The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-08-16

of the good men of both parties.
The appearance in the newspapers, of the various
advertisements of different schools and academies,
from the imposing prospectus of the stately
university" with its high-sounding name and
bran-new charter, to the unpretending announce
ment of the now almost obsolete School for Boys"
is an admoniton TO the younger portion OF the
population, of the rapid approach of the first
Monday in September, when, with "satche and
shining morning face" they must again creep
''unwlingly to school," Black Monday, we be-
lieve, the day is called, which thus marks the
close of the summer holidays, and the beginning
of the scholastic year An evcntful day it is, to
the young folks who reluctantly return to their
tasks after the long vacation to parent and guar
dams who are mentally exercised about the choice
of suitable school for their sons and daughters
and to the teachers themselves, patient, humble
toilers for bread, it may be, who anXiously count
the number of pupils already entered, recall the
promises they have received of others, and greet
each newcomer with a smile of cordial welcome
We glance over the list of educational instiu-
tons that are advertised in the different papers,
and are not little puzzled, well as amused, by
theyariey Of titles they assume the different pre-
tensions they put forward and the contrarety Of
claims they advance to public patronage. Some
are conducted on ''strctly Church principles"
and Others proclaim 'no interference with the re-
ligious preiudices of pupils" Some promise all
the comforts of home, and discipline which
shall be purely paternal; Others are placed under
martial law and propose by a strict enforcement
of military rules, to the rising generation
to all sorts Of bodily fatigue and hardship
and teach it the much neglected virtue
of obedience and subordination. In some
schools we are assured that ''the French language
only is allowed to be spoken" while the peculiar
recommendation of others, lies in the fact that
"particular attention is paid to the English
branches Some offer 'classcal, and others
Commercial education-some designed to
fit young men for college, and the learned proes-
sion, and Others for business and the counting
house. Then there is no end to the number Of titles
by which these institutions are called, quite as di-
verse in their character as their courses of study
rates of tuition. Besides the ''University'' al
ready mentioned, with its tempting offer of sheep
skin diploma and the ornamental letters at the
tail of ones NAME of A. b. or A. NJ to say nothing
Of possible LII. D., d. D., more mysterious
than all, Phi. D.; we have Colleges without num-
Der; we have Constitutes for Young Ladies" and
'Select Academies for Young Gentlemen" besides
a Seminary for both sexes, with separate depart
ments for gentlemen and ladies''-a modern sue
cessor, doubt, of the old fashioned "Boys' and
Girls School, Young ladies are still instructed
as heretofore Gin the use of the globes, and in
instance we read that ''the disposition of the
heart will be cultivated with assiduity''-a propo
sition of doubtful expediency, we should think,
depending altogether upon the question whether
'the disposition of the heart was such as to
merit cultivation. Some dispositions are decided |
ly crooked and perverse. One institution adver
tises that cts facilities for discipline more
than usually abundant an intimation which but
for the change which has taken place in peoples |
ideas the subject of corporal punishment, might
be supposed to refer to the existence of fine panta-
ton of young birch in the immediate vicinity of |
the college grounds; perhaps it has the same |
meaning, however, as the announcement by the
Principal of another Academy, that ut is protect
ed by special law from the sale of liquors within
ply strong proclivty to drunkenness in the rising
generation of young Americans. Amid all this
multitude, however, Of Colleges, Institutes, Semi
naries and Academies, the thoughtful reader can
not fail to be struck with the fact that in the whole
State of Maryland, we have not one great and
Institution of learning, whose claims
to pre-eminence over all the rest universally
and have no need therefore, to be
set forth in a long advertisement. We are speak
ing, of course, of public colleges and schools;
good private schools, may undoubtedly be found,
though even with respect to these latter it has
now become a growing complaint, that the num-
Der of really good ones is decreasing every
year. This is evil which the unnecessary
of schools and academies is not
likely to diminish The very facility with which
charters for Colleges and the power of comforting
degrees, may be obtained, is probably one of the
principal reasons why academcal institutions of
higher class in this country, so badly support
ed, and so seldom acquire or deserve any reputa-
ton, out of the particular neighborhood in which
they are situated. 1t certainly is the reason why
honors are held so cheaply, and indeed
have become almost ridiculous. College degrees
the part of those upon whom they are conferred
and the value of most college diplomas may be
fairly set down at the price which was paid for the
sheep-skin scroll wherein they are inscribed. How
to remedy this evil--and how TO elevate the char
acter of our highest seminaries of learning,
is a question which should commend itself
to the careful consideration of legislators and
of all who are interested in the cause of ed
ucation. Instead of granting college char
ter to any half-dozen gentlemen who may
choose to call themselves Board of Trustees and
solicit power TO confer degrees, gratifying the
vanity of every ambitious instructor of youth,
who wants his school, good one, perhaps, though
none the better for being called by high-soundng
name to be elevated to the rank of a University,
and himself digni6ed by the title of " President
Or Rector" all such exclusive privileges should
rs far as is practicable without disturbing vested
rights, be centred in great institution of learn
ing, and into this exclusive channel, thus created,
should flow the whole current of State patronage
and of private liberality. Thus would grow up in
course of time, a famous University, which would
reflect honor upon our State, and TO which as to
favored shrine of art and letters pilgrims would
julie llOm itti anu near anu iiohi "HoSe Wills
generations of scholars would 90 forth
to bless the wise foresight which founded and the
kindly nurture which fostered an institution so
grand and noble in its design, and so benefcent in
its influence.
The Peace Commissioners to Utah, Messrs. Pow
ell and McCulloh have arrived at Washington, but
yet I'd IN tba Stata Dppartmant
They represent the affairs of the Territory to be in
0 condition of general ouetuda and that the diff