18 HOW ARE YOU EDUCATED?

Can you look out on the world and see anything except dollars and cents?

"Can you look into a mud puddle by the wayside and see a clear sky?

"Can you see anything in the puddle but mud? Can you look into the sky at night and see beyond the stars?

Cut out this editorial and pin it up before your study lamp. Look at it often, read the above questions and ponder over them. There is a world of philosophy and of serious thinking connected with every question that this professor asked. Can you say "yes" to any or all of the questions? Take another look at the last five questions. How about the next to the last one? "Do you see anything to love in little children?" Can you look an honest man or a pure woman in the eye?" "Are you good for anything yourself," especially for anything that is brotherly or sisterly? How are you educated?

66

CUTTING DOWN CHERRY TREES

"By the way, George," said the father of the father of his country one time, as he scrutinized the ruin of his favorite fruit tree, "who did this job of chopping?"

"Father," answered George, "I cannot tell a lie. I did it with my little hatchet."

If we only had more cherry trees and log cabins in this land of the free, we might have more presidents than we could crowd into the White House, without doubling up the terms of office. We nearly forgot to write an editorial on cherry trees, and we absolutely neglected to pay our respects to the subject of log cabins a week ago, so we hope to combine the two here.

Who knows but that George thought he would add to his reputation as an industrious son when he told his father the truth in regard to the cherry tree episode. "Woodman, spare that tree" had not been written at that time. How was George to know that cutting down the tree that grew bright red cherries would irritate his fond parent? Because George told the truth once, can we conclude that he would not have denied pulling the cat's tail, or throwing stones at the geese in order to hear them squawk?

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CUTTING DOWN CHERRY TREES

Because Abraham Lincoln was lucky enough to be born in a log cabin, we conclude that log cabins are the proper things for cradling presidential ambitions. It wasn't on account of farsightedness on the part of the parents that they didn't build a bungalow or an office building. It was just one incident similar in point of chance to the cherry-tree affair.

Why urge children to tell the truth every time they cut down a cherry tree? Why tell us that we might have a chance to succeed Woodrow Wilson when the stock of habitable log cabins is unfortunately limited? It is rather discouraging.

We cut down a dogwood sapling one time and carried it about two miles, under the impression that it was sassafras. We admitted freely that we had done the chopping, under the impression that it was a commendable exertion. When we discovered our mistake, we wished we had almost blamed the matter on a recent storm or an earthquake.

Let's make believe that everything in this world that we do is a cherry tree, and that all things that are within our scope of knowledge are log cabins. Let's tell the truth about all our cutting-downs, and let's make believe we were born in log cabins. Then let's follow the examples of George and Abe until we get to some White House.

SEVEN YEARS TOO LATE

Seven years, my lord, have now passed since I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulsed from your door; during which time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it at last to the verge of publication, without one act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favor."

This extract from a letter written by Dr. Samuel Johnson to Lord Chesterfield tells a story. Dr. Johnson, when he was comparatively unknown, sought Lord Chesterfield's assistance. When the dictionary was practically completed, when Dr. Johnson had little need of such patronage, Lord Chesterfield expressed a willingness to act as patron. The encouragement had been so long delayed that Dr. Johnson was indifferent and cared nothing for it.

The same story could be written today, with changed details, concerning many who are struggling for places. Praise, glory, and riches crown the man atop the ladder of fame, but below the select few there is little encouragement.

The football player plods along through hours

22

SEVEN YEARS TOO LATE

of hard practice until he, through some chance of necessity, perhaps, is called upon to go into a game. He scores. He is hailed at once as a great player. Cheers for the winner, jeers for the less capable, which in many cases means the less fortunate.

So is it in every profession, in every branch of work. The struggling young actor, lawyer, physician, writer,— all varieties and classes of the unknown,— more usually rise above the surface before encouragement is given. Then it is frequently unneeded.

What did Dr. Johnson need of encouragement after he had succeeded? Is it anything to cause wonder that he was indifferent? But what greater deeds could he have accomplished if encouragement and assistance had been tendered seven years before. Give to the successful the praise that is their due, but, better far, give to him or her who needs, by some word or act, a little of encouragement.