Repository: UIHistories Project: Dedication - Engineering Hall (1894) (and Inauguration of President Draper) [PAGE 67]

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Th \ must have studi which i lop what is kn own astheju nv r h e j u d g m e n t , I appose :nay be defined s th ilit whi enables thos possessing it to arrive it cor: I cc iclusions from imperf t premises; the habit of c nting re aing—the hal if you please, of guessing night—what may be called the busine man's knack of reasonin fi m probabilities as premises, and arriving at conclusions that are aerally c o r r e c t T h i s gift has well been called the most vali ible of all ifts. Society is alwa s lookin^ or m D with what are called " level h e a d s , " which is only another way o saving they are lookii: for men of good judgment. Xow, there are doubtless many ways in which this ability, known as good judgment, can be strengthened, if not icq ired. Bin. in a eneral way. it may be said that it is usually acquired by means of a large familiarity with human nature and h u m a n affairs. H e r e i n is one of the advantages of the lar g univ sity. W h i l e perhaps the perceptive faculties and the reasoning faculties may as well be trained in a si; ill college as in a large one, I am sure that for that broader acqu intance with men which tends to develop the judgment, the la: er ins: ution has its advantages. Among the studies for this purpose, undoubtedly the study of history is one of the most useful. It may not be safe to declare with con: lence that a man ever learns from the study of history just how to deal with any particular question, I he will acquire the invaluable habit of eliminatin one factor and another, of ju *ing of the force of this, that, and the other circumstance, and, finally, of arrivin at a sub antiallv accurate conclusion on the subject that is under inves .t: If we look over the past and try to ascertain how the men have been rained who have had greatest influence in si national affairs, we shall generally find either that they have mingled much with their fellow men, or that tl ive < irefully studied the great events of history and thou :n much upon their ;reat problems. Leading to the same e all