392 BRAIN WORK AND 



that a thorough reform in education, or in any 

 of the issues indicated in the preceding chapters, 

 will be made as long as the civilised nations 

 remain under the present narrowly egotistic 

 system of production and consumption. All 

 we can expect, as long as the present condi- 

 tions last, is to have some microscopical at- 

 tempts at reforming here and there on a small 

 scale attempts which necessarily will prove 

 to be far below the expected results, because 

 of the impossibility of reforming on a small 

 scale when so intimate a connection exists 

 between the manifold functions of a civilised 

 nation. But the energy of the constructive 

 genius of society depends chiefly upon the 

 depths of its conception as to what ought to 

 be done, and how ; and the necessity of re- 

 casting education is one of those necessities 

 which are most comprehensible to all, and are 

 most appropriate for inspiring society with those 

 ideals, without which stagnation or even decay 

 are unavoidable. 



So let us suppose that a community a city, 

 or a territory which has, at least, a few millions 

 of inhabitants gives the above-sketched educa- 

 tion to all its children, without distinction of 

 birth (and we are rich enough to permit us the 

 luxury of such an education), without asking 

 anything in return from the children but what 



