New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-02-15
TIE FREE ACADEMY EXAMINATIONS
To tie Elitov AZ The ". y. 1JouaA

TO tie EIacv u TIE NJ y 1JousA
SIR: We were sorry 70 see your article ON this sub
ect in Your issue Of Wednesday last; sorry, because
invectiye serves only 10 confirm those faults which
fife ndly cepsure would remove.
Your repor,er's visit 10 the Sophomore exsmino. on
vss AZ an unfortunate time for himself That there
NAV be ten inferior students iu class OF about one
hundred il obyious but that sc who were, we have
every reason to believe among the foremost, should
have made plumbers which classical student OF a
months standing could have cured IS Incredible.
II this statement il intended 10 give just idea OF
their proficiency, "a student of months -tsndnS
VIII could read Xenophon and Cicero would indeed Dc
aprodigy. nc
Of English literature. Amy one who IS acquainted
with that gentleman, must have smiled az the report
ers tkttch Of hs conversation. ANY oil your readers
u no III take the trouble 10 call on the Professor,
will find that there very few who speak more ele-
CANT or more grammatical English. Aud il the
reporter had devoted more than glance to the
written pspere be would have been satlsned that MS,
impret siOns are not always correct
IA 10 the mathematical examination: that student
"was Lot aware that the point Of pyramid was
"cal.ed the yertex, is not, we admit, much 10 ths
youne gentlemaDs credit but even me reporter VIII
pot We presume, mt Dtion him rs TAR specimen OF
tie matkematical training Of the Free Academy The
assertion 10 the general ooaractef OF the stadents ~
far too sweeping to DO entitled much credit. one
would think, from the tone a tne aIIlce, thhl INC
young men admitted st the annual examination are
selected for their ignorance rather than their ability
The ,atemepts SAVIOR much of that jealousy of every
thing pt raining 10 he8-fork, 80 characteristic OF
IL csc who have received their education near tue
Modem Athens"
But why did not your reporter continue his nyesti'
gations1 The modern languages are at least as mn
pobnt the ancient valuable az the latter nndoup,-
cdly are and there are many excellent French Span
ish end German scholars in the Free Academy.
Physics and Chemistry, Natural History aud the
Art Of Design are al studies OF SOME cJnse'
quencs: and little inquiry will give You . high
branches hold among scientific mel. And these gen
IS ,ha L---i., %. Academy. Hall Sn hour =
conversation with its hOnOred President wOud give
your reporter much more correct idea OF tho lnsti-
luton be- seems to take much pleasure in abusing.
We do hot claim that there are NO deficiencies in
the course of study at the costly edcc In lexing-
ten avenue In go young college thu. could not be
otherwise. But We IN believe that msDy, vigorous
education is there iyen eminently fitted TO prepare
young man for the struggle of life.
Comparisons are 0diOus," and yours night have
been spsred. But we do not shrink from them. In
the history Of the Free Academy there Ia no parallel
20 the dsgracclul scenes recently enacted OF Mozart
Hall and in the streets Of New-Ielsn.
Your advice to the citizens Of this city 70 vsi: tho
Free Academy, we cordially echo Nothing IL more
encouraging 10 student than inerest in his progress
and the really faithful 10 not fear intelligent ques
tons. But your readers viii not, W. hope, be satiof.
with hssty glance, necessarily imperfect aud usually
made ard the result win not be untavorable Sucl at
least is the confident anticipation OF one who ia proud
to subscribe himself