New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-17
PRESIDENT ELOT'S REPORT.
THE A. b. IN THREE YEARS SCHOLARSHIPS
AND ELECTIVES AT HARVARD.

Cambridge Mass, Feb 1.-THE reports of Presi-
dent Eliot and of Harvard University for the year
1888 issued Wednesday. The volume.
which has increased to 425 pages contains. in addi-
ton to the presidents remarks, the reports to the
president of the seventeen departments. the cura-
tors of four museums. the dean of Radcliffe Col
lege, and the financial statement by c. F. Adams,
%, SS. treasurer.
BY far the most interesting and important sec
ton in the report is that in which President Eliot
discusses the matter of obtaining the degree OF
A r. in three years. 1t appears that the
ment to diminish the number of courses needed for
the degree has become conspicuous not through
faculty legislation looking to that end but through
natural causes. The cutting out of prescribed
courses began al Harvard in 1890 with an ele-
mentary in physics counting toward the
degree as two-tenths of a full course. Since then
the diminution in courses has been working mainly
through the English department. The movement
is best typhed by the fact that students who
anticipate English A. the freshman required Eng
lish with grade A or b must pass satisfactorily
in but sixteen courses to obtain an A. B. The
number Of courses required in past years has been
eighteen. That "anv young man of fair abilities
procure the degree in three years with
out hurry and overwork if he wishes to do So or
if his parents wish him." is amply borne out by
the presidents remarks and by statistics. For. at
the present time, nearly two-ffths OF the WhoIe
number of students. or 231 who are graduated, are
credited in three years with sixteen or more
''-NA
a compa ra lively short time the majority of those
with the purpose of completing the requirements
for the degree in three years . -
The next subject of general interest concerns
scholarships with a surpiusage OF when II Is as
serted the college has long been burdened. Dean
c. l.. Smith of the faculty Of arts and sciences
is quoted saying: by far the greater part OF
the work done in college is done by men who are
which stimulates men in scholarly pursuits all or
which is very commendable and perhaps natural
But ii is not so well known that many deserving
and needy students fail to win any scholarships
and that there is yet no danger Whatever OF d
superabundance of scholarships iii Harvard Coz.
lege.' The president and fellows have outlined
their position In regard to scholarships and all
aids and should not offer complete support; % they
should not be used detain in the shelter or the
university men who over twenty-five years OF
age, and who should be ready for productive WORK
in the active world"
The spirit of the elective system IS well eXem-
pIihed by the trend of work in the graduate schoo
where three-uuarters of the members study the IAN
guages and the moral sciences as against one,
quarter who pursue mathematics and the physlcaI
and natural sciences In the college the undergradu-
ates must be forciby interested in mathematics
and the sciences. There is no indication thaI the
average undergraduate who finds courses IN lhS
languages and moral sciences both entertaining anu
contributory TO refinement and culture VIII lIee,y
elect courses in those sciences which are purely
of practical value. . - 5o+o1ad
President Eliot includes IN his report detalIeo
into effect 1901, encouraging report or L
Lawrence Scientific School, a specihc1uoh OF INC
various needs of the university, ana some coii-
ments college finances.