Edward Alsworth Ross is nationally one of the best-known men
here represented. He was born at Virden, Illinois, in 1866;
was graduated from Coe College, Iowa, in 1886; and then
continued his education in Berlin and Johns Hopkins. He has
been professor of economy, sociology, and kindred subjects at
many universities, including Indiana University, Cornell,
Leland Stanford, Junior, the University of Nebraska, and,
since 1906, the University of Wisconsin. He is the author of
many books and magazine articles, among the most noteworthy
of the former, perhaps, being "Sin and Society," "Social
Psychology," "Latter Day Sinners and Saints," and "The
Changing Chinese."
The selection here chosen is from the last named book. The
style is like the man, forceful, trenchant, and abounding in
life. Mr. Ross's tall, rugged, muscular figure and forceful
gestures are familiar to the lovers of lectures in Wisconsin,
and all who have been fortunate enough to hear him, whether
in regular classes at the University, or in extension or
other lecture work, will recall his striking appearance as
they read the clear, clean-cut statements in this selection.