Racial Experience 



of the land. No one can forget that he spoke 

 or what he said. 



What was the source of Mr. Wendell Phil- 

 lips's power. Not his logic, for he had none. 

 Much was due to his silvery voice and marvel- 

 ous dignity and grace of bearing. He owed 

 more to his classic culture, to the purity and 

 clearness of his style, to his power of calm and 

 withering sarcasm. These helped with the coun- 

 try people to whom he loved to speak. 



But others had these powers in only less de- 

 gree. He spoke straight to the convictions and 

 hearts of the folk, and they arose and followed 

 him. The man who can thus speak does not 

 need to drag or compel them. They are eager 

 to follow. ! He " speaks with authority, and not 

 as the scribes." 



We say of a great poem or other piece of 

 literature that it is universal. We mean that 

 it embodies the experience of all times and 

 places. It appeals to our common store of con- 

 victions. 



Teaching is not the addition or superposition 

 by the teacher of a new thought or conception 

 or bit of knowledge on top of the old ones 

 formerly possessed by the pupil. For if the 



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