The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-03-30
Classics are Useful.

If, however, it still be urged that
the studies Of the college course
should serve useful as we'll as hui
manizing purpose, the ready answer
may be given that besides being lib
Cral, they are of use. And here we
may recall that business and the pro-
fessions do not constitute the whole
life; and that, therefore, they ought
not to be the sole measure of mans
preparedness for it. The social sphere
is a big element of life; and fitness to
move in it becomingly is the consum-
itarian character. Leisured inter
course between man and man, and
all that it implies-varied knowledge,
wide reading, carefully formed views
and the power of expressing them
this is one of the choicest boons of
life. The chief natural difference be-
tween savages and civilized men lies
not, | imagine, in the contrast be-
tween their respective methods of
settling legal difficulties or curing the
o4Nh ia SOuduCCIliS OuSIuSO0 SllJCI-
prises; but rather in the manner in
which they live in the heart of their
families and among friends. The long
hours of monotonous silence, often
observed among the Indians of North
America, was a more pointed index
of their saVageIy than their pointed
tomaEawks. And the pleasure which
cultivated gentlemen take in mani
Testing to each other their thoughts
and sentiments on topics of general
interest is a better criterion of their
civilization than buzzing factories,
law courts and doctors Offices.
Now there is no chair of CONVEX
sation nor course of social training in
a university, for the simple reason
that the art of social life is too sub
tie to be laid hold of and formally
systematized: but the study of the
best literature imperceptibly sleeps
the soul in thoughts of high and gen
eral interest to mankind. No special
lied course can do this For, a spe-
cialty by its very nature is exclusive
and narrowing; and experience shows
that specialists, who have not en-
joyed the advantage of a preparatory
general education nor made up for
the deficiency by personal effort,
either talk shop or give lectures or
else hold their tongues, when they
leave the sphere of their particular
ayocation to meet men on the com
mon footing of humanity in the larg-
er sphere of social life. In proper
ton to their advancement as special
lists, they become slaves to their
calling; and their shackled minds
are incapable of the elastic ease,
adaptabi1ity and resourcefulness of a
capable participant in cultivated COM
pany.
But while a specialized course of
study or work exclusively pursued
units the specialist for the more gen
eral activities of home and society,
the study of the humanities, besides
developing humane and social habits
Of mind, lends itself very efficiently
to any specialized career. Power is
not only an admirable thing in itself
but it is bound to produce useful re
suits; and therefore, the mental
forcefulness Of college education,
though it be acquired on purely lib
eral grounds without purpose of util-
lty, cannot but be useful; just as phys
zeal strength, developed by athletic
games merely in the spirit of sport
capacitates for work. A trained mind
will assuredIy produce better results
in any iieid Of activity than an I'M
trained mind OF the same natural
- bfIft,y