Criticsofthelatterdayuniversitypolicieshavefromtimetotimecalledattentiontoanapparentreluctanceonthepartoftheseacademicscientiststoencounterpresent—dayfactshand—to—hand，ortotraceoutthecausestowhichcurrentconditionsaredue。Distemperedcriticshaveevenallegedthattheacademicleadersinthesocialsciencesareheldundersomeconstraint，asbeing，insomesort，inthepayofthewell—to—doconservativeelement;thattheyaretherebyincapacitatedfromfollowingupanyinquirytoitslogicalconclusion，incasetheconclusionmightappeartotraversetheinterestortheopinionsofthoseonwhomtheseleadersareinthiswaypecuniarilydependent。
　　Now，itmaybeconcededwithoutviolencetonotoriousfacts，thattheseofficialleadersofsciencedocommonlyreachconclusionsinnocuoustotheexistinglawandorder，particularlywithrespecttoreligion，ownership，andthedistributionofwealth。Butthisneedimplynoconstraint，norevenanypeculiardegreeoftact，muchlessamoralobliquity。Itmayconfidentlybeasserted，withoutfearofcontradictionfromtheirside，thattheofficialleadersinthisprovinceofacademicresearchandindoctrinationare，commonly，innowayhinderedfrompushingtheirresearcheswithfullfreedomandtothelimitoftheircapacity;andthattheyarelikewisefreetogivethefullestexpressiontoanyconclusionsorconvictionstowhichtheirinquiriesmaycarrythem。Thattheyareabletodosoisafortunatecircumstance，duetothefactthattheirintellectualhorizonisboundedbythesamelimitsofcommonplaceinsightandpreconceptionsasaretheprevailingopinionsoftheconservativemiddleclass。Thatistosay，alargeandaggressivemediocrityistheprimequalificationforaleaderofscienceintheselines，ifhisleadershipistogainacademicauthentication。
　　Allthismayseemtoomuchlikeloosegenerality。Withaviewtosuchprecisionasthecaseadmits，itmayberemarkedthatthisprovinceofacademicscienceashabituallypursued，iscommonlyoccupiedwithquestionsofwhatoughttobedone，ratherthanwiththeoriesofthegenesisandcausationofthepresent—daystateofthings，orwithquestionsastowhatthepresent—daydriftofthingsmaybe，asdeterminedbythecausesatwork。Asitdoesinpopularspeculation，soalsointhisacademicquasi—science，theinterestcentresonwhatoughttobedonetoimproveconditionsandtoconservethoseusagesandconventionsthathavebyhabitbeenimbeddedinthereceivedschemeofuseandwont，andsohavecometobefoundgoodandright。Itisoftheessenceofpopularspeculationsonthisrangeoftopicsthattheyarefocussedonquestionsofuse;thattheyareofateleologicalorder;thattheylooktotheexpediencyoftheobservedfactsandtotheirexploitation，ratherthantoascientificexplanationofthem。Thisattitude，ofcourse，istheattitudeofexpediencyandhomiletics，notofscientificinquiry。
　　Asingleillustrativeinstanceoftheprevalenceofthisanimusintheacademicsocialsciencesmaybeinplace。Itisusualamongeconomists，e。g。，tomakemuchofthepropositionthateconomicsisan"art"——theartofexpedientmanagementofthematerialmeansoflife;andfurtherthatthejustificationofeconomictheoryliesinitsserviceabilityinthisrespect。Suchaquasi—sciencenecessarilytakesthecurrentsituationforgrantedasapermanentstateofthings;tobecorrectedandbroughtbackintoitsnormalroutineincaseofaberration，andtobesafeguardedwithapologeticdefenceatpointswhereitisnotworkingtothesatisfactionofallparties。Itisa"science"
　　ofcomplaisantinterpretations，apologies，andprojectedremedies。
