Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/289

 NOTES AND ABSTRA CTS 2?$

stunting labor prevent the development of natural ability. Freedom is a favoring circumstance ,in development. Favorable environment is nothing fixed and definite, but is a variable for different individuals. Opportunity is another great factor and so is such economic independence as will spare one from bread-winning activities.

History clearly shows that great men cannot he accounted for on the basis of race alone unless races undergo rapid changes in degree and kind, owing to the action of forces as yet unknown. We can safely conclude that able races produce at all times a considerable number and variety of men of genius of whom only a few encounter those favorable conditions that enable them to achieve fame. Genius can develop into great- ness at some times and not at others, under conditions not inscrutable. No social career can ever be independent of circumstances and the spirit of the age.

For example, it is easy to show that a number'of conditions other than natural ability must concur to evolve excellent painters, (i) "A perfect technique achieved by the accumulated experience of many generations and kept alive and promulgated by a succession of masters." Opportunities for training in this^technique are conditioned by art resting upon art-handicrafts. (2) An " art atmosphere " is also indispensable. (3) An aspiring and successful general life.'furnishing symbols that speak to a com- mon enthusiasm, is necessary to stimulate the enthusiasm which will raise this into art of the highest type of beauty. These principles that apply to painting hold good ia other social careers, especially in other arts and in literature. It is not so obvious in science as its atmosphere is more intellectual and less dependent on personal contact or emotional stimulus. Seeming exceptions are only so in details and do not affect the general principle. " The main fact is that 'great success in any career calls for two things : natural ability and a social mechanism to make this effective. "j

Estimates of the worth of races based upon the number and grade of eminent men they produced have no justification unless it be possible to eliminate those social conditions that have quite as much to do with the necessary development^ as race. CHARLES H. COOLKY, Annals of the American Academy, July 1897.

The George Junior Republic. This little republic is situated on forty-eight acres of land about nine miles east of Cornell University. Its buildings are few and simple. Its inhabitants number forty-four in winter and are increased to two hundred and fifty in summer. Most of them are between the ages of twelve and fifteen, and are placed in the care of Mr. William R. George through sentence of city magistrates or by voluntary agreement on the part,of parents.

Mr. George's influence in its government is exerted only indirectly. The repub- lic has a boy president with veto power. Congress consists of a senate and a house of representatives. The police and judicial departments are alert and vigorous. Civil service obtains for the police department, as here competition is strongest. To be a " cop " is the great ambition of the average New York boy.

The court proceedings are conducted seriously and are designed to exemplify in miniature the state judiciary. Offenders are given a jury trial, and if found guilty by their peers are sentenced to hard labor and imprisonment for a period of time rang- ing from half a day to six days. Prison discipline is enforced and the sentence of the court is executed in letter and spirit. Mr. George says of this rdgime : "This is severe punishment, but we have severe cases sometimes to deal with. I don't like this prison part, of course, but there are several hundred other things in the world at large which we do not like, but which seem to be essential. We could have made the prison part milder, to be sure, but then they would have formed a very wrong impression of the actual state prison, and we do not wish them to glean the impression that a penal institution is a kind of picnic ground."

The economic life exhibits many features of the outer world industrial system. " The wages paid are from fifty to seventy-five cents a day, and the labor day is from 8:30to 12." The contract system obtains quite extensively. Twenty-five hundred dollars in cash and sixteen hundred dollars' worth of provisions were contributed last year by benevolent people. It is hoped to make it more self-sustaining than at present.

Aside from the education furnished by the political and economic life of the little republic direct attention is given to education by making daily subsistence dependent