472 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



such a school is decided upon and legalized, the rest is bound to follow. 



In a paper necessarily so brief nothing more than suggestion can be 

 offered as to the course of instruction. Undoubtedly this should at- 

 tempt nothing in the way of higher education; but graduates should 

 be thoroughly grounded in arithmetic, perhaps algebra, with a fairly 

 good knowledge of the rudiments of physics. There should be a course 

 in elementary law, and due attention should be paid to American history 

 and geography. But all theoretical studies should be subordinate to the 

 practical essentials. Minute, detailed and constant instruction in 

 " rules and regulations " and in every phase of an officer's duty with 

 practise in " Moot-Courts " ought to be accompanied so far as possible 

 by actual service, especially that in the final year duly authorized serv- 

 ice on post should be provided for. Every student would be trained 

 for duty in case of fire and riot, and in the use of motor-cycles, bicycles, 

 and the use and care of horses and equipment. Throughout the course 

 constant daily instruction would be given in infantry drill and the use 

 and care of small arms, and the duties of members of such special squads 

 as the tenement house, the health and boiler squads must be made 

 familiar to all graduates. Much attention would be paid to all forms 

 of athletics and " first-aid " to the injured and ill would be a specialty. 



In addition to the general plan of instruction applicable to all, it 

 would be highly desirable to establish special courses, to be taken by 

 those students who distinguish themselves by marked adaptability. 

 While every man should be taught to ride, a few might be selected for 

 extraordinary practise, with a view to positions as mounted men. Every 

 one should have a good general knowledge of " administration," but a 

 certain number might be further instructed in all branches of accounts, 

 bookkeeping, etc. Other branches, such as the bureau of electrical serv- 

 ice, could be made the subject of a special course. The theory of " de- 

 tection of crime " by a competent expert might be taught to a certain 

 number of students in the final year. This is not to cherish the hope of 

 making skilled detectives, such being " born, not made." 



The general scheme of the school should, I think, be so planned 

 that from the first everything would tend to the eventual substitution 

 of graduates for civilians as higher clerks, secretaries, etc. The corps 

 of police ought ultimately to be made to contain within itself every 

 element of service, including proceedings similar to courts-martial for 

 trial of delinquents. Perhaps also in the end certain duties now per- 

 formed by policemen could be more efficiently done by civilian em- 

 ployees. For instance, while a mounted man would always be held 

 rigidly responsible for the health, grooming, etc., of his animal, civilian 

 hostlers, cleaners, etc., might well be employed. In short, though spe- 

 cial courses ought to afford room for special talent, and in time the 

 rougher menial duties be relegated to outside hired assistants, every- 