　　Theacademicleadersinsuchaquasi—scienceshouldbegiftedwiththeaspirationsandlimitationsthatsoshowupinitspursuit。Theirfitnessinrespectofthisconformitytotheknownmiddle—classanimusandapprehensionoftruthmay，asitexpedientlyshould，beconsideredwhentheirselectionforacademicofficeandrankisunderadvisement;but，providedthechoicebeawiseone，thereneedbenoshadowofconstraintduringtheirincumbency。Theincumbentshouldbeendowedwithalargecapacityforwork，particularlyfor"administrative"work，withalivelyandenduringinterestinthe"practical"questionsthatfallwithinhisacademicjurisdiction，andwithashrewdsenseofthefundamentalrightnessoftheexistingorderofthings，social，economic，political，andreligious。So，byandlarge，itwillbefoundthattheseaccreditedleadersofscientificinquiryarefortunateenoughnotnarrowlytoscrutinize，ortoseekparticularexplanationof，thoseinstitutionalfactswhichtheconservativecommonsenseoftheelderlybusinessmanacceptsasgoodandfinal;andsincetheirfieldofinquiryispreciselythisrangeofinstitutionalfacts，theconsequenceisthattheirleadershipinthescienceconducesmoretothestabilityofopinionsthantotheadvancementofknowledge。
　　Theresultisbynomeansthatnothingisaccomplishedinthisfieldofscienceunderthisleadershipofforcefulmediocrity，butonlythat，insofarasthisleadershipdecides，theworkdoneliesonthislevelofmediocrity。Indeed，thevolumeofworkdoneislargeandofsubstantialvalue，butitrunschieflyoncompilationofdetailsandonthescrutinyandinterpretationofthesedetailswithaviewtotheirconformitywiththeapprovedgeneralizationsofthedaybeforeyesterday，——
　　generalizationsthathadtimetogrowintoaphoristiccommonplacesatadatebeforethepassinggenerationofbusinessmenattainedtheirmajority。
　　Whathasjustbeensaidofthisacademicleadershipinthesocialsciences，ofcourse，appliesonlywithduequalification。
　　Itappliesonlyinsofarastheprinciplesofcompetitiveenterprisecontroltheselectionofthepersonnel，andeventhenonlywithexceptions。Thereisnointentiontodepreciatetheworkofthosemanyeminentscholars，ofscientificanimusandintellectualgrasp，whoseendeavoursaregiventothisrangeofinquiry。Itsapplication，indeed，isintendedtoreachnofartherthanmayservetocoverthesomewhattactfulandquietisticattitudeofthemoralsciencesintheuniversities。Astheyarecultivatedinthegreatseminariesoflearning，thesesciencesarecommonlyofasomewhatmorearchaiccomplexionthanthecontemporarymaterialsciences;theyarelessiconoclastic，haveagreaterregardforprescriptiveauthorityandauthenticity，aremoregiventoresttheirinquiryongroundsofexpediency，ascontrastedwithgroundsofcauseandeffect。Theyarecontenttoconcludethatsuchandsucheventsareexpedientorinexpedient，quiteasoftenandaseasilyasthatsucharethecausesorthegeneticsequenceofthephenomenaunderdiscussion。Inshort，underthisofficialleadershipthesescienceswillhaveanattitudetowardtheirsubjectofinquiryresemblingthattakenbythematerialsciencessomethinglikeacenturyago。
　　Tothecreditofthisacademicleadershipinthesocialsciences，then，itshouldbesaidthatboththeleadersandtheirdisciplesapplythemselveswithadmirablespirittotheseinquiriesintotheproper，expedient，andnormalcourseofevents;andthattheconclusionsarrivedatalsoshedmuchsalutarylightonwhatisproper，expedient，andnormalinthesepremises。Inquiriescarriedoninthisspiritinthefieldofhumaninstitutionsbelong，ofcourse，inthecategoryofworldlywisdomratherthanofscience。"Practical"questionsoccupythesescientistsingreatpart，andpractical，orutilitarian，considerationsguidethecourseoftheinquiryandshapethesystemofgeneralizationsinthesesciences，toamuchgreaterextentthaninthematerialscienceswithwhichtheyareherecontrasted。