28
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.
VOL. VIII,
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that the right use of it on the part of the
instructor,. renders it as near correct as
there is any need of. The system may he
misused. But does that condemn it?
Some students will make a much more
brilliant recitation than others who are
just as familiar with the lesson. The in.
siructor will perceive this and mark each
one, not by the manner in which he has
recited, but by the knowledge, which he
has at least proved to the instructor.that he
has of the subject. If judgment is used,
justice will be done.
Again, there are always some in every
college who, by inattention and neglect,
are unfit to pass from one class to the
next higher. It is therefore sometimes
necessary to draw a dividing line desig.
uuting the limit which shall pass or ex
elude a student from the higher classes.
Oftentimes this line has to be sharply de
fined, and when there is doubt about an
examination or the standing of a student,
it is easily decided by means of the mark
ing system. Whereas, without a record
no such decisive result could be attained.
Dissatisfaction on the part of the student,
and perplexity on the part of the instruct
or would be the inevitable result. With
the marking system, a student will, if it is
in liis power, be found on the safe side of
the line.
It has been practically and thoroughly
tested. The fact that it has been In use so
long in American colleges, proves con.
clusively that it is a success. If other,
wise, I have no doubt but that it would
have been discarded long since.
When the time shall come that an in
centive to study is no longer needed, then
there will be one less use of the marking
system. But that time is by no means
come. That it is a powerful incentive,
no student who has felt its influence will
deny. Ko one will permit his standing
to fall below the average if he can help
it.
Theoretically, then, I find nothing ob.
jectionable in the marking system. Pract"
ically, lam willing to let It speak for.
itself. Unless something better of which
I know nothing, is substituted, our col
leges are ill prepared to discard that old
and well tested custom, the Marking Sys.
tern. Bee.
THE F11ENC1I REVOLUTION.
What dreadful thoughts are awakened,
and horrid deeds recalled, at the mention
of that blood period known as the
French devolution. It seems indeed as
if we were about to embark to some sav
age clime of yore, ami there, witness the
cruel and heartless deeds of still more
savage men, instead of directing our
course to France and the eighteenth ecu.
tury a country and time so closely afilli.
ated to us. Yet to France we must go, and
there prepare ourselves to witness the
deeds of modern Ncrocs and Caligulas.
Terrible was the state of allairs. Yet
this was not a spontaneous outbreak, but
it arose from long existing evils; for
what sort of long continued and stupen
dous disorders was adequate to such re.
suits? The whole social and political fab
lie of the nation had been secretly under
minded by the powerful working of a
corrupt court.
France had formerly existed as many
seperatc provinces. Each of these was
ruled by a petty lord or prince, who in.
herited his fine court and palace; while
royalty supplied him with utteudant
knights and courtiers. For the support of
this brilliant array, the working people
or lowerclasses were taxed. The clergy,
representing quite a large class, had its
share in the proceeds thus obtained. So
the support of both church and state was
solely derived from the lower classes.
Meanwhile the more powerful provinces
gradually absorbed the weaker ones, and
in turn were conquered or became con
querors, until all were united into one
kingdom. During this process every
species of vice and intrigue were resorted
L, by each court to gain the ascendency
