A Voice: Can a graduate of 1882 commence and take the course over again?
Dr. Vincent: Yes, sir. I hope the most of them will, and get a white crystal seal on the diploma every year, reading a certain part of the books, not all of them. The current course is prescribed in the circle.
A Voice: If the ’82s come on as rapidly for the four years to come as in the four years past, where will we be then? [Laughter.]
Dr. Vincent: Nearer heaven. [Laughter.] You will have, for example, this admirable history of Greece in two volumes. You will have this series of four books in Latin and Greek. And what delights me is that the college people are charmed with this “Preparatory Greek Course in English.” It is a marvelous book. I did not write it. A scholarly man, who examined it the other day, said, “Why, every boy who goes to college should read that before he goes.” There is the substance of all that the boy studies in the grammar school and preparatory school before he enters college; there it is all in English, and in a more available form than that in which the boy gets it. I do not mean to say that you have more than the boy. He secures the mental drill and a foundation of linguistic knowledge. He gets what you can not get, but you secure an intelligent view of the college world through which he passes as a student of Greek. The questions for further study, published in The Chautauquan, were of much value in our local circles. Can we have something like it next year? Those who request Dr. Flood to make arrangements for the publication in The Chautauquan of a series of questions for further study, raise your hands. Down. Best raise them in a numerous request.
Written question: Is a new four years’ course to commence now?
Dr. Vincent: The new four years’ course is the old four years’ course revised, and with many modifications. We take astronomy, the same text-book somewhat revised. We take English history with not so much attention to it. We took a little Greek history before, too; now we take a good deal of Greek.
Written question: If one has read the four years’ course and sent in only the first year’s papers, but has all the other papers partly made out, what will that person do?
Dr. Vincent: Send in, as you ought to have done, that little two-page slip, giving all the books you have read, answer “R” or “E.” Persons having done that will meet the requirements of the Circle. This paper we sent to every member of the class of ’82, for testimony concerning the amount of reading that has been done. I do hope that representative local circles will supply themselves with these geological charts, which are so admirable for use in local circles, in Sunday-schools, in lecture rooms, and at home. Indeed, they are a good thing to have about the house for a private family. With this book in hand the mother may be a lecturer in geology, and have the pictures to represent these matters. I hope we can encourage the publishers of the geological charts, who went to great expense in the preparation of these, so that we can have other charts in the other matters.
A Voice: Can a person who has not taken the regular course take up any special course and receive a certificate?
Dr. Vincent: Persons who have never taken the regular course may take any special course and receive a certificate to that fact, but they will miss the circles, and the Hall in the Grove, and the arches, and the central office.