Analertsenseofthepracticalvalueoftheirinquiriesandtheirteachingisoneofthechiefrequisitesforofficialrecognitioninthescientistswhooccupythemselveswiththesematters，anditisoneofthechiefcharacteristicsoftheirwork。Sothat，insofarasitallconformstotheprinciplesofcompetitivebusiness，thelineofdemarcationbetweenworldlywisdomandtheoreticalvaliditybecomespeculiarlyindistinctinthisprovinceofscience。And，itmayberemarkedbytheway，theinfluenceofthisacademicscience，bothinitsdisciplineandinitstenets，appearstobewhollysalutary;itconduces，onthewhole，toasafeandsane，ifnotanenthusiastic，acceptanceofthingsastheyare，withoutunduecuriosityastowhytheyaresuch。
　　Whathasherebeensaidoftheplaceanduseofthescientistunderthecurrentr間imeofcompetitiveenterprisedescribeswhatshouldfollowfromtheunrestraineddominionofbusinessprinciplesinacademicpolicy，ratherthanwhathasactuallybeenaccomplishedinanyconcretecase;itpresentsanidealsituationratherthanarelationofevents，thoughwithoutlosingtouchwithcurrentfactsatanypoint。Therunofthefactsis，ineffect，acompromisebetweenthescholar’sidealsandthoseofbusiness，insuchawaythattheidealsofscholarshipareyieldingground，inanuncertainandvaryingdegree，beforethepressureofbusinesslikeexigencies。
　　NOTES:
　　1。Cf。alsoJ。J。Chapman，paperon"ProfessionalEthics，"inUniversityControl，asabove，foranestimateoftheinefficiencyofacademicopinionasacorrectiveoftheexecutivepoweronhishead。
　　2。"Thelambsplayalways，theyknownobetter，Theyareonlyonetimesone。"
　　3。"Hewasatrustedandefficientemployeeofaninstitutionmadepossibleandmaintainedbymenofgreatwealth，menwhonotonlyliveontheinterestoftheirmoney，butwhoexpendmillionsintheendowmentofcollegesanduniversitiesinwhichenthusiasticyoungeducators……findlucrativeandhonourableemployment。"——EditorialonthedismissalofDr。Nearing，intheMinneapolisJournal，AugustII，1915。
　　CHAPTERVII
　　VocationalTrainingInthislatterdayacademicenterprise，thatlookssoshrewdlytopracticalexpediency，"vocationaltraining"has，quiteasamatterofcourse，becomeaconspicuousfeature。Theadjectiveisanewone，installedexpresslytodesignatethislineofendeavour，inthejargonoftheeducators;anditcarriesanoteofeuphemism。"Vocationaltraining"istrainingforproficiencyinsomegainfuloccupation，andithasnoconnectionwiththehigherlearning，beyondthatjuxtapositiongivenitbytheinclusionofvocationalschoolsinthesamecorporationwiththeuniversity;anditsspokesmenintheuniversityestablishmentsaccordinglytakeanapologeticallyaggressiveattitudeinadvocatingitsclaims。Educationalenterpriseofthiskindhas，somewhatincontinently，extendedthescopeofthecorporationoflearningbycreating，"annexing，"or"affiliating"manyestablishmentsthatproperlylieoutsidetheacademicfieldanddealwithmattersforeigntotheacademicinterest，——fittingschools，high—schools，technological，manualandothertrainingschoolsformechanical，engineeringandotherindustrialpursuits，professionalschoolsofdiverskinds，musicschools，artschools，summerschools，schoolsof"domesticscience，"
　　"domesticeconomy，""homeeconomics"，（inshort，housekeeping），schoolsforthespecialtrainingofsecondary—schoolteachers，andevenschoolsthatareavowedlyofprimarygrade;whileavarietyof"universityextension"bureauxhavealsobeeninstalled，tocomfortandedifytheunlearnedwithlyceumlectures，todispenseeruditionbymail—order，andtomaintainsomeputativecontactwithamateurscholarsanddilettantibeyondthepale。
