education in that way.

How great is the fire that a little spark kindles! It was more than a
thousand miles away that I first heard of the school at Sleepy Eye. It
happened in this way. The clock had scarcely announced that it was high
noon when a group of men drew their chairs up to a dinner table
generously loaded with country hotel fare. There were two school
directors in this happen-so party, a carter, a salesman, a lawyer, a
farmer and two teachers, who talked with a professional twang. The
salesman listened impatiently to the educational clap-trap, watching for
an opening between phrases. When at last the loophole appeared:

"Gentlemen," said he, "you're interested in schools? Then you ought to
see some real schools. Did you ever go to a school to listen to a
phonograph?" Then, turning to the farmers: "Did you ever go to school to
get your horses shod? You go to school for both in Sleepy Eye,
Minnesota. They're the greatest schools I have ever seen. They run from
seven in the morning till eight at night, and accommodate every kid that
wants an education. Gentlemen, if you want to see real schools go to
Sleepy Eye."

CHAPTER XII

THE SOUTH FOR THE NEW EDUCATION

I A Dream of Empire

A keen Atlanta business man leaned forward on his chair and spoke
eagerly. "Yes, sir," he exclaimed, "the world is ours. We have the
biggest, finest batch of undeveloped resources in the country--perhaps
on the planet. Iron, coal, stone, timber, power--our hills are full of
them, so full that we have never even inventoried our treasure-house.
Our possibilities are beyond the power of words, and we've got to live
up to them."

This man knew Georgia and the South. He had helped, and still is helping
to convert the iron, coal, timber, and water-power into Southern
prosperity. He was still unsatisfied.

"The trouble with us is, we can't go fast enough," he admitted. "Do you
know why? Do you know the biggest burden we have to carry--the most
determined enemy we have to fight? Well, sir, it's ignorance--the
ignorance of the common man about his farm or his trade; the ignorance
of the business man about outside things; the ignorance of the teachers
who are supposed to enlighten us." He leaned forward again. "That sounds
strong, doesn't it? But it's gospel."

I reminded him of the rapidity with which the South was forging ahead in
its educational activities. He threw his head back proudly. "Of course,"
he cried, "the experi