Morning journal and courier., 1886-02-20

ED. President Eliot Makes An Elaborate Review of the Workings of the Sys- tenn.
 BOSTON, Feb. 19.-The annual report of the president and treasurer of Harvard col lege published to day is unusally interesting. It contains an elaborate consideration of the workings of the elective system, giving tables showing the courses taken during the sopho- more, junior and senior years by every mem Der of the classes of 1884 and 1885. Accom- panying the exhibit of each students work are the average marks obtained by him each year. In accordance with the facts and fig ures presented President Eliot iscusses the practical workings of the elective system un- der the heads of 1-The degree of specializ- ation in study which liberty of choice pro duees: 2-The wisdom of the ch oice as re- gards continuity of study and persistency in the same kindred studies from year to year; 3-The suppose prevalence of disposition to choose easy subjects; 4-The expediency of limiting choice by prescribing groups of cognate studies; 5-The effect of diversity of studies upon the intellectual life of the col lege; 6-The meaning of the bachelors de- gree.
 In regard to the first point President Eliot admits that specialization is not so noticea- ble as it should be in university, but says that the new system has not bee n i'll force long enough to have it's advantages appre ci- ated Considering the second point he con- cludes that the choice of studies is unusual ly wise and that no abuse of the freedom al- lowed has yet called for notice. With re- gard to the third point mass of figures is produced showing thai the charge made that students are notoriously addicted to electing the easiest courses is unfounded. The dis cussion of the fourth point shows that the adoption of is in degree impraeticable and undesirable. From the discussion of the fifth point it is shown that the effect of the system upon the intellectual life of the college has been pecu- liarly, happy, resulting in the formation of large number of clubs and in an increase of intercourse between the students and in structors. In closing President Eliot says of the bachelors degree: 'It does mean that all bachelors of art have spent from seven to ten years in liberal studies *- At college they must have added the ele- ments of fourth language, German or French, to the three studied at school besides
 
 mentioned; and they must further have spent three years and half upon prescribed quantity of liberal studies. * Every student makes his own course for three years and a half and the common goal of all courses of liberal study is the degree of bachelor of arts"
 The reports of the deans of the various graduate departments show that the univer- sity is in prosperous condition The alvin ity school has a new library building. The law school has just come into the enjoyment of three large endowments. It needs, however, an additional professorship. An endowment of $50, 900 is asked for the veterinary school. Reports from the librarian, the botanic gar den, the Arnold arboretu1n, the Jefferson physical laboratory, the observatory, the museum of comparative zoology and other departments show that the past year has been one of progress The report of the treasurer shows that the income available for the departments dependent on the college proper was $26o, ,260. 76 and the expenditure in those departments S266,- 3O7. 33 Gifts last year for immediate use aggregate $19,024. GA. The general state ment for the year ending August 31, 1885, shows that the total income was S95O, ,023.07 and that the total expenses were 649, ,374. SS. Receipts exclusive of income, plus the bal ance of $1O6, ,433 S2 on hand September 1, 1884, bring the total up to Sl,l7O, 245 6O The expenses plus investments and sundry payments amount to $1 ,053, 313.95, giving a balance on hand of $116, ,951. 50. The fund ed property and cash on hand aggregate &, 932, ,391. .6S.