es of action
and learning were separate and distinct; when laymen dealt hard
blows and left letters to the priesthood. That was to some
extent the case when our oldest universities were founded. But
the separation daily narrows. It has been said that the true
university of our days is a collection of books. What if a
future philosopher shall say that the best university is a
workshop? And yet the latter definition bids fair to be the
sounder of the two. The training of our schools and colleges
must daily become more and more the training for action, for
practical purpose. The question will be asked of the product of
our educational system: Here is a young fellow of twenty; he
has passed the best years of acquisition and impression; he has
cost so much; what is his value? For what, in all the manifold
activities of the world, is he fit? And if the answer be not
satisfactory, if the product be only a sort of learned mummy,
the system will be condemned. Are there not thousands of lads
today plodding away at the ancient classics, and who, at the
first possible moment, will cast them into space, never to
reopen them? Think of the wasted time that that implies; not
all wasted, perhaps, for something may be gained in power of
application; but entirely wasted so far as available knowledge
is concerned."

And in keeping with this line of thought, the "Washington Post," of
Washington, D. C., in a recent issue, makes the following pertinent and
truthful mention:

"Almost without exception, the colleges and universities are
beginning another year with unusually large classes. Many of
these institutions report the largest number of matriculates in
their history. The aggregate attendance is unquestionably
greater by thousands than that of any previous year. This is
due in part to the prevalence of business prosperity and in
part to the steadily increasing approbation of higher education
for women, while the natural increase of population is also
something of a factor. The 'Cleveland Leader,' speaking of the
reports of large classes of freshmen all over the country,
says:

"'That appears to be the best and most conclusive reply which
the American people can make to those gentlemen of wealth and
prominence who, like Mr. Schwab, of the Steel Trust, discou