The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-29

A GREAT university like this has two
 A especial function. The first is te A produce a small number of schol- ars of the highest rank, a small number of men who in science and literature, or in art, will do productive work of the first class. The second Is to send out into the world d very large number of men who never could achieve and who ought not to try to achieve, such a position in the field of scholarship, but whose energies are to be felt in every other form of activity; and who should go out from our doors with the balanced development of body, of mind, and above all, of character, which shall fit them to do work both honorable and efficient.
 
 Much of the effort to accomplish the first function, that of developing men capable of productive scholarship, as dis tinguished from merely initiative, annota- tive. or pedagogic scholarship, must come through the graduate school. The law school and medical school do admirable work in fitting men for special profes- sions but they in no shape or way sup ply any shortcomings in the graduate school any more than does the college proper. the college of the undergraduates. The idea for the graduate school ana TOT those undergraduates who are to go lnto
 
 production, which is to be distinguished in the sharpness of fashion from the mere transmittal of ready made knowledge without adding to it. If America Is to contribute it's full share, 10 the progress no alone of knowledge but of wisdom then we must put eyer-increasing empha- sis on university work done along the lines of the graduate school We can best help the growth of American scholarship by seeing that as career 1t is put more on d level with the other careers open to our young men. The general opinion of the community is bound to have a very great effect even upon US most vigorous and independent minds. If in the public mind the career or the scholar is regarded as of insignificant value when compared with that of a Rlorhed pawnbrolIer, then it will with difficulty be made attractive to the most vigorous and gifted of our American young men. Good teachers excellent m stitutions and libraries are all demanded in graduate school worthy of the name But there is an even more urgent demand for the right sort of student. No hrst-class science, no first-class liter ature or art can ever be built up with second-class men. The scholarly career the career of the man of letters, the man of arts. the man of science, must De made such as to attract those StfonS ana  only turn to business, law or politics There Is no one thing which will bring about this desired change but there is one thing which will materially help m bringing it about, and that is to secure to scholars the chance of getting one or s few brilliant positions as prizes if they rise to the first rank in their chosen career. Every such brilliant position should have as an aeeompanlment an addad ealarv which shall help indicate how high the position really is; and 1t must be the efforts of the alumni which can alone secure such salaries for such positions.
 As a people I think we are waking up to the fact that there must be better pay for the average man and average woman engaged in the work of education But I am not speaking of this now, am ho' speaking of the desirability. great enough that Is, of giving better payment to the average educator, I am speaking of the desirability of giving to the exceptional man the chance of winning an exceptional prize, lust as he has the chance to do m law and business. In business at the present day nothing could be more heal thy than an immense reduction In the money value of the exceptional prlzes thus to be won; but in scholarship what fs needed Is the reverse. In thls country we rightly go upon the theory that It ia more important to care for the wei fare of the average man than to put premium upon the exertions or the eN- ception. But we must not forget that the establishment of such a premium TOT the exceptional though of less impor- tancve, is nevertheless of very great im- portance. It Is important even 10 lhe development of the average man. TOT 'he