Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-18
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
az DR.. ANDREW NJ SOULE

that the business depression through
which we are now passing was due
mainly to a lack Of confidence in
the future. When trade and in
dustry evidenced the least tendency
to contract our personal fortitude
was shaken out of all proportions
to the underlying causes responsible
for the development of this sltua-
ton. Our business courage and acu-
men failed us. We became afraid
of the other fellow and he became
afraid of us, and presently that
splendid superstructure of credit
which we had erected at so much
labor and cost was shaken to It's
very foundation.
1t has always been my firm con
viction that our troubles were prl-
marily psychological, the surrender,
if you please, of the spiritual for the
material. Let US cast them behind
us as we would the spell of an evil
genius, and look forward with happy
anticipation to the dawning Of the
new day of prosperity which lies
Just ahead and which it is to be our
privilege and pleasure to help re-
establish in the world.
1t is a wonderful thing to have
passed through the vorteX O. cV-
clone and come out alive. I'VE are
appalled, when we witness the com
plete destruction which q storm OF
this character leaves in its wake.
The territory it traverses brings
vivid pictures to the mind of mo
mans land and that literal hell on
earth which the brutal ferocity OF
Hinderberg's fury conjured up IN
northern France. 1t seems inevitable
that anything cam survive the stress
of such mighty physical forces at
the height of their fury, yet there
are those who have passed through
the heart of such great storms ana
come out uninjured. Similarly the
world as whole has passed through
the vortex of cyclone OF human
hate and ferocity that took five years
to exhaust itself. 1t is indeed re-
markable that it has come out Of 1T
in such relatively good condition.
In view of all that has transpired
we should be thankful that we are
alive, reasonably prosperous, and IN
possession of our faculties and with
enough intelligence at our command
to understand and interpret in a
degree many OF the
things which have happened. In
preparing for a great contest and
then passing through the stress of
it our physical and mental prowess
is raised to a superlative degree. We
are expanding for the moment, may
be, resources which we have been
for many years. We
are giving possibly something out of
our future lives, as it were, to the
issue of the moment. After the
period of trial has passed and the
tumult of the combat has subsidized
there is naturally reaction of more
or less intensity. We are passing
though this phase of the reconstruc-
ton era at this particular time. We
could not escape it. q Let us make
the best of it. The climax has been
reached and safely passed. The
future is as clay in the hands of
the potters and we can make out Of
Il anything we wish.
We are therefore, faced by the
necessity of catching up again, of
regaining our mental equilibrium,
our national poise, our self-assur-
ance, our determination to meet and
overcome all obstacles. 1t will take
time to do this. 1t is but natural
that it should. We should not be
impatient, therefore, or distressed
because, relatively speaking, we ap-
pear to be making progress at such
a snaiPs pace. Previous to the
World war there was not an econom-
list who believed that $3.50, 000,-
100000 worth of wealth slowly accu-
mulated could be burned up and de-
stroyed within period of five years
without causing universal bank
ruptcy and the absolute destruction
of credit, trade and Industry, as be-
tween the nations Of the world. 1t
is surprising, in view Of the cata-
cylsnic forces which have swept
over us, that our business interests
have withstood the shock so well
and are now in position to go for