Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-08

! Colby University at thirty-five and a LID
| by Yale in 1901. He began his work as
tutor in Tennessee college and at TWEEN
ty-three was professor of Hebrew in the
Baptist Theological Seminary here. At
thirty he was professor of Semitic Ian
guages at Yale. and he took the same pro-
fessorship at Chicago when he accepted
the presidency of the university
In addition to this. DIR. Harper has>been
a member of the Chicago board of educa-
| ton, and has also written a large number
| of educational and classical works. includ-
| ing text books of Greek, Hebrew and Latin,
| so that his experience especially fits him TO
discuss the educational movements of the
day.
The Twentieth Century College.
My first question was as to the twentieth
| century college; whether it is an improve
ment over the colleges of the past, and
whether the study of the classics is needed
to equip our young men for the business
life of today.
Said DR. Harper: "The twentieth century
college will be much better equipped than
| the college of the past. 1t will have
better library, better facilities for physical
| culture. and above all better facilities for
| the study of science We have now MANY
thousand high schools which are better
equipped in such particulars than were
the majority of our colleges thirty years
ago This will compel the college of the
future to make itself stronger along these
lines or it must become an academy
I'm discussing the future of the American
college, however, one must sharply dis
tinguish between the college and the uni
versity. We have now to deal with univer-
sites. something which did not exist in
America thirty years ago. The bearing of
our several large and rapidly growing uni
versities upon the college question is very
close.
The Study of the Classics.
"As to the study Of the classics" contin-
ued DIR. Harper. there is undoubtedly
reaction in many quarters against that as
an important factor in the preparation for
business life. This reaction is only tenn
porary. Up to the present, no better means
has been provided for training the mind
than the old-fashioned classical discipline.
At the same time it should be noted that
serious and important change has taken
place In the use of the classics. The gram
mar is no longer exclusively or largely
taught. Much more attention is now given
the literary side of classical work and this
has many advantages"
But, DIR. Harper, cannot men get the
same good out of the study of more prac-
| teal things than the dead languages?"
81 do not think any other study trains
the mind quite so well. However, If good
| methods are adopted there is doubt
that men can be well trained by using any
of the more common fields of knowledge rs
a basis For this reason a large use is
made of history. political economy and So
cial science and of the natural sciences as
we'll as of technology.
Our Boys at Oxford.
"What do you think about sending Ameri-
can boys to oxford the scholarships
furnished by Cecil Rhodes? Will they get
as good an education there as at homer
There are many American boys who will
be able to obtain great advantages by
three years residence at Oxford replied
DIR. Harper 81 do not think it would be
4 ya1l To hnNr oil ~ an hnN frn1 tod fhnrn
1t would not be a good thing to have them
all educated at any one place, or in any
one way. AS to whether they are to be
| benefited by their Oxford course depends
very largely upon themselves as individuals
! II is mistake for some boys to go to
| college at all, and it will probably be found
| that some of our young men will derive no
perceptible benefits from their stay at OK
| ford But If the selections are made on the
proper basis, the experience of our young
| Americans in Oxford will prove to be not
| also one in the educational system of the
| United States. which will be the richer
| because Of this new contribution"
Can Business Men Afford the Time.
"But. Dr. Harper. do we not devote too
much time to education? Can the man who
| expects to enter commercial or business life
| afford to spend four years at college?"
THAT depends upon two things. First
| upon the age at which he enters college
| and second the good he is getting out of
| his college work. If young man is not
able to enter college until he is twenty-one
| or twenty-three and he cannot therefore
| graduate until he Is twenty-five or twenty
| seven, the question is serious one for
| him. The average boy. however, should be
| able to enter college at not later than sew
| enteen. and there is no reason why such
| boy should not spend three or four years in
| study, whatever is to be his occupation He
| will surely be all the stronger for business
| If he has made himself acquainted with the
| various subjects of money. insurance. etc,
| which form so large part of the business
| life of today
| ION the other hand" DIR. Harper contin-
] ued. there is no good reason why the pres