New-York tribune., 1908-12-18
UNIVERSITY CosnOPoLITANIsn.

The present remarkable movement toward
cOsmopOlitanism in universities in respect to
both the instructors and the students is logical
There is a correlation of significance between
the very words university and cosmopolitan. If
the institution aims to give instruction in all
things Ii will need the services of a variety Of
instructors, of whom it should secure the best
obtainabe from whatever land; and it is fit
ting that its privileges should be available TO
all who are competent and who desire to take
advantage of them from whatever land. This
practice is, indeed. new thing save In
its rapid and great expansion. Centuries ago
students went from country TO seats Of
learning in another and great teachers were by
no means confined in their activities to their
own lands.
Long ago it was a common practice for young
Americans to go abroad for study at European
universities, at a time when our own institu
! tions were not so we'll equipped as they are now
and when it was almost necessary TO study In
! Europe in order to attain the highest grade of
scholarship. There is less need of such a move
ment to-day, if, indeed, there is any general
| need of it; but the movement shows no sign
of being abandoned. American students form
an appreciable and increasing element at many
great Continental universities while the monu-
| mental munifcenee of Cecil Rhodes has assured
! in perpetuity the attendance of large number
at oxford. Meantime Il corresponding move
ment in the other direction has become mani
| fest Many European students now come TO
! American institutions and likely TO continue
so doing in increasing numbers, while large con
| tingents yearly arrive from Japan and China,
! both on private initiative and under govern
mental patronage, so that our own universities
are becoming as cosmopolitan as those of the
! Old World.
Nor is cosmopolitanism in the teaching staff
! a new thing as recollectiOns Of AgaSsiz and Da
| Ponte and Goodwin Smith and James MCCosh
! and others gratefully remind US. Of late it has
assumed q new form, not as a substitute for
! but in addition TO the old form, in temporary
| exchanges of university lecturers few years
ngO such relations were established between
| France and America and between Germany and
! America and these have been productive of
results which are substantially benefiCent
! though at times some diversion has been caused
! by the naive zeal of the respective propa-
! gandists of those rival countries in cultvating
! American favor No harm has been done by
! such imagnings, but there is nothing but dis
! appointment in store for those who suppose
! that the public sentiment of this nation is to
be swayed or the diplomatic policy of this gov
! eminent is to be Influenced through itinerary
/ university lectureshps.
It is interesting to observe that these ex-
! change systems are now being considerably ex-
tended beyond the two great countries named.
| Denmark was added to the list last spring
! when Chancellor MacCracken of New York
! University invited TO lecture at rhe Univer-
! sity of Copenhagen. and later arrangements
were made for distinguished member Of the
/ faculty of the latter institution, Or. Jespersen.
! 10 lecture at Columbia University. in this city.
! Now 1t is announced that similar system has
been arranged with Finland. and that Professor
| H NJ Donner, of this city, himself of distin-
| cuished Finnish origin. is TO have charge of the
/ exchanges Of professors. We shall expect to
see the same systems extended to many other
/ lands until representatives OF all civilized and
| cultivated countries shall be found in uni
yarsities and Representatives Of American cult
IRE shall he found in the great seats of learning
! throughout the world.