St. Paul tidende. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1902-1928, 1912-04-05

ltion among human beings: Nc
silent letter can take itsss place.
The spirit lives, the mind acts
through the word, and carries
truth and hope from mind to
mind. It gives life and receives
life. Thus, the folk high shoots
are founded upon the living word.
Although Grundtvig himself
had received a thorough academic
Theological training he saw
clearly the needs of the children
OF the soil. He had spent his
first youth among them. He saw,
as we see it today, an ever-widen-
ing circle Of learning not shared
Thy the greater part of the people.
He saw, as we see it today, that
the greater part OF the people
must of necessity fall back upon
their own resources for their
daily mental enlightenment. He
saw, as we now see it, a hundred
years after, that classical and
education neglects that
creative period of the spirit which
|sets the mind fermenting with
indefinite hope and longing and
Graves what we came to name in
Danish, light over daily life.
Thus Grundtvig planned that
school life which since made
Denmark famous among nations +:
A school free from stereotyped
texts, examinations, vocational
training; a school that saw its
final purpose in directing the
|young toward a high and noble
life. Nothing more.
One of Our contemporary
fauthors defines art as the use
of beauty for the purpose of
truth and love. We have seen the
Danish folk high schools gain
some of this glorious ideal.
I shall be asked how this is
attained.
You may have observed that l
attempt to characterize the
Danish folk high schools more
as a form of school life than as
a school. I do this for the
reason that they are founded
upon, and directed toward, an
awakening. We see this awaken
ing not as a matured intelligence
unfolding itself, but as a poetical
and historical tuning of the mind.
1t is impressed upon the young
that a blade of grass is as. per-
feet a structure as a skyscraper.
We want them to- conceive the
native beaty-of our Indian corn,
our goldenrod, Our prairie
grasses. We attempt to open
their eyes to the fact that each
one is born with all the %possibil-
tiles of a useful and happy life
directly in his path if he chooses
10 follow it. By believing in the
historical continuity Of. his
country and his people he shall
leone to believe in himself,
Every inch he gains for. himself
is. gained for his home, for his
country. The fields they till, the
crop that grows under their
hands, are expressive Of a per.
sonal growth, in the young, 4
faith and a hope. Every time
their souls thrill with a master
effort, the colors of their flag
shall grow brighter. They must
feel their own value, count in
their own estimation, no matter
how lowly the lofty cosmopolitan
observer may deem their work
They must find their persona
historical connection with Their
people by listening to thei1
mother-tongue and bylearning it,
use as one learns the use at {
new musical instrument. The
teacher, through the living word
shall confront them with thu
great historical characters. tina
express the hopes and deeds o
their people. Then, when thei
ears are opened, their heart
moved, their wills directed, i
may be foreseen that the youns
linen and women that chare il
this school life, may make sucl
a use of life that it's beauty will