The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-06-22

much interested in the list of books.
bible IS that Doctor Eliot must have
taken it for granted that every one
is familiar with il. Doctor Eliots rev.
erence for the bible is so great that
he would put it on shelf by itself.
But 1 am surprised at the exclusion
of Shakespeare and the inclusion OF
woolman. He is only a name to me.
But no two men would, under the cir
cumstanees. prepare similar lists"
Prof. T. r. Bacon. professor OF medi.
eval and modern history at the state
university said: Il can not consider
the list OF books named BY former
President Eliot as complete as I con-
slider the bible and Shakespeare the
first of all books in the English Ian
guage. I would also include that mas
terpiece. Gibbons history of Rome"
Prof. w. A. Merrill. head of the
Latin department. said: ANY list OF
books named is always personal Tn
doubtedly Doctor Eliot has selected a
good list of books. but 1 consider
as a mans religion or politics. There
Is no reason why anybody else should
approve of them. Each man has his
own taste in the matter OF selecting
books"
Prof. W. W. Pepper, assistant pro-
lessor of Semitic languages. said: Il
do not believe in preparing lists of
books, as is common practice nowa-
days. For any list there can be plenty
n SuhSfifuteS urauoro TrT- hanpane
that the favorite books of reader are
chosen rather than others that also
might give a liberal education. Most
certainly the bible should be included
in any list and Shakespeare should not
be omitted.
Prof. Albin Putzker. professor emer-
titus of German, said: Doctor EIiot
has made a mistake. lie has evidently
taken it for granted that the bible and
Shakespeare should also be read with
this list he has prepared. But. there
are a few other books that have been
emitted which every educated human
being should know something about
These are Homer. Schiller Kant. Hegel
and Spencer. / notice in the list that
he has included only GOethe's Faust
Goethe is the acme of literature in my
estimation, and person can not I'M
derstand him without reading his
complete works"
Prof. z. j. Wickson dean of the
department of agriculture. said IT
believe that former President Eliot
has made this list of books an adj
vaneed course. taking for granted that
the bible. Shakespeare. Homer and
other great works not mentioned i'm
the list will have been read by the
student before reading the works Doe
tor Eliot has selected"
G. A. BroadfOOt. head master Hitch
cock school. San Rafael said: Il think
the selections excellent in one way as
it would appeal to a certain section
of the community. To those Of "A stu
diOus tendency most of an IL would
appeal. but not SO much to the man
of science or the practical man Of
business. The list Omits a history of
this country. That means the elfmina-
ton of the patriotism that man
holds for the land of his birth or that
an alien holds for the country of his
adoption
Rev. Father J. Phillips. pastor OF
the Roman Catholic church at San
Rafael said: Il am surprised that a
scholar as broad minded as Doctor
Eliot would present a course of read
ing so limited. 1t may be SUFFICIENT
higher planes OF education. but many
of the works listed are too profound
for the ordinary layman. I think that
he did right in excluding the bible
That is a book apart and should not
be placed in juxtaposition with the
work of man.