CATHOLIC "CHARMS."
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR:']
Sra,—There is no doubt that "diligence and faculty" should "command success ;" bat, as a matter of fact, they are far from doing so with any degree of certainty in competitive examina- tions as at present conducted. Ask the National schoolmaster or mistress whether their best pupils are those who most dis- tinguish themselves. See whether the reverse does not fre- quently hold good with regard to Army and other "Exams." You could not do better than give us in one of your excellent and thoughtful papers some hints for the improvement of affairs in this respect, making the abolition of the " cramming " system a sine qua non. If you will do so, you may possibly supersede by a "natural law" that capricious chance which now appears to rule upon such occasions.—I am, Sir, &c., J. M. V.
[Then what it comes to is this,—that a dip in holy-water will make the imperfectly-prepared succeed when otherwise he would not have succeeded. Or is it only that it will secure that success to diligence and faculty which they deserve ? If this is all, it would be well for the Church to explain the limitations en this action of special grace.—En. Spectator.]
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