SCIENCE IN PHILANTHROPY 49 



cence is the question of securing; trained officials, and keeping; 

 them in the full light of intelligent and sympathetic criticism. 

 Progress in this matter depends upon concentrating the general 

 thought and will on a single point, which for the present shall 

 be civil service reform, with its examinations, eligible list, 

 probation, promotion for merit, and security of tenure during 

 the period of efficienc}'. 



Never before in the history of our country was intelli- 

 gence upon social obligations so general as now, and the pro- 

 cess of education is going forward rapidly. The National Con- 

 ference of Charities and Corrections, the National Prison associ- 

 ation, the International Prison congress, have published a 

 body of valuable thought. Naturally, the contributions are 

 of unequal value, but the agreement of experts on important 

 principles shows that opinion is not provincial. 



Social science has no ready made set of rules w^hich can 

 fit out a successful administrator; it does not pretend to offer 

 a substitute for native talent, insight, sympathy, and tech- 

 nical training. But it ever remains true that the world's 

 experience, as formulated in history and theory, is needed 

 to correct the narrowness, egotism, and blindness of merely 

 individual experience. It is a hopeful feature in contem- 

 porary philanthropy that associations bring together people 

 of various kinds of knowledge and training, and that their 

 publications increasingly influence legislation and adminis- 

 tration. 



vol. 10^ 



