert,
is already producing its natural re-
suits. Americans do not study care
fully. The average American working.
man mas but scant scientific knowledge
of the machinery and forces with
which he deals. The meagerness of
technical education, the trifing annual
contingent Of chemists, engineers, edu-
Gated dyers, weavers, and electricians,
as compared with the throng Of law
yers, physicians, dentists and unspe-
cialized graduates turned out by Amer
lean colleges and universities, seems
to the Germans a shortsighted and i'm
provldent system Of education.
According to German standards,
there are not more than a half dozen
good technical schools In the United
States, and these are grossly made
quate to the needs of 80,O00,OO0 people.
In no institution is any careful and sys-
tematic training given in commerce,
banking, and foreign trade. The educa-
ton Of American youth In these mat
ters Is acquired by a three-month's
course Of bookkeeping and commercial
usages In the so-called commercial col:
leges which are condemned al little
better than a farce.
Although there may be- somexdefects
In the American school system, and
there doubtless are, 1t has its many
advantages, and the American Is we'll
satisfied because he realizes that the
advantages more than balance against
the defects. The American mind and
spirit are not studious and patient.
AS a race the American lacks many of
those staid, solid qualities which have
made the German famous. But the
American, though he may strike out
quickly, generally hits the mark ahead
Of his slower German brother. Though
he puts in considerable time hunting
for a short cut over an obstacle he
generally arrives at the other side
ahead of the European who patiently
.plods around. The German says
Americans rely on luck and destiny,
but Americans know that 1t Is upon
their indomitable will and often proven
power that they depend for success
The Americans education is only be.
gun In the college and the university.
The early wisdom is not gained at
the fountain of knowledge. The latter
comes from the school room but the
former is the result of years Of mature
labor, study and application. The
American starts into business young
because he knows he will learn as he
goes along. The result is that when
his German brother starts the Ameri
can has mastered many Of the details
and is forever ahead. This one of the
secrets which account for the fact that
Americans are practical, inventive,
ingenious, while the typical German
lis slow, though sold, and an imitator
rather than an inventor.
THE FARM VS.. THE MINE.
Secretary Wilson's annual report
upon the value Of the crops for 1904
gives some a. .va1uah1o and ipfaraofino