New-York tribune., 1880-02-29
WIyrER TERM At H1NIGroy COLLEGE.
FxPERNEN1s IN ELECTIVE STUDIES NOTES OF COL
LEGE WORK

FXPEHINiENTs IN ELECTIVE s1UD1Es NOTES OF COL
LEGE WORK.
lFRoM AZ oCcA AstoSAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
CLINTON, Feb. 28.-The second term Is half
rougn with the middle OF February. Tho peculiar Tea
lures OF the term found IN the departments of meta
physics chemistry, modern languages ana te iVotich'
dnarter The professors OF the former departments.
Ncars and Chester agreed some time ago TO Try the eN
periment OF AN elective system. in portion OF he work
in their Departments formerly compulsory all the work
In the college N fc being compulsory up TO the time
of that agreement The first terms aphysics ana the
first terms chemistry remain compulsory as Oel"re'
The second term the senior permitted % choose be-
tween metaphysics and laboratory practice majority
Of the c chose mctaphy this year last the ma
oriv tins year however. Is smaller than last, party
owing 10 the fact that the candidates for the medical
pr,ic,sion are more numerous than in the
pr,ceding class. Professor Chester was engaged
in examining mineral lands In Nevada ana
Utah during the Christmas VACATION ahd IN
returning WAS caught BY the early January storm anu
was prevented from reaching college AZ the opening OF
the term The class In the laboratory. went im
datey 10 work under the eicont direction OF his as
sts,apt. Herbert NJ Hnl The second Hunger
ford Pr.ze I'm Metaphy sics, founded by General
: d. Hungerford. Of Adams. promises To De
an object OF lively competition among the
members Of metaphysical section The subjects Tor
prize ESSAYS are two U Hamiltons Doctrine Oi Con
gciOusness cfltl,Hcl pJ siih "h'' 3ANN''"' ~ ~
" Philosophy and English Poetry" The exercises In
retapby.cs are free often conversational but always
close 10 the text Que two lectures are given 10y Pro
fes,or Mears every Whether the professors are
satisfied with the OF the elective experiment does
not yet clearly appear
decided advance IN the rhetorical department. 1t j.
Thought has been made b. giving the sJphomores pas
s,ges In the various masterpieces English prose and
ctry for examination and criticism. varied by readings
and criticisms by the professor instead OF the regular
lessons IN Bairs Rhetoric, witch used to occupy the
time bur which have been shortened ahd crowded into
a preyous part OF the course The change IL popular
nth tr tndeus mud they come to this stage OF their
course sufficiently matured for these exercses-and In
the present instance this seems to be the actProfeSsor
Frenk will have reason to congratulate himself upon
acquiring auta advantage to the department of
English Literature.
TN. new stone Professor Of Geology, Ambrose +.
Kelsey IA NJ present hng the vacant chair OF Physics
~ great acceptance He has put the apparatus I'm ad-
mrable working order aud ma, Introduced numoe. Oi
changes which are recognized ~ improvements ny NIL
TLr library s benz enriched by tie addition of large
number Of pamphles and periodical Whch IRE Deng pu
into Bnrretts binders at rng expense and converted
from mere lumber TO valuable material An m9' lhueA
81 currrnt periodical literature, home and foreign, Is
being pr pared By students under tDe direction oI he
librarian II proposed to mako II cover the last ten
vear and to carry part p0ssu with the ne" is-le-
A. TO discipline. the college has never suffered from
hoIng governed too much In avoiding an nO~edged
great evil on side, the authorities nave doubtless
become conscious of the mninence OF the opposite dan
tonng up which the students Themselves recognize a.
needed aud wholesome. A form Of inquiry Las been
10 be sent home the parents and guardians
~ siudent- who have been sbsent from college two or
more consecutive days without excuse previously oD-
,ained This 4, a process calculated to limit somewhat
thr and indefinite gyrations OF certain per-
-.
Presbyeran Institution has NJ last been thoroughly or
oaizsd 40 that substantial fruits may begin To appear
Ennr Of the friends OF the college IN Utica. not by any
means among wealthiest citzens feeling that the
movement anoud be begun subscribed $4,000 on Sttur
dav evening February Ia. This, In all probability.
viii be multiplied two or three times over among tue
of that city, nnd Ia an indication, II the
movement becomes general that the attainment or the
desired object viii be easy enough.
In nodern languages the tendency is to make know
edge OF tho elements of French aud German grammar
condition OF entrance into the classes IN which these Ian
Images arc hrst taught, viz: Second term sophomore
FOR French first term Junior for German At present
the sophomore class Ia formed into two divisions the
er f winch nearly one-thrd Of the whole, were found
on the grammar and are now reading Raoines
Ph9dre The man object OF The instruction Is to enable
Inc sudeut To translate from French or nom German
into English with facility.