The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-17
SOME AUGUST MAGAZINES.
FIVE MINUTES WITH SOME OF
THE WRITER'S OF THE HOUR.


Literary Growth.
Although academic culture has long
held a high place in the esteem of the
American people. the conditions Of
their life have, naturally enough. made
them in the main seekers for immediate
results. They have bad work Of
pioneering to do, the like Of which has
never fallen to the lot Of any civilized
people. Although, in all their pioneer
ing work, our people have maintained
the ideal If education even more fxedly
than their religious creeds. it Is no
matter for surprise that their schools
have failed TO serve the needs OF the
communities which 80 carefully cherished
them. Thus il has come about that our
colleges have gradually fallen into a
certain dlsfavor with the masses OF the
people. Although new institutions OF
the name spring up on every hand'
although the system of instruction nm
these schools has undergone aud
IS still undergoing much Improvement
they are less and less resorted - by our
youth. Each wear more liud their way
to the professions and other educated
callings through schools Of lower
grade. They are led by "A number OF
reasons to seek this shorter way to the
walks Of active life. From much ques-
tionings of parents who have selected
these more immediate ways OF educa-
ton for their children, As well as of the
youths who have themselves chosen
this path, have been led to cOnclu'
sions which find 10 be Identical with
those OF my friends who have made
similar inquiries. These conclusions
are that young men are turned away
from our higher institutions OF learn
ing by considerations which may be
classed under three heads.
[. 1t Is Thought tlat tive system OF
academic training Is in general nor OBJ.
nature TO AID student M mos, occGpt-
tons, be they professional cor other.
There can be no question that thora Is
an immediate practical advantage m
sending "A boy OF eighteen. who means
to be an engineer or u devote ms liie TO
any of the applications of science to the
arts. at once to the schools where the
curriculum is designed To- a. hum for
such work. Each hour of his exercises
and Of all the social iutlueuc of the
place lead him straight forward to bis
purpose. At the end Of lnfea or four
years his mind has been raiuci o. a'-
tivities Of thoroughly pIIpos,iui sort.
aud he goes tOrth 20 mis- task prepared
as no ordinary college boy can ue for
definite employment. Blu Tine youth
40 trained has failed ID acquire some.
thing of the greatest value. AMI e-pa-
cially valuable for practical purposes.
The moral aud intellectual accom-
Dlishments Of man afford the most
precious heritage which o. is che rlvl-
lege and duty OF each generation 20
transmit 60 its successors. All cur ma
terial wealth. an the machinery oy
which that wealth Is created ur ape
plied. are but dust beside tnl- store 81
! knowledge which has descend ad To us
| from the past or has been created in our
time. Few If as can leave our children
the gifts Of fortune. fewer yet can hope
10 open to them the ways for great
deeds: but TO all iC is granted to make
our offspring IN some measure Tree I'd
this great heritage. which they cannot
share without being enriched ana en-
nobled. Therefore we may mold thaI
the first object of all true culture is 60
eufranchse the youth, by showing him
all that we can concerning the lolty
thought and action of his predecessors,
ae well as the nature Of the universe
which has been revealed by their lab)rs.
Those who admit all this, however, lind
another reason why young men are
turned away from our higher inelltu-
tions Of learning.
IL. Itlsslld that college education
requires so much time that young
man is belated in entering upon the
practical duties of life. There can be-
no doubt that there is great deal
Of force in this objection to a college
education. When Harvard University
required at least one year more Of work
preparatory TO its admission TO It's col
iege course. it was the expectation that
the preparatory schools would IN some
way manage to advance the work OF
their pupils. 80 that they should enter
the college no older than before the
change was mace. This expectation
mas not been realized. The result Is
that the American bog matriculates nc
an average age oGelghteon and a half.
and graduates at the age Of about
TWENTY-FIVE. Al the same time, the
professional schools have found 1t
absolutely necessary 20 add NJ
least one year 20 their course.
and those which teach medicine should
have at least four years time for their
work. Thus it comes about that the
Young man who proposes % add pro-
fessional training to liberal culture Is
usually six or seven and twenty years
of age before he has passed through
Harvard College and its professional
schools. Add to this the novtiate
period. in which the young lawyer or
doctor is forming the relations which
lad to profitable practice. and youth
has passed before his li!e-work is fairly
begun. l. needs no argument TO show
that the period of preparation cannot be
shortened by taking time from the pro-
fessional side Of the student work.
The time. therefore. must be taken
from the academic side OF the student :
work.-Prof. Shaler in Atlantic.