ghly
polished, and too finely cultured for every day use.

The culture of books and colleges refines, yet it is often but an
ethical culture, and is gained at the cost of vigor and rugged
strength. Book culture alone tends to paralyze the practical
faculties. The bookworm loses his individuality; his head is filled
with theories and saturated with other men's thoughts. The stamina of
the vigorous mind he brought from the farm has evaporated in college;
and when he graduates, he is astonished to find that he has lost the
power to grapple with men and things, and is therefore out-stripped in
the race of life by the boy who has had no chance, but who, in the
fierce struggle for existence, has developed hard common sense and
practical wisdom. The college graduate often mistakes his crutches for
strength. He inhabits an ideal realm where common sense rarely dwells.
The world cares little for his theories or his encyclopaedic knowledge.
The cry of the age is for practical men.

"We have been among you several weeks," said Columbus to the Indian
chiefs; "and, although at first you treated us like friends, you are
now jealous of us and are trying to drive us away. You brought us food
in plenty every morning, but now you bring very little and the amount
is less with each succeeding day. The Great Spirit is angry with you
for not doing as you agreed in bringing us provisions. To show his
anger he will cause the sun to be in darkness." He knew that there was
to be an eclipse of the sun, and told the day and hour it would occur,
but the Indians did not believe him, and continued to reduce the supply
of food.

On the appointed day the sun rose without a cloud, and the Indians
shook their heads, beginning to show signs of open hostility as the
hours passed without a shadow on the face of the sun. But at length a
dark spot was seen on one margin; and, as it became larger, the natives
grew frantic and fell prostrate before Columbus to entreat for help.
He retired to his tent, promising to save them, if possible. About the
time for the eclipse to pass away, he came out and said that the Great
Spirit had pardoned them, and would soon drive away the monster from
the sun if they would never offend him again. They readily promised,
and when the sun had passed out of the shadow they leaped and danced
and sang for joy. Thereafter the Spaniards had all the provisions they
needed.

"Common sense," said Wendell Phillips, "bows