, 1873-04-28

suo hlB conrso With facility. The thorOuHhnpB8
of tho syatcm will 10 Of as grcnt valuo to tho
American student ns to tho German student
with Wow to those subsequent pur-
Suits whiol, require, or may DO aided by,
knowledge OF tho classics, Of mathematics OF
modern Languages, and Of arts mud bel1cs-1ottroB
gonoray. Tho Arnoricnn academic education
Eaa not got reached tho tlloroughnonn in drill of
tho dornlan md for those whoso callings iii life
slhll probably don,and such n bauis In atutly aud
mo1tal discipline tho Qor,,nn gymnasium offers
noarly tho sanlo ailvantagoa to tho earnest
American student ma to tho German youth,
Illoro aro undoubtedly individual casos in
Which tho oarnostneBs md completeness Of the
German classical Rohooling oifor advantages aud
proauco raBu1ta superior to those Of tho An,orl-
can School or average college system; but tho
rulo WILL still hold that the majority OF tlloeo WHO
aro nont abroad to school at III carly ago ero not
30 vol prepared for tho lilo In Amcrica which
they subsequently 1ssamo "a If tlloy had boon
roared amid American intluencoB, anl parta1on
OF lilo characteristic drift Of American schooling.
Tho moro mature development at tho foreign
university, combined with tho broadening influ-
onee OF travel at MI ago when Impressions may
bo guided by Judgment unaffected by pro3udico,
Ia moro apt to bo productive Of good results than
the foreign influences surrounding tho American
character in procosg Of formation. Thoro nro
dangors to DO encountered even In this PRACTICE.
The experiment should DO governed by tho dia-
position OF tho student lta condition In lifo, tho
drift Of his mind, the prospects before him. and
the sphere Of usefulness which he has outlined
for himself. For those who fail to contemplate
my sphore Of usefulness 1t mattors little
whether they go abroad or remain at homo In
other caso, thero will bo tho aamo likelihood Of
forming asHociations, and falling into habits OF
domoralizing tendencies. Tho scopo Of Euro
pcan university life Is undoubtedly broader
than tho majority Of American uniyor-
HitfeH Offer, and thore are particular
points OF information to DO acquired
In trayel and in tho contact with a foreign poo-
plo that can never bo obtained from books. Tho
discipline and adaptability OF such m experience
depend altogothor upon tho character Of him
who socks it. It may lead to q bad application
Of natural ability, as we'll as to the culture Of
those qualities which should bo most developed.
There is no doubt that European 1ifo of p1oas-
uro IL enoryating ind demoralizing to American
youth; European life Of application and study,
On the other hand, gives breadth and strength
to charactor and provides fund Of information
that may bo made moro uaeful in contributing to
subsequent succeas mud happiness than any dis
ciplino that can DO found ut homo. 70 guard |
against its dangors md to enjoy it's bonoats, 1t
should not DO undertaken except at an agc and
at all advancement likely to discriminate between
tho real grain aud tho chaff, both Of which will
bo found in abundance.
In summing up the advantages Of Euroroan
OIL tho ono side, and its dangers on
the othor thoro is little doubt that Ir, Nortllrop
and his associates have undertaken a good work |
In diacouragng tho growing practice, largely |
foBterod by fashionable influences and ambition,
Of aending American boys to foreign schools
with no higher object than that Of having thom |
there, no definite purpose of securing tho poou-
1iar advantages that cortnin Of tho European |
schools offer, and viouB for t1le 1uturo that
could not be better advanced by schooling at !
homo.