The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-25

and sole limitation of this law of trade, with
out regard to the buyers ability to detect the
quality of the offered wares or the use to
which he may intend to put them.
Several of these literally constructed
branches of industry are doubtless well
known to our readers; but there is one, Of
comparatively recent growth, which is not so
generally understood as it deserves to be-
In every community wherein liberal edu-
cation obtains social recognition there exists
q demand for collegiate degrees; firstly be-
cause the privilege of appending certain ini-
tials, as d. D., LII. D., M. D., etc, to ones
signature is gratifying to ones sense of per-
sonal Importance; and secondly, because there
are certain professional avocations in which
the possession of one or another of these
titles is supposed to be essential. In former
times and in less progressive countries the
comforting of these degrees has been coupled
with the imperative condition that the candi-
date should have proven himself intelleotu-
ally worthy of the honor bestowed; but in
our advancing civilization a more purely
commercial view of the question is come in
vogue. There are numerous individuals who
entertain laudable aspiration for academic
distinction, but who have neither ability nor
leisure to win it by the usual course of aca-
demic study. They are, however, able and
willing to pay for it nearly or quite as much
as the preparatory curriculum would COST At
first inadequate accommodation was provided
in rural colleges for this class of customers by
an extension of the terms on which honorary
degrees might be obtained; but as the demand
increased separate business has sprung up to
meet it. And the way Of it is this; One or two
enterprising persons hire small house and a
box at the post-office, and procure an act of
Legislature incorporating him or them as a
university" duly empowered to grant all
degrees commonly conferred by institutions
of learning. No personal intercourse is held
with the prospective alumni of this immacu-
lately conceived alma mater; but its transae-
tions are conducted by means of travelling
agents and mysteriously worded advertise
ments in the public press. All over America
are customers sought, and even in Europe to
a sufficient extent to rouse not unnatural
distrust of any American degree. The
diploma of NJ. D. is said to find most pur-
chasers, though thriving traffic is done in
LID. s, and orders for D. d. are not in
frequent.
Philadelphia has hitherto enjoyed almost a
monopoly Of this profitable business, and from
Philadelphia, we are glad to say, comes an
effort for its suppressioD but if rumor be
true there is similar trade conducted else
where-even in our own city-to say nothing
of minor rural colleges which exc out their
scanty incomes by the issue of a few strictly
confidential honorary titles. The scandal of
the affair lies not SO much in the dishonesty
of the few rogues who send fraudulent diplo-
mas as in the carelessness with which legis-
lators grant charters to cover such evil doing;
and if a reform is to be sought-as, for the
credit of America, we hope it will bet
must depend upon reversal of the present
practice of chartering any nominal scheme
for educational purposes.