The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-18
COLLEGE ENGLISH IS BAD,
 SAYS PRINCETON'S HEAD
President Woodrow Wilson Deplores the Modern Neglect of the Study of Our Own
 Language in Higher Education.

more than can be said of the average collegian's effusions."
 President Wilson is a man who al- ways means what he says. and says 1t directly and clearly. In appearance he bears a striking resemblance to MT. George Ade, a dramatist, except that he Is not quite as tall as the funny man from Indiana.
 Mir Wilson has a habit when speak ing of pointing his finger at you to emphasize a statement. In fact. he uses his hands great deal when talk ing and makes gestures with the ease and facility of an actor. He neither old popular conception of the head of great university. Thick, dark hair, dark brown eyes q straight nose and a long. smooth shayen, sunburned face give him the appearance of a typical young American business man rather than the dignified head of college faculty. In manner he Is jovial and whole souled. and his laugh comes cas- lily and noisily.
 Science or the Professional
 Just now. at commencement time. it is interesting to learn what the col lege commencements of 1905 show.
 Toward what general class of occu- patton Is the tendency of the army of young men now graduating from col lege?
 Are the professions still overcrowded and is the modern rush into scientific and business pursuits still. at its height?
 Does commercialism offer more op- portunities of preferment than profess sionalism7
 These are the questions that thou sands of young men and their parents and thinking people generally are ask if1c hn, 1Ix sical education was on the decline has been apparent to every one with an eye half opened to the signs of the times for ten years past. The colleges had flooded the country with ministers, lawyers and doctors. There was an enormous surplus of them, and in con sequence a large percentage were forced to be idle or take up some other occupation.-.
 Then came a reaction with the great industrial development. Young men sniffed at Latin and Greek and litera- ture generally and went pell meIl up to their necks into mathematics. chem istry and the exact sciences. It seemed as though every active young man with college aspirations was ambitious to be an engineer of some kind or an ar- chitect until now the scientific pursuits are quite as crowded as were the pro- fessions
 Half Baked Opinions.
 Ine question of whether science or business or the professions offer inc best inducements to college graduates IS one that is very hard to answer" said President Wilson. "At present T think my ideas on the subject are in only half baked condition. I have not absolutely come to a conclusion on the matter, although I have given if n great deal of thought and study anJ intend to give it a great deal more in the near future
 There is no doubt that 1t is a sub Ject or very great importance not only to the young men who are gradnatinS but to the future welfare of the coun- uy' am, you know, writer rather than ta1ker. and, like all writers. I uisllKe to commit myself until I am absolutely sure of the ground I stand on' Then, too, you must remember that am new on this job am not one of the veteran college presidents, put oniy Junior, and perhaps my op- portunities for observation have not yet been sufficient to entitIe me to talk with conviction.
 T do not think, however, that clas- sical education is done for by any means and that the time has come to lay 1t on the shelf"
 Misnamed Practical.
 You do not think then that the time devoted to the study of the classics Is time wasted?'
 Certainly not. I have no patience with the cry for practical education,' as 1t is called, although that Is not an Intelligent way to put it. What mean Is the near-sighted demand that youngsters should not study or be taught anything in college that they will not have direct use for in after life. Everything of that nature is termed impractical. How absurd that is when you come to look at 1t care fully! For instance, there is nothing done in the gymnasium that man is ever likely to do afterward in his study or his office. None ever make use of the horizontal bar or the trapeze to further their business interests, to promote scientific investigations or to help in literary research, and yet mo- body disputes the fact that exercise in the gymnasium is thoroughly practical. It strengthens the muscles and gives the man a clearer brain to carry on his real work, whatever 1t is. Study of any kind disciplines the mental facul- ties and makes them supple and better fitted to tackle problems |"
 You believe then in comprehensive course of education. embracing both scientific as well as classical elements?"
 Most assuredly I do, if the student can possibly find the time to take them up. A minister is better off for hav- ing studied calculus and an engineer for having read the Latin authors. The study of any subject always makes for Improvement and is a benefit whether the student ever had occasion to use the knowledge gained or not.
 You do not think a special line of education Is advisa ble?"
 Not if a comprehensive one can be had"
 "Is not there at present an inclina- ton to run to specialties in educa- -ion?'
 T am afraid there IS, and it is to be 1eplored. as 1t only develops q part of the brain. The other parts of the brain ire left to wither up and become lwarfed.
 Which leads in the number of col ege students throughout the country at present, the scientific or classical 
 Including the technical schools, l should judge that the scientific courses had considerably the best of 1t just now. In our State universities the sci ss,Ia To-