AGAINST SPECIALISING

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1019, 7 January 1911, Page 11

AGAINST SPECIALISING

'The greatest argument against specialising oil any subject is that it so oiten means tho exclusion of all else, and though a deep and thorough knowledge of ono particular subject undaubtcill.r spells success in that subject, it is a success too dearly bought (says an Australian writer). Tliero is too much that is desirablo in life to keep our eyes glued all the time to cno particular object, 110 matter how wortny that object may be. In these days of keen competition a man—or woman—must know his subject from A to /, it' he would bo in tho front rank; but lie is far more likely to reach the pinnacle it he knows something of other subjects, too'; the broader kncwlcdgo which lie gains of life and human .nature by diverse interests stands him 111 good stead in his profession, whatever it may We have shining examples of- this truth in the present English Parliament, where many of the leaders aro men of letters —Morley and Birrell, to name but two. But dozens could be quoted; indeed, it is hard to name a; man who lias succeeded in his particular walk of life'who has not cultivated his other soiil side. Women' who take np careers aro less likely to become one-ideaed than men, because there, is nearly always the domestic side' to their natures. Almost invariably tho women who are leading in their professions—the doctors, teachers, and writers—are women who havo a sweet, sane homo life—very often they have other hobbies as well, but the professional woman whose leisure hours aro devoted to her garden, her poultry, jammaking, or upholstering, has very little time to waste. It is tho man or woman who has T.o resources for the leisure moments of life that gets into mischief. Tho woman who takes 110 real interest in anything beyond her wardrobe, or has no occupation when tho household tasks aro done, is tho one who spends her spare tinio in gossip, which, so often drifts into scandal-mongcring and backbiting; it is tho man who has 110 resources in himself that drifts to tho pubilc-house or the gambling-room when liis officehours are over. Many a man has a vague longing to "take up" something to "while away the time"; but his education has not given him the most elementary kuowledgo of. the subject, nor the power to grasp fleeting facts for himself; and so, just- for want of the knowledgo how to begin, ho drifts, on and on, till his opportunity is past.^ And of all things most fitted to fill tho leisure hours, tho love of books is tho best. Tho man or woman who has acquired the lovo of reading in youth— and it is largely a matter of training— is never at a loss. Science or history is his by tho lifting of a hand to his bookshelf; if he would travel to far countries, ho has but to sit in his'easy cliair and ho can wish himself whither ho will; if lie would soar to tho fields of Parnassus, the poots will'carry I ll ™- All tho kingdoms of the earth are his, once he has found the golden key. It is tho "useless" subjects that supply this golden key. And, what is more, the study of tho classics, with their wealth of poetry and imagination, goes jiist as far in the making of a good citizen as'the teaching of caipentvy or decimal fractions; for, while the manual and practical training undoubtedly gives many a boy and girl a weapon with which to attack the door of life, there is an inner dear which opens only to tho golden key or tho imagination. And it is within its portals that are found the treasures which will fill all leisure hours to overflowing, and make their owner a happy man—and that wo know is a long way -towards being a good man.