The Denver Jewish news., 1923-12-27
Prizes of Distinction Due to Care
full Searchers, Says Hughes
Concentration, ThOrOughness and Quiet Reflection Are
Greatest Developers to Ripen Judgment

II is not the function of TIE university
to develop mere mental agility, crav-
ing for intellectual surprises, n domin-
ant desire in the language of the day
to be able to "sell' something, TO put
something over In the world Of
slight attention, of content with fleet
! ing Impressions, of inaccuracies, when
the daily food consists largely of rum
ors and conjectures so treated as to be
indistinguishablc from facts. where the
truth is almost always belated and is
apt to appear after keen interest has
been lost. it is far more necessary than
ever that our institutions of learning
should recognize that their chief func-
tion is to maintain the standards OF
sober and correct judgment and n fine
disdain for those who make motion
! substitute for thought. l believe in the
freedom of learning. in the splendid
liberty of instruction which WIS safe
guarded by the memorable charter of
Brown University. but the atmosphere
OF our universities and colleges should
| lie such as To discountenancc those
teachers who are not content with the
prizes of distinction which fall to the
quiet industrious and exact searchers
for truth, but seek notoriety by sensa-
tional mcthods and by purvcying hasty
concentrations and imperfectly con-
sidcrcd observations upon matters be-
lievcd to he of immediate public in
! rI~t.. l., lit to fha
desire for vividncss. and. of course,
there can and should he no restraint
upon eager interest. There is no OBJ
| lection to realism: on the contrary we
demand it If it will only be realism and
show life whole.
| When we speak of education in dem
ocracy. we have in mind not simply the
Individual opportunity to acquire
knowledge and to posscs the Agreeable
resources of cultivation. We are think
ing of the requirements of citizenship.
and Of the responsibility of the leaders
OF opinion in vast population where
sound administration is increasingly
difficult. We are blessed with the uni
flying force of common sense. bu.
thousand questions defend the answers
Of experts: not theoriZing, still less
the clamor of mere partisans. or the
twisted reasoning of the propagandists
Of the interest or prejudices of par
f'crlnr groups. but the close and i'm
m. ial analysis of trained minds. We
look out upon n world afflicted with
G.s.e"ni er. Suspicion. distrust and
ha,r Il are rife. and the seeds of strife
have been lavishly sown. Still with
all the unrest that exists there are the
gratifying results of industry. the re-
assuring evidences in many countries
of the play of rccupcrative forces. We
cannot change untoward conditions by
preachments. In each case you might
examine you would find sincere convic-
tions of national interest. deep sense
of grievances, agc-long antipathies.
historic ambitions and rivalries. We
have no right to feel superior.
You cannot make the university Il
substitute for the discipline of life:
and in all our educational schemes ii
must be forgotten that You cannot by
the study of books obtain the equival-
ent of contact with men. But you can
create an attitude that favors under
standing and disseminate the knowl-
edge of conditions that lead to AN exact
appreciation. As we observe the pro-
fusion of educational opportunity not
rin
tion. but in the multitude of books and
periodicals. of dramatic portrayal by
word and picture. we realize that what
is needed is not more information but
better judgment. not more bulletins
hut more accuracy of statement and
better assimilation. And as we con-
slider the well of Controversies and
the dangerous clashes of interest. we
come to place our reliance not upon
emotional appeal but upon the process
Ses of reason and the dominance of
hose who have not lost emotional pow
n but have been able to hold passion
IN check.
To the extent that the university
nercly reproduces the rush. the hustle
md the rapid give and take of life
the ex ent that it fails to yield SER
entity and reflection, it sacrifices its
great capacity for service in II tumul-
tuous world The true victories of life
go to the men Of mastery and discrim-
mating Judgment. 1t is the business
Of our universities and colleges to pro-
duce them.