The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-17
UNIVERSITY HAS
MANY PROBLEMS
Or. Penniman of Philadelphia
Makes Interesting Address
UNIVERSITY BRED MEN
Dean of Academic Department of Uni
versity of Pennsylvania Speaks
of Duties and Responsibilities.
ideals In College Life.

In an address made in 1857 at CAM
bridge, Mass. on the occasion of the
two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of
the founding of Harvard University.
James Russell Lowell said that the aim
of Harvard was to make of every stu
dent who entered its gates a gentleman
to cultivate in him that good taste
which is the conscience of the mind and
that conscience which is the coed taste
of the SOUL
This idea of the purpose of a great uni
versity so effectively enforced, as 1t Is
in Lowell's happy phrases, formed the
subject of an interesting address made
in the First Presbyterian church last
night by DR.. j. H. Penniman, the dean
of the academic department of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania, situated in Phil
adelphia.
A Recent Question.
In recent years 1t has come to be the
custom of representatives of northern
universities to visit various urban centers
In the union and there to speak on some
subject of large public interest. The
feeling Is everywhere strong that great
deal of value inheres to this custom
value not only to the universities whose
representatives are heard but also to the
people who have the privilege of listen
ing to these interesting and instructive
addresses. 1t was not little natural
therefore. that the announcement made
in the newspapers that distinguished
representative Of the University of Penn
sylvania would speak in Birmingham
should have awakened lively interest;
and inasmuch as this is not DR.. Penni-
mans first visit to Birmingham 1t was
not surprising that a large audience
should have gathered in the First Pres
byterian church to hear what he might
have to say regarding THE Problems of
a Modern University
University of Pennsylvania.
There are few constitutions of higher
learning in the Union that have adj
vanced so rapidly in all upbuilding ways
In the last twenty years as has the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania. Time was and
not so long ago, when 1t could not be
justly said that the University of Penn
sylvania ranked with the really great
universities of the north-with such in
situations for instance as Harvard and
Yale. 1t lacked alike the art of the one
and the scope of the other Indeed, until
fifteen years ago the standard of schol-
arshlp in the academic department of the
University Of Pennsylvania was hardly
so high as was that of the three New
England country colleges Amherst
Dartmouth and Williams. This was, In a
measure, due to the fact that the public
school system OF Pennsylvania and other
states from which Pennsylvania's stu
dents were recruited, had not then reach
ed the perfected state that obtained in
New England. and through New Eng
land in the middle-western and northwest
ern states. Recently, however. this de-
f1cency has been remedied and RENEE
died by reason of the fact that the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania has led in the
great work of educational development
Ia its section, insisting that qualifica-
lions of candidates for matriculation be
increased alike In number and in degree
and that the curriculum of the university
while literally enlarged, be vigorously
stiffened
Or. Pennimans Work.