A "SPEAKING" POLICY.

Coincidental with the increasing importance of subjects related to history, government and economics is another example of the present tendency toward things practical among universities, namely, the greater stressing of conversational courses in French, German, Spanish and other modern languages. The adding of French 3 and French 4 to the list of French courses here is illustrative of the general trend in such a direction.

There seems to be no doubt of the need for and value of courses of this nature. A reading knowledge of modern languages is necessary for a thorough understanding of literature, history, and science. But there is a growing class of men who want more than a reading knowledge. They are the men who will fill diplomatic posts, positions as representatives of great banking or commercial houses--an ever increasing group of participants in world trade and international transactions. They want to be able to deal with Frenchmen, Germans, and South Americans without the hinderance of interpreters.

A gradual expansion and improvement of this "speaking" policy is much to be desired as a part of the University's progress.