BRAIN-WORK COMPETITION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 59, 6 September 1913, Page 10

BRAIN-WORK COMPETITION

BACK TQ THE LAND. "There are internal reasons why the peasant-class is disappearing," writes Peter Rosegger in The Vineyard. *The peasant himself is not guiltless in the matter. He either manageß his land' as his ancestors did, or, posing e« an a-rd* ent disciple of progress, introduces all kinds of untried innovations and comes to grief. Very few indeed find th^ happy medium betwo&n old custom and new requirements, h "That is one reason ; a second is that the peasant is losing oride in hie position. Ho is too often no longer willing to be a peasant, thinks it a disgrace to follow the plough or tend his flocka. He wants to be able to live and rise without manual labour. Because it is a fact that certain people do get on more easily, and go farther by head-work, everyone wants to throw down hiß spade, hie hammer, and his shepherd's staff and take to books instead. "We see that almost all ranks of brain-work ar« overfilled, that numberless young men who, at great expenseoften far beyond their means— have spent many long year* in study are un« able to find work, and after a life of beggary think themselves lucky if they can light upon a poorly-paid clerk's post. There is no demand for so many lawyers, professors, skilled specialists, officers, and authors. There is a constant demand for artisans and peasants, but no, it is a disgrace to work with one's hands ! Even the peasant falls a prey to this devilish lust for geniuity that makes so many men, well disposed enough in other respects, blind, stupid) bad.