The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-05

Universities" Is very greatly enhanced by
the introduction by Prof. Nicholas Murray
Butlerof Columbia College, which enters
into the question OF the distinction
between the college and the university,
and assumes TO point out the true field to
be occupied by the university In the
educational world. This is O matter not
generally we'll understood in this country
where the public knowledge Is
confused and misled by the careless and
perverted use OF the name university a.
applied TO institutions OF learning.
The question OF what really constitutes
university may be understood to be
different question in America than in Eu-
rope-or Germany, more strictly, since IL
is in Germany that the university exists
in an ideal state and 1t is the German
universities that are considered In the
book Prof. Butler introduces. 1t has
been a habit iDAmerica toldecry the Ameri-
can (so-called) universities because they
are not prototypes OF the German institu-
tions, or because they do not bear re-
semblance TO English universities sum
GENTLY intimate. Prof. Butler takes up
this question OF purpose, scope and defini-
tion, and proceeds TO indicate wherein
the American idea Is tending toward
conception and application OF the univer-
sity principle not only more consonant
with the American demand for utility,
but more ideally perfect as providing
means for the best and most
comprehensive culture, considered
as culture for cultures sake only.
In this Professor Butler has spoken a
needed word for our universities, and. u
Is the more satisfactory that it has basis
Of fact and true education progression to
rest upon that removes it from all sus-
picion OF being in any degree prompted
by feeling of patriotism. The dictum OF
Won Hoist, that "there is in the United
States as yet not a single university in the
sense attac he'd 10 the word by European
is taken up, and 1t is easily shown
Europe as to what university
must be. The. criticism Of the
German writer is easily shown to
mean simply that there are no German
universities in America, which is freely
ana fully admitted. Prof. Butler amends
the definition of university to be, In its
broader and truer sense" while not con-
founding 1t with a college, however large
or however ancient, nor applying 1t mis-
takenly TO a college and o surrounding
group of technical and professional facul-
ties OF schools, yet extends the term to In
clude any Institution where students.
adequately trained by previous study
of the liberal arts and sciences,
are led into special fields of
learning and research by teachers OF
high excellence and originality;and where,
by the agency OF libraries, museums, lab
oratories and publications, knowledge is
conserved, advanced and disseminated"
And in this sense he finds that there are
six universities in the United States, but
he refrains from naming them. In the
American system OF higher education, In
one very important respect, distinctly
superior to the German, the coll
lege and the university exist side by side
in the same corporation and
the work OF the one passes
gradually and insensibly into that
OF the other" Thus far we are able to
accompany Professor Butler with agree
ment and distinct pleasure, but when he
proceeds to a consideration of the aims OF
university study-"the pursuit OF science
for its own sake"-he cites as the chief OBJ
|stacle to their full esta ablishment in
America "the Development aud rapid
|growth OF technical schools" "Indeed,
in this lies the chief danger to the integ-
|rity of American university development"
Isays Prof. Butler, and the regretful note Is
dominant throughout his remaining COM
ment. Now, it must be admitted that the
|.echnical, law, med ical, and other schools
for special training attached to universe
ties, are pot boilers. They train, In the
quickest manner, men for special avoca-
tions by which they intend to gain
livelihood. They do not teach science for
learning's sake, but for living's sake.
w ith Professor Buffers conception of the
aims of the true university 1t is impos-
Bible TO quarrel, but there Is as yet
room for but one such university
Nv here hundred OF the technical schools,
Nv hose dominance he depiores, are needed,
hnd it will be long years before the Amer
can people will reach plane Of material
development where the technical school
will not be OF immeasurably more ell
Importance to them than the university,
s defined by Prof Butler can possibly be.
Prof. Paulsen's admirable exposition OF
he German university idea has been
vorthily translated by Prof. Edward
ID. Perry OF Columbia college. 1t
concise, lucid, comprehensive-and ii
reed not be said that 1t is OF the greatest
interest and value to Americans who are
EDUCATORS or who are interested In the
ducated. 1t does not strike the contro-
ersial note so smartly sounded In the
ptroduction, and lets the natural enthu-
iasm of the German author for his
ountry's great universities expend itself
loving and careful delincation OF their
est methods, tendencies and results.
Macmillan Co., New York; II. Greg
ry, Providence.
W. Clark Russell's lntest sea novel Ia
The Good Ship Mohock," and 1t is
OF only good story, but is the work OF
ne of the best contemporaneou writers
stories. MIR. Russell Is q consummate
ftist, and his pen turns out work that
rs the delicious charm OF language that
bmpensates for whatever OF similarity of
OF and treatment may be fairly charged
yainst his stories. This Is a story Of q
bung lady OF 22 who has extremely dark
d hair, large and eloquent dark
fown eyes, who is slightly above
iddlQ height md whooa onIv fa,It