EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES IN FRANCE 357 



education in France, together with the changes recently effected, 

 and making requirements for the doctorate perfectly clear. This 

 publication has done much to do away with the lack of compre- 

 hension in regard to the status of the French universities. The 

 Comite de patronage des etudiants etrangers, office in the Sor- 

 bonne, issued a luminous pamphlet, entitled: "New Diplomas of 

 the French Universities; doctorate, license diplomas, certificates of 

 studies; for the especial use of foreign students." Finally, in 1907, 

 there appeared in the October number of the ficho des deux mondes, 

 issued in Chicago, perhaps the best French periodical published in 

 the United States, a concise summary of information upon the 

 entire subject, with practical hints to aid students going to France 

 for study. This summary was entitled ' ' Conseil aux Americains, ' ' and 

 was written by M. Robert Dupouey of the faculty of the University 

 of California. The substance of this useful article appeared in 

 English in the University of California Chronicle, vol. IX, No. 4, 

 1907, and was also separately printed. 



There seems now to be hardly any reason why a student intend- 

 ing to study abroad should not obtain quite as clear an idea of the 

 university system in France and the opportunities it offers as of the 

 German university system and its advantages. To all of the above 

 mentioned articles, and especially to the useful report of the Franco- 

 American Committee, the writer of the present article desires to 

 acknowledge his indebtedness. 



V. THE UNIVERSITY OF PARIS. 



Of the sixteen French universities, the University of Paris, or 

 the Sorbonne, is by far the most renowned. It possesses traditions, 

 like those of Salerno and Bologna, that only centuries of existence 

 can give. The most influential scholars have been and still are 

 connected with its teaching force. Of the original building con- 

 structed by Cardinal Richelieu in 1629 for the Sorbonne, then the 

 theological faculty of the University of Paris, the Church is the only 

 portion that has been preserved. Since 1885 extensive building 

 operations, only recently finished, have been going on, and now 

 the University of Paris possesses one of the finest and costliest 

 structures for educational needs to be found in all Europe. The 

 front of the building is on the rue des ficoles, just opposite the 

 Hotel de Cluny, the site of the palace and baths of the Roman em- 

 perors. The beautiful new home of the University of Paris is 



