Smyrna times., 1899-12-06
"POOH BAH" UNIVERSITIES.
Caught 10 the Wheels of "Di-
plOma Mills"

pIOma Mills"
To THE EDITOR OF THE TINES
SIR:-Noticing intimations in the !
TIMES that the "Pooh Bah" Univer-
stiles, Institutes of Chicago are spread
ing their net to capture the unwary
but ambitious to be doctor" titled
rustic in our own beloved Delaware, it
may be pertinent to ask why disturb
the ''little game" by exposure and rid
icule. These so-called Universities,
Institutes, etc., hailing from Chicago
with a faculty, much like the celebra-
ted character of "Pooh Bah" in the
comic opera of Mikado, are needy.
The Chancellor and his family must
be supported. Buying sheepkins and
writing on them latin formula is his
trade. Sheepskins cost money. 1t
takes time and skill to engross them
and if he can't sell them he will "bust"
and will have to go to work. become a
tramp or let his family support him.
they won't buy his wares at home,
hence he must become an expansion
ist" and go abroad. To the over am
bilious professional man a thousand
miles away "PoOh BAH Universities
have high sounding names; their
sheepskins are just as clean and their
"DegIee" title just as carefully de-
scribed as though coming from a GEN
INE INSTITUTION OF LEARNING, and be-
hold the economy of it to the would-be
Doctor! No study! No burning the
midninght oil Only few little fees,
usually beginning with five dollars and
10, a Bachelor" a "Master" or 6
Doctors" title is Matched out. Now
why expose these needy bogus di-
ploma mills? The chancellor" OF
Secretary makes his living by it. The
man who has spent his money for tn,
bauble has a right to make whatever
contribution he sees fit to support tn,
"ChancellOr" and his family. Tn
"ChancellOr" in turn presents hin
with a twenty-five cent sheepskin
Both are satisfied, and although yol
newspapers will print the stuff an
often get in the name of genuin
University instead Of the bogus on
yet don't think your readers are de
ceived.
Every one of us, with ordinary com
mon sense and a small knowledge {
affairs in this world, knows that res
Universities confer but few, if an
honorary degrees, and then only upo
those noted and famous in the Literar3
scientific or theological aOOrLd.
would simply make them ridiculous
do otherwise. All of us know that OF
own little Delaware College even
: confers very few degrees, and VIII
among us would ever imagine thel
hunting about in small towns thou
, and miles away to find some ordinar
l featherweight professional person
confer a degree upon, and why shoul
your readers for a moment believe I'll
great Universities or even the smalle
y of respectable colleges in any part (
. our glorious country would do VIII
our own college would not think {
doing. Oh no, let it go on, don't hol
it up to ridicule, you may deter SON
2 other ambitious and truly good ms
from sending few dollars to a need
"Pooh Bah" Faculty in Chicago for
. sheepskin and this may deprive Il
. Professors" of sharing in the pro
/ porous times, and cause them to tul
Chicago anarchists. However, if al
=, of your readers should be curious
y know of the standing of any Unive
: sity in Chicago, claiming to confer d
,, grees, let them write to the Preside
:, of the University of Chicago or t
u Northwestern University at Evansto
+" Illinois, or to any newspaper editc
10 clergyman, business man or scho
teacher in Chicago and get the facts.
Yours truly,
AMPERsAND.