Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-28
Timely Views
EFFICIENCY in USE on LEISURE URGED

EFFICIENCY IN USE OF LEISURE URGED
Director Of the U. S. GeoIogican Survey Department.
George Otis Smith was born at HOdgdOn, Maine.
in 1871. He attended various universities in the
United States and after completing his studies be-
came engaged in geological work in Michigan.
Utah. Washington and other parts Of the country.
DR.. Smith became associated as assistant geologist
with the u. S. geological survey department in
1896. He has been director of the organization
since 1907.
Industry everywhere In our land has been speeded
up, not because the workers Of this generation possess
greater skill than their fathers, or work longer hours,
or apply themselves more faithfully 70 their jobs-in
our serious moments we could hardly claim those in
dustrial virtues for this day and generation. Rather
We know the reason to be that we are making a larger
use Of power in the mine, in the shop. on the farm,
and even in the home. In these 20 years alone the
power equipment of the United States, not including
pleasure automobiles, has more than doubled. In our
homes, too. we have seen the change, for in 1908, when
I referred to the increasing use Of electricity, only
one family in 10 in the United States lived in electrical
ly lighted homes; now IL is two families out Of three.
As the higher standard Of living is being provided
at less cost in man-hours than ever before, il would
seem logical that a wider distribution of leisure must
follow, even leisure for the masses-not leisure Of the
unemployment variety, but leisure after the days
work. And here enters a Twentieth century problem
Of the first order Of magnitude: What is the American
worker to do with his leisure? How to spend leisure
wisely will be a very practical question when the six
hour day and the five-day week is made possible by a
maximum efficiency in the use Of those 80 hours. In
deed, with a 40hour week in some trad the leisure
problem is already upon US.
As IL is efficiency in our work that has brought
leisure into the picture. IL is natural To suggest that
some degree Of efficiencys would be desirable in the
use of our leisure hour. The pursuit of excellence and
the exercise of skill are practical ideals in every phase
Of our living, whether we work or play. About all that
can be said of some Of our so-called recreations Is
that they serve to kill time. The question when and
under what circumstances a private citizen Is justified
in committing time-slaughter may call for an opinion
from some high court.
In the rapid times what our country requires is not
simply education that teaches how 10 make q living,
but also education that teaches how to live. Too
many men whom the world counts successful have dis
covered too late that it i not enough to possess the
wherewithal to live. IL they do not know how to live.
Contrast with the poverty-stricken men of this type
the truly rich men who know how to fill 10 overflow
ing even their leisure hours.
Thus, education for leisure is an outstanding need
Of the present age. for to uneducsted leisure many a
civilization has o~ed its 6PwnfalL