　　Onitsface，thisenterpriseinassortededucationsimulatestheprecedentsgivenbythelargermodernbusinesscoalitions，whichfrequentlybringunderonegeneralbusinessmanagementaconsiderablenumberandvarietyofindustrialplants。Doubtlessaboyishimitationofsuchbusinessenterprisehashaditsshareinthepropagationoftheseeducationalexcursions。Itallhasanhistrionicair，suchaswouldsuggestthatitsuse，atleastingoodpart，mightbetoserveasanoutletfortheambitionandenergiesofanexecutivegiftedwithapenchantforlargeanddifficultundertakings，andwithscantinsightintotheneedsandopportunitiesofacorporationofthehigherlearning，andwhomightthereforebecarriedoffhisscholasticfootingbytheglamouroftheexploitsofthetrustmakers。Nodoubt，thehistrionicproclivitiesoftheexecutive，backedbyasimilarsensibilitytodramaticeffectonthepartoftheirstaffandofthegoverningboards，mustbeheldaccountableformuchofthisheadlongpropensitytodomanyotherthingshalf—wayratherthandotheworkwellthatisalreadyinhand。Butthisvisiblehistrionicsensibility，andtheglamourofgreatdeeds，willbynomeanswhollyaccountforcurrentuniversityenterprisealongthisline;notevenwhenthereisaddedtheurgentcompetitiveneedofashowofmagnitude，suchasbesetsalltheuniversities;
　　nordotheseseverallinesofmotivationaccountfortheparticulardirectionsotakenbytheseexcursionsinpartesinfidelium。Atthesametime，reasonsofscholarshiporscienceplainlyhavenopartinthemovement。
　　Apartfromsuchexecutiveweaknessforspectacularmagnitude，andthecompetitiveneedofformidablestatistics，theprimemoverinthecaseispresumablythecurrentunreflectingpropensitytomakemuchofallthingsthatbearthesignatureofthe"practical。"Thesevariousprojectionsofuniversityenterpriseuniformlymakesomeplausibleclaimofthatnature。
　　Anyextensionofthecorporation’sactivitycanbemorereadilyeffected，isacceptedmoreasanexpedientmatterofcourse，ifitpromisestohavesucha"practical"value。"Practical"inthisconnectionmeansusefulforprivategain;itneedimplynothinginthewayofserviceabilitytothecommongood。
　　Thesamespiritshowsitselfalsoinaceaselessrevisionofthescheduleofinstructionofferedbythecollegiateorundergraduatedivisionassuch，whereitleadstoamultiplicationofcoursesdesiredtogiveortoleaduptovocationaltraining。Sothatpracticalinstruction，inthesenseindicated，iscontinuallythrownmoreintotheforegroundinthecoursesoffered，aswellasinthesolicitudeofthevariousadministrativeboards，bureauxandcommitteesthathavetodowiththeorganizationandmanagementoftheacademicmachinery。
　　Ashasalreadybeenremarked，thesedirectiveboards，committees，andchiefsofbureauarechosen，ingreatpart，fortheirbusinesslikeefficiency，becausetheyaregoodoffice—men，with"executiveability";andtheanimusoftheseacademicbusinessmen，bysomuch，becomestheguidingspiritofthecorporationoflearning，andthroughtheircontrolitactsintimatelyandpervasivelytoorderthescopeandmethodofacademicinstruction。Thispermeationoftheuniversity’severydayactivitybytheprinciplesofcompetitivebusinessislessvisibletooutsidersthanthevariouslinesofextraneousenterprisealreadyspokenof，butittouchestheworkwithintheuniversityproperevenmoreradicallyandinsistently;although，itistrue，itaffectsthecollegiate（undergraduate）instructionmoreimmediatelythanwhatisfairlytobeclassedasuniversitywork。Theconsequencesareplain。Businessproficiencyisputintheplaceoflearning。Itissaidbyadvocatesofthismovethatlearningisherebygivenamorepracticalbent;whichissubstantiallyacontradictioninterms。Itisacasenotofassimilation，butofdisplacementandsubstitution，garnishedwithcircumlocutionofamoreorlessingenuouskind。
