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from the standpoint of the counting…house； learning and
university instruction are a species of skilled labour； to be
hired at competitive wages and to turn out the largest
merchantable output that can be obtained by shrewd bargaining
with their employees； whereas； of course； in point of fact and of
its place in the economic system； the pursuit of learning is a
species of leisure； and the work of instruction is one of the
modes of a life so spent in 〃the increase and diffusion of
knowledge among men。〃 It is to be classed as 〃leisure〃 only in
such a sense of that term as may apply to other forms of activity
that have no economic； and more particularly no pecuniary； end or
equivalence。 It is by no means hereby intended to imply that such
pursuit of knowledge is an aimless or indolent manner of life；
nothing like dissipation has a legitimate place in it； nor is it
〃idle〃 in any other sense than that it is extra…economic； not
without derogation to be classed as a gainful pursuit。 Its aim is
not the increase or utilization of the material means of life；
nor can its spirit and employment be bought with a price。 Any
salary； perquisites； or similar emoluments assigned the scholars
and scientists in the service of civilization； within the
university or without； are （should be） in the nature of a
stipend； designed to further the free use of their talent in the
prosecution of this work； the value of which is not of a
pecuniary kind。 But under the stress of businesslike management
in the universities the drift of things sets toward letting the
work of science and scholarship to the lowest bidder； on a
roughly applicable piece…wage plan。 The result is about such a
degree of inefficiency； waste and stultification as might fairly
be expected； whereof there are abundantly many examples； that
humble the pride of the scholars and rejoice the heart of the
captains of erudition。
The piece…wage plan never goes into effect in set form； or
has not hitherto done so； although there are schools of
nominally university grade in which there is a recognized and
avowed endeavour so to apportion the weekly hours of class…room
exercises to the pay of the teachers as to bring the pay per
class…hour per semester to a passably uniform level for the
general body of the staff。 That the piece…wage plan has so little
avowed vogue in the academic wage scheme may at first sight seem
strange； the body of academic employees are as defenceless and
unorganized as any class of the wage…earning population； and it
is among the unorganized and helpless that the piece…wage plan is
commonly applied with the best effect； at the same time the
system of scholastic accountancy； worked out for other purposes
and already applied both to instructors； to courses of
instruction； and to divisions of the school year； has already
reduced all the relevant items to such standard units and
thorough equivalence as should make a system of piece…wages
almost a matter of course。 That it has not formally been put in
practice appears to be due to tradition； and to that long…term
common sense appreciation of the nature of learning that will
always balk at rating this work as a frankly materialistic and
pecuniary occupation。 The academic personnel； e。 g。； are unable
to rid themselves of a fastidious perhaps squeamish
persuasion that they are engaged in this work not wholly for
pecuniary returns； and the community at large are obscurely； but
irretrievably and irresponsibly； in the same suspicious frame of
mind on that head。 The same unadvised and unformulated persuasion
that academic salaries are after all not honestly to be rated as
wages； is doubtless accountable for certain other features of
academic management touching the pay…roll； notably the failure of
the employees to organize anything like a trades…union； or to
fall into line on any workable basis of solidarity on such an
issue as a wage…bargain； as also the equivocal footing on which
the matter of appointments and removals is still allowed to
stand； hence also the unsettled ethics of the trade in this
respect。
For divers reasons； but mainly reasons of competitive
statistics； which resolve themselves； again； in the main into
reasons of expedient publicity； it is desired that the enrolment
should be very large and should always and unremittingly
increase； due regard being always had； of course； to the
eminent desirability of drawing into the enrolment many students
from the higher levels of gentility and pecuniary merit。 To this
end it is well； as has already been remarked above； to announce a
very full schedule of instruction and a free range of elective
alternatives； and also to promote a complete and varied line of
scholastic accessories； in the way of athletics； clubs；
fraternities； 〃student activities；〃 and similar devices of
politely blameless dissipation。
These accessories of college life have been strongly on the
increase since the business r間ime has come in。 They are held to
be indispensable； or unavoidable； not for scholarly work； of
course； but chiefly to encourage the attendance of that
decorative contingent who take more kindly to sports； invidious
intrigue and social amenities than to scholarly pursuits。
Notoriously； this contingent is； on the whole； a serious drawback
to the cause of learning； but it adds appreciably； and adds a
highly valued contribution； to the number enrolled； and it gives
also a certain； highly appreciated； loud tone （〃college spirit〃）
to the student body； and so it is felt to benefit the corporation
of learning by drawing public attention。 Corporate means expended
in provision for these academic accessories 〃side shows；〃 as
certain ill…disposed critics have sometimes called them are
commonly felt to be well spent。 Persons who are not intimately
familiar with American college life have little appreciation of
the grave solicitude given to these matters。
During some considerable number of years past； while the
undergraduate enrolment at the universities has been increasing
rapidly； the attitude of the authorities has progressively been
undergoing a notable change touching these matters of
extra…scholastic amenity。 It is in great measure a continuation
of changes that have visibly been going forward in the older
universities of the country for a longer period； and it is
organically bound up with the general shifting of ground that
marks the incursion of business principles。
While the authorities have turned their attention primarily
to the undergraduate division and its numerical increase； they
have at the same time； and largely with the same end in view；
endeavoured to give it more of the character of a 〃gentleman's
college〃； that is to say； an establishment for the cultivation of
the graces of gentility and a suitable place of residence for
young men of spendthrift habits。 The improvement sought in these
endeavours is not so much the increase and acceleration of
scholarly pursuits； as a furthering of 〃social〃 proficiency。 A
〃gentleman's college〃 is an establishment in which scholarship is
advisedly made subordinate to genteel dissipation； to a grounding
in those methods of conspicuous consumption that should engage
the thought and energies of a well…to…do man of the world。 Such
an ideal； more or less overtly； appears to be gaining ground
among the larger universities； and； needless to say； it is
therefore also gaining； by force of precedent and imitation；
among the younger schools engaged in more of a struggle to
achieve a secure footing of respectability。
Its bearing on the higher learning is； of course；
sufficiently plain； and its intimate connection with business
principles at large should be equally plain。 The scheme of
reputability in the pecuniary culture comprises not only the
imperative duty of acquiring something more than an equitable
share of the community's wealth； but also the dutiful privilege
of spending this acquired wealth； and the leisure that goes with
it； in a reputably conspicuous way； according to the ritual of
decorum in force for the time being。 So that proficiency in the
decorously conspicuous waste of time and means is no less
essential in the end than proficiency in the gainful conduct of
business。 The ways and means of reputably consuming time and
substance； therefore； is by prescriptive necessity to be included
in