178 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



invested in bnildiugs! And yet there are ver}' many similar institu- 

 tions; there being sixteen with three professors or less, and very many 

 indeed with only four or five. 



Such facts as these could only exist in a democratic country, where 

 pride is taken in reducing everything to a level. And I may also say 

 that it can only exist in the early days of such a democracy; for an 

 intelligent public will soon perceive that calling a thing by a wrong 

 name does not change its character, and that truth, above all things, 

 should be taught to the youth of the nation. 



It may be urged that all these institutions are doing good work 

 in education; and that many young men are thus taught who could 

 not afford to go to a true college or university. But I do not object 

 to the education — though I have no doubt an investigation would dis- 

 close equal absurdities here — for it is aside from my object. But I 

 do object to lowering the ideals of the youth of the country. Let 

 them know that they are attending a school, and not a university; 

 and let them know that above them comes the college, and above that 

 the university. Let them be taught that they are only half-educated, 

 and that there are persons in the world by whose side they are but 

 atoms. Li other words, let them be taught the truth. 



It may be that some small institutions are of high grade, especially 

 those which are new; but who can doubt that more than two-thirds 

 of our institutions calling themselves colleges and universities are 

 unworthy of the name? Each one of these institutions has so-called 

 professors, but it is evident that they can be onl}^ of the grade of 

 teachers. Why should they not be so called? The position of teacher 

 is an honored one, but is not made more honorable by the assumption 

 of a false title. Furthermore, the multiplication of the title, and the 

 ease with which it can be obtained, render it scarcely worth striving for. 

 When the man of energy, ability and perhaps genius is rewarded by 

 the same title and emokmients as the commonplace man with the 

 modicum of knowledge, who takes to teaching, not because of any 

 aptitude for his work, but possibly because he has not the energy to 

 compete with his fellow-men in business, then I say one of the induce- 

 ments for first-class men to become professors is gone. 



When work and ability are required for the position, and when the 

 professor is expected to keep up M'^ith the progress of his subject, and 

 to do all in his power to advance it, and when he is selected for these 

 reasons, then the position will be worth working for, and the success- 

 ful competitor will be honored accordingly. The chivalric spirit which 

 prompted Faraday to devote his life to the study of nature may actuate 

 a few noble men to give their life to scientific work; but, if we wish to 

 cultivate this highest class of men in science, we must open a career 

 for them worthy of their efl'orts. 



