Indeed,therearefactscurrentwhichbroadlysuggestthatthekeepingofthehigherlearningisbeginningtopassintoother,andpresumptivelymoredisinterested,hands。
Thepermeationofacademicpolicybybusinessprinciplesisamatterofmoreorless,notofabsolute,dominance。Itappearstobeaquestionofhowwideadeviationfromscholarlysinglenessofpurposethelong—termcommonsenseofthecommunitywilltolerate。Thecultoftheidlecuriositystickstoodeepintheinstinctiveendowmentoftherace,andithasinmoderncivilizationbeentoothoroughlygroundintotheshapeofaquestofmatter—of—factknowledge,toallowthispursuittobedefinitivelysetasideortofallintoabeyance。Itisbytoomuchanintegralconstituentofthehabitsofthoughtinducedbythedisciplineofworkdaylife。Thefaithinandaspirationaftermatter—of—factknowledgeistooprofoundlyingrainedinthemoderncommunity,andtooconsonantwithitsworkdayhabitofmind,toadmitofitssupersessionbyanyobjectiveendalientoit,——atleastforthepresentanduntilsomestrongerforcethanthetechnologicaldisciplineofmodernlifeshalltakeovertheprimacyamongthefactorsofcivilization,andsogiveusacultureofadifferentcharacterfromthatwhichhasbroughtonthismodernscienceandplaceditatthecentreofthingshuman。
Thepopularapprovalofbusinessprinciplesandbusinesslikethriftisprofound,disinterested,alertandinsistent;butitdoesnot,atleastnotyet,gothelengthofunreservedlyplacingabusinesslikeexploitationofofficeaboveafaithfuldischargeoftrust。Thecurrentpopularanimusmaynot,inthismatter,approachthatwhichanimatesthebusinesscommunity,specificallyso—called,butitissufficiently\"practical\"toapprovepracticalsagacityandgainfultrafficwhereveritisfound;yetthefurtheranceofknowledgeisafterallanidealwhichengagesthemoderncommunity’saffectionsinastillmoreprofoundway,and,inthelongrun,withastillmoreunqualifiedinsistence。
Forgoodorill,intheapprehensionofthecivilizedpeoples,matter—of—factknowledgeisanendtobesought;whilegainfulenterpriseis,afterall,ameanstoanend。Thereis,therefore,alwaysthismassivehedgeofslowbutindefeasiblepopularsentimentthatstandsinthewayofmakingtheseatsoflearningoverintosomethingdefinitivelyforeigntothepurposewhichtheyarepopularlybelievedtoserve。(1*)
Perhapsthemostnaivewayinwhichapredilectionformenofsubstantialbusinessvalueexpressesitselfinuniversitypolicyistheunobtrusive,andinpartunformulated,preferenceshownforteacherswithsoundpecuniaryconnections,whetherbyinheritanceorbymarriage。Withnosuchuniformityastogiveevidenceofanadvisedruleofprecedenceorastandarizedscheduleofcorrelation,butwithsufficientconsistencytomerit,andindeedtoclaim,thethoughtfulattentionofthemembersofthecraft,ascholarwhoisinapositiontopleadpersonalwealthorawealthyconnectionhasaperceptiblybetterchanceofappointmentontheacademicstaff,andonamoreadvantageousscaleofremuneration,thanmenwithoutpecuniaryantecedents。Dueprefermentalsoappearstofollowmoreasamatterofcoursewherethecandidatehasoracquiresatangiblestandingofthisnature。
