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hardihood； insight； temerity or tenacity； but wealth does not
accumulate in their hands； and it is a common saying； of them as
of the inventors； that they are not fit to conduct their own
（pecuniary） affairs； and the reminder is scarcely needed that
neither they nor their qualities are drawn into the counsels of
these governing boards。 The wealth and the serviceable results
that come of the endeavours of these enterprising and temerarious
Americans habitually inure to the benefit of such of their
compatriots as are endowed with a 〃safe and sane〃 spirit of
〃watchful waiting；〃 of caution； collusion and chicane。 There
is a homely but well…accepted American colloquialism which says
that 〃The silent hog eats the swill。〃
As elsewhere； but in a higher degree and a more cogent sense
than elsewhere； success in business affairs； in such measure as
to command the requisite deference； comes only by getting
something for nothing。 And； baring accidents and within the
law； it is only the waiting game and the defensive tactics that
will bring gains of that kind； unless it be strategy of the
nature of finesse and chicane。 Now it happens that American
conditions during the past one hundred years have been peculiarly
favourable to the patient and circumspect man who will rather
wait than work； and it is also during these hundred years that
the current traditions and standards of business conduct and of
businesslike talent have taken shape and been incorporated in the
community's common sense。 America has been a land of free and
abounding resources； which is to say； when converted into terms
of economic theory； that it is the land of the unearned
increment。 In all directions； wherever enterprise and industry
have gone； the opportunity was wide and large for such as had the
patience or astuteness to place themselves in the way of this
multifarious flow of the unearned increment； and were endowed
with the retentive grasp。 Putting aside the illusions of public
spirit and diligent serviceability； sedulously cultivated by the
apologists of business； it will readily be seen that the great
mass of reputably large fortunes in this country are of such an
origin； nor will it cost anything beyond a similar lesion to the
affections to confirm the view that such is the origin and line
of derivation of the American propertied business community and
its canons of right and honest living。
It is a common saying that the modern taste has been unduly
commercialized by the unremitting attention necessarily given to
matters of price and of profit and loss in an industrial
community organized on business principles； that pecuniary
standards of excellence are habitually accepted and applied with
undue freedom and finality。 But what is scarcely appreciated at
its full value is the fact that these pecuniary standards of
merit and efficiency are habitually applied to men as well as to
things； and with little less freedom and finality。 The man who
applies himself undeviatingly to pecuniary affairs with a view to
his own gain； and who is habitually and cautiously alert to the
main chance； is not only esteemed for and in respect of his
pecuniary success； but he is also habitually rated high at large；
as a particularly wise and sane person。 He is deferred to as
being wise and sane not only in pecuniary matters but also in any
other matters on which he may express an opinion。
A very few generations ago； be fore the present pecuniary era
of civilization had made such headway； and before the common man
in these civilized communities had lost the fear of God； the like
wide…sweeping and obsequious veneration and deference was given
to the clergy and their opinions； for the churchmen were then； in
the popular apprehension； proficient in all those matters that
were of most substantial interest to the common man of that time。
Indeed； the salvation of men's souls was then a matter of as
grave and untiring solicitude as their commercial solvency has
now become。 And the trained efficiency of the successful
clergyman of that time for the conduct of spiritual and
ecclesiastical affairs lent him a prestige with his fellow men
such as to give his opinions； decisions and preconceptions great
and unquestioned weight in temporal matters as well； he was then
accepted as the type of wise； sane and benevolent humanity； in
his own esteem as well as in the esteem of his fellows。 In like
manner also； in other times and under other cultural conditions
the fighting…man has held the first place in men's esteem and has
been deferred to in matters that concerned his trade and in
matters that did not。
Now； in that hard and fast body of aphoristic wisdom that
commands the faith of the business community there is comprised
the conviction that learning is of no use in business。 This
conviction is； further； backed up and coloured with the tenet；
held somewhat doubtfully； but also； and therefore； somewhat
doggedly； by the common run of businessmen； that what is of no
use in business is not worth while。 More than one of the greater
businessmen have spoken； advisedly and with emphasis； to the
effect that the higher learning is rather a hindrance than a help
to any aspirant for business success；（4*） more particularly to
any man whose lot is cast in the field of business enterprise of
a middling scale and commonplace circumstances。 And notoriously；
the like view of the matter prevails throughout the business
community at large。 What these men are likely to have in mind in
passing this verdict； as shown by various expressions on this
head； is not so much the higher learning in the proper sense； but
rather that slight preliminary modicum that is to be found
embodied in the curriculum of the colleges； for the common run
of businessmen are not sufficiently conversant with these matters
to know the difference； or that there is a difference； between
the college and the university。 They are busy with other things。
It is true； men whose construction of the facts is coloured
by their wish to commend the schools to the good will of the
business community profess to find ground for the belief that
university training； or rather the training of the undergraduate
school； gives added fitness for a business career； particularly
for the larger business enterprise。 But they commonly speak
apologetically and offer extenuating considerations； such as
virtually to concede the case； at the same time that they are
very prone to evade the issue by dwelling on accessory and
subsidiary