New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-24
Npxy vopK DAuY TRIBUNE, SATURDAY, JUNE d. 1871

systems are displaeing the old, and now our
most enlightened instructors are quietly settling
the old feud about classical studies, not by de-
grading Greek and Latin from their time
hOnored eminenoe, but by combining with
them all the new arts, and the practical modern
sciences upon which 80 much stress has been
laid in recent years. 1t is sort OF comDina-
ton which would have been thought imp0s-
sble generation since; yet every year SHOWS
it more and more successful, and the annual
commandments become in consequence more
interesting to the outside multitude, and less
open TO the little jokes of the irreverent
Thus the colleges are reforming them
selves, and giving us broad culture
which looks equally toward intellectual strength
and refinement, and immediate utility. The
great seats of learning are opening sclentlhc
schools, and expanding their best energies to
adapt them to the needs of the country. Prac-
teal agriculture, chemistry, mining metal
lurgy. are taught with at least as much care
and thOroughness az the theoretical sciences
To take examples that lie at our own
Columbia College has come to place
upon its scientific course and its school OF
mines a dependence quito as great as upon Its
classical lectures; and the University of the
City of New York has just enlarged and reor-
ganized its scientific department, and estab-
lshed for the arts and sciences a complete and
separate faculty.
| 1t is not only in the kind of education sup
piled that our colleges are advancing, but they
have also become far more liberal in Offering
it to the whole people. Thus the New-Yo UNI
versity announces that hereafter its collegiate
course will be absolutely free to all. Cornel
| University not only furnishes an education
entirely without charge, but goes step iur
Their, and gives every student chance to work
for his living This is q characteristically
American Improvement upon the old system OF
charitable foundations; for Mr.. Cornell under
stands that to let a man earn his bread and
butter is better than to give it to him.
At Ithaca, accordingly, the poor lad may
be supported without sacrificing his indie
| pendence and take instruction in books,
| in the arts, in tho trades, and in do
nestle economy all together There too theory
and practice are united in more perfect
manner than in any other establishment OF
learning in the world and if experience JUS
| tify the expectations OF its estimable founder,
this institution will mark the era of totally
new sort of university culture. Again: Vassar
College represents the principle established
only within few years-if indeed it is quite
established yet-that woman has right
to the best education the age is ca
pable of affording that all the sciences, all
the arts, must be open to her if she chooses
to follow them and whatever we may think
of her right to join in political shindies, stuff
ballot boxes, or build barbados, we shall
steadfastly maintain her right to the very
highest intellectual culture, or TIE pursuit of
any honest knowledge. A college such as this
cannot fail, and cannot but be the exemplar
of many others. The University of Michigan
is no whit behind Cornell and Yassar; Harvard,
Yale, and many moro are likewise broad
ening the culture they Offer and opening
wider and wider means of access to it. A
more complete and many-sided education;
greater facilities for extending it in any one
desired direction without being compelled to
prosecute it in others not desired; easier APP
proach to it alike for both sexes and all
classes-these appear the most marked ten
denotes of late collegiate progress. With
them our colleges seem to be entering upon
a new career of usefulness, in which we shall
all wish them prosperity and honor.