Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-14
INSTITUTE OF AMERICA
GROUP OF ACADEMIES coMPRIs-
ING CYcLJDF KNOWLEDGE.
Advocates Of the Plan-What It Might
Accompljs6-should Be in
Washington.


The establishment In this country OF
something having In all the field of learn
ing the scope and authority of the Institute
OF France has been the dream OF many
able men. In his paper on Archaeology
and Mfneralogy.'' read before the American
Philosophical Society, Prof. Paul Haupt OF
Johns Hopkins University said that It was
very fortunate that the aim Of that body
was the promotion Of useful knowledge IN
general. just as the object of the Smith
sonian Institutions Is the Increase and dill
fusion of knowledge. not merely the adj
vancement OF science in the narrow sense
and he called attention to the fact that
Franklin, the great Philadelphia, VINO
founded both the Philosophical Society ana a,
the University OF Pennsylvania. was not
only physicist. but a philosopher and
man Of letters.
Prof. Haupt Is one Of the foremost adj
vocates OF the establishment OF what might
be called the Institute of America.
group OF academies, comprising the Wnoie
of the great cycle of acquired knoWieoSe
There are cOmmendable learned academies
in this country, but none OF them possesses
anything like general authority, because
none has a general scope and general at
tainments. All Of the European countries
that have been conspicuous In the maren
Of civilization have their general academies
divided into sections, each OF which IS de-
voted to a special branch OF knoWieoge
In France the aggregate body Is caiieo the
institute. and the sections are called acao-
emies. What is popularity known as the
French Academy Is only one OF these SEE
lions. the one devoted to ,beiles-lettres. Inc
French academies have gained the great
est reputation throughout the world. ana 10
many respects, as a group. are the best
model for new organizations OF thiS 'n"A
acter. .-,
England's Forward Step.
In Europe the word science is not used
in so restricted an ordinary sense as III
America. They speak there Of the science
of antiquities, the science OF law, the Sci
ence Of language. sthe science OF literary
criticism, musical science. biblical science.
All European academies of the sciences
have several departments England has re-
Gently followed the example Of the conu-
mental countries in establishing a BRUSH
Academy. with fine galaxy OF representa-
tives of philosophy, history, Jurisprudence,
political economy and philOlogy. Germany
not only has an Academy Of the Sciences in
Berlin. but in Leipsic, Gottingen and Mu-
Mich. The step taken in Great Britain was
prompted at the particular time by the de-
sire for adequate representation at the next
international congress- of the Academies of
Letters and Sciences, which Is to De neld
in London in the course OF the coming year.
The same reason, in the opinion OF Prof.
Haupt, should impel American men OF
learning to organize an Institute of Amer
lea with as little delay as possible.
Americas Prestige Abroad.
II believe" said Prof. Haupt, sin expan-
sion and Imperialism and trusts and con-
solidation Of interests. 1t seems to me that
this business principle ought to be applied
to scientific affairs. Mr.. Rockefeller and
Mr.. Carnegie have paid some attention to
them in the recent establishment Of two
praiSeworthy scientific institutions. 1t is
also important that American men of sci
ence and letters should be better repre-
sented in European iearned gatherings than
they are. A great many people think that
style and form are Of no consequence. Eu-
rOpean governments give practical dem
onstration Of the contrary. They pay great
sums at Washington that their embassies
may be magnificenty housed, and for a
long time American diplomatists abroad
suffered greatly, and they suffer yet by
comparison in the matter of rank and
seemly display with those of other nations
In scientific matters we are at a greater
disadvantage. At the International con-
gress of scientific bodies, for instance, all
the other governments are represented by
official delegates, and the Americans very
often by none at all. This was true of the
international congress Of orientalists held
at Hamburg, last fall. There was an anus
the importance Of the invitation which was
received by the government from the free
city Of Hamburg, which Is just as much
a sovereign state as the kingdom of Prus-
Sic. ouA SOVcGuucIlt lOOkeQ upon the In
vitation as one emanating from a subordi-
nate municipal corporation, and in conse-
quence Of this view the State Department
sent no one to the congress of oriental
lists.
THE seat Of the Institute of America
should be either Washington or Philadel-
phia. In certain respects this city would
be the ideal place. There is no reason why
there should not be several comprehensive
academies in this country at various CEN
tiers. such as Philadelphia, Chicago and
San Francisco" .