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academic； is shown by the visible proclivity of the older
institutions to follow the lead given in this matter by the
younger ones； so far as the younger ones have taken the lead。 In
the mere number of authorized events； as contrasted with the
average of some twenty…five or thirty years back； the present
average appears； on a somewhat deliberate review of the available
data； to compare as three or four to one。 For certain of the
younger and more exuberant seats of learning today； as compared
with what may be most nearly comparable in the academic situation
of the eighties； the proportion is perhaps twice as large as the
larger figure named above。 Broadly speaking； no requirement of
the academic routine should be allowed to stand in the way of an
available occasion for a scholastic pageant。
These genteel solemnities； of course； have a cultural
significance； probably of a high order； both as occasions of
rehearsal in all matters of polite conformity and as a stimulus
to greater refinement and proficiency in expenditure on seemly
dress and equipage。 They may also be believed to have some
remote； but presumably salutary； bearing on the higher learning。
This latter is an obscure point； on which it would be impossible
at present to offer anything better than abstruse speculative
considerations； since the relation of these genteel exhibitions
to scientific inquiry or instruction is of a peculiarly
intangible nature。 But it is none of these cultural bearings of
any such round of polite solemnities and stately pageants that
comes in question here。 It is their expediency in point of
businesslike enterprise； or perhaps rather their businesslike
motive； on the one hand； and their effect Upon the animus and
efficiency of the academic personnel； on the other hand。
In so far as their motive should not （by unseemly imputation）
be set down to mere boyish exuberance of make…believe； it must be
sought among considerations germane to that business enterprise
that rules academic policy。 However attractive such a derivation
might seem； this whole traffic in pageantry and ceremonial
amenities can not be traced back to ecclesiastical ground； except
in point of remote pedigree； it has grown greater since the
businessmen took over academic policy out of the hands of the
clergy。 Nor can it be placed to the account of courtly；
diplomatic； or military antecedents or guidance； these fields of
activity； while they are good breeding ground for pomp and
circumstance； do not overlap； or even seriously touch； the
frontiers of the republic of learning。 On the other hand； in
seeking grounds or motives for it all； it is also not easy to
find any close analogy in the field of business enterprise of the
larger sort； that has to do with the conduct of industry。 There
is little of this manner of expensive public ceremonial and
solemn festivities to be seen； e。g。； among business concerns
occupied with railroading or banking； in cottonspinning； or
sugar…refining； or in farming； shipping； coal； steel； or oil。 In
this field phenomena of this general class are of rare
occurrence； sporadic at the best； and when they occur they will
commonly come in connection with competitive sales of products；
services or securities； particularly the latter。 Nearer business
analogues will be found in retail merchandising； and in
enterprises of popular amusement； such as concert halls； beer
gardens； or itinerant shows。 The street parades of the latter；
e。g。； show a seductive； though； it is believed； misleading
analogy to the ceremonial pageants that round off the academic
year。
Phenomena that come into view in the later and maturer growth
of the retail trade； as seen； e。 g。； in the larger and more
reputable department stores； are perhaps nearer the point。 There
are formal 〃openings〃 to inaugurate the special trade of each of
the four seasons； desired to put the patrons of the house on a
footing of good…humoured familiarity with the plant and its
resources； with the customs of the house； the personnel and the
stock of wares in hand； and before all to arrest the attention
and enlist the interest of those classes that may be induced to
buy。 There are also occasional gatherings of a more ceremonial
character； by special invitation of select customers to a
promised exhibition of peculiarly rare and curious articles of
trade。 This will then be illuminated with shrewdly conceived
harangues setting forth the alleged history； adventures and
merits； past and future； of the particular branch of the trade；
and of the particular house at whose expense the event is
achieved。 In addition to these seasonal and occasional set pieces
of mercantile ceremony； there will also run along in the day' s
work an unremitting display of meritorious acts of commission and
omission。 Like their analogues in academic life these ceremonials
of trade are expensive； edifying； enticing； and surrounded with a
solicitous regard for publicity； and it will be seen that they
are； all and several； expedients of advertising。
To return to the academic personnel and their implication in
these recurrent spectacles and amenities of university life。 As
was remarked above； apart from outside resources the livelihood
that comes to a university man is； commonly； somewhat meagre。 The
tenure is uncertain and the salaries； at an average； are not
large。 Indeed； they are notably low in comparison with the high
conventional standard of living which is by custom incumbent on
university men。 University men are conventionally required to
live on a scale of expenditure comparable with that in vogue
among the well…to…do businessmen； while their university incomes
compare more nearly with the lower grades of clerks and salesmen。
The rate of pay varies quite materially； as is well known。 For
the higher grades of the staff； whose scale of pay is likely to
be publicly divulged； it is； perhaps； adequate to the average
demands made on university incomes by polite usage； but the large
majority of university men belong on the lower levels of grade
and pay； and on these lower levels the pay is； perhaps； lower
than any outsider appreciates。（3*）
With men circumstanced as the common run of university men
are； the temptation to parsimony is ever present； while on the
other hand； as has already been noted； the prestige of the
university and of the academic head demands of all its
members a conspicuously expensive manner of living。 Both of these
needs may； of course； be met in some poor measure by saving in