The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-25


tion on MEDICAL education in the UnitsS
States indie atcs an intention On the par
NJ the trust -eS tn withhold retiring allow
ance- from the professors Of all msdiCa
schools which do not come up tn tbs
standard which the foundation approx 60
II tkis star, darri wer. fixed by eminent
medical men it would he all well enough,
hut where ic il Diet eruined by doct rinaire-
in educltioA whose principle aim is to
bring about a monot onous uniformity we
doubt whether this kind of ntrol should
be favored
Mr.. Bryce finds an interesting explana-
ton for tina recent striking growth in the
number OF university and college stu
dents University educat ion has become
fashionable. 1t il more and more COM
ing to be- considered not a luxury for he
few or n thing needed only by those who
moan to enter one OF the so-called learned
professions but preparation for life witt
which all those who can afford the money
and the time ought to be furnished. This
il IN. most noteworthy new feature of the
last thirty years and is also the most
striking educaf io nal dhfferS nee between
America and Europe A univ ersity cdu
cation has in tho United States ceased to
he a privilege of tho few. IL is for all the
world This increased popularity Of the
universities has added greatly 10 the dig
nifty and influence OF the presidents OF
such institutions Next to the great gov
ernmenral officers and he leading rail-
way magnates the presidents OF the lead
ing colleges are ha hes. known persons
in the country. Their public utterances
are sure of AN attentive hearing not only
in respect TO educational matters but in
regard to any topic Of general public in
terest Another change which Mr.. Bryce
has noticed is Of an aesthetic character.
Greater architectural beauty is mani
fest cd in IN. newer college buildings. A
part Icuarly worth nv of. admiration no
names the English types at the Washing
ton University in ST Louis: the reprodOc
ton of the hall OF Christ Church. Oxford.
at the University of Chicago; the beau'i-
full cloisters and leisure rooms of the
Spanish colonial type az the Stanford Uni
versity near San Francisco. and the Greek
theatre NJ tn" University of California.
$50 too the faculties of nearly all tho
greater universities haze now -blcssomed
out into variety OF gowns and n still
richer and more brilliant variety OF colored
hoods worn upon solemn academic occa-
sionS The effect when 'ong procession
clad in all he colors OF the rainbow winds
across tn" green places OF the college cam
GUS under tho shade of spreading trees
has been suCt, as TO silence ne Cavils Of
those who condemned this departure from
democratic simplicity. II is an innova-
ton &C which even IN. alumni do no, dis
approve
No review Of the present condition OF
university life in America would be COM
p.to which omitted 10 notice the recent
tendency of coil"s" athletics to absorb
tn. interest of Tn" students to the det-i-
m"nt of their intellectual work. Mr..
Bryc" corc.'dcs that in most of our uni
S.rsIti"s. including tn" oldest and greatest
IN IN" Eastern States. intellectual! distinc-
ton IN the work Of IN" college is litt'n
sought by ambitious spirits and little
valued hv their companions. Tn" most
honor"d figures in college ar" tn" proni-
n"nt athletes. although OF course no largo
institution OF learning IL without many
-r"1 Of talent who desir. 10 aChiev. dis
'inc'ion in their studies. We should
hay" valued an expression Of opinion from
MIR Bryce "a TO III" wisast course which
could h" pursued TO remedy tn" prevalent
OF athletics. but h' leaves uS
rath"r doubtful a. to what are his vi"wS
on this subject Referring TO the suggss-
ton which hls been made IN many quar-
.ers that tn" Introduction Of honor courses
AVID competitions for literary and scion
,ifc distinctions may solv" the problem.
h" remarks. Observers from other Coun-
-ies hav" long expected that such
DEBATE would somc dnv arise and they
await with curiosity its iS-ua" In the
""rl"Ht or quantity our author finds
Am.r. can universities to be- about all that
could h." desired. but nTnltv il a different
hing and whll" h"-" tn" tendency il
inward h" n yrres with the nbl-sr Ameri-
IN educators that there. il much vet 10 b"
ions" Thr"" things are esreciailv "mnha-
-ir"j Firsr the Development in each
-"Eton Of IN" country that is. zach
ro1u!ouS S'a'" or group OF less populoti>
: at"s OF owe university to serve ia "A
model - o,h"-S in that section: second.
hi Zh'- seal" NJ ~alnrl"- fo- IN" teaching
,tgT and third. TN" dev"'orrn"nt in some
vly ~ y ~t-onre' pulse Of intellectual liz"
lrrong th" unde- g-adu7i.s This la-;
ie"d NJ course brings ~ bac', to the
question or IA" dominating influence OF
'th'"'.c. Notwithstanding this inHiarcr
low"v"-, and 'hs p. cogniz.d difficulties
y dealing with II Satisfactorily Mr..
B~vc" r"afTi-rns tho conviction which he
'Vpr"SS"d twent" y"ar. ago That our
i'r"rjrar colleges and universities COZ
.t'ftIt" or" Of IN" most rcw"rful ard Ucr-
.'',ve fo-c"s working for good in tho
'uif"d Sr1taz
In r"wri'ing h's charter entitled AN
american Wow ~ Municiral Government
II IN" United States Mr. Seth Low makes
h. mistake Of saving ''lat there ar. forty
light States in IN" Union Possibly 10
wanted ~ take tim" hv 'h, for.lock and
rokcd forward to IN" probable admission
Il Vow Mexico and Arizona Tho most
'ririnai portion of Mr. Lows ccn-rihu-
ion consists 0f his observations relative
y ~" -o-call"d direct primary system
nos" ar" cInin"ntlv conservative. and /
"nsibl". hia conclusion bong that i, ia |
90 soon TO -av positively whether ihi. |
vs'"'n in it, general application will lead |
n h"tterm"n. Of conditions at larr. |
tIs 'h'r" 10 ION" reason 10 h ,re tina, i, 7
"a. LII a