　　Historically，inpointofderivationandearlygrowth，thismovementforvocationaltrainingiscloselyrelatedtotheAmericansystemof"electives"incollegeinstruction，ifitmaynotratherbesaidtobeadirectoutgrowthofthatpedagogicalexpedient。（1*）Itdatesbackapproximatelytothesameperiodforitsbeginnings，andmuchoftheargumentsadducedinitsfavouraresubstantiallythesameashavebeenfoundconvincingforthesystemofelectives。Undertheelectivesystemaconsiderableandincreasingfreedomhasbeenallowedthestudentinthechoiceofwhathewillincludeinhiscurriculum;sothatthecollegeshaveinthiswaycometoreferthechoiceoftopicsingoodparttotheguidanceofthestudent’sowninterest。Tomeettheresultingrangeanddiversityofdemands，anincreasingvarietyofcourseshasbeenoffered，atthesametimethatanarrowerspecializationhasalsotakeneffectinmuchoftheinstructionoffered。Amongtheotherleadingsofinterestamongstudents，andaffectingtheirchoiceofelectives，hasalsobeenthelaudablepracticalinterestthattheseyoungmentakeintheirownprospectivematerialsuccess。（2*）Sothatthis——academicallyspeaking，extraneous——interesthascometomingleandtakerankwiththescholarlyinterestsproperinshapingthescheduleofinstruction。Adecisivevoiceintheorderingoftheaffairsofthehigherlearninghassobeengiventothenovices，orrathertotheuntutoredprobationersoftheundergraduateschools，whoseentranceonacareerofscholarshipisyetamatterofspeculativeprobabilityatthebest。
　　Thosewhohavespokenforanextensiverangeofelectiveshaveinaveryappreciablemeasuremadeuseofthatexpedientasameansofdisplacingwhattheyhaveregardedasobsoleteordispensableitemsinthetraditionalcollegecurriculum。Insoadvocatingawiderrangeandfreedomofchoice，theyhavespokenforthenewcoursesofinstructionasbeingequallycompetentwiththeoldinpointofdisciplineandculturalvalue;andtheyhavecommonlynotomittedtoclaim——somewhatinthewayofanobiterdictum，perhaps——thatthesenewerandmorevitaltopics，whoseclaimstheyadvocate，havealsothepeculiarmeritofconducinginaspecialdegreetogoodcitizenshipandthematerialwelfareofthecommunity。Suchalineofargumenthasfoundimmediateresponseamongthosepragmaticspiritswithinwhosehorizon"value"issynonymouswith"pecuniaryvalue，"andtowhomgoodcitizenshipmeansproficiencyincompetitivebusiness。Soithascomeaboutthat，whiletheinitialpurposeoftheelectivesystemappearstohavebeenthesharpeningofthestudents’scholarlyinterestsandthecultivationofamoreliberalscholarship，ithasbyforceofcircumstancesservedtopropagateamovementatcrosspurposeswithallscholarlyaspiration。
　　Allthisadvocacyofthepracticalineducationhasfalleninwiththeaspirationsofsuchyoungmenasareeagertofindgratuitoushelptowardagainfulcareer，aswellaswiththedesiresofparentswhoareanxioustoseetheirsonsequippedformaterialsuccess;andnotleasthasitappealedtothesensibilitiesofthosesubstantialcitizenswhoarealreadyestablishedinbusinessandfeeltheneedofafreesupplyoftrainedsubordinatesatreasonablewages。Thelastmentionedisthemoresubstantialoftheseincentivestogratuitousvocationaltraining，comingin，asitdoes，withtheendorsementofthecommunity’smostrespectedandmostinfluentialmen。Whetheritistraininginanyofthevariouslinesofengineering，incommerce，injournalism，orinthemechanicandmanualtrades，theoutputoftrainedmenfromthesevocationalschoolsgoes，inthemain，tosupplytrainedemployeesforconcernsalreadyprofitablyestablishedinsuchlinesofbusinessasfinduseforthisclassofmen;andthroughthegratuitous，orhalfgratuitous，opportunitiesofferedbytheseschools，thisneededsupplyoftrainedemployeescomestothebusinessconcernsinquestionatarateofwageslowerthanwhattheywouldhavetopayintheabsenceofsuchgratuitousinstruction。
