Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-24
THE GOWNSMAN

our council of national defense ito inquire
into the best means Of procuring closer
cooperation between British and American
educational institutions TO the end Of max
ing increasingly firm the bonds Of sym
pathy and understanding that now unite
the English-speaking world" Headed by
Doctor Shipley, vice chancellor of the Uni
versity of Cambridge. its membership in
cludes likewise Sir Henry Miers, the vice
chancellor OF the new university of the
great manufacturing center, Manchester:
the Rev. DR.. Walker librarian Of Queens
College, Oxford; Sir Henry Jones, the dis
tinguished professor Of moral philosophy
of the University Of Glasgow; Sir John
Joley, of Trinity College, Dublin, and two
ladies, Miss Spurgeon, professor of Eng
lish literature in the University Of London
and Miss Sidgewick, lecturer on history, Of
Birmingham University. The commission
thus represents the three kingdoms the
newer type OF British university as we'll as
Oxford and Cambridge, women as well as
men.
Mo ONE who was privileged, as was the
A' Gownsman. to meet these representa-
tives or the higher education of Great
Britain on their visit to Philadelphia a few
| days ago, could have been otherwise than
| impressed with their attitude toward their
task in hand. They have come, seeking to
| know us, eager to learn. unprejudiced,
extending the hand Of brotherhood. They
have come, too, not only to find out what
they may have TO offer American students
who may care to study in the schools of
the motherland, but. TO discover likewise
what we have here to return in an equit-
able exchange to British young men and
| women who may come TO study in America
This idea OF reciprocity was empha sized by
| speaker after speaker in the informal con-
| ferences which were held. the visitors re.
marking especially upon the excellence in
| equipment which they have already discov.
| cred to be characteristic of our American
| institutions Of learning and upon what one
| or them called our generous provision for
the contingencies of future growth"
our friends from over the water have
~ far TO go and much to see in the less
than two months at their disposal; for
their itinerary includes such distant points
| as Toronto. Madison, Wisconsin; Houston,
ieAds' anu lusheSee, Alabama. They
will see many institutions and their per.
| sonel on parade, SO TO speak. And they
will see many fine buildings, in which our
American universities have come to
| abound. and examine many laboratories
athletic fields, and other like physical
| features which go TO make up what our
trustees, from their business affiliations,
sometimes call "the plant" But there are
| other things in which our British friends
are far more interested, and it IL to be
hoped that Doctor Shipley's expressed wish
may likewise be gratihed. that he may
i learn to know the American student, boy
and girl, his hopes and ideals, his life and
his ways, both what he is taught and-most
important OF all-how he is taught IT, 1t
was interesting the other day to notice a
hight functionary of an old world univer-
! sity of with a couple OF undergraduates to
visit their rooms see how they lived. and
chat with them as to their work. Clearly
the British commission is taking its task
to heart and tangibis results must come,
advantageous to all from this informal
intercourse among those who. whatever
their diFsrences Of method, unite IN one
common aim.