The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-18

my reference 20 errors Of proof reading. His
failure to criticise the uss of such shows that
he has utterly failed to grasp the meaning OF
our argument.
He uses the first part of the sentence TO
| prove TINT we are unable 10 write English;
his remarks show much greater defect IN
| our course. O.. that - man may be q master
without being able 10 read it. Mr. Dsbney
| truthfuly remarks that IF we substitute Ill
| Tor well the sentence acquires meaning,
| though a meaning much at variance with the
| facts also, let me say that IL we do not SUB
stitute i'll for well. the sentence retains a
meaning. and one IN accordance with tho
facts
Tho obvious meaning 90 any one who reads
| il with an unbiased mind is that few men who
take the academic course nj the University
are 80 well prepared on any subject taught
there that 10 would be a waste Of time tor
them 20 occupy themselves with the WORK OF
tho senior classes: that TO the MANY well pre-
pared men VINO enter tho University the in
termedate classes Offer little but a review Of
their higb-school work. Mr.. Dabney has
either wilfullY mi.rcpresented the meaning OF
our statements or has shown a
nmentabie ignorance Of tho paper
he undertake, 10 critici5e. The argument
in this part OF our protest G must state in
order % rectify the impression given in Mr..
Dabney's article is this: That If the Is. A..
degree mus. 10 taken before any OF the adj
vsnced work shall count for the VI. A.. no
well prepared man cOuii afford to waste DIS
time in getting the masters degree, that II a
man be allowed to do advanced work for his
VI. a. before making bis B. A. the NJ. A.
course may be made by = well prepared man
in two years, Dir. Dsbney to the contrary.
TEE LAST CLAUSE.
The last clause that our critic finds fault
with is the statement Of the masters that they
iear thatin the effort to popularlze andpopu,
ate their classes the pro .essor' Will bend
from that high AMI rigid standard which has
ma our University world renowned.
student who has the choice OF many depart
ments for his degree will inevitably take those
which can be attained with the least diih-
Guilty"
That the professors are anxious 10 have
their classe. rs large ~ possible Is shown by
TIE fact that each professor who found his
class admitted 10 the NJ A. course by the
change in tho requirements immediately be-
came IN advocate OF the change. in ono case,
certainly. before eny further inquiry into
the nature OF the change. IL ~ natural that
each man should think his own specially tho
most important and should wish 70 teach 10 70
es many 81 possible even ut the sacrifice of the
standard. SOM men love thor su oject too WILL
TO attempt TO popularize II. Such are the
host teachers. and theirs are the classes likely
10 he avoided by men who. like Mr.. Dabney.
think that the object of work is wages not
the bearing Of heavy burdens and excessive
heat"
ZANE or The UNIVERSITY.
Mr.. Dabney concluded BY stating that the
" A. degree had thus far been the baue of
the University. This statement is a curious
one. coming az il does from man who owes
his position 10 tie fact that he is a master of
arts OF the University 1t is still moro curious
when we consider that 2 man may under the
new system attain his degree by graduating
in those schools only that are taught by mas
ter Of arts
have already stated it rs my opinion that
the old NJ A. IS taken by one out of every five
men who come 10 the University with the
will TO work for il and money enough 10 sup
port them while pursuing the course The
men who really try for tho degree and fail
generally owe their failure 50 insufficient
school training; some of them fail because
Trey oyerestimate their own powers and
work 10 accomplish in three years the work
they should have spread over four some
men fail because they are fools, but n nearly
every case q man who has received thorough
school training may attain his degree by four
years OF conscientious work. Let then those
school teachers who CRY out that the niver-
sitv course is too hard. look 10 their own
schools. let them consider If the men they
send 10 tho University are really prepared
to undertake the course. When students
say that they failed because they We're
discouraged by the hardness Of the course.
let them be asked whether they did each day
nm honest days work or If they did not de-
vote day after day TO dissipation until ac-
cumulatcd arrears OF work were beyond the
powers of their enfecbled minds Physical
and mental in ury may in many cases result
from attempting % cram" IN two weeks a
sui ect to which SIX months Of steady work
should have been devoted. This in ury is due
% e disposition of the men. not TO to
hardness OF the course. The course is hard
enough 20 separate the wheat from tho cha
to discourage idlsrs. but 10 develop manly
perseverance in those who are willing 10
work Does the statement that the fame q
the University must largely depend on the
acouirements Of its masters seem without
foundation. when 10 is seen that those men
are surcst of their degrees who come 10 the
University best prepared 10 undertake the
course. devote sufficient time 20 it and work
steadily and conscientiously while pursuing
THE NEW i. a.
The new b. A. may he beyond the reach
Of idlers and fools but II may be attained in
two years by men who enter the University
with little OF no school training. Such de-
gree may be desirable IN order 10 encourage |
non who find themselves unable 20 do senior
work 81 stay at the University. 10 may be |
desirable 10 have it for the benefit of those |
men who nre too poor to spend many years at |
school and college, but is 1t desirable to |
sacrifice our great degree 10 the desire to |
make popular the new B. Az All who think /
With Mr. Dabney evidently hone that the
prestige attached 10 the old degree will lead |
men t. apply for the new degree to which the
.ame title Of NJ A. has been affixed that in
pursuing the course they must take also the
lew b. a degree that the fact of their tax
ng il will lend 10 the new B. A. some of the
lonor that has. in the past been peculiar TO
he masters degree and that these men will
hnk of the b. A. as an end IN itself. This
s what mean by saying that the old VI. A
las been sacrificed 10 make popular the
lew b. A.
THE SKW n. A.
The new NJ. A. is not a postgraduate de-
rec, because no post graduate work is re-
ulred 1t is not an Undergraduate degree.
,eeause the g. A. is made a prere luisite.
Graduates of other colleges will not attempt
{ because no provision Is made for allowing
degree from another college 10 substitute
he b. A. Of the University of Virginia.
specialists VII not want IT, because the
curse is not specialized enough bright and
mhtious men will 90 TO other colleges.
- !