The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-13
FRENCH COMPLIMENTS.
Bestowed on Our Univeraitics by Brunetiere
and Lennnitre.

At a recent banquet in Paris of the American
University Dinner Club, which was founded only
last year by the graduates of Amerlcun univer-
stiles living in France, NM. Ferdinand Bruno
there and Jules Lemaitre made interesting
speeches. Regarding the American universities
which he visited NJ. Brunetiere said:
The services already rendered by these uni
versities appear to me to embody tho following
principal points: They have accomplished more
than any ~political. institution and more than any
law to break down old divisions. heal old
wounds, and unity by intelligence all the parts
of that enormous territory, blending together
the many elements which immigration from 30
many countries has brought to America. In
truth, we can say that they have formed the
American nation.
Moreover. they have refined dristocrdtis0
so to say. that democracy in which Europe for
many years could see, and still sometimes can
see, only the completely material side. In
that commercial and industrial civilization. that
fever of speculation among a people who are
represented to us as engaged solely in the pur-
suit OF fortune. the universities have aroused
the curiosity Of intelligence. have rendered to
matters of intelligence their real Importance,
and have made people understand what can be
called, perhaps, the fecundity Of intellectual
leisure. and also understand that the culture of
sNN bathhA =" ~ "A's N-S SaefsAS "AA NHS
guarantee of material progress. but also one Of
the means-when well applied. the most active
and the most c~ertain-for the requirement of
moral perfection. This is all the more remark
able because in Europe 1t is the opposite phe.
nomenon that we observe: that Of a culture old
and aristocratic. which seems to have in view
democracy in the worst sense of the term, and
co nsequently abasement."
Jules Lemaitre said:
a 49,. 80 - r-- -
fore listening to the address of NJ. Brunetiere.
and an impression that probably you all share,
pitied for belonging to the Other side of the At
iantic. That gives you great advantages over
V Very old o Country unit Ss and with al an I'D lGn histo oytn Is per- pc =
ihaps a glory and a pleasure, but It has its draw
literature and OF art; but you are freed from al
the seryitude with which the old past has
IN fnra 1T si%eiieIiffhi o NO wa SfmIy: az fo sssrf IS less sq Il
your country than anywhere else. You have q
young and almost boundless soil. and, 20 exploit
1t, all that science has slowly elaborated in cen
"one would Imagine that tho New World wa.
given to men late in the day In order that they
ity has accomplished. suffered. end learned OF
other portions Of the planet. During this tim
WIZ haye TO d9 9afe T adva Ts S9u af IL ann 7 ms sin tslf Y S1is At,
what we have accomplished. We have in oil
times presented the model of the universit!
worthy OF the name, that distributed complete
instruction, whose harmonious curriculum re
sponded. IL I can use the term, to ell the depart
ments of human knowlcdge; but we had onl.
each one preparing professional and speciou
examinations, all wanting in energy, to whicl
we gave the name Of faculties America ,whicl
is about TO bring out It's intellectual genius. an
which still comes to the schools OF the OIL
World. does not want to DO the disciple OF an,
one nation only. II intends to take its advan
tages wherever It finds them, whether that b
IN France or in germany; and. gentlemen, "
worth learning in our country. You will give
back to us in another form. Ten years ago W
N Mere to id TO TO be- Ss' enere tt eaV The ,sl Shirt DIN OF inSitis
tive. OF individual effort and of energy is pr,
scribcd. You have all that In the highest d,
gree. Therefore, gentlemen. be our professor
OF energy. Perhaps we may. to some extent, b
your professors of method"