The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-22
demic students that they take the mil

demic students that they take the mil itary course.
 IL has been argued that universities are intended only for young men who have attained some age and discretion. and that young men of that class Will not attend an institution. in which they are subjected to the restraints of rlili- tary life. This objection has some weight. But it Is easily met by ex- empting from military duty. not only those students who attend professional courses, but all other students. without reference to studies. who are over s1 years of age. In this connection 1t should be borne in mind that it would hardly be proper for the universities of the United States to close' their doors 10 all students who are not prepared to take a professional course. While there is mucn similarity between these different universities as to what they teach. there is, nevertheless, between them wide difference. Studies and departments that are suited to one in- stitution may not be suited to anoth- CT. The lines of work that ought to be undertaken by a given university should largely depend upon the age, resources. degree of advancement, and density of population of the country in which the university is located. In England. Scotland, France and Ger many. where gymnasia and colleges abound. it may be proper that great universities should not engage in coi- lege work. But in new and undevel- oped state or country a university would do but little service, and would hardly meet the expectations of it's founders. or fulfil its mission, if it con- fined its instruction to those who had both the preparation and desire to pur- sue professional work. For illustration take an extreme case. Suppose that the University of Alabama should es- tablish a chair of Archaeology. Is 1t not certain that for many years the department would scarcely have a sim gle student! As the term university" Is defined by the scholars of Europe, there are only two or three institutions in the United States that do "universi- ty" work only. But there are many universities in this country which do some university work and some college work, and among these is the Cniver- sity of Alabama. We remark incident ally that this institution has been be- tween two fires. One class of citizens clamor for confinement to the studies and methods of the universities in the older states and countries. Another class of citizens berate the institution
 
 course of instruction, or in some other way. enlist larger number of young men. We think that the general man. agement of the school in this respect has been correct. The University has undertaken special or professional courses in law, and engineering, and to some extent in other sciences. in languages. and in literature. But 1t also provides instruction for those who, though prepared to leave the academy, are not able to undertake a profession al course. In thus making provision for college work. our University is simply doing what Is done. and prop erly done. by every University in the South. In the work of higher educa- tion the University should take the lead. But 1t should not get so far ahead as to be out of the sight and reach of those whom 1t was designed to bless. As Alabama advances in population, wealth and culture. the college work of the University will be lessened. and the University work will be increased. Therefore. in view of the fact that the University receives, and should receive, many men who are not of mature years and sedate habits, 1t should carefully consider their needs and interests. These younger men have had school facilities in early life. They have. met the requirements for admission. They are already here, and they would not leave If the military system were abolished. More of them ought to be solicited. What. then. is best for this class of young men should be a prominent factor in the consideration of questions pertaining to discipline and general development.
 It has been urged by some that a removal of the military would greatly increase the attendance at the Univer- sity on the part of older men. Those who press this view should show from what quarter this great number of new students of the older class would come. As every State in the Union has its colleges and State University. j. is not reasonable to expect many accession of students from outside Of Alabama. It is contended, however. that . removal Of the military would cause many Ala bama students of the older class to at tend the University of their own State instead of the University of other States. This argument assumes that a large number of Alabama students go abroad for general, or non-profes- sional. University education. But is the argument founded on fact? This is an important question. We have exam ined recent catalogue of nearly ev- cry prominent University in the United States which Alabama students could reasonably be expected to attend for the purpose of general study. Where a catalogue of last year could not be conveniently had a catalogue of the year before was used. It appears that the total number of Alabama stu dents pursuing academic studies annu- ally at Yale University, Harvard Uni versity, the University of Virginia, WaSf ington and Lee University, the Virginia Military Institute, the South western Presbyterian University at Clarksville, Vanderbilt University and the University of the South at Scwa- nee is only about fifty-six (56.) Of this total number about twenty-seven (2I were at the, Presbyterian Univer- sity at Clarksville and the Episcopal University at Sewanee. It is proba- ble that some of these twenty-seven students were taking a theological course. and, in addition, some literary studies. Some of them, too, may have been young men who, though not then pursuing a theological course, expected to do so two or three years later. It may be safely said that nearly all of these twenty-seven students were from families that preferred denominational schools, and that thse young men did not go abroad to college be- cause of the existence of the military at our own University. Some students will go off to college because they are advised that change of climate may be beneficial. Some will go because in the faculty of the foreign institution they have a special friend or kinsman. Others will go for other special req