Daily Kennebec journal., 1913-11-18

er AID the public. But it strikes us
IS strange that under all The Just
criticism OF raw and superficial cleo
tive systems" so few students have
risen to defend the main feature of
their intellectual quickcning under the
pew system. Its great virtue is one
thai every seriouS youth must at some
ti,ae have felt keenly-the awakening
OF curiosity in the presence of Il wide
field Of studies. BY demanding initia-
tie. the ne@ plan creates enthusiasm
What virtue was there IN President
Denster's e-annonncement?
Bnt where is the modern matficulanf.
ri fair mental vigor and preliminary
education. wio does not wear the
l,agea of his college catalogue to tat
1era. and Who has not felt n recurrent
thrill Of joy as he surveyed the treas
utes indcxed therein At any point
later he can always look ahead, with
cagerness and an access OF resolution,
st Tue successive stages of learning
that await him. The old curriculum
depended upon the genius Of the teach
er for the rorsing of expectancy and
zeal The new spreads its expanse
like snnlit mountains awaiting the
iaot Of the explorer Its scope and
many -sdedncss are one thing; the act
Of personal voiition required to enter
into any of It's domains. quite an
ether For what real student can
choose without severely questioning
his deficiencies. abilities, and tastes?
That eolesians have not more often
made record Of their experience in this
| matter is perhaps due In the accusa-
tien that youthful Judgment is not To
be trusted. it VIII, we Are toid. pc
made tn. easy prey 1f some catchy
| lecturer, and he led into the Incidence
Of snap courses But the undergrad
uatc of enthusiasm is the very person
20 answer this charge Only hopeless
youth. hopelessly taught, VIII fail TO
follo@ up his first elected studies by u
Number of intensive selections-forsak-
ling his Chemistry after a half-year. or
| his Government after twice that pe-
ritfl Fer the, man who will persevere,
"a large and varied array OF subjects
| T. the tralest spur The danger. which
| concerns the most sober and diligent
| students, is that their curiosity VIII m
s;6iousiy incline them toward spur-
suits rich in information. and away
from these that require abstract study.
Some COURSES are attractive from TIE
facts they teach, while others, less op-
ylollsly. are valuable for the rei'ee-
| iicn they involve. Among boys of I'D
eral ideals, it is as much as anything
| else IN excess OF this praetcal curl
osity which has caused the passing by
| of Greek, the higher mathematics. anu
| the substitution of history, SOCIOLOGY.
English. and so an. But IL is praise
worthy quality that exposes the mind
To this error. and "A quality that VIII
yield compensations.
Even the exceptionally bright-mind-
cd am. serious student who perceives
the inspiring extent of certain dlvi-
sion Of liberal knowledge as 1t Is map
ned before him, and who chooses ms
programme, not because his classmate
Jones has recommended certain teach-
ers as entertaining. but because ne
aesirns TO know. may have chosen
dead wrong. But even so, ne mus.
have shaken off languidness. Alert
and interested. he will not sit looking
NJ the clock. but will dig for mathe-
r,,tieal roots like a miner for gold. or
Inv Nbout him for scientific data like
crusoe for the disappearing cargo OF
L
ture-roam. and gossip footb&li out
side. but make the commons liable
forum for the discussion of hsrrature
ard history, and bore all ms sienows
nv his maintained interest in thein
He win he far more likely, at any rate
than the student led to learning as
sheep to slaughter, to hypnotize NM
self into the attitude not unknown "
aa ger children. who visualize al tna'
mas asses before them-Burke adaressins
the House. Archmedes stepping INTO
his tub. Caesar catching plum from
his rcceding ranks-until he mas .ne
true use and zest Of studies. II - his"
time for such a student to come for-
word. declare himself, and pit his tes-
t;mony against that of Agassiz, Hoai'
and Lowell, and the others VINO Hase
horne witness to the proiits. '.es
wrought for themselves! out OF me
iron-elad curriculum of our erandia-
th,rs-New York Post
c.L..x;~nok Granue,