The Llano colonist. [volume] (Llano, Calif.) 191?-1937, 1922-05-27

Pickett at the psychological meeting on
May Is at the Colony. What influence
environment and training has upon
character-building can best be illustrate
ed by quotation from story con
tanned in last weeks issue of the Ma
ton, published in New York. Mrs.
Beulah Amiden Ratliff has written up
the state Of Mississippi, and describ-
ed the backward condition in which the
plantation negroes are held; she points
out the difference that education can
achieve. She says:
One Of my cooks was an interest
ling example of the difference between
fleld negroes" and town negroes.
Effie had been born on plantation.
but at the age of six she was taken to
Vicksburg by the daughter of the plan
ter for whom her mother worked, and
brought up as playmate of a white
girl This meant that she was kept
seasonably and neatly dressed, shared
the meals Of her little charge, play
! ed with the same toys, learned to read
and write at the same time, had atten-
ton paid to her speech and manners.
and tor ten years was exposed to all
the influences of a refined and pleas
ant home. | sometimes saw Effie's
mother and sisters when they trudged
in from the country, typical, dull, awk-
ward, ugly, slovenly field negroes. But
Effie was Immaculate in her person and
clothing, dainty and attractive in ap-
pearance and carriage. intelligent, cour-
teous, able to read simple books. $ s. =
The difference in environment and
training made Effie seem of another
race from her 'cornfieId relations.
Darwin tells US that ell through the
history of evolution THE FITTEST
SURVIVE. TIE question arises, WHO
IS THE FTTEST? Is it not the animal
plant, or man, which has developed its
or his latent faculties. capacities and
powers to the highest degree? Among
animals, even, it is not always the
greater physical strength that counts,
but cunning and sagacity. which are
characteristics of animal consciousness.
They are the forerunners of reason,
understanding, SEMITIC planning and
accurate decision in man. Mental, Volt
tloal and moral superiority have won
for man the supremacy over all other
creatures. The degree and character
of a mans knowledge will determine |
his station in the world.
Environment, as illustrated in the
story of the little negro girl, is almost
overwhelming in the formative period
OF childhood. But, nevertheless, man
has within him the power TO overcome
the handicaps of early training and en-
vlronment and by use of his voluntary
functions, capacities and powers, can
compel natural forces to serve him in
countless ways. If not exercised his
faculties will in course Of time become
oenumbed and paralyzed. Another in
stance may be cited:
Here are two brothers born of poo
parents. The one is ambitious, indie
pendent, aspiring. determined, and ear
y in life strikes out for himself. He
lrifts westward aand makes fortune.
lis brother is bashful, retiring, and
earfuI, He is dominated not only by
his impulses, appetites and fears, but
also by minds that are more positive
han his own. His rational faculties
IRE held in allegiance by his emotional
md passional nature. The result is
allure in almost everything he under
axes, misery and unhappiness. What
determines the difference in the con- Z
Lltlon of these two men9 1t is not pri- I
narily a mental difference A result
4 use or non-use, of proper or an j
improper exercise of their capacities t
nd faculties2"
Use always develops faculties and 9
18th proper instructions and right eff E
orts past errors may be discarded and t
Etlclency developed. n
An ideal has induced the members of '
lano Colony to gather here in Louisia- p
A, said Comrade Pickett. They have i
demonstrated the practically of all +
,ound cooperation and during the h
asst few weeks liberal offers have j
zen made for establishing four more u
'lonies; but we have not the leaders. {.
or trained workers to entrust them 7
it'll the administration of such colon E,
$. He impressed earnestly upon +.
ose present to qualify themselves for n
aces of responsibility in the expand II
g cooperative movement. m
In the last copy of the Dearborn In m
pendent, Henry Ford says: THE "a
orld has not been left in the dark, de- d
ndent on its own discoveries of the 81