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have been recast, and the fourteen papers pre

sented, although each is complete in itself, are parts of a whole.

NEW YORK CITY, September, 1901.

PATHS TO POWER.

ONE'S ATMOSPHERE.

It is almost universally conceded that each one carries a certain atmosphere that may be felt by all who come in contact with him; but how that atmosphere is formed and held by each individual is an open question.

It is his nature (whatever that word may mean to the speaker), says one. Another, versed in astrology, knows that the stars, at the hour of birth, settled it all. Another has read the arguments in the books on heredity, and believes one may inherit spiritual qualities from father or mother or ancestors. A fourth reads history, and knows environment to be the sole cause. Yet a fifth, claiming to be wiser and broader-minded, believes in the stars, and fleshly ties, and environment, and education, as combining to create the atmosphere surrounding each one.

Accepting fully any of these theories, we must conclude that the individual is largely irresponsible. From him emanates what has been, by some of these forces, implanted within him. In short, a tide of circumstances first met him; and through his actions thereby forced was created the atmosphere that marks his individuality. If this were the truth-the whole truth-the subject would possess little of interest, and might be at once dismissed.

With our ideas of education, which we have been following and elaborating for centuries, the end has been to discipline the memory and to train the mind to generalizations and classifications that give the student information, poise, and judgment in lines dignified as intellectual.

With the experience gained by training students in language, mathematics, history, etc., progress has been made; so that, as the years go by, more and more (measuring by the bulk standard) is being added to the curriculum of the college. Classes being graduated to-day show greater proficiency in Latin, Greek, modern languages, mathematics, history, and so on, than classes on whose members degrees were conferred by the same college twenty-five years ago. Professors congratulate themselves on this, and promise in the near future even better things.

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