THE PARTON OF TODAY

The first duty of a college is to provide professors who can teach. To do nothing but teach is not, however, the ambition of a great number of college professor,-and rightly so; for a man who by years of training, is qualified to write or to compose music should be able to devote himself to create something of his own. But primarily he must teach. If the colleges have gained wide reputation as the sources of contributions to the arts, it is only because their professors have managed to find time to devote themselves to such things.

Miami University of Florida is one exception to the rule. It has established a fellowship in creative art. The man who holds it, Perey MacKaye in this case, is not asked to teach or lecture; he has nothing whatever to do with college administration. By accepting the followship he is expected to devote himself to whatever he likes. Mr. MacKaye, being a writer, will have the opportunity of adding to American literature without worrying over financial matters. A similar scholarship has been awarded the composer, Edgar Kelley, by the Western College.

Apparently the system would work somewhat as the patronage of old, except that the man to whom such a fellowship is given must be great enough in his line to satisfy a board of severe judges that he is deserving. President Hughes of Miami believes there are fifty or more colleges who could finance such a scheme as he has worked out. He indicates that there are many wealthy art lovers who would be glad to cooperate with a university in aiding the worthy. Incidentally the honor to the individual would be much sought after, while the college would come in for no small share of the fame of a great creative artist.