OF EDUCATION 87 



have investigated the subject far enough to know 

 that there is any science of education, except what 

 anyone may know intuitively. Yet in some parts of 

 the old world teaching has recently become a learned 

 profession, and the most learned of all professions, 

 requiring six years of special study and training. 



Most men hate new ideas. What has been the 

 history of the introduction of every modern improve- 

 ment which blesses the world today ? How did the 

 public behave towards Fulton when he declared that 

 steam power would some day propel ships across the 

 Atlantic ? towards Stephenson, when he announced 

 his plan for moving a train of cars by steam twenty 

 miles an hour? towards Field, when he thought a 

 message could be sent across the ocean with lightning 

 speed ? Each of these great benefactors was ridi- 

 culed and accused of foolishness or insanity ; yet we 

 have already realized even more than they promised. 



If the building of the first steamer had depended 

 upon the vote of the majority, when would it have 

 been built? Private fortunes were expended before 

 the public had any faith in its practicability or in its 

 possibility. But when the boat was seen to move, 

 and the "rattling car" was heard, when telegrams 

 from central Europe told us of battles before the 

 " cannon's roar ' had ceased, men were compelled to 

 believe. 



