The sun., 1894-12-27
Harvard.

| harVaru.
| We have before us the Catalogue of Har-
| ward University for the academical year
1S94-95. When we say that the volume
comprises 623 pages. we sufficiently indi-
cate the range and quantity Of information
presented. The requirements, however, for
admission to the college proper and to the
| principal professional schools, are the mat
ters Of especial interest to those who desire
| to see Harvard keep her place Of eminence
among American seats Of learning.
The authorities Of the college proper ad-
here to the custom, which they have fol-
lowed for some years, of admitting to the
freshman class candidates otherwise quail
fed, who have no knowledge Of Greek, or,
alternately, of Latin; but with one of the
two classical languages he must have rudi-
mentary acquaintance. The same thing is
true Of French and German; an applicant
need not offer both languages, but one Of
the two he must. It is also to be noted
that when a candidate does not offer
both Of the classical tongues, and both
OF the modern languages mentioned, ma
terially higher requirements are exacted
from him in other departments. Many old
fashioned graduates are still disposed to
question whether a degree of Bachelor of
Arts conferred upon a person who is not
tolerably conversan. with both Greek and
Latin, constitutes a valid certificate of lib
eral education, in the accepted sense of the
term. Yet all will acknowledge that on this
point the utmost Difference is due to the
Judgment of DIR. w. w. GOODWIN, Eliot
Professor OF Greek literature, who, we un-
derstand, has declared himself convinced by
experience, that making Greek optional for
admission and in the college curriculum
works well. Fewer men are now graduated
with mere slnattering Of Greek; but, on
the other hand, 1t Is said that the men who
present Greek as well as Latin on their en-
trance, and pursue the study of those Ian
guages throughout their college course,
acquire more thorough knowledge
under the system which exacted a
definite quantity of Greek from all.
That may be; but at Oxford the same
range and quality of Greek scholarship
are not expected from pass men and from
class men; but a modicum of that language
is demanded from every one who desires the
kind Of respect traditionally attached to
B. A. degree. If a student cannot or will
not offer Greek, why should he not content
himself with degree otherwise defined
and denominated, and not expect diploma,
which has carried specific meaning by the
general consent of universities, ever since
ON the revival Of learning the study of
that language was universally adopted by
those institutions
1t is gratifying TO find that measures have
been taken to increase the significance of
the degrees conferred at Harvard by the
schools Of Divinity, Law, and Medicine;
although as regards two of these profess
sional departments, something remains to
be done in this direction. The rule is prop
erly laid down that, while persons Of inferior
qualifications may be admitted to the Divin-
ity School as Especial students" candidates
for the degree of Doctor of Divinity
must have received the degree of Bachelor
OF Arts from some recognized insti-
tuition, or must satisfy the faculty that
their education has been equal to that OF
graduates Of the best New England colleges.
To the Harvard Law School the require
ments for admission are still lower than
they are for admission TO the freshman class
in the college proper; but practically the
signally improved curriculum of this profes-
sional department is tending to bar out those
persons who can offer only the mini
mum qualification for entrance. This seems
evident from the fact that out OF 393 law
students, 3O5 are graduates of recognized
colleges and seven of other law schools. As
regards the Medical School, the catalogue
does not state what proportion Of the stu
dents brought with them, upon their en-
trance, certificates of liberal education;
but we have gone over the list, and we
and that out of 4s6 students only I46
have obtained a degree Of any kind from
any recognized institution of learning. An
explanation Of this regrettable fact will
appear when we inspect the requirements
for admission 70 that school, and OBJ
serve that these are decidedly leSs onerous
than those imposed upon applicants for en-
trance into the freshman class In the college
proper. Moreover, small As these require
ments are, a candidate who Is deficient In
them may still enter the school con-
ditiOnally, and remain there without max |
ing his deficiencies good during the first !
two years Of the professional course. We |
note. on the other hand, with satisfaction |
that hsncefOFth the dsgFes Of n. d. will be |
bestowed on no one who shall not have spent |
four full years In some recognized medical |
school, Ons at Least Of which years must |
have bssn Spsnt In ths Harvard institutiOn,
and who, moreover. shall not have DAsssd
certain pEsscribed examinations intended
70 test : candidates. ithsss 70 praetiss the
medical profession.
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