Thispreferenceforwell—to—doscholarsneedbynomeansbeanaltogetherblindorimpulsivepredilectionforcommercialsolvencyonthepartoftheappointingpower;thoughsuchapredilectionisnodoubtordinarilypresentandoperativeinadegree。Butthereissubstantialgroundforawisediscriminationinthisrespect。Asameasureofexpediency,particularlytheexpediencyofpublicity,itisdesirablethattheincumbentsofthehigherstationsonthestaffshouldbeabletoliveonsuchascaleofconspicuousexpensivenessastomakeafavourableimpressiononthosemenofpecuniaryrefinementandexpensivetasteswithwhomtheyaredesignedtocomeincontact。Theuniversityshouldbeworthilyrepresentedinitspersonnel,particularlyinsuchofitspersonnelasoccupyaconspicuousplaceintheacademichierarchy;thatistosay,itshouldberepresentedwithbecomingexpensivenessinallitssocialcontactwiththoseclassesfromwhosemunificencelargedonationsmayflowintothecorporatefunds。Largegiftsofthiskindarecreditablebothtohimthatgivesandhimthattakes,anditisthepartofwiseforesightsotoarrangethatthosetowhomitfallstorepresenttheuniversity,aspotentialbeneficiary,atthisjunctureshoulddosowithpropitiouslycreditablecircumstance。Tomeetandconvincetheopulentpatronsoflearning,aswellastheparentsandguardiansofpossibleopulentstudents,itis,byandlarge,necessarytomeetthemontheirownground,andtobringintoviewsuchevidenceofcultureandintelligenceaswillreadilybeappreciatedbythem。Tothisendalargeandwellappointeddomesticestablishmentismorefortunatethanasmallerone;abundant,well—chosenandwell—servedviands,beveragesandnarcoticswillalsofelicitouslytouchthesensibilitiesofthesemenwhoarefortunateenoughtohavelearnedtheirvirtue;thebetter,thatistosay,onthewhole,themorecostly,achievementsindressandequipagewill\"carryfarther\"inthesepremisesthanapenuriouseconomy。Inshort,itiswellthatthosewhomaybecalledtostandspokesmenfortheseatoflearninginitscontactwithmenandwomenofsubstantialmeans,shouldbeaccustomedto,andshouldbepecuniarilycompetentfor,ascaleoflivingsomewhatabovethatwhichtheordinaryremunerationforacademicworkwillsupport。Anindependentincome,therefore,isameritoriousqualityinanofficialscholar。
Theintroductionofthesedelegatesfromthewell—to—doamongtheacademicpersonnelhasafurther,secondaryeffectthatisworthnoting。Theirabilityfreelytomeetanyrequiredpecuniarystrain,coupledwiththatdegreeofsocialambitionthatcommonlycomeswiththeabilitytopay,willhaveasalutaryeffectinraisingthestandardoflivingamongtherestofthestaff,——
salutaryasseenfromthepointofviewofthebureauofpublicity。Intheabsenceofoutsideresources,thelivelihoodofacademicmenissomewhatscantandprecarious。Thisplacesthemunderaninsidioustemptationtoamoreparsimoniousmanneroflifethanthebest(prestige)interestsoftheseatoflearningwoulddictate。Byunduesavingoutoftheircurrentwagestheymayeasilygivetheacademicestablishmentanuntowardairofindigence,suchaswouldbelikelytodepreciateitsprestigeinthosewell—to—docircleswheresuchprestigemightcometohaveacommercialvalue,inthewayofdonations,anditmightatthesametimedeterpossiblecustomersofthesamedesirableclassfromsendingtheiryoungmentotheuniversityasstudents。
TheAmericanuniversityisnotaneleemosynaryinstitution;
itdoesnotpleadindigence,exceptinthatPickwickiansenseinwhichindigencemaywithoutshamebeavowedinpolitecircles;
nordoesitputitstrustindonationsofthatsparsenessandmodestywhichthegiftsofcharitycommonlyhave。Itsrecoursenecessarilyisthatsubstantialanddignifiedclassofgiftsthatarenotgiventhriftilyoncompunctionofcharity,butoutofthefulnessofthepurse。Thesedignifiedgiftscommonlyaimtopromotethemostreputableinterestsofhumanity,ratherthanthesordidneedsofcreaturecomfort,atthesametimethattheyservetofortifythedonor’sgoodnameingoodcompany。
