The Washington critic., 1888-05-31
WASHINGTON, MAY 81, 1SSs.
TWO MORE UNIVERSITIES.

by Andrew ID. white, eX-PreSdcnt Of
Cornell, late Minister to Germany
and one of the best and brightest
thinkers Of the age.
1t has no relation to and makes no
mention of the great Catholic Univer-
sity Of which the cornerstone was
laid last week, but proceeding upon
the theory that the country now has
nearly four hundred colleges and uni
versities "more or less worthy of the
name," Professor White takes the
ground that Il is just now far more
important to strengthen the educa-
tional institutions that we now have
than to make any immediate addition
to their number.
This he suggests can best be done
by the establishment at Washington,
through private means, of an institu-
ton of which the main duty shall be
to provide system of examinations
on the leading subjects required for
admission to the first years course in
the various departments of all repu-
table American colleges, upon which
the examiners at Washington shall
base the selection of a certain num-
Der of scholarships, giving to the
holder the right and duty of expend-
ing say the sum of $3.50 in securing
instruction at any college or univer-
sity in the United States which the
successful candidate may prefer.
Another part of Professor Whites
plan is to establish system of fellow
ships, the candidates for which are to
be taken from the graduating classes
of the various existing colleges, these
fellowships to be of the annual value
of 500 and to hold good for three
years, enabling the successful com
petitors to pursue such special
branches of instruction as they may
desire, either in this country or
abroad.
1t is also proposed, as means to
the more thorough investigation of
special questions of inquiry or eco
nomic problems, that the university
authorities at Washington make Sc
lection of small number of travel
ing bachelors" who shall in time con-
stitute trained body of men, capa-
bic of adding largely to the country's
stock of useful and practical infor-
nation.
1T will be seen that this institution
is not in the nature of teaching uni
versity. 1t has an entirely indie
pendent-a broader and higher de-
sign.
The system of scholarships would
not only give to persons of small
means opportunities which they do
not now possess and at the same time
exert great influence for good upon
every college and university in the
country by having its course of in
struction thus marked for an enlight-
ened public approval, but would afford
methods of comparison between the
work of various institutions of the
same grade, which are much needed.
The effect of the proposed system
of fellowships would, in Professor
Whites opinion, create great anxiety
and ambition on the part of the
colleges to train students to success
fully compete for these honors. He
can think of "no better antiseptic for
the dry-rot which afflicts so many in
stitutions of learning" Another i'm.
portant result would be test of
work in the various institutions, and
so a test of the traditions, systems
and men controlling this work.
Also, continues the Professor;
From the scholars thus trained our uniyer
stiles, colleges and academies would receive
better teachers; our magazines and newspa
pers writers better fitted TO discuss living po
litical, financial and social questions; thC
various professions men better prepared L
develop them in obedience to the best Inoderi
thought, and the great pursuits which lie a
the foundation of material prosperlty-ag
culture, manufactures, and the like-mer
better able to solve the practical problems o.
the world. Every field of moral, intellectual
and physical activity would thus be enriched
The institution at Washington
should be managed by n board O
trustees with chancellor or presiden
at their head and It's local habitation
while not necessarily expensive o
elaborate, might we'll be IA nobl
. edifce TO adorn the Capital of tn
United States and be the worthy out
ward and visible sign of the institu
ton, indicating to all who visit tn
metropolis that this is the centre Of
vast provision for the higher educa
ton in the nation at large"
OF the teaching university Pro
fessor White promises to write here
after and in regard to such an in
siitution says:
That would be, indeed, OF vast value, an
the day Is not far off when some public
spirited millionaire will link his name TO tn
glory Of his country by establishing II. II
will find the eight or ten millions II will rC
auire a small price 10 pay for the glory whlo
II will bring TO the nation and TO him; he Wi
see that the number OF men distinguished 1
science and literature who live or go ther,
the scientific collections streaming into tina
centre from all points in our vast domain; th
great National library and the preclou
special and private libraries aecumulatin
there; the attractlyeness, accessibility, beat
tifnl climate and increasing salubrlty OF Oh
place; the facilities OF every sort for bringin
the hsst thoaght Of the world 70 bear upo