New-York daily tribune., 1857-10-01
on THE BACK TRACK.

few years ago, Brown University placed issefiu ms
position which awakened the hopes and engaged tAs
sympathy Of every one interested in the elevation
man, in the education and Intellectual enirsachisea
Of the members Of every class. Those who ~
barge of the institution perceived that it ws falling s
fulfill the mission Of university; it was teacshg
Latin, Greek, and mathematics to few scores d
youths preparing for the professions, chiefly for tho
ministry, but for the great nsss of young men nww
doing nothing whatever. Surrounded BY indus6A
resources, it was eifectpg nothing for their devet
ment. It ignored the existence and toe wants Of ~
artisan, the farmer the mechanic, and the manuisr
turer. Naturally offering its advantages 10 90 suaa
proportion of the community, it experienced the ias
evitable result. The number Of pupils grew snau. .
ally smaller and smaller. The College w
obviously, confessedly failing to achieve iN missioa
In 1850 President Wa, land who had long beheld vxh
regret this tendency, proposed to the authorities oths
College the Inauguration of . new system, "
which the College should be opened 10 Q far assw >
portion of the commonly. The system was inssgv.
rated in accordance with his suggestions The COrpo
ration appealed to the public for large endowment
which wss coLtibued en- the expressly stipalss>d
pledge that the notifications proposed in the eddcs
tional system of the College should be made. Accord
ingy lew courses Of instruction projected, havs
ing an immediate reference to the wants Of prs cd
life professoiships established in the Theory ed
Practice Of Agriculture, in Chemistry sppied 70 ibs
ats and in Civil Engineering. COurses of bcfes
were commenced upon subjects closely identified viii
the industrial interests of the community Tho system
by which degrees had been conferred " in couSse,"
without regard to att ment merit was done sSsy
and degrees were conferred ser examination ony The
advantages Of the College were freely offered 70 ~
who might wish to pursue any particular osas Of
studies, or to ct themselves for any particular
department of labor 10 the active profssaoe9
in mechanics, or in business, without vs6ne
time In the needless study Of the classics Thsfssas
Of these changes were coon apparent. The BoassS
students in attendance Immediately doubled sod co.,
tnued In process Of rapid increase. 1t Was dsnos
strsted TO the satisfsctcn of all that university ssse
not be repository Of useless scholastic lofs-Gs@
be fountain Of Intellectual advancement and ed'n-
tonal beDedcenceto the members of every chr ~
calng-tO human i:y at lssge.
A iew yess ago President WsyIand resigned ~
Office, and another gentleman was selected to ~ ~
place. Since that time the course of improysness
aud advance, winch had achieved 80 signal sascss
which had sakened 90 many hopes-hss for 500 4
reason halted, nay, hiss retsograded. With ssS!
wear some distinctive feature OF tne new ssd bsrs
s,s,em m bas been discarded, some worp-ont sbsse
the old regime has been restored. Tie courses ~ 2
lectures to the Industrial classes have betu inerufea
Lot to be resumed The facilities and the couaeens
cree fered to the sobs Of the artisan 81 the hn~
to pursue, unhampered by the pecessitysof efoaIt
at toe cla.sics, the branches Of knowledge wase -
peculiarly needed, bave been silently wit,dn.-
Professorship of Agriculture, if it has not beesh''
abe liehed, is vacant AID is virtually nulaty.
old dist inctions Cf clsss names, which suppose ~
be pursuing the "reguior courss" OF CLASSES -
mathematics, have been r. established The aass
ton for the oegIee Of A. N Is oircuntinusd, s'a "
degree is conferred irdiscrimina'ely IN coarss
every one who has completed the prescribed co@'
cssscal aid rnatht naicsl studies. Afead,' %
r.sult Of this return " Iorner ussges the pa~o's
sbruel entrances bas dniinb bed 70 ore hA''
University has lott the Commanding posinon "'~"
bad sss 1u.eo, and is sinking TO o. sIanh 'A 'e""
capacities ano Us rceri promise.
Bavmg, at q f mer period, repeo'"a'y '.p'
our hearty sympsfh, win 'bs experiment. ~o". 4,
nsbilg a. Brvsn Un'ver-i,y se ma't protest =.
The r.ncency Doe dominant WY sooald mol 40 q
tuimett prun.isipg the mlss beLeh eot r''is
hun anby, be fairy tes.edl wny should It Dc ''''