The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-21

tween knowledge merely acquired, and
knowledge applied and put into opera
ton. knowledge merely memorized, cs-
pcclnlly If embarrassing, Is VIGOROUSLY
apt to slip from the memory. But where
knowledge Is practicnd or applied, 1t be-
comes part of the mental furniture ana
is retained.
The application OF knowledge is It's
repeated or babtua use, so that after
q time. the knowledge Is Incorporated
into q habit and reduced to routine
knowledge TO be effective, therefore re-
1uires the aid of habit or practice. So
the most effectual way to acquire knowl-
edge Is to get into the trade OF life,
and acquire knowledge and apply 1t us
acquired.
Acquiring n great mass OF knowledge
In early life, before going into any per-
tnanent occupation. really makes tho
mind n mere sieve, through which the
knowledge passes without leaving much
or any permanent impression. But MEM
ori2ing knowledge, which is afterwards
lost and forgotten. undoubtedly promotes
inciiiciency, inaccuracy and want of thor
oughness.
Operative knowledge is closely con-
nected with ability to do. to work. 10
accomplish. knowledge may be applied
through habit by the intellectual force.
1t Is SO employed in the great organized
Observation-Disclosures. shops, works, mines
and railways. The Industrial Revolution
has been realized by the growth and
organization OF operative Knowledge. 1t
is the great function of those who have
brain-power to put knowledge, both new
and old, OF all kinds, into practice. into
operation, apply it. make 1t operative.
and reduce it to routine for the benefit
of those not so forccful
a book is either:
First. a selection of prevalent ideas
put into new form-litcraturc.
Second. "A digest of some OF the real
knowledge Of the tlme-sclence: or,
Third. One of the above with the addl-
ton of some original ideas or knowledge
OF the authors. which latter cannot extend
much beyond the general stock Of ideas
or knowledge. Books are soon out of
date, except for their style or as ma
terials of history.
Literature is largely matter of flc-
ton, style and sentiment The cultiva-
ton Of literature apart from its use in
conveying real knowledge ana kindling
the intellectual force, has proceeded far
enough. Literature should be considered
as n means and form OF expression, of
Importance secondary to the matter ex-
pressed or conveyed Style. MS used by
Herbert Spencer. is far different in value
from that employed by Charles Dickens.
SO the literary style of the historian and
the popular science writer has far more
reason for being than when employed
in relating stories of bad boys and the
adventures Of Sherlock Holmes.
The secondary Importance OF book
learning is illustrated by It's tendency to
run to the exploitation of the mere
means of expression, language and litera-
pvN1 ttn nf II
ties in the shape of fiction.
Books are most necessary to preserve
the materials OF history. The advance OF
science is provided for in the practices
of applied science. from which science is,
and can be, written up at any time.
Law is really written In the customs
of the people and practice of the courts;
religion in the moral habits and spirit
ual aspirations OF the people: and medi
cine, in the practice rather than in the
books. The torch of learning is handed
on in habit and practice rather than in
books. Even history is really embodied
in the political and social habits of the
hour although it is of very great i'm
portance that written historical records
should be in existence.
Medical and legal books are mostly
of value as convenient temporary records
of the principles and practice of those
professions. The principles grow out of
the practice and have to be restated with
the progress of the law and medicine.
Books are constantly falling out of date.
and most of them are mere lumber
rooms, not worth exploring even for ma
terials of history.
Language and the forms of expression.
changeablc as they are, are more per-
manent than most of the material of
knowledge to which they give express