< Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 58.djvu
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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY.

their sons in a way that is quite surprising to an Englishman," and adds:

A good many years ago, I spent a few evenings with some students of one of the large American colleges. I was new to America then, and heard with surprise these college youths discussing questions that arose out of the business it which their fathers were engaged. If we compare this with what generally happens when lads of our own public schools or young men at our own universities meet together—when any mention of the paternal shop would be looked on as the worst of bad form—I think perhaps there will be seen one of the reasons why Americans are fitted to control business at an earlier age than is usual in this country.

The American youth, as pointed out, obtains his business education from practical experience and social intercourse, and this form of education is held to be 'immeasurably above the mere learning of lessons which too often goes by the name of education.' Another reason for the adaptability of American youth to business is stated to be the public-school system, which is 'more truly educational, less pedagogic' In conclusion, the 'Times' correspondent says:

To me, it appears one of the most disquieting factors in the problem before us (industrial competition) that the United States have trained a body of young men who are determined to make their country great, and who have been educated to a living, practical interest in the things needful to that end.

The 'Times,' commenting editorially on these views and upon others expressed in a previous series of articles, says: "The threatened competition [of United States manufacturers] in markets hitherto our own comes from efficiency in production such as has never before been seen," and accepts the view that this efficiency is to be ascribed, to a large extent, to the practical self-education of Americans, which enables them generally to enter business 'with a stock of knowledge of which the young Englishman fresh from the university or a public school has not an inkling.' Further on the 'Times' says:

In the interesting analysis of the causes at work adverse to England, something might be said of the great intelligence and zeal put into affairs. The American man of business takes his pleasure in what he is doing, and never fails when he is traveling to look out for hints to be applied when he returns home. Not afraid to admit that he is 'in pork' or 'in grain,' if the fact be so, he is curious as to all that affects his business, and he is open to new ideas in a way which is unusual with us. 'What has succeeded in the past will not succeed in the future' is a working maxim with the best men of business, who are ready to throw their experience as well as their antiquated machinery on the scrap heap. There are some signs of a change in this respect in this country; but the idea that there is something respectable, solid and satisfactory in doing in the mill, workshop and counting house what one's father did dies hard.

The London 'Spectator' of December 29, 1900, quotes 'a competent writer' in a British trade paper as saying:

From a careful calculation, made after comparing notes with other observers,
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