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academic management touching the pay…roll； notably the failure of
the employees to organize anything like a trades…union； or to
fall into line on any workable basis of solidarity on such an
issue as a wage…bargain； as also the equivocal footing on which
the matter of appointments and removals is still allowed to
stand； hence also the unsettled ethics of the trade in this
respect。
For divers reasons； but mainly reasons of competitive
statistics； which resolve themselves； again； in the main into
reasons of expedient publicity； it is desired that the enrolment
should be very large and should always and unremittingly
increase； due regard being always had； of course； to the
eminent desirability of drawing into the enrolment many students
from the higher levels of gentility and pecuniary merit。 To this
end it is well； as has already been remarked above； to announce a
very full schedule of instruction and a free range of elective
alternatives； and also to promote a complete and varied line of
scholastic accessories； in the way of athletics； clubs；
fraternities； 〃student activities；〃 and similar devices of
politely blameless dissipation。
These accessories of college life have been strongly on the
increase since the business r間ime has come in。 They are held to
be indispensable； or unavoidable； not for scholarly work； of
course； but chiefly to encourage the attendance of that
decorative contingent who take more kindly to sports； invidious
intrigue and social amenities than to scholarly pursuits。
Notoriously； this contingent is； on the whole； a serious drawback
to the cause of learning； but it adds appreciably； and adds a
highly valued contribution； to the number enrolled； and it gives
also a certain； highly appreciated； loud tone （〃college spirit〃）
to the student body； and so it is felt to benefit the corporation
of learning by drawing public attention。 Corporate means expended
in provision for these academic accessories 〃side shows；〃 as
certain ill…disposed critics have sometimes called them are
commonly felt to be well spent。 Persons who are not intimately
familiar with American college life have little appreciation of
the grave solicitude given to these matters。
During some considerable number of years past； while the
undergraduate enrolment at the universities has been increasing
rapidly； the attitude of the authorities has progressively been
undergoing a notable change touching these matters of
extra…scholastic amenity。 It is in great measure a continuation
of changes that have visibly been going forward in the older
universities of the country for a longer period； and it is
organically bound up with the general shifting of ground that
marks the incursion of business principles。
While the authorities have turned their attention primarily
to the undergraduate division and its numerical increase； they
have at the same time； and largely with the same end in view；
endeavoured to give it more of the character of a 〃gentleman's
college〃； that is to say； an establishment for the cultivation of
the graces of gentility and a suitable place of residence for
young men of spendthrift habits。 The improvement sought in these
endeavours is not so much the increase and acceleration of
scholarly pursuits； as a furthering of 〃social〃 proficiency。 A
〃gentleman's college〃 is an establishment in which scholarship is
advisedly made subordinate to genteel dissipation； to a grounding
in those methods of conspicuous consumption that should engage
the thought and energies of a well…to…do man of the world。 Such
an ideal； more or less overtly； appears to be gaining ground
among the larger universities； and； needless to say； it is
therefore also gaining； by force of precedent and imitation；
among the younger schools engaged in more of a struggle to
achieve a secure footing of respectability。
Its bearing on the higher learning is； of course；
sufficiently plain； and its intimate connection with business
principles at large should be equally plain。 The scheme of
reputability in the pecuniary culture comprises not only the
imperative duty of acquiring something more than an equitable
share of the community's wealth； but also the dutiful privilege
of spending this acquired wealth； and the leisure that goes with
it； in a reputably conspicuous way； according to the ritual of
decorum in force for the time being。 So that proficiency in the
decorously conspicuous waste of time and means is no less
essential in the end than proficiency in the gainful conduct of
business。 The ways and means of reputably consuming time and
substance； therefore； is by prescriptive necessity to be included
in the training offered at any well…appointed undergraduate
establishment that aims in any comprehensive sense to do its
whole duty by the well…to…do young men under its tutelage。（9*） It
is； further and by compulsion of the same ideals； incumbent on
such an establishment to afford these young men a precinct
dedicate to cultured leisure； and conventionally sheltered from
the importunities of the municipal police； where an adequate but
guarded indulgence may be had for those extravagances of
adolescence that count for so much in shaping the canons of
genteel intercourse。
There is； of course； no intention here to find fault with
this gentlemanly ideal of undergraduate indoctrination； or with
the solicitude shown in this behalf by the captains of erudition；
in endeavouring to afford time； place and circumstance for its
due inculcation among college men。 It is by no means here assumed
that learning is substantially more to be desired than
proficiency in genteel dissipation。 It is only that the higher
learning and the life of fashion and affairs are two widely
distinct and divergent lines； both lying within the current
scheme of civilization； and that it is the university's
particular office in this scheme to conserve and extend the
domain of knowledge。 There need be no question that it is a work
of great social merit and consequence to train adepts in the
ritual of decorum； and it is doubtless a creditable work for any
school adapted to that purpose to equip men for a decorative
place in polite society； and imbue them with a discriminating
taste in the reputable waste of time and means。 And all that may
perhaps fall； not only legitimately； but meritoriously； within
the province of the undergraduate school； at least it is not here
intended to argue the contrary。 At the same time a secure
reputation for efficiency and adequate facil