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the one…eyed business sense of their governing boards。 Indeed；
admissions to such an effect are not altogether wanting。
Rated as they are； in the popular apprehension； as gentlemen
and scholars； and themselves presumably accepting this rating as
substantially correct； no feature of the scheme of management
imposed on the academic executive by business principles should
（presumably） be so repugnant to their sensibilities and their
scholarly judgment as this covert but unremitting pursuit of an
innocuous notoriety； coupled as it necessarily is with a
systematic misdirection of the academic forces to unscholarly
ends； but prudential reasons will decide that this must be their
chief endeavour if they are to hold their own as a competitive
university。 Should the academic head allow his sense of scholarly
fitness and expediency to hamper this business of reputable
notoriety； it is； perhaps with reason； feared that such
remissness would presently lead to his retirement from office； at
least something of that kind seems a fair inference from the run
of the facts。 His place would then be supplied by an incumbent
duly qualified on this score of one…eyed business sagacity； and
one who would know how to keep his scholarly impulses in hand。 It
is at least conceivable that the apprehension of some such
contingency may underlie current university management at some
points； and it may there fore in some instances have given the
administration of academic affairs an air of light…headed
futility； when it should rather be credited with a sagaciously
disingenuous yielding to circumstance。
The run of the facts as outlined above； and the line of
inference just indicated as following from them； reflect no great
credit on the manly qualities of the incumbents of executive
office； but the alternative； as also noted above； is scarcely
preferable even in that respect； while it would be even less
flattering to their intellectual powers。 Yet there appears to be
no avoiding the dilemma so presented。 Of disinterested grounds
for the common run of academic policy there seem to be only these
two lines to choose between： either a short…sighted and
headlong conformity to the vulgar prejudice that does not look
beyond 〃practical〃 training and competitive expansion； coupled
with a boyish craving for popular display； or a strategic
compromise with the elders of the Philistines； a futile doing of
evil in the hope that some good may come of it。
This latter line of apology is admissible only in those cases
where the university corporation is in an exceptionally
precarious position in respect of its endowment； where it is in
great need and has much to hope for in the way of pecuniary gain
through stooping to conventional prejudices； that are of no
scholastic value； but that are conceived to bind its potential
benefactors in a web of fatally fragile bigotry； or； again； where
the executive is in sensible danger of being superseded by an
administration imbued with （conceivably） yet lower and feebler
scholarly ideals。
Now； it happens that there are notable instances of
universities where such a policy of obsequiously reputable
notoriety and aimless utilitarian management is pursued under
such circumstances of settled endowment and secure tenure as to
preclude all hazard of supersession on the part of the executive
and all chance of material gain from any accession of popular
renown or stagnant respectability。 There is a small class of
American university corporations that are so placed； by the
peculiar circumstances of their endowment； as to be above the
apprehension of need； so long as they are content to live
anywhere nearly within the domain of learning； at the same time
that they have nothing to lose through alienating the affections
of the vulgar； and nothing to gain by deferring to the
sentimental infirmities of elderly well…to…do persons。 This class
is not a numerous one； not large enough to set the pace for the
rest； but evidently also not numerous enough to go on their own
recognizances； and adopt a line of policy suited to their own
circumstances and not bound to the fashion set by the rest。 Some
of the well known establishments of this class have already been
alluded to in another connection。
Statistical display； spectacular stage properties；
vainglorious make…believe and obsequious concessions to worldly
wisdom； should seem to have no place in the counsels of these
schools； which should therefore hopefully be counted on to pursue
the quest of knowledge with that single mind which they profess。
Yet such is eminently； not to say pre…eminently； not the case。
Their policy in these matters commonly differs in no sensible
degree from that pursued by the needier establishments that are
engaged in a desperate race of obsequiousness； for funds to be
procured by favour of well…to…do donors； or through the support
of worldly…wise clergymen and politicians。 Indeed； some of the
most pathetic clamour for popular renown； as well as instances of
the most profligate stooping to vulgar prejudice； are to be
credited to establishments of this； potentially independent；
class。 The management； apparently； are too well imbued with the
commonplace preconceptions of worldly wisdom afloat among the
laity； to admit of their taking any action on their own
deliberate initiative or effectually taking thought of that
pursuit of learning that has been entrusted to their care。 So；
perhaps through some puzzleheaded sense of decorum； they have
come to engage in this bootless conventional race for funds which
they have no slightest thought of obtaining； and for an increased
enrolment which they advisedly do not desire。
In the light of these instances； one is constrained to
believe that the academic executive who has so been thrown up as
putative director of the pursuit of learning must go in for this
annexation of vocational schools； for amateurish 〃summer
sessions；〃 for the appointment of schoolmasters instead of
scholars on the academic staff； for the safe…keeping and
propagation of genteel conventionalities at the cost of
scholarship； for devout and polite ceremonial； one is
constrained to believe that such a university executive goes in
for this policy of tawdry routine because he lacks ordinary
intelligence or because he lacks ordinary courage。 His discretion
is overborne either by his own store of unreflecting prejudice；
or by fear of losing。 personal prestige among the ignorant； even
though he has no substantial ground； personal or of