22() llie Aiiicrtcd II (reohxjisl. Oc-t(>i)>r, isiif) 
iiiistaki'ii the natural ''sequence oT studies" for '-required 
studies." This error happens because in the [)rospectus of 
the elective system issued last May special attention was called 
to the natural sequences in chemistry, metallurgy, mechanical, 
electrical and mining engineering, ore-dressing and geology, 
provided any student wished to obtain every particle of in- 
struction that is given in the school in any of the subjects 
named. These outline schemes are merel}'^ signs showing the 
student some of the numerous ways of reaching the upper 
rooms of the house, but he has absolute freedom to use any of 
the other numerous w^ays that might just as well have been 
pointed out. Owing to the fact that, in the usual discussions 
of elective systems, the natural sequence of studies is not dwelt 
upon, it wa,s expected that these guiding lines would be mis- 
taken for required courses by many readers, although it was 
thought the error was sutiiciently guarded against in the 
prospectus on pages 11, 13, 14 and 25. The precaution seems 
not to have been entirely successful, since a friendly hand in 
a friendly journal* has penned the following: "Students are 
allowed to select one of several courses with a certain princi- 
pal subject, and in each course certain studies are required 
and the rest are elective. The school thus allows greater free- 
dom in the selection of studies than do most mining schools." 
This friend has entirely misapprehended the facts, as the 
statements made above show. The freedom of choice is not 
only greater than that allowed in all other mining schools, 
but, so far as the present writer is aware, also greater than 
that in all other technical or engineering schools whatsoever. 
Although this is the tirst time this general freedom has ever 
been allowed in an^^ engineering school, the problem seemed to 
be so full}^ solved, so far as the special conditions of this in- 
stitution are concerned, that when it was brought before the 
faculty and the board of control it passed both bodies without 
a single objection. The ostensible working of the system does 
not go into full effect until September 16th of this j-ear. yet 
the choice of electives has already been made; and the pas- 
sage of all the students from a rigid system to an elective one 
has been accomplished without any hitch or ditficulty, but also 
with the pupils' unanimous approval. 
*American Geologist, 1895. vol. xvi, p. 130. 
