The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-23

The leading nvowed object of edu-
cation is to promote success The
whole world seems given over to the
worship of success. Americans natter
Themselves that they are leaders In
this new cult. They, above all others,
appeal to the great god Success to
promote what Is believed to be the
twin cult education. So universal is
the notion that education is necessary
to success tlsat practically all who
seek success seek first education IN
the schools II ia, therefore. neces-
sarily TRUE that mcst successful men
now appear to have lad n college cdu-
cation Yet SO many achieve very
conspicuous success without this brand
of education that 1t cannot be regarded
as absolutely necessary to SUGGEST
Visions OF success are usually assoc
cfated In the youthful mind with the
seductive You arc smart enough to
make your living without working with
your hands, The easy life is thus
associated with success In drawing the
Dopulace into the education of the
+ schools and colleges. 1t does not take
much ability to get on with. the rou-
tine of the schools and confirm fond
parents and friends in the idea that
a youth is smart enough" when, in
fact. the school is the poorest place
in which to give indication of that in
tellectual force which leads to success,
even in avoiding labor Many minds
of little lasting ability are precocous
in routine studies. and especially in
Language, the stock learning of the
schools
The school test is utterly unreliable
as an Indication of after success. Many
minds of great force are impatient of
tn nj crl,n I'M
Such minds frequently. however learn
fast and we'll through seif-directed
reading. 1t is notorious that success
In after life does not correspond at all
with college grading as to scholarship.
1t is outside the school, and even of
book learning, in public intercourse
business relations. in trades and occu-
pations. that one only gives sure indi-
cations Of that mental force that leads
on to success.
Education continually leads young
men to enter the professions and easy
occupations. for which they are not
fitted and to avoid the trades and oc-
equations for which they are fitted.
So far as education leads men into
occupations for which they are not
fitted. and which are overcrowded, it
directly hinders the success of the In
dividual and the prosperity of the
country. IIllS Is Il Very extensive and
alarming evil. Success does not de-
pend upon 3eitg in any particular oc-
cupation, but the right man in the
right place may always be successful
The greatest field for success and use
fulness at present is in the orga,,,Za-
ton of industries and occupations and
the reduction to routine Of that which
formerly required intellectual force
to accomplish. Corporate and organ
lied business methods are more and
more succeeding in lines of effort for
merly pursued by individuals The
building trades are of rrent yariet y
and difficulty. are fast being organ
lied and operated on large scale by
great permanent corporations, in place
OF the former contractors.
Progress, the success OF nations Is
entirely dependent upon this rehuc-
ton of the advances of the intellectual,
force of individuals TO the routine OF
,he masses. Where advanced individ-
uals do not undertake the discipline
which reduces it to routine. their owr
advance is naught to the world Tho
great intellects of India have for ages
been separated from popular actions bS
the walls of caste. Among nations thai
have never emerged from savagery, in.
tellectual force has never become com.
mon enough to make any impression
on the habits of the people. AS schoo
education has always been traditional
and behind the times, 1t canot. promote
that success which is obtained in TIL,
van of progress and achievement.
All success in life Is comparative
One is successful who does better thar
his fathers before him, or than his fel
lows around him, or than the majorit,
of those in the class or condition II
which he was born.
Conspicuous success may be called
success in the superlative degree. 1