The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-10-29

showers, the studies of the aurora and of the zodiacal light, and the search for an intra-mercurial planet. Very differ ent would have been the Sheffield rec ord if 1t were not associated with the fame, the fortune and the followers of a greater alma mater. Substantial ad- yantages were bestowed by the mother upon her child-the use of the library and of the cabinets of mineralogy and geology. The Peabody Museum, the Winchester Observatory and the Street School of the Fine Arts shed their light like the sun on all the university, but the gift of George Peabody especially contributed to the growth of school in which mineralogy, geology and zoology were prominent subjects of in struction.
 Still Sheffield has not been held by the leading strings of its mother. It has had a large amount of independ- ence. Its funds, buildings, appoint ments, have been it's own. The pro- fessors have been it's governing board, controlling its course and its funds, subject to the oversight of the presi- dent and fellows. On one occasion, at least, the faculty asked permission of the astonished corporation to reduce their own salaries, and the request was granted!
 Thus it has come to pass that no "conf1ict of studies" has been heard of; no hostility between science and let ters; no warfare" between science and religion. The Sheffield school has al- ways stood for the idea of a liberal ed ucation in which moderate amount of Latin and of modern languages is re- quired; history and economics are also taught. It is memorable that for a long period the greatest of American philologists was the daily instructor in French and German; and that the most learned study ever made of "Dan Chau- cer and his well of English undefyled" proceeded from Sheffield chair.
 Slight perturbations in the academic and scientific orbits might interest a great astronomer like Newcomb, but to the ordinary observer they were as imperceptible as the influence of Nep- tune upon Uranus.
 Dr. Michael Foster, the English phy- siologist, in a recent address has called attention to the fact that the increment of human knowledge transcends the power of man to assimilate it. This is most obvious when a course of prelim- mary education is considered. So many subjects are said to be "of the first importance" so many are "indis- pensable," that, like new wine in old bottles, they have burst the curriculum of our fathers and overtaxed the ca pacities of youthful recipients. Elective ptoo nistic to time-honored traditions, must now be provided in every college and institute of technology. It is one of the glories of the Sheffield that from the beginning students have here been permitted to choose a group of studies, the constituents of which were beyond their choice. Freedom, under control has been the rule of the house. More- over, these groups have not been set forth as professional courses, but as ladders leading up to special callings, as preliminary to modern professions and technical pursuits. One of the most advantageous of these courses has been preliminary to medicine. To follow the healing arts, which have made during the last half century such wonderful advances, discipline is req uisite in physics, chemistry, physiology, with prolonged laboratory practice and increasing familiarity with the normal functions of organic life. Such courses were projected here five and twenty years ago, and gradually the medical colleges are discovering their value The Johns Hopkins Medical school, for example, allows no student to enter as a candidate for it's four-years' course unless he has had such a training, sub- stantially, as that here offered many years ago, and never so advantageous ly as now.
 In the matter of degrees, it is not pos- sible to distinguish between the re- quirements of the school and those of the department of philosophy and the arts, nor is it important for the greater includes the less. Certainly Yale and Sheffield are entitled to the credit of Introducing among American institu- tions the degree of doctor of philoso- phy. demanding for it a high standard of attainments, and never bestowine the honor (not in a single case, so far as can remember) by any irregular promotion. This degree has proved a powerful incentive to scholarship in this and other universities, and the list of laureati Yalenses, beginning, in 1861 with the name of Eugene Schuyler, fol- lowed by those of Arthur W. Wright Josiah w. Gibbs and other men now celebrated, is list to be proud of It is also noteworthy that the school has never yielded to the American tendency to multiply the forms of the baccalau- reate degree, a multiplication almost as bad as tampering with the coins of the realm.
 A large amount of freedom has been given to the students outside of the halls of learning. Twice an applica- tion was made for places at daily pray CTS in the college chapel, for scientific students; but none were provided doubtless because the building by tra- dition and in construction was a colle. giate and not a university chapel, and not because the scientific students were considered past praying for" There has been no common table, no dormi- tory, no regular general assemblies ot officers and students; on the other hand, there have been no rebellions against authority, no disorder, no hos, tility toward the faculty, no apparent trend toward irregular life, no lack ot college spirit.