The evening times., 1900-02-06

OtlrEF Are~ihehNSs
The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune"
in dealing with the affairs OF a certain
university in the Middle West, expresses,
frankly and forcibly a view OF the CHER
education which ought to be universal.
The president of this university has had
some trouble with his subordinates. and
removed some Of them for alleged incom-
petence. II is claimed that the manner OF
this removal was not fair. kind or gen.
tlemanly. With this particular case tie
general public has no especial concern;
but the remarks which the "Commerc al
Tribune" makes on the subject ought to
be quoted in every paper in the country.
II says:
..Nllt Is a university profted If it make its
students able crafty. >hiIitui. and yet does
not make then high--trung- honorable men OF
women And bow can university hope 90
make fearless gentlemen ot its BOYS, and CON
firm in fearless womauho0d its girls, u IT'S own
official Igts DO not breathe ot the ideally 4 uni
versJy can pull through and be great force
for good 10 spite Of O poor equipment. IN spite
Of inferior mentality IN its teachers. in spite
oi a Thousand purely intellectual failing-. But
Do can never. not even II d have all the equip
mcnt iu the world and all the genius upon
earth. he o uy great and good force uuir-S
It's intellectual influence De transcribed by its
moral one The president 1t a university may
fiil in mentality. and yrt. hv reason OF uobie
and inspiring character. do good to his iusti-
tuition. But DE tali IN character, NJ ne De
harsh. -iperc! Jus. Or brutal. his mental quail
hcltions count for nothing lu word, Che
prime function of "a university ls the upbulld-
ing of character. All other considerations. no
matter how uomcutou~, are secondary
Our torefathers dimly perceived this
truth-some of them. indeed. saw it clear
ly-and as q result of such convictions.
clergymen were often appointed as presi-
dents Of colleges in the early days Of the
Republic. There was reason for this iu
the fact that. educated men were fewer in
proportion 10 the whole population .han
they are today and the clergymen who
came from England to take charge OF
pioneer parishes were apt TO be men Of
rather superior qualifications in their day.
NBut at the bottom of such selections lay
the feeling that the influence of college
ought 20 be a moral influence; and in those
days morality and the church were 50
closely associated in the popular mind
that one practically involved the other.
Nowadays we know thar not only are there
inuumerable good, conscientious. and able
zon Of thought has so broadened, iuvestl-
CATION so deepened. that the man who can
do the best work i'm a college is generally
the man unhampered by the necessity Of
preaching any definite doctrine But tlat
does not change the fact that in the Choice
Of a man TO hH the position OF president of
a college. or head OF a school. character
president if he be gifted In the manage
ment of men. and able TO recognize ability.
can secure any number of specialists 70
instruct the students in mathematics nat
ural science, the languages; his position
demands rather broad and liberal culture
than great special knowledge in one or
more than one department He must be
alert progressive appreCiative Of the fo-ce
and value OF every new movement: be
must not be prejudicod i'm favor Of old
methods. nor too eager to adopt new ones:
ne must be well-balanced and welI-in-
formed. But iJ can be stated withou. the
slightest reservation that II he is nc. up
right, and just, and honest in his dealings
with those about him; il he lacks av-
cry. truthfulness. generosity all the cuI-
ture that he may have will go for neth-
ing The great college presidents are rot
remembered for their books or their ser
mons. but for their influence on the stu
dents. College boys are more sensitive
to injustice, more quick to detect a sham.
more loyal to their real friends. than any
other class Of people In the community;
and when the boys cheer their president.
and flock TO his lectures and speak Of him
with enthusiasm. be is reasonably sure 10
be a man worth respecting II sometimes
occurs, when the president OF a college
is a mere igurehead as too often hap
pens. that the reputation of the place is
kept up by the inspiring personality OF
two or three professors; but their in
nuence cannot mold the life Of the insti-
tuition as can that of the recognized head
Il is time to. recognize the fact that
something is wrong with a college presi-
dent who is not popular with the students
Their feeling is the touchstone OF his
character lie may be misinterp-eted by
older people; he canpot escape the srutiny
of these quick-eyed keen-witted boys; he
cannot compel their loyalty nor can he
pass of on them a counterfeit They are
not bound by law or seIf-interest but by
the influence Of personality; they are at
an age when humanity cares little for per
sonal ends, and does not take kindly to
roundabout methods. The boy who cur
ries favor with the professors loses the
good opinion OF his fellows: he may have
an honest friendship, but not a polite
and seryile acquaintance. College boys
will sometimes speak with hearty liking
Of a professor who is unduly strict and
harsh: they never respect or willingly
obey one who is insincere. II insincerity
in any form is allowed to creep into the
spirit of a college, that college is doomed
to 90 TO the wall sooner or later
The Talent OF Management.