The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-01
His Heart With the Undergraduates

His Heart With the Undergraduates
 Those who are intimate with Professor Lowell know that his heart Is with the undergraduates. The first words he uttered after it became known that he would be the successor of President Eliot were in the nature of appeal to the students for suggestions to improve the college.
 When 1 was student here in college I had opinions, very definite opinions, as to how some of the things should be man. aged" he said. T never expressed those opinions, I think; I was never asked to. But l still believe that those opinions were worth something. Now l hope you will feel free to make your opinions known I believe very strongly in the undergraduates view of things and have confidence in the judgment of the undergraduates"
 President-elect Lowell's policy is already well defined, in the opinion of those near est to him in the teaching department. The changes he proposes to make will be directed toward the development of closer intimacy between the undergradu- ates and the faculty. Prof. Lowell be- lieves that Harvard is not too large for the cultivation of friendly and advisory relationship between students and teach CTS, such as obtains in the smaller col leges. It is his suggestion that this insti- tuition might profit by adopting some of the methods that promote the soclaD1l1ty of the undergraduates and the faculty In the 'fresh-water'' institutions of learning.
 He believes this policy Is practical at Harvard because he has tried 1t. Mr Lowell holds the professorship of the science of government and he has in his classes about 400 students, nearly all freshmen. Before the year has expired a large proportion of these young men have had an intimate acquaintance with their professor apart from the associa- tions of the lecture hall. Several times a week, when his engagements will per init, Prof. Lowell has from six to twelve of the freshmen as his dinner guests at his home at I'll Marlboro Street, Boston. A MIlonare's Unpretentlous Home.
 The Boston home of the next president of Harvard is by no means pretentious. While he lives in the Back Bay, he does not occupy a large house, nor is 1t on the most desirable thoroughfare In the district where the wealth of Boston Is largely congregated. He might well live on Beacon street, and on the water side, fl he chose, where his sisters have homes. But he selected one of the least attrac- tive streets among the main residential avenues of the Back Bay.
 There is no suggestion of the million aire in the atmosphere of this Back Bay home. When his students respond to his dinner invitations small trim, white aproned maid answers the bell and ush- CTS the young men into small reception room, upon the walls of which are few inconspicuous prints. Within moment or two a small, demure diffident woman enters and welcomes her husbands guests By the time the professor ap- pears to greet them the freshmen are sensitive of freedom from restraint that makes the first recollections of the even ing delightful There is a dinner served by maids, during which the conversa- ton Is led to subjects which will stimu- late an interchange of views and opin- ions with respect to the prevailing system at the college.
 Professor Lowell wants to learn the ambitions of his young men, and he puts questions which are to test the wisdom of the general elective policy. He induces the boys to tell him why they have se- lected certain courses, and he modestly offers his advice, In the meantime, he is making mental notes, to add to his vol umes of statistics.
 But all these student gatherings at the Boston home of Professor Lowell are not confined to the evening". Perhaps fresh- man has called in, the forenoon, by fnvi- tation for A conference. The conversation over, teacher and pupil start out together. Does the young man realize the benefits of exercise? the professor asks. Has he taken advantage of the opportunities for the enjoyment of the zest of competitive sport? A test is proposed and the pro- lessor of the science of government and the freshman are soon racing along one of the drives of Commonwealth avenue. headed toward the fens. For a mile or more they run until at Massachusetts avenue, the student takes street car for Cambridge, while Professor Lowell starts off to walk to his downtown office on State street. Many time Tn the Tall and spring Professor Lowell may be seen engaging with avidity in the sport that was his chief recreation while an under graduate And the students by no means distance their older competitor
 Statistics His Court of Last Resort.