The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-31


rrsa One would think that in Yankoeland-
anywhere state Of things could not exist;
but can assure any nquistive stranger that trip
to Cambridge about now will remove all heretieal
doubts. However, we have the consolation of re-
Gectng that if we do in reality lose all polish from
our externas, we are supposed 10 acquire a more
lasting internal one. On the same principle, must
suppose the rulers Of this delightful suburb must
act, in declining to enlighten their ways thereby
forcing the fast young men who 60 to college cad
ccieNdam tngeai,sn,,' to sport lantern and pair
ofknee high rubbers Perhaps, too they thought the
kind hearted old foges that the mending Of their
ways, so as to render them safe ut night, would in
no way tend to amend ours. II SO, peace be with
them; may they break their nccks in quetness, I'M
terrified by any vision Of modern improvements and
innovations After this . true and particular ac-
count, l hardly know whether to hazard my reputa-
uon for veracty by informing you that am
vnced from personal research, that there several
families who reside here from choices but my desire
Of eDlghtening you as to the striking facts of this
region, leaves me no choice.
The most striking fact, however, Of this locality,
is the existence here of Old Harvard-a title which
my sense OF truth compcs me to say is justly her
due--though my gallantry would check the atmis
sion Of any such possibility--as old female. Not
that mean exactly to deny all belief in their ex-
sence; for this would be to deny the existence not
only OF municipal government here, but in other
". Il ".
nyou can, the magnitude of that system of govern
ment which, rs read in the B--n papers, fined
little boy OF nine years, one dollar and COSTS for
playing marbles on Sunday But this is not telling
you anything about Cambridge and shall at once,
to make up for my remssncss, go back to the year
l642-some six years after the college was founded
and taking breath and start there, jump pretty
nearly back to my starting point. AS this win be
In 1912, then, first find an official recognition of
the college, though had not yet become an incor-
porated institution. (I stop moment to reflect
upon the queer tastes OF the organ grinders of this
neghborhood and the one under my window, who
mixes up general assortment of all kinds and
tunes in the same bunch, and grinds out Old Humid
red and Lucy Neal psalm tunes and jigs, without
the slightest pity or compassidn.) Whereas,
of God upon us, there is college founded in Cam
bridge, Formerly called Newtown,) in the county Of
Middesex, called Harvard College, for the encou-
ragement whereof this Court has given the sum of
four hundred pounds, and also the revenue of the
ferry betwixt Chaalesown and Boston, and that the
well ordering and management OF said College is u
matter OF great cOncelnment - let us if we
not gather from one or two facts connected with it's
later management conviction that the said man
agemcnti is somewhere at fault. At first. the college
was in part devoted to the tuition Of the Indian
youth, az well their pale faced brethren; but as
they have long since passed away, we have nothing
more to say about them, unless are to class I'M
der the head ofsavages that inevitable portion Of the
students who rejoice in the title Of wild young
men. This, however, ] do not feel exactly able
to do, since candor forces me to acknow ledge
that when closely examined, the "wld youth" in
question appear tame enough. 1t is, indeed owing
to their extreme tractability that the watch force
found necessary to keep the whole five hundred in
perfect order, amounts in the aggregate to Just two
men--a most praseworthy fact though somewhat
unusual among the annals of young men, and show
ing the superiority of the American over the English
Cambridge. But did not SO soon intend to jump
over the two centuries and more that have elapsed
since the first grant OF ferry tolls to the support Of
American learning Since that time the records
show numerous instances of grants from the State
and donations from individuals Of all descriptions
The same authority also informs that old Harvard,
pure as her morality now may be, once did not
scrupe to resort to lottery for funds''Si tenn
Yo,a mnfdat Ct nos cum Ills n,utaat." II is some
what amusing to notice, in the same records the
rise and fall Of the salaries attached in old times to
the different proiessorshps, sort of index to the
value popularity attached to their preceps; and not
little gratifying is it TO the sons Of those who
prayed ard fought" to notice that, among their
fathers, the Professor of Divinity always held one of
the highest salaries 1t is Of the marks Of that
by-gone age. As ] do not intend to puzzle your
head with hgures, shall take upon myself the suf
iering up OF the different endowments aud finally
Of informing you that the honored recipient
Of four hundred pounds and the ferry tolls, is
now the most richly endowed of all our Ameri-
institutions of learnng--although, to tell
the TRUTH that's not saying very much. Never
theless, its endowments amount to very nearly
half million Of dollars; which, in our country
produces an income much greater, in proportion to
wants, than a much larger sounding one in
England. 1t is not in this respect, however, that
any one would wish to compare American with
an English German institution. Our nation
does not as yet require such expensive modes of
educating the people; and yet, with all due defer
ence to the opinion of c. Astor Bristed, our col
leges, Of which, perhaps, Harvard is the first, are
worthily doing their share Of the great task of
educating the people. We want, and have, the more
utiitarian branches of knowledge and when the
If mOrn VT
sive and absruse learning, it will not be the fault
of lack of means and places of acquiring it, if such
men do not arise. At present, Old Harvard is con-
tent to let her claim to the respect OF the world
in the hands OF such men rs now do, and long have,
presided over her destnies. She will not, tell Mr..
{. Aston B., be wholly contemplate, as long the
name of Jared Sparks stands at the head of her Of
icers. Some Of you, if not the gentleman himself.
whose critique on American colleges has called
forth this notice, have heard of Henry w. Longfel-
low; but, perhaps, all who have luxuriated grown
heroic or sad over his poems, are not aware that he
also lends his shoulder to the Wheel professor Of
the modern languages, and by his lectures here docs
more to refine and purify the taste of the young
under his charge than could be effected by all the
sneerng. snobbish defamations Of American imper-
fectons that ever were written. But ought to beg
the poets pardon, for the most unworthy company
into which have heedlessiy brought his name
Add but one more to the two preccding-that of
Agassiz-and you have trinity which any college
might be proud to boast OF among its ornaments.
With this mention of the most popularity known of
the collegiate instructors and ruler let us mention
the greatest other attraction-the library. This,
you are perhaps aware, is the largest at present in
our country, and contains in all its divisions about
10000 volumes In all its divisions, say, meaning
by that the gross number of legal, medical and mis-
eellaneous works, though contained in different
buildings. the University library proper, | will
only say that its chief value seems. apart from its
great extent, to consist in its antiquarian riches,
and that it offers nexhaustible source to all the
curious in annual elections and artillery sermons.
old almanacs, and defuAct papers. besides vast
variety of standard books Ii would be no great
sur upon it say, that with much that is valuable,
it combines much that is nothing but trash. As
for the medical and scientific libraries shall leave
their merits to others better able to appreciate them;
but Of the Law library, containing some 1000 vo-
lumes with your permission, will speak in decided
terms. This is the best in this country and Others
are TO be believed whose experience should gain them
that credit, il is one OF the best in the world.