Cornell College - Royal Purple Yearbook (Mount Vernon, IA)

Page 29 text:

With George O. Curnie as professor of Gerinan and Frenchj in 1886, three years of Gerinan are offered. He occupies Cornell's first full chair in this language. by beconiing, in 1891, professor of the Gernian Language and Literature. The high standard attained by Professors Cooke and Gurine was well maintained during 1896-97 by Professor F. G. VG. Schmidt, and froni 1897 to 1903, by Professor Francis A. Wood. In 1904 the third year class was larger enough to call for a division. This was accoinplished by extending. the regular course to four years. Throughout the history of German in the college the classical Writers have received the greatest share of attention, though, as the catalogues indicate, more modern authors are also freely read. ' The nuniber of 'students in the departinent has' increased even more rapidly than the general growth of college attendance. During, the present year two teachers with eight classes have provided more or less instruction in the German language for three hundred different students. - ' .1 I

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CHAR-LES REUB'E,N Karas, M. A. Department of German Language and Literature CHARLES R. KEYES, Professor ELIZABETH SMITH, Instructor The annual catalogues of the college reveal an interesting history of the gradual progress in favor made by the modern languages. Cornell offered no German during the first five years of its existence, though the claims of French had been modestly recognized. In 1858, with the arrival of Miss Harriette J. Cooke as Teacher of German, Drawing and Painting, instruction in this language began, though it received no recognition in the very fully prescribed Collegiate Course. This statement was all that appeared in the catalogued: During the Junior and Senior Years students may pursue French, German or Hebrew in place of certain of the prescribed studies, the selection to be made by the faculty. Both of the modern languages appear among the ornamental branches U for which extra tuition is charged. These frills of education are enumerated as French, German, music, pencil drawing, crayoning, painting, ornamental hair work, and wax flowers and fruit. Not until 1869 does German appear as a regular elective for one year for Juniors in the scicntihic course. In 1872 Miss Cooke becomes professor of German and History, a two years' course is offered, and the extra tuition is no longer charged.

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THE REV. KIRK VVALDO JKOBBINS, A. B., B.. D. Department of Philosophy and Biblical Literature THE REV. KIRK WALDO ROBBINS, Professor Biblical .Literature is taught to Sophoinores throughout the year. Se- lected portions from the various types of literature found in the Old and New Testament are interpreted in the light of their historical setting and permanent value. A liberal education should include the art of Biblical interpretation to the degree that one may find himself at home in the Bible and be able to appropriate its richest treasures With increasing profit. Logic and History of Philosophy courses are open to Juniors. The former aims to master the laws of exact thinking. The latter courses at- tempt to grasp the salient features of the notable movements and epochs in the history of the world's thought, to trace the growth of lT1B.117S power to understand the universe, or, in a Word, to study Hphiloso- phy in the making. The purposes of the Senior Philosophy courses are as follows: The Course in Ethics studies man in his varied relations to moral obli- gations. The Course in Theism and Philosophy of Religion canvasses the evi- dences. for the existence of God and considers the moral and religious processes in man turned Godwarcl. The Course in Evidenccs and Philosophy of Christianity seeks the reasons for belief in Christianity as God's chosen method of making man what he ought to be, and emphasizes the 'isweet reasonableness of this method as seen in the truths of Christianity in relation to each other and to IHZIIIJS need.