按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
observers in this matter is the relatively very brief
inconspicuously brief time interval during which it was found
practicable to let the academic policy be guided primarily by
scholarly ideals。
12。 As a commentary on the force of circumstances and the
academic value of the executive office； it is worth noting that；
in the case cited； an administration guided by a forceful；
ingenious and intrepid personality； initially imbued with
scholarly ideals of a sort； has run a course of scarcely
interrupted academic decay； while the succeeding reign of astute
vacuity and quietism as touches all matters of scholarship and
science has； on the whole； and to date； left the university in an
increasingly hopeful posture as a seminary of the higher
learning。 All of which would appear to suggest a parallel with
the classic instance of King Stork and King Log； Indeed； at the
period of the succession alluded to； the case of these fabled
majesties was specifically called to mind by one and another of
the academic staff。 It would appear that the academic staff will
take care of its ostensible work with better effect the less
effectually its members are interfered with and suborned by an
enterprising captain of erudition。
13。 There is a word to add； as to the measure of success achieved
by these enterprises along their chosen lines of endeavour。 Both
of the establishments spoken of are schools of some value in many
directions； and both have also achieved a large reputation among
the laity。 Indeed； the captains under whose management the two
schools have perforce carried on their work； are commonly held in
considerable esteem as having achieved great things。 There is no
desire here to understate the case； but it should be worth
noting； as bearing on the use and academic value of the
presidential office； that the disposal of very large means
means of unexampled magnitude has gone to this achievement。 A
consideration of these results； whether in point of scholarship
or of notoriety； as compared with the means which the captains
have disposed of； will leave one in doubt。 It should seem
doubtful if the results could have been less excellent or less
striking； given the free disposal of an endowment of 20 or 30
millions； and upward； even under the undistinguished and
uneventful management of commonplace honesty and academic
traditions without the guidance of a 〃strong man。〃 It is； indeed；
not easy to believe that less could have been achieved without
the captain's help。 There is also evidence to hand that the loss
of the 〃strong man〃 has entailed no sensible loss either in the
efficiency or in the good repute of the academic establishment；
rather the reverse。
14。 Within the precincts； it is not unusual to meet with a
harsher and more personal note of appraisal of what are rated as
the frailties of the executive。 There are many expressions to be
met with； touching this matter； of a colloquial turn。 These will
commonly have something of an underbred air； as may happen in
unguarded colloquial speech； but if it be kept in mind that their
personal incidence is duly to be read out of them； their tenor
may yet be instructive； and their scant elegance may be
over…looked for once； in view of that certain candour that is
scarcely to be had without a colloquial turn。 They should serve
better than many elaborate phrases to throw into relief the kind
and measure of esteem accorded these mature incumbents of
executive office by the men who assist behind the scenes。 So； in
bold but intelligible metaphor； one hears； 〃He is a large person
full of small potatoes；〃 〃The only white thing about him is his
liver；〃 〃Half…a…peck of pusillanimity；〃 〃A four…flusher。〃
Something after this kind is this aphoristic wisdom current in
the academic community； in so far as it runs safely above the
level of scurrility。 In point of taste； it would be out of the
question to follow the same strain of discourteous expressions
into that larger volume of more outspoken appraisal that lies
below that level； and even what has so been sparingly cited in
illustration can； of course； not claim a sympathetic hearing as
being in any way a graceful presentment of the sense intended to
be conveyed in these figures of speech。 Yet the apology may be
accepted； that it conveys this sense intelligibly even if not
elegantly。
Indeed； a person widely conversant with current opinion and
its expression among the personnel of the staff； as touches the
character and academic value of a capable and businesslike
executive； might unguardedly come to the persuasion that the
typical academic head； under these latterday conditions。 will be
a feebleminded rogue。 Such is； doubtless； far from being the
actual valuation underlying these many artless expressions that
one meets with。 And doubtless； the most that could be said would
be that； in point of orientation； the typical executive； qua
executive； tends to fall in with the lines so indicated； that the
exigencies of the executive office are of a kind that would
converge upon such an issue 〃in the long run〃 and 〃in the absence
of disturbing causes〃； not that the effectual run of
circumstances will at all commonly permit a consummation of that
kind and degree。
〃Indeed。。。 we may say as Dr Boteler said of strawberries。
'Doubtless God could have made a better berry； but doubtless God
never did。'〃
15。 It will be objected； and with much reason； that these
underlying 〃school units〃 that go to make up the composite
American university habitually see no great evil in so being
absorbed into the trust。 They lend themselves readily； if not
eagerly； to schemes of coalition； they are in fact prone to draw
in under the aegis of the university corporation by 〃annexation；〃
〃affiliation。〃 〃absorption；〃 etc。 Any one who cares to take stock
of that matter and is in a position to know what is going on can
easily assure himself that the reasons which decide in such a
case are not advisedly accepted reasons intrinsic to the needs of
efficiency for the work in hand； but rather reasons of
competitive expediency； of competitive advantage and of prestige；
except in so far as it may all be as perhaps it commonly is
mere unreflecting conformity to the current fashion。 In this
connection it is to be remarked； however； that even if the current
usage has no intrinsic advantage； as against another way of doing；
failure to conform with the current way of doing will always entail
a disadvantage。