EDUCATION. 151 



whose qualifications for teaching their hearers knew nothing 

 and who have accordingly altogether failed to command 

 their confidence, meeting with an irresponsive reception 

 like that described by Mr. Buckmaster. We have even 

 seen men sent about as " organising secretaries " of societies, 

 officered by men of note, who knew practically nothing of 

 their subject — say, in respect of co-operative credit. One 

 of these gentlemen, who had previously been employed as 

 organiser of boys' clubs, admitted his ignorance to me, 

 but self-consciously declared that " on the platform "he 

 would " not give way to any one." Under such circum- 

 stances what practical results can there be looked for ? 

 Things are better abroad now. But, as a hopeful solace to 

 ourselves, it may be mentioned that they have previously 

 passed through the very same stages of development. Let 

 us hope that we likewise may emerge triumphantly from this 

 phase of infant malady. 



What the Latin proverb says about the " rustic orator," ^ 

 who is not to be despised, applies fully as much to the 

 " rustic " who is to be educated. It is the greatest mistake 

 in the world to think that a little declaration about some 

 learned subject that he does not understand, or is supposed 

 not to understand — accompanied, it may be, in Mr. J. 

 McKenna's words, by a little " waving of degrees in their 

 face " — will in a lecturer's mouth be accepted as teaching 

 deserving to be respected by his hearers. Though your 

 rustic does not know about chemical formulae and scientific 

 farrago, or rural credit and co-operation, none is shrewder 

 to detect whether his would-be teacher is deserving of 

 attention or not. Above all things, he is acutely alive to 

 the fact that as " the proof of the pudding is in the eating," 

 so is the proof of science in practice. On any practical 

 subject it is essential that the teacher should be a bona- 

 fide practical man, with a creditable practical record at 

 his back. Even a teacher of science, if he wants to be 

 understood, will be required to be able to talk to farmers 

 in their own practical lingo. A man giving instruction 

 on practical subjects must be known to have been himself 



^ Rusticanum oratorem quamvis humilem, non contemseris . 



