The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-02
A New Scheme Of Educational Travel.

1t Is common enough for the graduates
of our colleges, provided they can COM
mand sufficient means, to supplement
their scholastic training with year or
two of foreign travel. For the most part
the fruit Of their observations represents
but q meagre dividend on the capital in
vested, attention having been strenuously
concentrated on the merits of actresses
and tailors, the analysis of wines and bills
of fare, and the hotel system of Switzer-
land and France. Sometimes the field OF
study is even less exclusive. and certain
amateurs OF mundane knowledge have
been known to perform their tour of the
world within the walls of Paris. Such ex-
plorations are doubtless exhaustive in
some directions, but they are not condu-
eve to elevation of character, and the
truth Is that the acquisitions achieved by
many young gentlemen In foreign parts
tall to mind old FULLER's caustc refer
ence to the English tourist of his day.
MANY persons" he says, weed foreign
countries, bringing home Dutch drunken
ness, Spanish pride, French lewdness, and
italian atheism. As for the good herbs.
those they leave behind them. Others
again bring home just nothing, and be-
cause they severed not themselves from
their own countrymen, though some years
beyond sea, were never out of England"
On the other hand il is obvious that an
apt facility in social commerce and
catholic. lively sympathy with the multi
form activity of mankind, are not often
comprised in the grooves of local habit
md occupation, or easily generated
through the frigid medium Of books.
Housekeeping youths" said SHAKE
EPEARE, "have ever homely Wits" and
probably no one would underrate the func-
ton OF travel in education If only some
practicable means could be devised OF at
tanning its legitimate ends. Now, IL has
long been the custom OF great noblemen
In England TO eliminate some of the temp
tatioIs which beset the inquistive aud in
experienced sojourner - foreign lands by
assuring to their sons the communicating
of q discreet and accomplished mentor.
Parents of moderate means, however,
must forego that method OF judcious sur
veillance, and II is our present object 10
point out that an effective substitute for
IT, Offering in some respects far superior
advantages, is at length presented by
French association, the so-called " Society
of student travel around the world"
The substantial character of this novel
organization, rs well as the practical sa-
gacity and good faith which may be ex-
pected to control its operations, will APP
pear on reference to the list of incorpora-
tors, which includes some of the most dis
tinguished names OF France, NJ. DE LES
sEPs for instance, Vice-Admral DE LA
RoNcIERE. DRoUYN DE LHUYs, MICHEL
CHEvALIER, and the Due D'ABRANTEs.
French and English geographical societies
have signified their cordial approval of
the scheme projected by these gentlemen,
and recognize in II the creation OF po-
tent instrument for the development of
geographical science. In like manner the
meteorological, industrial, and geological
associations OF Paris have been lavish in
commentator, and have actively bestirred
themselves to further the undertaking.
That the primary aim, however OF the
enterprise is not scientific, but purely edu-
cational, will be rendered manifest by
glance at its details.
II Is proposed by the new society to
despatch every year from Havre, in the
month Of May, a large, swift steamship ex-
pressly constructed for luxurious travel
The number of passengers among whom
ladies are not admissible, will be rigor-
ously limited to fifty, and the chief COM
mand will be Entrusted 10 an officer OF the
French navy. The vessel is expected to
accomplish the tour Of the world in about
ten months, including stoppages of more
or less duration at the most interesting
points
Each Of the passengers will nave 10 him
self spacious, well-lighted, and we'll
ventilated stateroom. He will find on
board carefully selected library, includ-
ing numerous works relating 10 remote
countries and to the natural sciences, with
whose aid he may pursue such studies as
he prefers, or merely gather useful in
formation respecting the places he 10 TO
visit. Maps, charts. and scientific sppa-