The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-03-03
FAMOUS GEMS OF PROSE
THE GREAT SCHOOLS OF THE WORLD.
BY John p. Jones.

From a speech IN the Unite States Senate. September TO- 1890.
The great schools Of the world are n longer those in which II dead
languages are taught They are the mechanical workshops in which young
mn learn to build Corhss engines, Waitham watches, dynamos and tn long
list O. other marvellous machines that bt herald thu approach of greater
marves. The professors Of the nw philosophy are 10 those who despiss
industry;t they are the chienains Of industry
This is tn stone which vas set at naught of you builder. which IL
become he head o. the orner
These are The schools-the true "universnies"-that a nation needs. h
instruction which they impart has all the accuracy of mathematics. all the
OF rhetoric all the rhythm of poetry The implements OF thought are
not orosb but n tools OF abor h processe Of analysis and synthehs arc
taught b. real, lot mimi objectl lessons. The constructive faculty is exercised
where it should De exerGsed-in instruction The Imagination IA free play
in thu realm OF invention and experiment The reasoning powers are dMai-
phned % an extent unknown to thu logicians. In tn making of al argument
men may err without election; in h making IF a watch or a window sash
they M d So. @#4
Men may AXE risks in TIL employment IF a pronssorof benes-leures:
they will tax none in the employment Of a n engineer. The unframed head
d o n harm;t the unskfned hand may prove destructive. The workshop 10
the academia Of the new philosophy. 1t list he fountain of thought from which
o. the stream Of invention is TO enrich M fructfyt III world.
Who car prophecy thu ultimate result O Ns work? Who would limit the bounty
which it must onfe on mankind?
The conquest of forest n field h civilization Of mar. vas achhved
not ~ literature but b. labor; not by tn wise say Of othsayers LII
deductions. of moraMsts, the eloquence of orators, Of HI rhymes If those who
"yoked rich words together" A hAf dozen simple tools tell h story Of the
evolved all thu intricate contrivances that o constitute h extended para
|phernaia OF he workshop. Whoever invented a new device and added ii to
the common stock "a tn true civihzer If 1T be a benefacton to mankind
to two blades II grass to grow where before but M had grown 1t -
Those h laud the graces of poetry n h charms Of rhetoacw willie
well to remember that a machine which I'M with rhythmic beauty and ire
|hstape power is more awe-nspring, more eloquent more noble, mi Infinitely
more instructive n valuable to mankind tina n poem ever Inscribed The
power loom. the innd Jenny, III sewing machine III cape thu steam
engine. have done more to deliver hi world from barbarism-to cothe. Is
reed N to elevate n RAJ morally, Intellectually and physically than All
engine is al Had, the locomotive anthem. the sewing machin al idl the
reaper a eclogue. These are HI greatest achievements of mantle richest
n rpest of fruits of his culture n genius. M
omt Arou no ines .hese VII he hiosophe n htterateurs of the future adniHnsly
custer. In their praise will the muses. sing, thu poets indte, the seers foreteN.
m comparison with their deeds, 10Y Insignificant tn feats of Hector and
Ajax 10 repulsdve thu exploits Of Alexander and Caesar!