Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-28

Why do people who know whole lot
about one thing think they know every
thing about everything else?
There have been some very promi-
nent examples of this trait In the
United States, but we are not concerned
with them, but rather with the men
and women one meets every day.
Nothing Is more common than the
fellow who Is an expert at the law. for
instance, who fondly iinagines that be-
cause he does fairly we'll at his spe-
cialty he is also a radio expert.
It sounds absurd, does 1t not, when so
many capable legal light somehow
feels that such knowledge gives him a
sort OF divine information upon every
other subject under the sun.
We know a keen lawyer who knows
absolutely nothing about radio whatso-
ever, vet who firmly believes that he
IS an expert Judge Of tone quality. as
put forth by the more recent sets, as
we'll as of every other radio factor
He honestly believes that through
some mysterious gift of God and Nature
he is able to tell uncrringly all there
Is to be told about the respective merits
of the various receiving sets. although
the plain fact Is that he does not know
a Ux 1879 tube from UX 20l-A tube,
nor has he the slightest intimation as
TO which Is the condenser and which
the transformer In the set he owns.
To hear him discrss the mcttsr now
ever. the unwary listener naturally
would suppose that nc Is no less per-
son than Maj. Armstrong himself, or
DR.. Lee De Forest. at the least.
*%
rro.o ;e a eriaotiet vary conahle IN
his line, who knows next to nothing
about gardening. yet who does not hesi-
tate a second to advise real gardeners
how to grow their crops.
He will expatiate, with the most
solemn air. upon the respective merits
OF rose varieties which he could not tell
one from the other. To listen to him
explain the difference between the vari-
Gus types of hedging material would be
comlcal II 1t were not serious.
He knows more than Burbank ever
thought OF knowing, If one may Judge
from what he says and the way he says
it. Perhaps the manner of delivery OF
these oracles has more to do with u
than the actual content of their
speeches.
After all. one hears a good deal of
rot. and no one pays much attention to
haif ne nearS. anyway. Out the HloHSter
familiarity which these chaps display
Is something that cannot be overlooked.
Any one who has ever delved into
any particular brand of genuine knowl-
edge knows how far it is to the bottom
of it, and finally comes to have hum
BILE respect for oil knowledge as de-
veloped by mankind.
What the world knows is not much.
in the face of all that might be known.
but it is pretty good for creatures that
still must resort 10 plan fighting to
settle arguments.
What we know Is very little. compared
with the vast deeps of knowledge which
every man feels exist There Is so much
to know and so little time to learn it
In. yet the torch is passed from hand
10 hand. through the centuries. and
men who are capable of progression do
progress. and build upon what others
have built.
The little circle of personal knowl-
edge. however. is not very large. nor
can 1t take in great deal: the candid
| man. therefore. will hesitate before
donning the mantle OF cnn'science.
y "
The pose Of omniscience is peculiar
one
Just why so many men assume II Is