　　Notthatthesesubstantialcitizens，whosewordcountsforsomuchincommendationofpracticaleducation，needbegreatlymovedbyselfishconsiderationofthisincreasedeaseinprocuringskilledlabourforuseintheirownpursuitofgain;
　　buttheincreasedandcheapersupplyofsuchskilledworkmenis"goodforbusiness，"and，inthecommonsenseestimationoftheseconservativebusinessmen，whatisgoodforbusinessisgood，withoutreservation。Whatisgoodforbusinessisfelttobeserviceableforthecommongood;andnocloserscrutinyiscommonlygiventothatmatter。Whileanycloserscrutinywoulddoubtlessthrowseriousdoubtonthisgeneralproposition，suchscrutinycannotbutbedistastefultothesuccessfulbusinessmen;sinceitwouldunavoidablyalsothrowashadowofdoubtonthemeritoriousnessofthatbusinesstrafficinwhichtheyhaveachievedtheirsuccessandtowhichtheyowetheirpreferentialstandinginthecommunity。
　　Inthishighratingofthingspracticalthecaptainsofindustryarealsosubstantiallyatonewiththecurrentcommon—senseawardofthevulgar，sothattheiradvocacyofpracticaleducationcarriestheweightofaself—evidentprinciple。Itistrue，inthelongrunandonsoberreflectiontheawardofcivilizedcommonsenserunstotheeffectthatknowledgeismoretobedesiredthanthingsofprice;butatthesametimethesuperficialandtransientworkdaysenseofdailyneeds——the"snapjudgment"ofthevulgar——drivenbythehardusageofcompetitivebread—winning，saysthatagainfuloccupationisthefirstrequisiteofhumanlife;andacceptingitwithoutmuchquestionasthefirstrequisite，thevulgarallowituncriticallytostandasthechieforsoleandthatisworthaneffort。Andinsodoingtheyarenotsofaroutoftheirbearings;fortothecommonman，underthecompetitivesystem，thereisbutascantmarginofenergyorinterestleftoveranddisposableforotherendsaftertheinstantneedsofbread—winninghavebeenmet。
　　Proficiencyandsingle—mindednessinthepursuitofprivategainissomethingthatcanreadilybeappreciatedbyallmenwhohavehadtheusualtraininggivenbythemodernsystemofcompetitivegainandcompetitivespending。Nothingissoinstantlyrecognizedasbeingofgreaturgency，alwaysandeverywhere，underthismodern，pecuniaryschemeofthings。Sothat，withoutreflectionandasamatterofcourse，thefirstandgravestquestionofanygeneralbearinginanyconnectionhascometobethatclassicofworldlywisdom:Whatprofitethitaman？andtheansweris，justasuncritically，soughtintermsofpecuniarygain。Andthementowhomhasbeenentrustedthecustodyofthatculturalheritageofmankindthatcannotbeboughtwithaprice，makehastetoplayuptothissnapjudgmentofthevulgar，andsokeepthemfromcallingtomind，onsecondthought，whatitisthatthey，afterall，valuemorehighlythanthemeansofcompetitivespending。
