New-York tribune., 1906-09-27
OPENING AT COLUMBIA.
Professor Schumacher Compares
Germany and america

At the opening exercises Of Columbia Univer-
sty, In the university gymnasium, yesterday
afternoon, William Hubert Burr, professor Of
civil engineering at Columbia, and Hermann
Schumacher. professor of political science at the
University OF Bonn, and newly elected Kaiser
Wilhelm professor OF German history and instt
tutions at Columbia, the principal speakers.
The beginning OF the 153d academic year was
marked by several disappointments chief of
which the falling off in the size OF the
freshman class. 1t had been expected that the
new college hall with the dor1nitories would have
the effect OF enlarging the attendance, particu-
larly In the college. Up till yesterday, however,
only ninety men had been admitted. nearly fifty
less than last years freshman class.
Professor Schumacher's coming marks the oul-
mination OF arrangement made by President
Butler with the Prussian Ministry OF Education
for exchange of professors between Columbia
and the University of Berlin.
Professor Schumacher made an extended COM
partson OF Germany and America along economic
and educational lines. Germany, he said was
strong in tradition and OF such q nature inter
nally as TO demand the development OF her in
ternal energies leading TO a high standing in art
and science "A nation OF thinkers and poets
is what he called Germany. America, on the
other hand. strong economically but had
no tradition. he said. and needed TO develop her
art and science Along this line he said:
Whereas, our DEVELOPMENT in Germany thus
brlngs with II the necessity for US of schooling
our people more efficiently in the economic tasks
you. on the other hand Fe0lize that it Is
| dwelling which you have erected on the broadest
| economic foundations :
After speaking of the need for tradition In
America Professor Schumacher dwelt for some
| time on the economic advantages Of New York
| City. Along this line, he said:
formerly that Hamburg, the largest port, and Bre-
men, the most important emporium for cotton
aim ost closer relations with New York than with
Berlin
He then came TO q comparison of German and
| American universities. In Germany, he said tho
| universities reflected the whole Of the national
| culture while in America they reflected the
| various stages OF the colonizing process. He
| called Harvard, Yale and Johns Hopkins brill
| liant institutions combining the culture Of the
| Old World and the New. while Columbia he
! characterized the chief representative Of the
| American type of institution that had grown
UP 10 meet the needs Of the country.
: Professor Burr emphasized the need for mora
practical university instruction After speaking
| on the advantages gained by a technical school
| in the university and the demands of the tech
| nical professions. he said;
The gaiyeFs5sy ! has s Ions y since lost the character
tons Of learning separated from the things which
only give Ihenl Ute are 10 De dispensed after
manner OF instruction to who are never TO deal
| with the affairs Of life 1t has come 10 be an in
| tensely practical working agent.
The creative or evolutionary influence Of the UNI
/ versity upon the community is exercised chiefly
and 1t VIII ultimately be exercised entirely through
its professional faculties its faculty OF philosophy
| already having become essentially a professional
faculty of teaching, character which 1t is bound
fully TO assume hereafter This means with abso.
Lutte certainty that professional instruction shall bs
given not by closet professors, but men who are
students in the highest and best sense of the word
This knowledge must be gained by taking their full
part In human experience, and not by withdrawn
from it