The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1914-03-20

To England goes the credit Of founding
the public schools. They we're started
by Horace Mann, and have been in
progress onward and upward ever since.
He believed in some Of the Latin and
Greek, thesmythoIogy and metaphysics
Of the universities, but more time should
be given for practical training, the vo-
cational work-the things that teach us
how to make a living. There is just as
much culture in farming and manual
training as there is in mythology and
metaphysics, and the time is not far
when practical training will bs given
more attention. We are going to see
the best schools of the world preparing
men and women as practical and USE
ful citizens, where boys and girls learn
how to use their hands. He told the
story Of four boys employed to do Office
work. Two were selected from the high
schools and two from the university.
The university boys would sit about and
plan for the chiefs. The high-school
boys went to work with practical things
and the Harvard boys had 10 go; they
we're not needed. One OF the mistakes
| in education is the habit Of getting in a
hurry-in hurry for the child to be-
I gin, in hurry to pass the grades, and
lin a hurry to get through university.
All John needs Is good high-school
course. That Is the reason why there
is SO much room at the top. So few
properly qualify themselves. They fail
because they do not want to succeed,
and then he referred to the young man
who gave his time to thorough prepara-
ton in both American and foreign uni
yersities, and when he had finished be
was prepared 70 enter special fields Of
far more remuneration than those of
the student who hurried through school,
Instead of few high schools Eve
months oi the year we should have.
high schools everywhere niue months
of the year.
The speaker spoke Of Cecil Rhodes
and the magnificent country be gave
70 England--a pity that be could not
live to see the result OF bis work. The
great man remarked when death was
near, 80 much to do and SO little
DONE" Cecil Rhodes was one Of the
worlds greatest civil engineers and in
dustrial giants, planting through Africa
one Of the greatest modern railroad sys-
TENS, It should be the ambition Of |
every father to prepare bis son and
every boy to prepare himself for the
work of lifetime. TO lay before him
the plans that will require lifetime to
accomplish. 1t is better to make the
effort Of a lifetime and fail than to 70
through life without purpose.
+. j. Smith, one Of our attorneys,
was the next speaker. His subject was
The Nations Greatest Asset, and it
was an essay Of the highest conception,
with fervor and eloquence in
language chaste and beautiful.
Come and 60 with me and let's look
iown into the real, active arena Of life
ind face some OF its realities and see If
Te can learn lesson from them. III
rave seen the vile, loathsome serpent
il lust strike down the fragrant, youth
ul flower Of virtue and steep the dread
lager Of agony and grief into moth
'r's true and tender heart. And me-
bought for sure the great God Of Ven
,eance would destroy him for his sin,
yet. There were some who
ven accounted him a hero. God pity Il
heir conception, base rs il is. But
THAT about tile sweet young girl who is
ust blossoming into the fragrant flower {
1 womanhood2 All the gold that gilt j
ers beneath heavens blue vault cannot i
tone and answer for that girls fair |
anne Ia the bloom Of youth her life |
as been blighted, her star Of hope has ]
allen, never to rise. Pride abashed and I
lasted is withered and dead. Ambition, i
leary Of her abode, has at last taken 1
er flight. Her honor. famisbed and /
orlorns Yields 70 dishonor Fer only ]
oIace' her only comfort, IS the finger q
| scorn, the flush of shame. And thus /
will be to her eternity. lp
Again, Oh the same stage Of life ! Il
Nv young manhood, bouyant and glow Il
,g with youth and rejoicing in bis d
va strength. On his countenance d
as stamped the image 81 his Ii
laker, for man was created ii the T
mage Of God. And then--I saw the Il
y demon u balI, with shs iIrss and !