The morning call., 1892-03-25
HIGHER EDUCATION.
Brilliant Address by Haryard's Presi-
dent.

a Brilliant Address by Haryard's Presi-
dent.
President Eliot of Harvard College read
an address to large and appreeiative audi
ence in Irving Hall last nigh. on higher ed
ucatiOn and the sphere Of usefulness filled
by universities He maintained with much
firmness that to the worlds great institu-
tons of learning is due the worlds prog
ress. 1t is so now. anu it has always been so.
TO fulfill so great a mission universities
must be as nearly perfectly equipped as the
advantages OF the time will permit. They
must have wise management and the most
leasned instructors and be possessed of all
kinds Of works in every branch and depart
ment of knowledge. Harvard SPENDS from
$4,000 10 $4,000 year for books and could
we'll spend more. The university must Illus
trate all conditions; not Of one art or one
science, but of all arts and sciences, and of
all generations. Its museum must teach the
Astounding beauty and loyelineSs of creation.
II the endowment system fails the uni
yerslty must fall back on Government aid.
Ii Is permanent institution and can not go
out of existence for lack of support.
The university is the place of research
for new ana forgotten truth. By its re-
searches great inventions are made possiDie
and the foundation of all inventions laid by
hard and persistent study Of obscure stu
dents.
The university develops a peculiar and
interesting species of human being. He
knows nothing Of the value of money, ex-
cept as it will aid in the success of bis
work. lie dislikes to see bis name in the
newspapers, but hopes IN 100 years to see 1t
In some respectable work OF learning. He
rarely possesses cOmmon-Sense. and the
market place and forum are deserts to him.
Universities are not the exclusive resorts
of the rich, as many suppose. Harvard's
a no n q m n 70 ~ frh M pm
sons and many very poor, but the great
majOrlty are from the middle classes. OF
the latter. three-fourths are not the sons of
educated men. Society in the universities
is immensely democratic. and particularly
in American institutions of learning are the
social lines less conspicuous than in any
other sphere of American life.
Nearly all universities in Europe are
abandoning the restrictive limits OF denOm-
national character, and the same is becom-
Ing more so in America every year Yale
was originally Congregational, but is now
free from seetarian control. They are com
ing to believe that a mans conduct does
not depend on his creed. Ii djminishes the
influence Of any scholar il his education
is restricted by UNCONVENTIONAL lines. An
EpiscOpalan is less influenced in his own
denominationaI life for having been mar
rowed in his education by his own creed.
All universities would be better il denomi-
national lines were wiped out
The university always promotes pure
political life, public spirit and patriotism.
The greatest statesmen, the greatest public
benefact0rs and the greatest patriots are uni
yersity men and got their ideas there.
Universities are lasting instilutions-the
most lasting of any except highly organized
churches. For proof of this trace back
ward for hundreds Of years any of tie old
institutions. Yale aud Harvard have seen
their birihplaces change from English col
onies to Independent States. They are
older than any court or governmental iBsti-
tuition In Massachusetts or Connecticut.
The enduring character Of universities
shows the sOidity of the groundwork prin-
ciples on which they are built, and how
different they are from society. Society
teaches wealth, not health the university
teaches health, not wealth. The luxurious
of society cannot understand the queer
tastes of the scholar; and the scholar has
nothing in common with the luxury OF So
ciety.
A democratic country, of all others, should
appreciate the spirit of colleges, for there
is where democracy thrives most. Democ-
racy suffers from the oppr ession Of MAORI
ties and monopolies. a spirit that cannot
exist in colleges.
Before the Teachers Institute.
The opening of the Teachers Institute
in the Odd Fellows Building this afternoon
will be an event Of unusual Importance in
the educational life of San Francisco owing
faf he ant hot n af Har nd