lder professions
has been more readily recognized by the men of conservative university
traditions, because much of the preparation for these callings can
advantageously be of an academic sort. Architecture in its historical
aspects is closely associated with the study of classical periods;
while the profession of the engineer relates itself to the immemorial
university devotion to mathematics. And in like manner the man who for
practical purposes becomes a chemist or an electrician would be easily
admitted by President Eliot, for example, to the favored fellowship of
the professional classes for the reason, first, of the disciplinary and
liberalizing nature of the studies that underlie his calling, and, in
the second place, of the public and social aspects of the functions he
fulfils in the pursuit of his vocation.

The architect, the civil or mechanical or electrical engineer, and the
chemist, as well as the professional teacher, the trained librarian, or
the journalist who carries on his work with due sense of its almost
unequaled public duties and responsibilities,--all these are now
admitted by dicta of our foremost authorities to a place equal with the
law, medicine, and the ministry in the list of the professions; that is
to say, in the group of callings which, under my definition, are
distinguished especially by their public character. And in this group,
of course, should be included politicians, legislators, and public
administrators in so far as they serve the public interests reputably
and in a professional spirit. Nor should we forget such special classes
of public servants as the officers of the army and navy; while nobody
will deny public character and professional rank to men of letters,
artists, musicians and actors.

In all these callings it is demanded not merely that men shall be
subject to the private rules of conduct,--that they must not cheat, or
lie, or steal, or bear false witness, or be bad neighbors or
undesirable citizens,--but in addition and in the most important sense
that they shall be subject to positive ethical standards that relate to
the welfare of the whole community, and that require of them the
exercise of a true public spirit.

The man of public spirit is he who is able at a given moment, under
certain conditions, to set the public welfare before his own.
Furthermore, he is a man who is trained and habituated to that point of
view, so that he is not aware of any pangs of martyrd