Donationstouniversityfundshavesomethingofthecharacterofaninvestmentingoodfame;theyaremadebygentlemenandgentlewomen,togentlemen,andthetransactionsbeginandendwithinthecircleofpecuniaryrespectability。Animpeccablerespectability,authenticinthepecuniaryrespect,therefore,affordstheonlygroundonwhichsuchaseminaryoflearningcanreasonablyclaimthesympatheticattentionoftheonlyclasswhoseattentionsareseriouslyworthengaginginthesepremises;
andrespectabilityisinseparablefromanexpensivescaleofliving,inanycommunitywhoseschemeoflifeisconventionallyregulatedbypecuniarystandards。
Itisaccordinglyexpedient,foritscollectivegoodrepute,thatthemembersoftheacademicstaffshouldconspicuouslyconsumealltheircurrentincomeincurrentexpensesofliving。
Hencealsothemoralobligationincumbentonallmembersofthestaff——andtheirhouseholds——totakehandsandhelpinanendlesschainofconspicuouslyexpensivesocialamenities,wheretheirsocialproficiencyandtheirostensibleabilitytopaymayeffectuallybeplacedonview。Aneffectualfurtherancetothisdesirableendistheactivepresenceamongthestaffofanappreciablenumberwhoarereadytotaketheleadatapaceslightlyabovethecompetencyofthecommonrunofuniversitymen。Theirpresenceinsuresthatthegeneralbodywillliveuptotheirlimit;forinthis,asinothergamesofemulation,thepace—makerisinvaluable。
Besidestheincentivesogiventopoliteexpenditurebythepresenceofahighlysolventminorityamongtheacademicpersonnel,ithasalsobeenfoundexpedientthatthedirectoratetakethoughtandinstitutesomethinginthewayofanauthenticcurriculumofacademicfestivitiesandexhibitionsofsocialproficiency。Adegreeofexpensivegentilityisinthiswaypropagatedbyauthority,tobepaidforinpartoutofthesalariesofthefaculty。
SomethinginthiswayofceremonialfunctionsandpublicpageantshaslongbeenincludedintheordinaryroutineoftheacademicyearamongthehigherAmericanschools。Itdatesbacktothetimewhentheywereboys’schoolsunderthetutelageoftheclergy,anditappearstohavehadaritualisticorigin,suchaswouldcomportwithwhatisfoundexpedientintheserviceofthechurch。Byremoterderivationitshouldprobablybefoundtorestonaveryancientandarchaicfaithinthesacramentalormagicalefficacyofceremonialobservances。Butthepresentstateofthecasecanbynomeansbesetdowntotheaccountofaimlesssurvivalalone。Insteadofbeingallowedinanydegreetofallintoabeyancebyneglect,therangeandmagnitudeofsuchobservanceshaveprogressivelygrownappreciablygreatersincetheprinciplesofcompetitivebusinesshavecometorulethecounselsoftheuniversities。Thegrowth,inthenumberofsuchobservances,intheirpecuniarymagnitude,intheirritualisticcircumstance,andintheimportanceattachedtothem,isgreaterintheimmediatepresentthanatanyperiodinthepast;anditis,significantly,greaterinthoselargernewestablishmentsthathavestartedoutwithfewrestraintsoftradition。Butthemovesomadebytheseyounger,freer,moreenterprisingseatsoflearningfallscloselyinwiththatspiritofcompetitiveenterprisethatanimatesallalikethoughunequally。1
Thatitdoesso,thatthisefflorescenceofritualandpageantryintimatelybelongsinthecurrenttrendofthingsacademic,isshownbythevisibleproclivityoftheolderinstitutionstofollowtheleadgiveninthismatterbytheyoungerones,sofarastheyoungeroneshavetakenthelead。Inthemerenumberofauthorizedevents,ascontrastedwiththeaverageofsometwenty—fiveorthirtyyearsback,thepresentaverageappears,onasomewhatdeliberatereviewoftheavailabledata,tocompareasthreeorfourtoone。Forcertainoftheyoungerandmoreexuberantseatsoflearningtoday,ascomparedwithwhatmaybemostnearlycomparableintheacademicsituationoftheeighties,theproportionisperhapstwiceaslargeasthelargerfigurenamedabove。Broadlyspeaking,norequirementoftheacademicroutineshouldbeallowedtostandinthewayofanavailableoccasionforascholasticpageant。
