UNIVERSITIES: ACTUAL AND IDEAL. 39 



hension of what is meant by culture, as this old Tri- 

 vium and Quadrivium does. 



The students who had passed through the Univer- 

 sity course, and had proved themselves competent to 

 teach, became masters and teachers of their younger 

 brethren. Whence the distinction of Masters and Re- 

 gents on the one hand, and Scholars on the other. 



Rapid growth necessitated organisation. The Mas- 

 ters and Scholars of various tongues and countries 

 grouped themselves into four Nations ; and the Nations, 

 by their own votes at first, and subsequently by those 

 of their Procurators, or representatives, elected their 

 supreme head and governor, the Rector at that time 

 the sole representative of the University, and a very 

 real power, who could defy Provosts interfering from 

 without; or could inflict even corporal punishment on 

 disobedient members within the University. 



Such was the primitive constitution of the Univer- 

 sity of Paris. It is in reference to this original state of 

 things that I have spoken of the Rectorate, and all that 

 appertains to it, as the sole relic of that constitution. 



But this original organisation did not last long. 

 Society was not then, any more than it is now, patient 

 of culture, as such. It says to everything, u Be useful 

 to me, or away with you." And to the learned, the 

 unlearned man said then, as he does now, "What is 

 the use of all your learning, unless you can tell me 

 what I want to know? I am here blindly groping 

 about, and constantly damaging myself by collision 



