The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-03-20
GREATEST IDEA
OF THE CENTURY

In 1871 young man was PAoH3
ing a paper in Shenandoah, IN the
heart of the anthracite region o.
Pennsylvania.
The large number of accidents in
which miners lost their lives aroused
the interest of the editor. He saw
what he believed to be the primary
cause-ignorance on the part OF mine
foremen of mining phenomena and
science and of the principles OF the
machinery they were required to OPP
crate.
Nine out OF ten mine foremen fall
ed to correctly answer the questions
required by a statute passed as re-
suit OF this mans agitation in an Ell
| fort to- lift the terrible menace to the
lives of the men who toiled in the
mines.
He decided to conduct column of
questions and answers, educational in
nature. The great interest aroused
led to the inception of the greatest
idea of the century-teaching by cor
respondence.
On October TO- 1891 this man,
Thomas ]. Foster, together with nine
friends, put up 100000 each and start
| ed a school of correspondence. Be-
| fore the year was ended there were
enrolled lis students. The courses
offered were arithmetic, mensuration,
ventilation, method of working and
the installation and operation of ma
chinery for the preparation of coal.
| Here at last was the real chance for
the boy, the man, who was inearnest,
yet must needs work tenor twelve
| 1, . I'd
| By the year 1895 there were 10, los
students enrolled.
New courses were added, old
courses improved. The very best men
obtainable prepared the text books.
Every avenue so long closed to the
poor boy was opened. Technical edu-
cation was at last to be had for the
payment OF small sum, within the
reach of everyone, and the grit and
determination to carry the'lessons to
conclusion.
Like magic the country seized upon
the idea. The number of students
grew and the quality of instruction
improved, until today 100000 stu
dents are earnestly working their
way to success and IFS colleges and
technical schools use the |. c. S. text
books.
The ten men that invested 100000
Is years ago would now refuse $780,
10000 each for their stock in the In
ternational Correspondence School
and the earth has not yielded enough
gold to buy from the hundreds of
thousands of boys and men who have
gained success by the |. c. S. route,
their pride in the achievement.
The International Correspondence
School is situated in Scranton, Pa.
Many millions are invested in the i'm
mense plant, covering some 20 acres.
Lately they started typewriter fac
tory that students might receive free
machine for their use. This wear
from one factory 500 autos were or
dered that their agents might the bet
ter reach prospective students and
set them on the road to success.
In the big show windows Of Ack-
leys Market on Kimball avenue the
!. G. 5. has splendid display of in
spirational character. The figure of
a young man is shown mounting the
Steps to Success, via the /. c. S. The
steps are labeled Discomfort, Desire.
Ambition, Purpose, Courage, Concen-
tration, Mastery and Success. Only
a few OF the 237 courses offered BY
the school are shown, but the whole
display fires the ambition Of the YER
lest sluggard and opens vistas of
brilliant achievement to the Young
man of character.
Z. F. Pilliard, district superingtend
ent, is responsible for the display and
by his initiative and untiring energy
is carrying the /. c. S. message into
every locality in this section.
What a wonderful reward is paid
by the world to the man with an idea
Rockefeller's millions could not begin
to buy from Mr.. Foster his share in
the making OF the |. c. S-the
Worlds Schoolhouse. In every conn
try under the sun earnest young men
are being given their opportunity and
are eagerly grasping the gift.
instruction by correspondence is no
easy road to wealth; no shortcut to
success without eXertion. The slug
gard can no more succeed by the l..
=. D way than by any other. But to
the man with courage, with determi-
natlon-what chances are his! The
student is taught to teach himself He
IS taught to use his brains-to thint
Facts are given in way that he must
make them over into part of himself
he gains power of concentration. He
gains directness and force; and in
mastering himself finds he has fitted
himself to master others-he has he.
,ome efficient in the big, busy world
where results are all that count.
Never in the history of the world
las the poor boy had such opportuni.
les. Does he want to become an
Electrical engineer? He can earn
nough to pay for course by sween.
ng out offices after regular WORKING
lourS. Any avenue is open-and surs
ess IS certain to the earnest worker
former state chemist of Idaho gain.
d all his technical education throuab
ne l. Z. Sand the u. S. govern.
lent found his work good enoTob fnr
iueie Sam, who now paws him
andsome salary. There are thors1
ndS OF such cases.
Courage to take the step-to en-.
pluck and determination FOL
nlSh the course. Taht's all tbat -