New-York tribune., 1906-10-21

accumulated great wealth he taxes himself by
giving princely endowments to schools. colleges
and libraries. Millions upon millions OF dollars are
thus placed annually by private citizens at the dis
posal OF public instruction. 1t is every self-made
mans most ardent desire that his children should
learn more than himself. This desire knows no
difference of class 1t prevails In the lowest
strata Of society. and system of institutions of
learning, grand as complicated endeavors to
! comply with it."
Mr.. Fulda enjoyed lecturer, the hospitality of
fourteen universities, and one easily imagine.
how, as German, he felt happily surprised at
the knowledge of his native tongue among Amer-
can students At Princeton and New York the
students of the German Department gave 'kom-
mers" in his honor. Native Americans made fluent
speeches in German without being embarrassed for
a word and they sang the German student songs
without breaking time" he writes in ecstasy, and
then adds: Verify, the sons of the German-Ameri-
cans must not forget their mother tongue, if 1t
were only for the valid reason that they might not
be put to the blush by the sons of the Ango-Amer-
cans
A comparison of the American with the German
student results, in every respect, the advantage
of the former. Says the author: Il certainly do
not to belittle the poetry of home Bur
shenthum' (students' fraternties), to dispute
the venerableness of our academic CUSTOMS but
two things must impress agreeably every one who
comes from Germany at the sight of American
faces disfGured by drink The academic youth Of
the New World have no dues or fencing bouts. In
lieu of these stands the sport which. even in its
abuses and eXcesses. deem healthier to and wor-
thier of human beings than that barbaric custom
of disf1guring anothers faces. For sport indi-
Gates an advanced stage of human ambition, as IL
replaces the martial principle of the duel. derived
from primitive state OF mankind, by the peaceful
principle of the contest created by civilization
Sports, TO be sure, have the disadvantage of
diverting interest from studies and raising to an
object a thing which is only fully justifabe as
means to end. But in its favor it must be said
that, result. also do not meet there with
those narrow shouldered, short breasted spectacled
individuals who in distressing a number popu-
late our lecture halls and IL is still much better
Tor the American students to employ their time in
strengthening their nerves and muscles than to
waste II IN the taverns at morning and afternoon
drafts or in nocturnal drinking bouts In the
and OF temperance the studious youth drink little
or nothing at all They not beer ma ade-merry
as with us, but they prove. at all events that
gayety may also exist without liquor. for in harm
less eXuberance of gayety they a match for
their German fellow students"
Mr.. Fulda describes the environment Of the
American college and the atmosphere of learning
permeated, and in comparing the institutions of
the two countries he has this to say:
While our universities in their organization re
Semhe republics, where the head of state the
rector, IS elected for short time and the facuI-
ties represent the parliament, the universities of
the great Republic, strangely enough correspond
rather TO the monarchcal form of state for as a
ruler crowned once for all. there stands at the
mead president whose authority and powers ex-
ceed by far those held by rector Not only ts
ne lntruSted with the administrations he also an
points, though not without the advice of the facu-
Ties, the various professors. The presidents of the
more prominent American universities are socially
as well as politically. the most influential men of