Thesegenteelsolemnities,ofcourse,haveaculturalsignificance,probablyofahighorder,bothasoccasionsofrehearsalinallmattersofpoliteconformityandasastimulustogreaterrefinementandproficiencyinexpenditureonseemlydressandequipage。Theymayalsobebelievedtohavesomeremote,butpresumablysalutary,bearingonthehigherlearning。
Thislatterisanobscurepoint,onwhichitwouldbeimpossibleatpresenttoofferanythingbetterthanabstrusespeculativeconsiderations;sincetherelationofthesegenteelexhibitionstoscientificinquiryorinstructionisofapeculiarlyintangiblenature。Butitisnoneoftheseculturalbearingsofanysuchroundofpolitesolemnitiesandstatelypageantsthatcomesinquestionhere。Itistheirexpediencyinpointofbusinesslikeenterprise,orperhapsrathertheirbusinesslikemotive,ontheonehand,andtheireffectUpontheanimusandefficiencyoftheacademicpersonnel,ontheotherhand。
Insofarastheirmotiveshouldnot(byunseemlyimputation)
besetdowntomereboyishexuberanceofmake—believe,itmustbesoughtamongconsiderationsgermanetothatbusinessenterprisethatrulesacademicpolicy。Howeverattractivesuchaderivationmightseem,thiswholetrafficinpageantryandceremonialamenitiescannotbetracedbacktoecclesiasticalground,exceptinpointofremotepedigree;ithasgrowngreatersincethebusinessmentookoveracademicpolicyoutofthehandsoftheclergy。Norcanitbeplacedtotheaccountofcourtly,diplomatic,ormilitaryantecedentsorguidance;thesefieldsofactivity,whiletheyaregoodbreedinggroundforpompandcircumstance,donotoverlap,orevenseriouslytouch,thefrontiersoftherepublicoflearning。Ontheotherhand,inseekinggroundsormotivesforitall,itisalsonoteasytofindanycloseanalogyinthefieldofbusinessenterpriseofthelargersort,thathastodowiththeconductofindustry。Thereislittleofthismannerofexpensivepublicceremonialandsolemnfestivitiestobeseen,e。g。,amongbusinessconcernsoccupiedwithrailroadingorbanking,incottonspinning,orsugar—refining,orinfarming,shipping,coal,steel,oroil。Inthisfieldphenomenaofthisgeneralclassareofrareoccurrence,sporadicatthebest;andwhentheyoccurtheywillcommonlycomeinconnectionwithcompetitivesalesofproducts,servicesorsecurities,particularlythelatter。Nearerbusinessanalogueswillbefoundinretailmerchandising,andinenterprisesofpopularamusement,suchasconcerthalls,beergardens,oritinerantshows。Thestreetparadesofthelatter,e。g。,showaseductive,though,itisbelieved,misleadinganalogytotheceremonialpageantsthatroundofftheacademicyear。
Phenomenathatcomeintoviewinthelaterandmaturergrowthoftheretailtrade,asseen,e。g。,inthelargerandmorereputabledepartmentstores,areperhapsnearerthepoint。Thereareformal\"openings\"toinauguratethespecialtradeofeachofthefourseasons,desiredtoputthepatronsofthehouseonafootingofgood—humouredfamiliaritywiththeplantanditsresources,withthecustomsofthehouse,thepersonnelandthestockofwaresinhand,andbeforealltoarresttheattentionandenlisttheinterestofthoseclassesthatmaybeinducedtobuy。