Eastern Law Schools

The Webster society had a large attendance at their meeting VVednesday night. This was occasioned by the announcement that Prof. Mechem ivould deliver an address in relation to his visit to the law schools of the East. t Cornell was the first one visited. The professor spoke particularly of the beautiful location and surroundings of the nniversity. They have a magnificient library and the material equipments were the most splendid seen. The students number 250 and are steadily increasing. The method of instruction is textbook work and case reading, modified by a few lectures. Students are required to search out the principies from their original source. Four professors give their entire time to the work. New York law is taught to a great extent. Students lack the animus that prevails here. In New York City four schools were visited - the Chase Law School, University of New York Law School, Metropolitan Law School, and Columbia. The Chase Law School is second in number of students to the U. of M. The Dwight system (case instruction) is used. The professor considers the University school the best for New York students because New York law is made a specialty. Text-book and lecture system pursuad. There are 240 students. Columbia is the best school in the city. Four resident professors give their entire time to the work. Three systems are, in vogue - leading cases, text-book and lectures. The case system is considered the most important. First year's work set out, second and third elective. This is the only school with elective work. Highest spirit and enterprise among the students. The Vale law school is a back number. The school is held in the court house. All the instructors are engaged in active practice and instruction is a side issue. Boston university has a small law schoof but very thorough. Case and text-book system used. Prof. Bigelow who lectures to the P. G. laws here is connected with the Boston law school. At Harvard, eight men give their I lent'tre time to the law school instruction. Here, it is said, is the j home of the case system. Large , i volumes of leading cases prepared ! by the instructors and the students are required to give rules in thecases, and discuss the principies ; fore the class. Prof. Mechetn said that a practice court, such as we have, was not found in any of the schools. Cornell has a moot court of the highest form. He spoke in a general way regarding the gymnasiums seeri on the trip and said that the Waterman gym when completed would equal the best so far as practical convenience and suitable equipment were concerned.