. . . Church this
morning. Higby preached. Not up to his average. Mr. Derby and Hoffman sat with
us. Talked to Professor Lieber who came home with us. In correspondence with
him for a day or two past. He’s a troublesome subject. His sensibilities are
lacerated because he fears he "is to be a mere adjunct of Dwight’s” in the
Law School, and he intends to decline all further share in its duties. Sorry to
lose him. But he ought to see that the school cannot be established and will
not win students unless training in practically useful and profitable knowledge
(such knowledge of the Revised Statutes and Wendell and Cowen and Hill as it is
Dwight’s office to impart) be its prominent feature. Lieber’s political
philosophy and spirit of laws and Nairne’s legal ethics must be gradually
worked into the system. If we make them essential and obligatory portions of
the course at once, we shall simply frighten students away and dwarf or destroy
the school, as a yearling baby would be stunted or killed by a diet of beef and
madeira. . . .
SOURCE: Allan Nevins
and Milton Halset Thomas, Editors, Diary of George Templeton Strong,
Vol. 3, p. 13
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