The possibility of a return of the dominance that the German University system held over American education until comparatively recent times has been raised by Dr. Charles F. Thwing of Western Reserve College in a book entitled "The German and American University." The German institutions have been noted particularly for their thoroughness of research work and the freedom with which the courses are conducted; and in spite of the losses suffered during the war, Dr. Thwing cites these as qualities important enough to make such a return of the German influence possible,

Such consideration might once have been of importance, but after years of experimentation there seems to be developing a definite American system that is fitted to meet the unusual conditions produced by a well nigh universal demand for higher education. President Lowell has stated several times that Harvard is not working towards the organization of Oxford and Cambridge as a goal when it adopts certain of their features, but will make use only of those things that seem adaptable. The same applies to the other institutions of Europe. The older universities will retain for some time the attractions of age and tradition and thereby attract a limited number of graduate students, but no longer can they hope to secure dominance in the new world by a wholesale transplantation of their methods.