Therearealsooccasionalgatheringsofamoreceremonialcharacter,byspecialinvitationofselectcustomerstoapromisedexhibitionofpeculiarlyrareandcuriousarticlesoftrade。Thiswillthenbeilluminatedwithshrewdlyconceivedharanguessettingforththeallegedhistory,adventuresandmerits,pastandfuture,oftheparticularbranchofthetrade,andoftheparticularhouseatwhoseexpensetheeventisachieved。Inadditiontotheseseasonalandoccasionalsetpiecesofmercantileceremony,therewillalsorunalongintheday’sworkanunremittingdisplayofmeritoriousactsofcommissionandomission。Liketheiranaloguesinacademiclifetheseceremonialsoftradeareexpensive,edifying,enticing,andsurroundedwithasolicitousregardforpublicity;anditwillbeseenthattheyare,allandseveral,expedientsofadvertising。
Toreturntotheacademicpersonnelandtheirimplicationintheserecurrentspectaclesandamenitiesofuniversitylife。Aswasremarkedabove,apartfromoutsideresourcesthelivelihoodthatcomestoauniversitymanis,commonly,somewhatmeagre。Thetenureisuncertainandthesalaries,atanaverage,arenotlarge。Indeed,theyarenotablylowincomparisonwiththehighconventionalstandardoflivingwhichisbycustomincumbentonuniversitymen。Universitymenareconventionallyrequiredtoliveonascaleofexpenditurecomparablewiththatinvogueamongthewell—to—dobusinessmen,whiletheiruniversityincomescomparemorenearlywiththelowergradesofclerksandsalesmen。
Therateofpayvariesquitematerially,asiswellknown。Forthehighergradesofthestaff,whosescaleofpayislikelytobepubliclydivulged,itis,perhaps,adequatetotheaveragedemandsmadeonuniversityincomesbypoliteusage;butthelargemajorityofuniversitymenbelongonthelowerlevelsofgradeandpay;andontheselowerlevelsthepayis,perhaps,lowerthananyoutsiderappreciates。(3*)
Withmencircumstancedasthecommonrunofuniversitymenare,thetemptationtoparsimonyiseverpresent,whileontheotherhand,ashasalreadybeennoted,theprestigeoftheuniversity——andoftheacademichead——demandsofallitsmembersaconspicuouslyexpensivemannerofliving。Bothoftheseneedsmay,ofcourse,bemetinsomepoormeasurebysavingintheobscureritemsofdomesticexpense,suchasfood,clothing,heating,lighting,floor—space,books,andthelike;andmakingallavailablefundscounttowardthecollectiveendofreputablepublicity,bythrowingthestressonsuchexpendituresascomeunderthepubliceye,asdressandequipage,bric—a—brac,amusements,publicentertainments,etc。Itmayseemthatitshouldalsobepossibletocutdowntheproportionofobscureexpendituresforcreaturecomfortsbylimitingthenumberofbirthsinthefamily,orbyforegoingmarriage。But,byandlarge,thereisreasontobelievethatthisexpedienthasbeenexhausted。Asmenhavelatterlybeenatpainstoshow,thecurrentaverageofchildreninacademichouseholdsisnothigh;
whereasthepercentageofcelibatesis。Thereappears,indeed,tobelittleroomforadditionaleconomyonthishead,orinthematterofhouseholdthrift,beyondwhatisembodiedinthefamilybudgetsalreadyinforceinacademiccircles。
Soalso,thetenureofofficeissomewhatprecarious;moresothanthedocumentswouldseemtoindicate。Thisapplieswithgreaterforcetothelowergradesthantothehigher。Latterly,undertheruleofbusinessprinciples,sincetheprestigevalueofaconspicuousconsumptionhascometoagreatercurrencyinacademicpolicy,amemberofthestaffmayrenderhistenuremoresecure,andmayperhapsassurehisduepreferment,byasedulousattentiontotheacademicsocialamenities,andtothemoreconspicuousitemsofhisexpenseaccount;andhewillthendowellinthesameconnectionalsototurnhisbestattentionintheday’sworktoadministrativedutiesandschoolmasterlydiscipline,ratherthantotheincreaseofknowledge。Whereashemaymakehischanceofprefermentlessassured,andmayevenjeopardizehistenure,byaconspicuouslyparsimoniousmanneroflife,orbytoopronouncedanaddictiontoscientificorscholarlypursuits,totheneglectofthosepoliteexhibitionsofdecorumthatconducetothemaintenanceoftheuniversity’sprestigeintheeyesofthe(pecuniarily)culturedlaity。
