Evening star., 1901-04-15
The Educational Center.

For years American educators nave rec
ognized that Washington has been advanc-
ing as n scholastic center. As one and
another addition has been made to the
group of deuoninational institutions here
located the fact has grown upon the con-
sciousness of the observant public that a
movement was under way. which. in view
of the recognized qualifca tions of the cap
itaI for the instruction of youth, would. if
unchecked. in a few decades make de-
cided impress upon the life of the nation.
Washingtonians have felt proud of the de-
veIOpment but it is to be doubted whether
they have widely appreciated the full mean
ing of the tendency until the fact was
stated Saturday night at the annual ban
quet of the Columbian University alumni
that there is now only one American city
with a larger university population than
Washington
The occasion upon which this announce
ment was made was in itself notable
demonstration of the richness Of the local
educational field and the diligence with
which ii j. being cultivated. There were
Representatives present at the board from
IA group of educational establishments
which is perhaps not to be duplicated any
where in the world for breadth of purpose
and variety of mediums of activity. From
the public school system to the postgradu-
ate university of the Roman Catholic
Church ran the range. including the insti-
tuition which is devoted to the higher edu-
cation of the deaf mutes of America.
Assembled thus the gathering was i'm
pressive 10 a marked degree, and the move
ment toward the further development of
the capital as a center of educational effort
was undoubtedly accelerated. The fact that
there sat around the board representatives
Of more than 300 university students be-
came factor Of eloquent force In urging
forward this impulse. which can have only
the best Of results for both city and nation.
The exceptional opportunities afforded by
Washington for the training of the young
mind have frequently been suggested, the
presence here of the processes of govern
Inent, the law-making and law-administer-
ing forces. the highest courts of the coun-
try. the great national library. the scientific
bureaus. with their collections and labora-
tories. the assemblage of men of the high
est training Of world fame In the field of
science the steady drift to Washington of
workers in literature and art. themselves
attracted by these factors. AS the educa-
ttonal colony at the capital grows numerf-
|cally it Will increase in advancing ratio in
Influence and in the power to develop fur
ther. While other cities must depend for
the spread Of their schools and universities
upon the local population, or upon some
peculiar repute. or upon some great private
endowment. none can approach WASHINGTON
In the prestige which the capital affords, in
the advantage Of an endowment which
could not b. duplicated by even the most
prodigal gifts from private purses. There
IS no suggestion here of a locaization of
patronage The university population rep
resents every state, even every civilized
country.
The development Of the capital as the
chief center Of education in the western
world will BE- materially hastened and
strengthened 10y just such gatherings as
that of SaturdIy.-when men of all denomi-
nations can tell freely of the progress of
the year, stimulate each other to renewed
efforts. sweep away prejudices and unite
all the aggressive elements of the comrnu-
nifty in propaganda for the benefit of the
youth OF the country which is certain to
WELD marked influence upon the national
life. The deeper this thought of the broad
influence Of every scholastic institution at
this point sinks into the national mind the
more surely Will the capital reach it's true
stature as the recognized seat of learning
in the United States