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The Pilgrim's Progress to Culture
Excerpt from The Pilgrim's Progress to Culture
There are many young men nowadays who have a very sensible knowledge of their own ignorance. They have had a certain amount of schooling - the minimum required; and now their education is supposed to be complete; for they are wage-earners and business men, with no more need to learn. And yet what is the sum of their knowledge? Let us see. They can do a bit of arithmetic, sufficient anyway to carry them through the everyday affairs of life. They also know a thing or two about geography, at least of their own country. As for history, they know the names of the kings and queens of England and the presidents of the United States - or most of them - and a few old "chestnuts" such as Henry VIII having six wives - or eight, was it? - and King John losing the Crown Jewels in the Wash - probably through the dishonesty of his washerwoman. When they were at school they did a little parsing, a little Euclid, a little algebra, a little of sundry other things; but the memory of them has passed with the schooldays.
There are many young men nowadays who have a very sensible knowledge of their own ignorance. They have had a certain amount of schooling - the minimum required; and now their education is supposed to be complete; for they are wage-earners and business men, with no more need to learn. And yet what is the sum of their knowledge? Let us see. They can do a bit of arithmetic, sufficient anyway to carry them through the everyday affairs of life. They also know a thing or two about geography, at least of their own country. As for history, they know the names of the kings and queens of England and the presidents of the United States - or most of them - and a few old "chestnuts" such as Henry VIII having six wives - or eight, was it? - and King John losing the Crown Jewels in the Wash - probably through the dishonesty of his washerwoman. When they were at school they did a little parsing, a little Euclid, a little algebra, a little of sundry other things; but the memory of them has passed with the schooldays.
136 pages, Hardcover
First published September 27, 2015
2 people want to read
About the author
Philip Gibbs
248 books11 followersSir Philip Armand Hamilton Gibbs was an English journalist and novelist who served as one of five official British reporters during the First World War. Two of his siblings were also writers, A. Hamilton Gibbs and Cosmo Hamilton.
The son of a civil servant, Gibbs was born in London and received a home education and determined at an early age to develop a career as a writer. His debut article was published in 1894 in the Daily Chronicle; five years later he published the first of many books, Founders of the Empire.
He started work at the publishing house at Cassell; then editor of Tillotson's literary syndicate; was literary editor for Daily Mail in 1902; moved to Daily Express, and then to Daily Chronicle in 1908; also worked with Daily Graphic; war correspondent during 1914-18 war; KBE, 1920; chevalier of the Legion of Honour; toured United States lecturing in 1919; resigned from Daily Chronicle in 1920.
The son of a civil servant, Gibbs was born in London and received a home education and determined at an early age to develop a career as a writer. His debut article was published in 1894 in the Daily Chronicle; five years later he published the first of many books, Founders of the Empire.
He started work at the publishing house at Cassell; then editor of Tillotson's literary syndicate; was literary editor for Daily Mail in 1902; moved to Daily Express, and then to Daily Chronicle in 1908; also worked with Daily Graphic; war correspondent during 1914-18 war; KBE, 1920; chevalier of the Legion of Honour; toured United States lecturing in 1919; resigned from Daily Chronicle in 1920.
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