New-York tribune., 1906-10-21

/ the country To be sure, the honorable title
OF university also usurped by institutions which,
from point of view not entitled to 1t. but
we should be careful not TO misjudge the uniVer-
sitv of the United States by such false title.
.aThe institutions entitled to the proud name are
also In Universities ltteratum Inc
correct designation of the so-cailed universities with
which the more honest Institutions satisfied Is
college, and the American college, whether SER
wing as a preliminary step to the real alma mater
or merely a crowning stone of high school edu-
cation. has independent importance OF its own
Its object is not the raising OF professional stu
dents but the broadening. deepening and rounding
Of the general knowledge or It's pupils, no mat
ter what tne profession TO whicn they may devote
xhemseves.~
A lecture took Professor En,lda 70 vassar Col
lege, that ''nunnery," he calls II, but which
turns its eye not toward heaven, put toward tne
earth; does not ALLEVIATE the mind from the world
but prepares for it, does not immerse tho heart In
night. but in sunshine After describing the es-
tablishment and its splendid surroundings ne
adds: Il have seen the young women at my
lecture, at the common repasts In the large re-
fectory; when going to church in the evening" ana
my eye delighted, not only in their strong, tail
figures and radiant faces. but also in the natural
grace of their demeanor. that was as far fron
boldness as from timidity. from mannerlessness as
from affectation When saw thefn gathered To-
sether for evening prayer In the new chapel,
filling the vast space with their bright dresses ana
bright faces, my impous soul could not help
feeling devout And again l had to draw in my
thoughts parallel between these lovely creatures,
beaming with the pure JOY of youth, who smilingly
learn here the earnestness of life and guard the
altar fire in the temple of knowledge, and the ma
jority of daughters of high birth. who. at the
same age, arter quitting school ana Defore mar
riage chasing in the ballroom after silly and
enerVatng pleasure, and in their frivolous ideneSS
and giddy dilletanteism are building up for them
selves a vain dreamland, from which reality either
never or only after hard struggles can call them
back
The American schools. properly called, have. in
Mr.. Fulda's opinion. the advantage over those in
Germany in giving free instruction and In many
cases, even providing their pupils with the school
schools. in particular. which to the usual studies
also add instruction in the most important handi-
crafts. he discovered new feature Of education
worthy of being adopted in Germany He visited
one of these institutions in Indianapolis which
offers its pupils. together with the usual branches.
also practical training in cabinetms king, smith
ing, engine building drawing and painting cooking.
needlework, economics, shorthand typewriting and
bookkeeping. 1T is evident" he says, that the
training in of these accomplishments, no
matter whether they be utilized in the future
ton or not, represents an extraordinary beneficial
counterpoise against the onesidedness of book
Rnowledge ana mere rote work; that IT trains the
hand sharpens the senses and fits the whole man
much better for life for the immediate application
of his natural gifts and acquired knowledge. 1t
has. besides the great advantage that by agree-
able change it always keeps fresh the pleasure OF
learning. When you walk through the workshops
where boys and girls with joyful eagerness attend
to their often highly artistic handiwork; when you
examine the objects made by the pupils; when you
see the whole crowd gathered in the dining hall at
a luncheon that has been prepared by the girl
pupils; when after this you again step into the
classroom. where thc young boy smiths and young
girl cooks in study Latin and history,
value of this system of pedagogics. Nay. you feel
secret jealousy, silent complaint rising in your
heart that you cannot recall your youth, that
you might digest your dates and figures at the
joiners bench or before the anvil
DR.. Fulda is great admirer Of the principle Of
co-education carried out in most Of our public
and high schools. principle. by the way. that con-
stitutes the essential difference between the Ger
man school system and ours. In his opinion the
obvious success of co-education in America refutes
all objections still raised against it, for this sue
cess" he says, consists in nothing less than
wholesome moral hygiene" He certainly adduces
strong arguments in its favor. calculated to con-
vince his countrymen to whom he appeals for it's
adoption in all schools. "Just consider, he writes
'how abnormal and irrational this tmorous wall IS
which in childhood and youth is being erected be-
tween both halves of mankind! These two halves
are in later years seek each other join closely
together. unite In marriage for life; but before
they must little possible come in contact with
each other. know little possible of one an
other, have the least possible common interests
The result is that has the most perverse
ideas of the other. that in lieu OF unpreJudiced
mutual understaa aiding and appreciation two dam
gerous extremes, fantastic idealization or lasci-
vious cyncism, originated. Even before The
senses are fully aroused the Seclusion produces an
anxious curiosity; they watch each other as 1t