　　Concomitantwiththisgrowinginsistenceonvocationaltrainingintheschools，andwiththisrestlessendeavouroftheacademicauthoritiestogratifythedemand，therehasalsocomeanincreasinghabitualinclinationofthesameuncriticalcharacteramongacademicmentovalueallacademicworkintermsoflivelihoodorofearningcapacity。（3*）Thequestionhasbeenasked，moreandmoreurgentlyandopenly，Whatistheuseofallthisknowledge？（4*）Pushedbythispopularprejudice，andthemselvesalsodriftingundercompulsionofthesameprevalentbias，eventheseasonedscholarsandscientists——MatthewArnold’s"Remnant"——havetakentoheartthisquestionoftheuseofthehigherlearninginthepursuitofgain。Ofcourseithasnosuchuse，andthemanyshrewdlydevisedsolutionsoftheconundrumhavenecessarilyrunoutinastringofsophisticaldialectics。Theplaceofdisinterestedknowledgeinmoderncivilizationisneitherthatofameanstoprivategain，northatofanintermediatestepin"theroundaboutprocessoftheproductionofgoods。"
　　Asamottoforthescholars’craft，ScientiapecuniaeancillansisnowisemoreseemlythantheSchoolmen’sPhilosophiatheologiaeancillans。（5*）Yetsuchinroadshavepecuniaryhabitsofvaluationmadeevenwithintheprecinctsofthecorporationoflearning，thatuniversitymen，——andeventhescholarlyonesamongthem，——arenomorethanhalfashamedofsuchaparceloffatuity。Andrelativelyfewamonguniversityexecutiveshavenot，withinthepastfewyears，takenoccasiontopleadthemeritsofacademictrainingasabusinessproposition。Themanoftheworld——thatistosay，ofthebusinessworldputsthequestion，Whatistheuseofthislearning？andthemenwhospeakforlearning，andeventhescholarsoccupiedwiththe"humanities，"areatpainstofindsomecolourableanswerthatshallsatisfytheworldly—wisethatthislearningforwhichtheyspeakisinsomewayusefulforpecuniarygain。（6*）
　　Ifhewerenothimselfinfectedwiththepragmatismofthemarket—place，thescholar’sanswerwouldhavetobe。Gettheebehindme！
　　BenjaminFranklin——high—bredpragmatistthathewas——onceputawaysuchaquestionwiththerejoinder:Whatistheuseofababy？Tocivilizedmen——withtheequivocalexceptionofthewarlikepoliticians——thislatterquestionseemsfoolish，criminallyfoolish。Butthereoncewasatime，inthehighdaysofbarbarism，whenthoughtfulmenwerereadytocanvassthatquestionwithasnaiveagravityasthisotherquestion，oftheuseoflearning，iscanvassedbythesubstantialcitizensofthepresentday。Attheperiodcoveredbythatchapterinancienthistory，achildwas，inaway，anarticleofequipmentfortheup—keepofthefamilyanditsprestige，andmoreremotelyforthesupportofthesovereignandhisprestige。Sothatamalechildwouldberatedasindubitablyworthwhileifhegavepromiseofgrowingintoarobustandcontentiousman。Iftheinfantwereagirl，orifhegavenopromiseofbecominganeffectivedisturberofthepeace，theuseorexpediencyofrearingthechildwouldbecomeamatterfordeliberation;andnotinfrequentlythefindingofthoseold—timeutilitarianswasadverse，andtheinvestmentwascancelled。Thehabitofsodeliberatingonthepragmaticadvisabilityofchild—lifehasbeenlost，latterly;oratanyratesuchofthelatterdayutilitariansasmaystillentertainaquestionofthiskindinanyconcretecaseareashamedtohaveitspokenofnakedly。WitnessthelamebutirrepressiblesentimentalprotestagainsttheMalthusiandoctrineofpopulation。
　　Itistrue，inout—of—the—waycornersandonthelowerlevels——andonthehigherlevelsofimperialpoliticswheremenhavenotlearnedtoshrinkfromshamefuldevices，thequestionofchildrenandofthebirth—rateisstillsometimesdebatedasaquestionofthepresumptiveuseofoffspringforsomeulteriorend。Andtheremaystillbefoundthosewhoaretouchedbythereflectionthatachildbornmaybecomeavaluableassetasasupportfortheparents’oldage。Suchapecuniaryratingoftheparentalrelation，whichvalueschildrenasaspeculativemeansofgain，maystillbemetwith。Butwherevermoderncivilizationhasmadeitswayatalleffectually，suchaprovidentratingofoffspringisnotmetwithingoodcompany。Latterdaycommonsensedoesnotcountenanceit。
