New-York tribune., 1905-07-22
DR.. BUTLER In ENGLAND.
Informal Conferences on UniUernty
Methods and Ideals.
London, July Il

u illustrated by the honors apd courtesies show
cred upon DR.. Butler. president Of Columbia Uni
vsrstty. he has been indecatigable IN his sf-
forts TO direct and facilitate the labors OF Eng
lish investigators and bodies Of experts like the
Mosely commission. and as soon as he arrived
IN London those whom he had placed under obj
cations by his practical services and social at
tsntions took advantage ot the opportunity to
express their appreciation OF his kindness and
their admiration OF his abilities and powers OF
organization. The universities OF Oxford anu
Manchester have conferred honorary degrees
upon him; the chairman OF the London county
Council and the principal OF the LONDON CliA-
versity have entertained him; Lord LOhoOn-
derry has presided over a special oanquet 1t
which he was the guest OF prominent eouc@lois'
the Duke OF Sutherland has invited him and Mr..
Bryce 20 meet a representative company v
Englishrnen and Americans at luncheon IN staf-
,o-s House and he has been overwhelmed with
attentions and hospitality wherever he has gone
BEING q thoroughly representative man, he has
been heard with respect whenever he has spoken
on the subject Of university education and the
necessity for making it more practical and
adapting II 70 the modern spirit
Dr.. Buffers visit In this way has been an
event OF unusual significance among British
educators. He has been consulted as q special
Sat and an expert The English &nd American
llgently compared and contrasted. Nearly all
the leading newspapers have printed articles on
his addresses and discussed the functions OF
universities II the two countries and the results
OF conservatism IN adherence TO traditions at
Oxford and Cambridge, and Of progressive meas
g-es OF research and specialization in America
and Germany.
Dr.. Butler VIII be the first TO protest against
sxaggerstion OF the importance Of HIS informal
conferences with men OF learning IN the United
Kingdom: but st cannot be doubted that at
mosphere has been created for g friendly and
useful Interchange OF views the tendencies of
modern systems and methods OF education. II
there be other effect, there is least heartier
appreciation OF the merits and a clearer percep-
ton of the weak points OF English universities
The main benefit derived from academic train
ing IN the colleges OF Oxford or Cambridge Genes
from the inIinaats relations Of instructors and
Eru6errs. The students work and read under
tutors and coaches and the family life OF a COL
isgs tends % promote habits Of reflection and in
dustry.
Composition among the colleges for ezarnina-
rion honors Is a powerful stirula1t. both on the
Isis and CT the Can. and IL helps 70 keep the
teachers and their students on their rnettle dur
ing term tine. This is the feature OF the uni
versiUy system in England which has impressed
-he American Rhodes scholars al Oxford The
majority Of them have gone through the class
ROOMS Of American colleges without having felt
the personal influence of their instructors, and
II IS novel experience for them 10 find tutors
a. their elbow who are personally Interested in
their success il passing examinations and Sc
curing honors On the other hand. practical
educators at Oxford and Cambridge are half
Convinced thar the general interests OF The uni
-ersty are sacrificed 70 this absorbing strife over
houors examinations.
They assert that the energies OF instructors
snd students are now concentrated upon what
IS hardly more han q cramning forcing
process FOR enabling the most industrious men
70 obtain high rank n examinations. They are
not prepared 70 admit that this is the best
method OF promoting genuine scholarship or
genuine love of learning originality and in
dependence Of thought.
What Dr- Butler has heard or every side is
the confession. that, while the colleges here are
well endowed and are doing their work efficient
y IN the old fashioned way. the universities
themselves are poorly equipped for collective
activities When the Oxford and Cambridge
dons hear OF what has been done through private
henefactions in America 70 enrich universities
70 multiply courses and professorships and to
Increase The facilities for post t-graduate study
individual research and specialization of work
they are IN despair over the future OF their own
llsLLlLDll8 OF ledELlllB mere are 10 I6SSIhGs
OF uberality for the English universities. Be
quests are made 10 the colleges by grateful and
loyal sons; but the universities themselves are
barely able TO maintain such plant there is
and are unable TO introduce closer methods OF
specialization, more practical facilities for re-
search work and higher ideals OF study.
The American universities. which have been
enriched to the extent Of $500 100000 during the
last thirty years, in position to challenge
competition in postgraduate courses and in
dependent Investigations, and the English uni
versities only envy their good fortune and
continue their allegiance TO Greek scholarship
Arstotle's ethics faithful tutoring IN the privacy
OF family life in the colleges and persistent
cramming for honors examinations. This is the
melancholy confession OF not a few English
educators who have listened TO DR.. Buffers
graphic account OF the iexibility OF American
universities in broadening their courses OF study
and bringing higher education into more init
mate connection with the industries OF the day
and the interests Of practical life
Specialization has become the supreme test Of
The utility OF al American university. In Eng
land there is less reforming zeal and a more
stagnant conservatism: yet there is much to be
said in favor OF the English college system, with
It's close personal relationships One secret Of
DR. Buffers social success here has been that he
has not been dogmatic on any OF these contro-
vsrsiaI questions. That is the right spirit in
which 70 discuss them n Z.