The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-30
REFORM At OXFORD And CAM
BRIDGE.


esfs and conservatism were violated by the act
Of 1864, II was pointed out that the principle OF
parliamentary interference might entail the
| wholesale conhscation Of academic revenues
! and foundations. There Is no doubt that Lord
| Salisbury's BILL which has provoked so much
| vehement discussion, ls the exponent OF pro-
| found public discomfort with the existing scho-
lastic SYSTEM aud 1t Is worth while TO mark
what was gained aud what was missed by the
partial rcadjustment Of fellowships, which took
place some twenty years ago.
| The pflncely endowments Of oxford and
Cambridge are mainly assigned to the support
Of fellowshlps, to which, moreover, are attached
by way OF perqulsite the humorous ecclesiastical
benences In the aft OF the several colleges Al
most all Of these, prior to 1854, remained close"
that is, restricted to specified local or personal
| categorles, for example, to the graduates Of u
| particular grammar school, or to founders kin.
Tue tenure OF Office was subject to no condition
other than that of celibacy: and II Is to be noted
that these snecuros were not intended by their
| authors US In any sense an aid to education, but
solely as All aid to learning or individual re-
search. However laudable the object may have
been, and whatever arguments may be adduced
for reverting to It, tho old processes by which its
furtherance was sought were VIGOROUSLY clumsy
and defective. few names like those OF Bent
reelected lustro on English learning; but under
the stereotyped method OF appointment the
majority OF feowships fell to useless, indolent,
| and often ignorant men.
IL was manifest that a university, considered
as an educational apparatus, was In no wise
benefited by the large funds allotted to the
maintenance OF Don.resldents who owed no
service and whose example was dctriment.
Twenty years ago tue want OF adequate scholas-
tic appliances and Incentives was the most
| conspicuous fault Of the oxford system, and
this no doubt WAS remedied by the act VI Par
Lament which threw open many fellowships to
competitive examinations, and substantially
constituted them the prizes OF academic sue
cess. For time the wisdom OF the measure
seemed to DO triunphantly vlndiclted by tho
astonishing stimulus impaired to intellectual
! activity Of u certain Kind. Under the new sys-
| tenn each university In Its collective capacity
grew to be most efficient agency for examin-
ing students In special channels OF knowledge,
while tho several colleges were ut the same
time developed into consummate symnasa or
training schools where students were lifted to
meet those tests.
In the concentration OF academic energies
upon this task, II Ia now generally conceded
that an essential, perhaps the paramount, func-
ton OF universities has been sacrificed. Trans
formed into drilling establishments for the as
| surance Of technical perfection according TO an
| arbitrary standard and within limited range,
| oxford and Cambridge have ceased TO be seats
OF learning. 1t is true that professorships,
which arc not college bus university Offices,
| have for the most part continued TO be awarded
for broad aud sterling attainment but the leo
lures Of men like Max Muller arc totally neg
lected by undergo ID dates. who ind the micro
soopic note books aud shrewd tips Of an expert
| A, f,I d.,
while, those lucrative fellowships which absorb
the largest share Of tho vast wealth accumu-
lated at oxford and Cambridge, become the
preposterous reward Of narrow and superficial
accomplish ments-have been made the instrI-
ments OF alazy and luxurious existence. Scarce
iva single instance can be named 10 the last
decade where a sinecure thus acquired has beef
applied To It's legitimate purpose Of prom citing
patient. independent investigation. In short,
the experience Of English universities since the
Wanted reforms Of 1854 has demonstrated that
study undertaken with view to 2ecunlary adj
vantage Is rarely continued for studys sake.
The ornaments OF British science In this age
must be sought without the pale Of those insti-
tutions. and among hundreds OF FIRST classes -
they have not produced one man Of profound
and fruitful erudition. Half q dozen Germ n
institutions, possessing not a 1.-THE OF oxford 5
revenues, now outrank her in the SC ale of posi-
tive achievement.
The patent absurditles OF the present oreani-
zation can no longer be disguised by sentimental
dissertations on the Importance Of general cul-
ture aud the leayening influence on society nj
large Of highly educated men, secured by a life
income from the necessity OF vulgar toll. Men
are beginning 10 argue on economic grounds
that subsidies ought not to be gwen to the
higher education, which II so valuable In Itself
that those who need II should pay for II. At al
events, II is acknowledged that the state should
receive larser equivalent for Its outlay thar
tho transient exhibition Of juvenile dexterity,
aud that the tenure OF liberal emoiuments must
be made In some way TO depend upon soiid and
continued service. Those who still regard In
siruction as the cardin / function OF uaiyersi-
ties are In favor OF making residence and the
discharge Of tutoral duties essential conditions
OF the reconstructed fellowships. Even the
most resolute opponents OF change do not dis
pute that term Of years might DO prontab!y
substituted for a life tenure. one who knew
that his stipend must cease at the END OF a sin
glo lustrum would probably engage with more
vigor In his profession than he who felt assured
Of a lifelong maintenance.
1t is significant that the first draft Of Lord
Sallsbury's bill directed the Commissioners to
"haye regard to the interests OF religion, learn
ing, and research,' education being plainly con-
sidercd u secondary importance. This Is pre-
cisely the view propOunded by an active and
growing body Of aoademcal refnrmers At OK.
ford. In his Memoir on Acldemlcal Reorranl-
zatiun the Rector OF Lincoln put forward BIT:
conception of university "a being primarily a
place Of learning anu there is no doubt that the
superior cl Inns Of "resenrcb to endowment
are gradually winning recognition. 1t Ia certain
that the question has been distinctly raised
Snail the great seminarles OF England remain
mere training schools through whose routine
apt aud unlpt alike are to be forced BY the
stimulus Of pecuniary reward, or become Zoe
Of free science and sound learning, attracting
those only who have a true vocation, but EN-.
aiding them bY Judlcious encouragement 10 un-
dertako severe and prOtIacttd study
ANOTHER REMdRKIBLE FAMILY
The Mother of rwenty-nvs Childron Her
Father IA Veteran of 1i0 Xenrs.