Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-14
POnnInrlzing colleges.

10 INC EUHOT " Ht DtoPutC"
Your admirable article on " Popular
ling Colleges " deserves the careful at
tention of all who are interested in
higher instruction and the noble efforts
poor Virginia continues to make to
afford such to her sons and the sons Of
the whole South. The charge brought
against professors that they fail in
bringing before the public and popular
iziDg, by writing and lecturing, them
selves and the institutions in which
they hold chairs " is well founded. No
doubt they ought to do more in that
direction, though they cannot be a.
cused Of want of good will to do their
duty in this respect also. Speaking of
the University only, several professors
have written enough to form their works
into small libraries, while others keep
busy the presses of the University Pub
fishing Company year after year. The
AHn0iS Of Chemistry, Engineering,
aud Mathematics never fail to contain
contributions from these, while one high
class journal for the latter science
bears the imprint Of the University IT.
self. Comparative philOlogy has re-
ceiyed yoluminous additions from the
chair Of modern languages, the incum-
bent Of which is as often present as
member at the meetings Of the Orien-
tsl. the Pathological, and other societies.
as his duties and other impediments
permit. The new chair Of English was
lnauguTated by an excellent work on
ADglo.Saxon poetry. The charge OF
mot writing" can thus hardly be sus-
tanned at the University. That of E" not
/ lecturing" is better founded, though
here, also, matters were better in for
mer days, when the eminent chemist
was frequently invited to the cities,
when the professor Of history delighted
large audiences in nearly every large
town, and the doors Of the Peabody In
stitute and even the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition were kindly opened to the author
of +" Studies in English " and " Ameri-
canisms."
That more is not done now-that less
even is attempted-can, however. not
be charged to the professors alone.
They have not the time, in the first
place. The unbroken series Of lectures
extending through the nine months,
/ from October lst to June Both, without
even the usual pitiful break of few
days rest at Christmas, keeps them
literally chained to the desk. When
series of Lowell Lectures" in Boston
was offered to one Of them the Visitors
felt in duty bound to refuse the leave Of
absence requested for the purpose. In
fact, every invitation Of the kind inyoly-
ing an absence OF more than very few
days had to be declined, until courtesy
itself became weary OF constant refusal.
Professor Winston, who is justly
praised for the excellent work he has
done and is still doing, was fortunate in
being able to do it at home and at no
risk to hisTegular duties.
The professors have not the means, in
the next place, to 90 about and lecture.
Their homework is hard enough, in all
conscience, and the modest compensa-
ton which Virginia cities now must be
content to offer would be but small
temptation to add to the work largely.
Nor can they well be expected to "seek
to increase the revenues Of the institu-
ton to which they are attached until
they can be assured that they will be
allowed 10 share in the increased pros
peIity. Wherever the interests of the
institution and those of the professors
are looked upon as identical there is no
fear but that the latter will do all and
everything in their power to "put dol
las in the treasury of the college.
sell-interest would move them to do so
should they be wanting IN higher mo-
tiyes.
Fortunately, the wisdom of the pre-
sent Legislature promises that better
DAYS are coming in this respect also,
and the Dispatch may rest assured that
its wise counsels and happy suggestions
will be carefully considered and cheer
fully carried out.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Feb. 3, 1856.