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much in commendation of practical education； need be greatly
moved by selfish consideration of this increased ease in
procuring skilled labour for use in their own pursuit of gain；
but the increased and cheaper supply of such skilled workmen is
〃good for business；〃 and； in the common sense estimation of these
conservative businessmen； what is good for business is good；
without reservation。 What is good for business is felt to be
serviceable for the common good； and no closer scrutiny is
commonly given to that matter。 While any closer scrutiny would
doubtless throw serious doubt on this general proposition； such
scrutiny can not but be distasteful to the successful
businessmen； since it would unavoidably also throw a shadow of
doubt on the meritoriousness of that business traffic in which
they have achieved their success and to which they owe their
preferential standing in the community。
In this high rating of things practical the captains of
industry are also substantially at one with the current
common…sense award of the vulgar； so that their advocacy of
practical education carries the weight of a self…evident
principle。 It is true； in the long run and on sober reflection
the award of civilized common sense runs to the effect that
knowledge is more to be desired than things of price； but at the
same time the superficial and transient workday sense of daily
needs the 〃snap judgment〃 of the vulgar driven by the hard
usage of competitive bread…winning； says that a gainful
occupation is the first requisite of human life； and accepting it
without much question as the first requisite； the vulgar allow it
uncritically to stand as the chief or sole and that is worth an
effort。 And in so doing they are not so far out of their
bearings； for to the common man； under the competitive system；
there is but a scant margin of energy or interest left over and
disposable for other ends after the instant needs of
bread…winning have been met。
Proficiency and single…mindedness in the pursuit of private
gain is something that can readily be appreciated by all men who
have had the usual training given by the modern system of
competitive gain and competitive spending。 Nothing is so
instantly recognized as being of great urgency； always and
everywhere； under this modern； pecuniary scheme of things。 So
that； without reflection and as a matter of course； the first and
gravest question of any general bearing in any connection has
come to be that classic of worldly wisdom： What profiteth it a
man？ and the answer is； just as uncritically； sought in terms of
pecuniary gain。 And the men to whom has been entrusted the
custody of that cultural heritage of mankind that can not be
bought with a price； make haste to play up to this snap judgment
of the vulgar； and so keep them from calling to mind； on second
thought； what it is that they； after all； value more highly than
the means of competitive spending。
Concomitant with this growing insistence on vocational
training in the schools； and with this restless endeavour of the
academic authorities to gratify the demand； there has also come
an increasing habitual inclination of the same uncritical
character among academic men to value all academic work in terms
of livelihood or of earning capacity。（3*） The question has been
asked； more and more urgently and openly； What is the use of all
this knowledge？（4*） Pushed by this popular prejudice； and
themselves also drifting under compulsion of the same prevalent
bias； even the seasoned scholars and scientists Matthew
Arnold's 〃Remnant〃 have taken to heart this question of the
use of the higher learning in the pursuit of gain。 Of course it
has no such use； and the many shrewdly devised solutions of the
conundrum have necessarily run out in a string of sophistical
dialectics。 The place of disinterested knowledge in modern
civilization is neither that of a means to private gain； nor that
of an intermediate step in 〃the roundabout process of the
production of goods。〃
As a motto for the scholars' craft； Scientia pecuniae
ancillans is nowise more seemly than the Schoolmen's Philosophia
theologiae ancillans。（5*） Yet such inroads have pecuniary habits
of valuation made even within the precincts of the corporation of
learning； that university men； and even the scholarly ones
among them； are no more than half ashamed of such a parcel of
fatuity。 And relatively few among university executives have not；
within the past few years； taken occasion to plead the merits of
academic training as a business proposition。 The man of the world
that is to say； of the business world puts the question； What
is the use of this learning？ and the men who speak for learning；
and even the scholars occupied with the 〃humanities；〃 are at
pains to find some colourable answer that shall satisfy the
worldly…wise that this learning for which they speak is in some
way useful for pecuniary gain。（6*）
If he were not himself infected with the pragmatism of the
market…place； the scholar's answer would have to be。 Get thee
behind me！
Benjamin Franklin high…bred pragmatist that he was once
put away such a question with the rejoinder： What is the use of a
baby？ To civilized men with the equivocal exception of the
warlike politicians this latter question seems foolish；
criminally foolish。 But there once was a time； in the high days
of barbarism； when thoughtful men were ready to canvass that
question with as naive a gravity as this other question； of the
use of learning； is canvassed by the substantial citizens of the
present day。 At the period covered by that chapter in ancient
history； a child was； in a way； an article of equipment for the
up…keep of the family and its prestige； and more remotely for the
support of the sovereign and his prestige。 So that a male child
would be rated as indubitably worth while if he gave promise of
growing into a robust and contentious man。 If the infant were a
girl； or if he gave no promise of becoming an effective disturber
of the peace； the use or expediency of rearing the child would
become a matter for deliberation； and not infrequently the
finding of those old…time utilitarians was adverse； and the
investment was cancelled。 The habit of so deliberating on the
pragmatic advisability of child…life has been lost； latterly； or
at any rate such of the latterday utilitarians as may still
entertain a question of this kind in any concrete case are
ashamed to have it spoken of nakedly。 Witness the lame but