Avarietyofotheruntowardcircumstances,ofasimilarlyextra—scholasticbearing,mayaffectthefortunesofacademicmentoalikeeffect;as,e。g。,unearnednewspapernotorietythatmaybeturnedtoaccountinridicule;unconventionalreligious,orirreligiousconvictions——sofarastheybecomeknown;anundesirablepoliticalaffiliation;animpecuniousmarriage,orsuchdomesticinfelicitiesasmightbecomesubjectofremark。
Noneoftheseuntowardcircumstancesneedtouchtheserviceabilityoftheincumbentforanyoftheavowed,oravowable,purposesoftheseminaryoflearning;andwhereactionhastobetakenbythedirectorateonprovocationofsuchcircumstancesitiscommonlydonewiththe(unofficial)admissionthatsuchactionistakennotonthesubstantialmeritsofthecasebutoncompulsionofappearancesandtheexigenciesofadvertising。Thatsomesucheffectshouldbehadfollowsfromthenatureofthings,sofarasbusinessprinciplesrule。
Inthedegree,then,inwhichtheseandthelikemotivesofexpediencyaredecisive,thereresultsahusbandingoftime,energyandmeansinthelessconspicuousexpendituresandduties,inordertoafreerapplicationtomoreconspicuoususes,andameticulouscultivationofthebourgeoisvirtues。Theworkdaydutiesofinstruction,andmoreparticularlyofinquiry,are,inthenatureofthecase,lessconspicuouslyinevidencethanthedutiesofthedrawing—room,theceremonialprocession,theformaldinner,orthegrandstandonsomered—letterdayofintercollegiateathletics。(4*)Forthepurposesofareputablenotorietytheeverydayworkoftheclassroomandlaboratoryisalsonotsoeffectiveaslecturestopopularaudiencesoutside;
especially,perhaps,addressesbeforeanaudienceofdevoutandwell—to—dowomen。Indeed,allthisiswellapprovedbyexperience。Inmanyanddeviousways,therefore,auniversitymanmaybeabletoservethecollectiveenterpriseofhisuniversitytobettereffectthanbyanexclusiveattentiontothescholasticworkonwhichaloneheisostensiblyengaged。
Amongtheconsequencesthatfollowisaconstanttemptationforthemembersofthestafftotakeonworkoutsideofthatforwhichthesalaryisnominallypaid。Suchworktakesthepubliceye;butafurtherincentivetogointothisoutsideandnon—academicwork,aswellastotakeonsupernumeraryworkwithintheacademicschedule,liesinthefactthatsuchoutsideorsupernumeraryworkisspeciallypaid,andsomayhelptoekeoutasensiblyscantlivelihood。Sofarastouchesthemorescantilypaidgradesofuniversitymen,andsofarasnoalienconsiderationscomeintotroubletheworking—outofbusinessprinciples,theoutcomemaybeschematizedsomewhatasfollows。
