I enclose a series of newspaper letters drawn out by remarks in the Nation upon Agricultural instruction in Germany, which at length bring fairly into the field a very momentous question. Whatever view you may have taken of the Agricultural College question, as it has hitherto been stated and discussed, I am sure you will have a strong sympathy with the general purpose of this writer whether you can agree with his conclusions or not. My disposition without special reflection has been to favor the plan opposed by this writer, and now the question arises with me: can we associate a superior education for men who will be engaged in pursuits other than “professional” or scholarly with an university? Can the university be democratized? To draw such a line between the education of head-workers & hand-workers as this writer seems to think necessary will go far to establish in the minds of each class, a very undemocratic habit. Very early in life in every village school certain boys whose fathers have been fortunate will begin to be separated in their studies from all the others—soon after separated in all respects—and thus a class distinction founded mainly on wealth, will be established. “I am bound for the superior, you for the inferior ranks.”

Discarding the element of manual labor, why should they not altogether start at the same point in the university? Then let those who are destined to pursuits of manual labor drop out at the end of the first, second or third year, from the regular course and take up their special course as, later, those destined for the Law, Medicine, Engineering, Architecture, the semi-learned and the learned pursuits, will do—(at irregular intervals). It seems to me extremely desirable that in some way Alma Mater should be the mother common to all classes, though some go out from her into the world when only a year old, others two, others four, others six, and some remain, as fellows, much longer periods.

The objection to the present collegiate “Scientific Schools” I suppose is sound.

Whitney had with him in Cala two excellent young men, sons of wealthy parents, remarkably well-bred & accomplished who had graduated at the Yale Scientific School. They told me that the students of the regular course did all they could to establish a social distinction degrading to them. That even the Scientific professors were insulted and many means taken to enforce the idea that they were of a lower social grade.

If the “Agricultural College” is to be a part of the University, this must in some way be guarded against, and I see no way but to put all on a level at [88] the start. Let all be educated alike up to a certain point, at least let all pass the same first examination. Let there be one year in which no distinctions are known, and friendships will have been formed, essential personal strength measured, in a way which will go far to prevent too great regard to artificial distinctions afterwards.

As the important question is not one of science or agriculture but the whole question of a National method of education, will you not write something for the Nation in which these letters (enclosed) shall be referred to with proper respect? Is it not a topic for a comprehensive article in the North American?