322 Darwinism and Other Essays. 



dents with a wholesome incentive to exertion, a 

 conditional exemption from recitations might be 

 granted in the studies of the pass-course. For 

 example, all persons attaining a certain standard 

 of excellence in the monthly examination might 

 be required to attend only half the stated num 

 ber of recitations for the month following. The 

 next examination would afford both a test of the 

 faithfulness with which the student had employed 

 the time thus left to his control, and an occasion 

 for withdrawing the privilege in case of its abuse. 

 Some such system as this might be put into oper 

 ation even in the present state of affairs. Its 

 merits, in creating a powerful yet thoroughly nat 

 ural motive for promptness and diligence, are 

 perfectly apparent. It goes far toward obviating 

 the defects of the system of compulsory attend 

 ance, while it does not ignore the value of that 

 discipline which can only be got from occasional 

 intercourse with tutors and fellow-students in the 

 recitation-room. 



The advantages of solving problems, constru 

 ing an ancient author, or rehearsing the results 

 of one s reading in the presence of classmates and 

 subject to professorial criticism are indeed suffi 

 ciently obvious. Skill in acquiring knowledge 

 ought certainly to be accompanied by skill in re- 