Thesemenhave,attheoutset,goneintotheuniversitypresumablyfromaninclinationtoscholarlyorscientificpursuits;itisnotprobablethattheyhavebeenledintothiscallingbythepecuniaryinducements,whichareslightascomparedwiththerulingratesofpayintheopenmarketforotherworkthatdemandsanequallyarduouspreparationandanequallycloseapplication。Theyhavethenbeenapportionedrathermoreworkasinstructorsthantheycantakecareofinthemostefficientmanner,atarateofpaywhichissensiblyscantforthestandardof(conspicuous)livingconventionallyimposedonthem。Theyare,byauthority,expectedtoexpendtimeandmeansinsuchpoliteobservances,spectaclesandquasi—learnedexhibitionsasarepresumedtoenhancetheprestigeoftheuniversity。Theyaresoinducedtodiverttheirtimeandenergytospreadingabroadtheuniversity’sgoodreputebycreditableexhibitionsofaquasi—scholarlycharacter,whichhavenosubstantialbearingonauniversityman’slegitimateinterests;
aswellasinseekingsupplementaryworkoutsideoftheirmandatoryschedule,fromwhichtoderiveanadequatelivelihoodandtofillupthecomplementofpolitelywastefulexpendituresexpectedofthem。Theacademicinstructionnecessarilysuffersbythisdiversionofforcestoextra—scholasticobjects;andtheworkofinquiry,whichmayhaveprimarilyengagedtheirinterestandwhichisindispensabletotheircontinuedefficiencyasteachers,is,inthecommonrunofcases,crowdedtoonesideandpresentlydropsoutofmind。Likeotherworkmen,underpressureofcompetitionthemembersoftheacademicstaffwillendeavourtokeepuptheirnecessaryincomebycheapeningtheirproductandincreasingtheirmarketableoutput。Andbyconsequenceofthispressureofbread—winningandgenteelexpenditure,theseuniversitymenaresobarredoutfromtheseriouspursuitofthosescientificandscholarlyinquirieswhichalonecan,academicallyspeaking,justifytheirretentionontheuniversityfaculty,andforthesakeofwhich,ingreatpartatleast,theyhavechosenthisvocation。Noinfirmitymorecommonlybesetsuniversitymenthanthisgoingtoseedinroutineworkandextra—scholasticduties。Theyhaveenteredontheacademiccareertofindtime,place,facilitiesandcongenialenvironmentforthepursuitofknowledge,andunderpressuretheypresentlysettledowntoaroundofperfunctorylabourbymeansofwhichtosimulatethelifeofgentlemen。(5*)
Beforeleavingthetopicitshouldfurtherberemarkedthatthedissipationincidenttothesepoliteamenities,thatsoareincumbentontheacademicpersonnel,apparentlyalsohassomethingofadeteriorativeeffectontheirworkingcapacity,whetherforscholarlyorforworldlyuses。Primafacieevidencetothiseffectmightbeadduced,butitisnoteasytosayhowfartheevidencewouldbearcloserscrutiny。Thereisanappreciableamountofdissipation,initsseveralsorts,carriedforwardinuniversitycirclesinaninconspicuousmanner,andnotdesignedforpublicity。Howfarthisisinducedbyalossofinterestinscholarlywork,duetothehabitualdiversionofthescholars’energiestootherandmoreexactingduties,wouldbehardtosay;asalsohowfaritmaybeduetotheleadgivenbymen—of—the—worldretainedonthefacultiesforotherthanscholarlyreasons。Atthesametimethereisthedifficultythatmanyofthosemenwhobearalargepartintheceremonialdissipationincidenttotheenterpriseinpublicityareretained,apparently,fortheirproficiencyinthislineasmuchasfortheirscholarlyattainments,oratleastsoonemightinfer;andthesemenmustbeacceptedwiththedefectsoftheirqualities。
