Prussia and the German System of Education. 11 



The Universities of Germany. 



Universities were first founded in Germany in the 13th 

 century. They were modeled after the high schools of the 

 Arabs in Bagdad, Cordova, Salamanca, Seville, Toledo, 

 and Alexandria. The studies were grammar, poetry, 

 philosophy, law, medicine, astronomy, mathematics and 

 practical sciences. 



The Universities are the pride and glory of Germany. 

 They exert more influence there than similar institutions 

 in any other country. They are the centres of the higher 

 intellectual and literary life of the nation and the labora- 

 tories of new theories of action. They reflect a picture ; 

 the whole world of nature and of mind under its ideal 

 form. They develop the talents and form the principles 

 of nearly all who fill the places of power in church and 

 state, from the village pastor to the oberconsistorialrath, 

 from the advocate at the bar to the head of the cabinet. 



They receive the best minds from the lowest as well as 

 the highest ranks and fit them for public usefulness. 



From them, emanate principally the ideas and maxims 

 whether conservative or progressive which rule the land. 



It is characteristic that the Reformation in Germany, 

 proceeded, not from princes and bishops as in England, but 

 from theological professors. 



The great philosophical and theological revolution of the 

 last century and the counter revolution of the present 

 century, have likewise proceeded mainly from the studies 

 and lecture rooms of the academic teachers. 



Such supremacy of literary institutions and literary men 

 has, however, its disadvantages. It could not exist in a 

 country like ours or England, where politics and commerce 

 engage so large a proportion of the best talent and energy 

 of the nation. But in Germany, it is closely connected 

 with the genius, history and condition of the people, and 



