The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-05-19

on % higher school OF tho same
nature. he won q place nbQve the
son OF me richest man 10 the school
AZ 2i he WIS "a Rome az the OK
pcnse Of tlN statu still-And Va n
contest IN sculplnring was given
third place. AT % he won second
place aud a, rs be won the medal
II Paris The1-l mi tead d throw
ing him TO- the asii hear he wsssre-
tanned by the spyefn1 ent 70 make
beautiful things. unit he was able
to make his own way IN the world
unhtndered.
It Is Americas Job IN the interest,"
OF democracy, to and establ ish
machinery which shall select and
train her exceptional talent II
should be impressed upon the peo-
pie the necessity Of preserving en-!
couraging and giving opportunity
Interrogation to talent where Il IL
found. II We used for education
the money for instance. we spend
on roads alone in this country
what could We not do for thts ma
ltion?
Mr.. Hamerschlag's talk was not
long but 1t made a profound linz
preston on the minds Of those pres;
emit last evening. At its close he
asked for questions and discussion.
There was a silenee-the silence
OF an audience who stops to think
NJ. O: Tough then arose to his feet
and remarked: &
"Mr. Hamerschlag, do l under
stand that you are eearching out
young people for your instituted
Now we lave little child only four
years old who sings at the Kiwants
club in such a very sweet way Do
you think we should do anything
with that child's talent now?o
I'm answer to the first half Of
your question l am under proper
conditions and at the right time.
Send any child to me at the right
age with ability and will do my
best for her or him. This child
should be developed mentally and
physically for the present. and later
you should never be satisfied with
merely the pleasure OF the little
ones performances. The child
should be sent for special training
to the best instructors In the coun-
try"
Mrs, Kemble White spoke next:
"Mr. HamerschlRg, I should like
to ask who shall be the Judge Of
talent or genius? Every mother
thinks her child is a genius!"
Take five parents and get this
group opinion. That will settle the
matter beyond doubt" many smiles
were evident).
I'VE must have mass intelligence
to make this selecting of talent
possible, Mass intelligence which
shall select leaders who shall do
the choosing. Teachers should be
capable Of doing 1t through person.
al selection. 1t could not be done
through examinations"
Then 1t was that DR.. Hamerschlag
spoke OF Henry Ford and how he
had been proven an ignoramus or
the subject Of history during GER
tain examination. He said Henry
Ford could very likely have made
the lawyers who examined him feel
Just as small had he asked them
certain questions Of another nature.
The recent questions published
everywhere which Thomas Edison
submitted to employees Of his East
Orange factory camo in for some
amusing comment.
"'What is prunes? What Is T. N.
T.? Give the capital o..
Bound Ohio Such questions can't
determine ones real ability" con-
tinued Hamerschlag.
"Now l was asked to comment on
these questions. AS n final fling l
should like to put the following
question to Mr.. Edison himself:
Who put the cotton in Eli Whit
neys gin?'
In these prohibition times this is
certainly a pertinent question. !"
(Chuckles from the audence.)
"But, Mr.. Hamerschlag,' contin-
ued a persistent mother, following
the lecture. How can you leays
the selection OF genius to the teach
ers when politics In most cases has
selected them? Teachers too are
not always fair. Won't they inyar.
riaply select the fluent child, the