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Show V-;. ZZZZZiZZZZZZZZZZZS Hie relative paucity of skilled artisans, '..' adopting as their life's vocation a particu- TllC nr ',nnd'craft offering possibilities of pro- ,' " motion as foremen or superintendents, - . ApprGH" stands in strong relief against tho large jm . number of highly trained youths turned , UCC out every year by American technical in- - System slitutes- j . J As regards the latter feature, the V ,. steady addition to the ranks of graduates j! By JOHN S. 110D0S0N, in applied science evidences a satisfactory j - Cl'" jt'""' recognition of tho necessity of comprehen- EZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZI sivc specialization to use an apparent con- j ' traduction in terms. On the other hand, I the growing disinclination to serve a long term of apprenticeship, witli J the naturally resulting disposition to abandon n trade imperfectly ac- 1 quired by other methods, suggests u disappointing survival of "the vul- J gar conceit," deprecated by l'resident Eliot of Harvard in his inaugural j address nearly -10 yearn ago, "that a Yankee can turn his hand to any- I I thing." j It would bo. idle, however, to regard this as the sole or even as j the principal factor in the decay of a system under which vast armies j of skilled and" 'craftproud" workmen were formerly recruited. It will tend to assist in the search for remedial measures if it be J remembered that the same breakdown of the apprentice system, though in a minor degree, is to bo recorded of European countries. In Great Britain, excellent results havo been achieved in the past from systematic system-atic study in night schools. Much of their success has been due to the hand-in-hand character of evening study and daily work the. latter bringing home to tho average mind the advantages, if not the absolute necessity, of what is furnished by the former. ' In conclusion, it may be doubted whether the full benefit derivable from improved methods of industrial training, however admirable in ! themselves, can be secured through their exclusive application to the class now filling the ranks of manual labor. A reversion to the old belief in "the dignity of labor," taking practical form in diverting to the lathe or the bench a share of tho present rush to the roll-top desk, is a condition well worthy of united effort in a -country showing many j , signs of drifting away from the lofty frutf. fifrffy4rO) ideals of its founders. |