Asbearingonthiswholematterofpompandcircumstance,socialamenitiesandritualdissipation,quasi—learneddemonstrationsandmeretriciouspublicity,inacademiclife,itisdifficultbeyondhopeofafinalanswertodeterminehowmuchofitisduedirectlytothemasterfulinitiativeofthestrongmanwhodirectstheenterprise,andhowmuchistobesetdowntoaninnateproclivityforallthatsortofthingonthepartoftheacademicpersonnel。Anearviewofthesephenomenaleavestheimpressionthatthereis,onthewhole,lessobjectionfeltthanexpressedamongtheacademicmenwithregardtothisroutineofdemonstration;thatthereluctancewithwhichtheypassundertheceremonialyokeisnotaltogetheringenuous;allofwhichwouldperhapsholdtrueevenmoredecidedlyasappliedtothefacultyhouseholds。(6*)Butforallthat,italsoremainstruethatwithouttheinitiativeandcountenanceoftheexecutiveheadtheseboyishmovementsofsentimentalspectacularityonthepartofthepersonnelwouldcometolittle,bycomparisonwithwhatactuallytakesplace。Itisafterallamatterforexecutivediscretion,and,fromwhatevermotives,thisdiversionofefforttoextra—scholasticendshastheexecutivesanction;(7*)withtheresultthatanintimatefamiliaritywithcurrentacademiclifeiscalculatedtoraisethequestionwhethermake—believedoesnot,afterall,occupyalargerandmoreurgentplaceinthelifeofthesethoughtfuladultmalecitizensthaninthelifeoftheirchildren。
NOTES:
1。Itwasaverywiseandadroitpoliticianwhofoundoutthat\"Youcannotfoolallthepeopleallthetime。\"
2。Lagloriadicoluichetuttomuove,Perl’universopen閠raerisplendeInunapartepi*emenoaltr’ove。
3。Inacertainlargeandenterprisinguniversity,e。g。,thepayofthelowest,andnumerous,rankregularlyemployedtodofullworkasteachers,isproportionedtothatofthehighest——muchlessnumerous——rankaboutasonetotwelveatthemost,perhapsevenaslowasonetotwenty。Anditmaynotbeoutofplacetoenterthecautionthatthenominalrankofagivenmemberofthestaffisnosecureindexofhisincome,evenwherethesalary\"normally\"attachedtothegivenacademicrankisknown。Notunusuallya\"normal\"scaleofsalariesisformallyadoptedbythegoverningboardandspreadupontheirrecords,andsuchascalewillthenbesurreptitiouslymadepublic。Butdeparturesfromthescalehabituallyoccur,wherebythesalariesactuallypaidcometofallshortofthe\"normal\"perhapsasfrequentlyastheyconformtoit。
Thereisnotrades—unionamonguniversityteachers,andnocollectivebargaining。Thereappearstobeafeelingprevalentamongthemthattheirsalariesarenotofthenatureofwages,andthattherewouldbeaspeciesofmoralobliquityimpliedinovertlysodealingwiththematter。Andintheindividualbargainingbywhichtherateofpayisdeterminedthedirectoratemayeasilybetemptedtoseekaneconomicalwayout,byofferingalowrateofpaycoupledwithahigheracademicrank。Thepleaisalwaysreadytohandthattheuniversityisinwantofthenecessaryfundsandisconstrainedtoeconomizewhereitcan。Soanadvanceinnominalrankismadetoserveinplaceofanadvanceinsalary,theformerbeingthelesscostlycommodityforthetimebeing。Indeed,sofrequentaresuchdeparturesfromthenormalscaleastohavegivenrisetothe(nodoubtill—advised)
suggestionthatthismaybeoneofthechiefusesoftheadoptedscheduleofnormalsalaries。Soanemployeeoftheuniversitymaynotinfrequentlyfindhimselfconstrainedtoaccept,aspartpayment,anexpensiveincrementofdignityattachingtoahigherrankthanhissalaryaccountwouldindicate。Suchanoutcomeofindividualbargainingisallthemorelikelyintheacademiccommunity,sincethereisnosettledcodeofprofessionalethicsgoverningtheconductofbusinessenterpriseinacademicmanagement,ascontrastedwiththetrafficofordinarycompetitivebusiness。
4。So,e。g。,thewell—knownpresidentofawellandfavourablyknownuniversitywasatpainsafewyearsagotodistinguishoneofhisfacultyasbeinghis\"idealofauniversityman\";thegroundsofthisinvidiousdistinctionbeingalifelikeimitationofacountrygentlemanandafairdegreeofattentiontocommitteeworkinconnectionwiththeacademicadministration;