The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-27
A. Ia. MILD.

/ A. Bs-As Ms-LhsDs
| THE design of the establishment of ''honorsry
degrees" was, unless we are greatly mistaken
in our views, to reward talent and education
| by allowing It an affx of which 1t could be
proud II was intended to serve in the ranks
Of the veterans of learning the same END as
the military decorations in the profession
| of arms. What the Victoria Cross or the Cross
of Honor is to the soldier, so should
degree be to the scholar-something Of which he
should be Justly proud, and which would act
as guarantee for him among strangers that
he was a gentleman worthy, educated, and
fitted by superior ability for any ordinary
trust. But in America the efforts of our col
leges to reward their graduates have over
stepped the end designed by the founders of
the system, and have efFectually nullifed
the good which might otherwise have been
accomplished. The harvest Of A. BIS which is
yearly reaped by stupid mediocrity has done
away with any desire on the part of the more
worthy to secure such a degree. When we
see the ignorant and scholarly youth both enti-
tied to the same honors, we soon lose all re-
spect for this degree, and energy and ambition
criminate bestowal of a prize on all who ask
for it, 80 that a desire is sufficient guarantee
that it may be attained, does away with all
wish on the part of the really mertorious to
secure what would otherwise be valuable. It
is not so in Great Britain. There the M. A. is
proof that the man entitled to attach 1t to his
name is scholar of no ordinary merit. Men
of national reputation do not despise to afix
it, and it is esteemed an honor by all on whom
it is bestowed.
Very different, however, is it in our own
land. The graduate of any college, and of
some schools, upon receiving diploma, and
before he has had an opportunity to display
any of his abilities, is dubbed an A. B. If
his life is spared for either three or five years,
and he desires TO invest five dollars he can
become an A. M. This cheap honor is so little
valued, that there are few who have been an
A. B. for five years who appreciate the supe-
rior degree sufficiently to invest the necessary
greenback. There can, under such an ar
rangement, be no pride in bearing the title.
1t is the reward of long life, of having for five
years survived graduation, and the sheep
skin is little better than proof that he has
attained certain age. We would have this
matter reformed. We would have degree
conferred only when it will honor the recipient
and make him reflect credit on the degree.
The third degree, however, is one which has
otyetdegeneratedinto an empty honor. When
a college confers the rank of LII. D. on any
one, it answers the legitimate object of the
creation of the rank. 1t does him an honor
and gives him just cause for pride. There are
in America but few who are entitled to these
letters, and this fact is due, we think, not so
much to the discretion of the colleges as to
the fact that but few of them are entitled to
confer the degree. We believe that there are
but five constituted in the United States which
are authorized to bestow it. The result is that
an ambition similar to that which exists in
France to become member of the Academy
is found among our men of ability. If, to
some extent, this same ambition could be diff
fused so as to apply to the minor degrees,
much good would be accomplished, and the
system redeemed from the just ridicule to
which it is now subjected. The holding of a
Bachelor or Master of Arts degree, gives really
no better cause for pride than CDR. Pangloss''
had when he announced his titles of ''LL. D."
and GA. S. S."