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lively, of the human race ; and, yet, it is hardly too much to say, 

 that our ancient colleges and universities mainly provided instruction 

 originally intended exclusively for those who sought to be equipped 

 for these special classes. The great majority of mankind, therefore, 

 lacking perhaps neither ambition nor native ability, were dependent 

 upon the hap-hazard of self-culture, or upon being taught in some 

 brief way in the district-school how to read, write, and cipher. If 

 this uncounted and unrepresented multitude sought to acquire knowl- 

 edge of more practical value in the voyage of life, they soon found 

 that useful knowledge was often estimated in ancient and richly en- 

 dowed institutions to mark the humble station of steerage passen- 

 gers, while the august institutions assumed to provide alone for pas- 

 sengers in the cabin, and, for them having reluctantly abandoned 

 the discipline of the "birch" only intellectual discipline, the effica- 

 cy of which no one disputes, though no less efficacy may be claimed 

 in behalf of studies for scientific use than for classic ostentation. 



An eminent orator of Harvard College, it is reported, once asked, 

 " What is a University ?" and answered it by quoting himself as hav- 

 ing said thirty years before that, "A University is a place where 

 nothing useful is taught, and a University is possible only where a 

 man may get his livelihood by digging Sanscrit roots." 



This may have been sanctioned by the authority of longevity, and 

 certainly appeared thirty years ago as too antiquated and limited for 

 the general wants of American citizens, who claim that in any sphere 

 of life education pays, that all persons, however humble their pur- 

 suits, become more valuable by education, more useful to themselves 

 and to the community, and especially so where each one has a visible 

 and responsible share in the government under which he lives. 



Something more than a system of liberal education for the class of 

 the so-called "liberal professions" was demanded, and this class, 

 where the greatest number of representatives of the highest culture 

 now exists, should all gladly welcome additions to their own numbers 

 of other learned men. The great army of industrious laborers in the 

 field and workshop, in mines and factories, or on railroads and other 

 business enterprises ready at any time to give their lives in support 

 of the liberties and union of the nation had some right to more of 

 sound and appropriate learning that would elevate and especially 

 profit them in their respective future careers. 



The school-age of man is far too brief for the acquirement of all 

 knowledge of philosophy, letters and science, and where the dead 



