New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-30
The Iitney Philosophers; or Nickel PlatOnism
Z. On Know ledge

o.aSkt
bere am not to be your destination cannot matter to
=. for am DESTROYS of gaining wisdom from you. Nor
& Il otherwhore to be obtained.
Soc-And so. Sympademus, if you had your wish, |
should not proceed farther?
That would be my desire Socrates.
Adozen eggs are twelve eggs are they not?
You phrase it accurately. Socrates.
And two dozen eggs are twenty-four eggs?
ASsurcdly.
And two dozen hours are twenty-four hours
You utter much, Socrates, there.
Do or do not twenty-four hours compose day?
They do Socrates, they do
Well then if devoted hour to you, and that aug
rened your wisdom how wise would it make YOU if de-
voted two hours to you?
I should gain twice the wisdom
And i'm twenty -four hours?
Twenty four times.
But if devoted twenty -four hours to YOU who else IN
The world would gain wsdom-if you wellsa wisdom
is not othcrwhere to be obtained?
Nobody.
Then YOU and l. Sympademus would share all the Wis
dom there is i'm the world Is wisdomor its step-siser
knouedge-useful or desirable for its possession alone
No more than money if it could not purchase anything
would be.
And is knowledge useful existent unless it be
disseminated?
That | cannot answer.
Shall answer it for you in an apologize myth or shall
ARGUE the question?
Slip me the myth, said Sympademus.
Once upon a time there a man who had spent MS
budding blooming years in studies Of various KINDS
and his particular and passionate interest was the study OF
the caesura in alcaic verses. He had not learned ne
thought all there was to be known Of his subject so he
was ourneyng to the university library to study But he
had come from far city, and the location of the library
WAS not known TO him. SO he said TO guard the sub
wav Where ought to detrain for the university library
At 10th Street said the guard. Now Sympademus, which,
in YOUR opinion takes pains and ability to acquire
the students knowledge relating to the caesura IN alcac
verses or the subway guards knowledge that the station
At 18th Street is in close proximity to the university
library?
Surely the knowledge about the
R n the man who has the knowledge about the
does naught with but add to It, while the man who knows
that the university library the 10th Street station
constantly is disseminating that information, which, DO
Won saw is the more useful? Would you not the sub
way guard?
Indeed, Socrates.
Then NAV we not assume, SynpademuS that wisdom
and knowledge are not wisdom and knowledge until they
are disseminated and spread and that in proportion as they
are scattered so is their usefulness to be determined? And
that in proportion as they withheld, So also is their
uselessness adjudicated?
You said scrollful Socrates
Then Svnpademus, / shall be on my way; for | have
other matters to discuss with Alcbiades HAPPY shall
meet with YOU again.
One cnes to Mr. Frank vanderlips Characterization Of
4 nation economic ierates We suppose We, for
one arc 50 erate economically that guess be good
But nation of music and art erates surely we Know
What We like and VIII like is pretty darned poor
Ever the first announce glad dngs, The Coming Tower
ev hereby the that February Old Jay Darling
lov in tho brs world Ding of the Des Mones Reg
sr is coming York to draw cartoons Tor your Favorte
Newspaper
Mr. Thomas W Lawson says postal card addressed IT W.
BOSTON would reach him. but rather doubt it. In pencil
our cues is would be written card "Try Coming Tower
y y. Tribune"