　　Notthataquestionofexpediencyisnolongerentertained，touchingthismatterofchildren，butitisnolongerthepatriarchal—barbarianquestionastoeventualgainsthatmaybeexpectedtoaccruetotheparentorthefamily。Exceptintheviewofthosestatesmenofthebarbarianlinewhoseethematterofbirth—ratefromthehighergroundofdynasticpolitics，achildbornisnotratedasameans，butasanend。Atleastconventionally，itisnolongeraquestionofpecuniarygainfortheparentbutofexpediencyforthechild。Nomotherasksherselfifherchildwillpay。
　　Civilizedmenshrinkfromanythinglikeratingchildrenasacontrivanceforuseinthe"round—aboutprocessoftheproductionofgoods。"Andinmuchthesamespirit，andinthelastanalysisonmuchthesamegrounds，althoughinalesssecureandmorelooselyspeculativefashion，menalsolooktothehigherlearningastheripefulfilmentofmaterialcompetency，ratherthanasameanstomaterialsuccess。Intheirthoughtfulintervals，themostbusinesslikepragmatistswillavowsuchanideal。Butinworkdaydetail，whenthequestionturnsconcretelyontheadvisabilityofthehighereducation，theworkdayhabitofpecuniarytrafficassertsitself，andthematteristhenlikelytobearguedinpecuniaryterms。Thebarbariananimus，habitualtothequestofgain，reverts，andthedeliberationturnsonthegainfulnessofthiseducation，whichhasinallsobrietybeenacknowledgedthedueendofcultureandendeavour。Sothat，inworkingoutthedetails，thisendoflivingismadeameans，andthemeansismadeanend。
　　Nodoubt，whatchieflyurgesmentothepursuitofknowledgeistheirnativebentofcuriosity，——animpulsiveproclivitytomasterthelogicoffacts;justasthechiefincentivetotheachievementofchildrenhas，nodoubt，alwaysbeentheparentalbent。Butverymuchastheboorishelementinthepresentandrecentgenerationswillletthepecuniaryuseofchildrencomeinasalargesubsidiarygroundofdecision，andastheyhaveevenavowedthistobetheirchiefconcerninthematter;so，inalikespirit，mentrainedtothebusinesssystemofcompetitivegainandcompetitivespendingwillnotbecontenttofindthattheycanaffordthequestofthatknowledgewhichtheirhumanpropensityincitesthemtocultivate，buttheymustbackthispropensitywithashamefacedapologyforeducationonthepleaofitsgainfulness。
　　Whatisheresaidofthebusinesslikespiritofthelatterday"educators"isnottobetakenasreflectingdisparaginglyonthemortheirendeavours。Theyrespondtothecallofthetimesasbesttheycan。Thattheydoso，andthatthecallofthetimesisofthischaracter，isafactofthecurrentdriftofthings;
　　whichonemaycommendordeprecateaccordingasonehasthefortunetofallinwithoneortheothersideofthecase;thatistosayaccordingtoone’shabitualbent;butinanyeventitistobetakenasafactofthelatterdaysituation，andafactorofsomeforceandpermanenceinthedriftofthingsacademic，forthepresentandthecalculablefuture。Itmeansamoreorlesseffectualfurtherdiversionofinterestandsupportfromscienceandscholarshiptothecompetitiveacquisitionofwealth，andthereforealsotoitscompetitiveconsumption。Throughsuchadiversionofenergyandattentionintheschools，thepecuniaryanimusatlarge，andpecuniarystandardsofworthandvalue，standtogain，moreorless，atthecostofthoseothervirtuesthatare，bytheacceptedtraditionofmodernChristendom，heldtobeofgraverandmoreenduringimport。Itmeansanendeavourtosubstitutethepursuitofgainandexpenditureinplaceofthepursuitofknowledge，asthefocusofinterestandtheobjectiveendinthemodernintellectuallife。