New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-25
OUR AMERICAN COLLEGES.

To ne Editor Of The n. y. Tribune.
Sin: We read in paper day or two since that
more students had entered Harvard this year than
any other year Of its history And cannot say that
We reoiced at the information for we suppose Hsr-
ward University to be managed most Of the other
colleges Of this country are and can bodeno good
10 the young men who become the subjects Of such
management.
The usual time for boys in this country to enter col
lege is between the ages of fourteen and twenty These
are years in which the passions are becoming very
strong and in which the judgment needed for guiding
life is very imperfect There be period of exist
to a critic than this. II period in
which the best physical training ls absolutely inds-
pentable 1t is period in which invigorang, unsim
ulating constant employment is needed TO Keep the
passions in due subjection How do American col
leges supply these youthful needs we are graduate
OF one Of the most drifting colleges the country
And the date Of our graduation not many years back
We will tell what we Lave seen.
Our hours Of sudy during our college course were
Fix each day excepting Saturdays, when we were ex
pecied to study two hours in the evening, and Sun
days, when we not required to study at all. 10
se six hours of etudy sbould be added three hours
daily given to recitation masking in ell nine hours OF
study each day. Three broke down Buwers consti.
tuition. Two of tfese nine hours OF study occurred
between and nine in the eveDoghours in which
man on earth ever ought to study If he values his
health straw. But not unlikely the lesson TO be
prepared for the next morning would be requiring
the most severe mental exertion. What preparatve
for nights rest Added to this regular course OF
study We were compelled to write many essays and
prepare number of speeches and declamations. One
half dav in each fortnight was devoted TO society
meeting in which the already overtaxed brain was
worked still further by discussions and discussious
OF cOurse we expected to read the papers and such
new and interesting books found in the libraries.
Now any ply sologist would say that such a
this was bad one for any constitution. What must
be its effect on a get OF boys1 Some may think that
70 in mat q taat n
near every one.
superb physical training might correct in some
measure his outrageous mental exeron. But what
got we of that We were not required 70 take any
exercise at ALL We might if we chose it is true. But
what boy in the heat of Summer ever does choose to
teke all the exercise he needs. And in the Winter
everybody who il not compelled to 90 out sits still.
We used to sit in our rooms and play cards back
ganmop or chess, or lay on some neighbours bed and
smoke or read some novel; Such were the usual cor
receives for overweight brain. Our other physl-
cal regimen of the same wise character. we
lived day and night in the same room. 1t was heated
by close coal stove. The air so dry that our
chairs were constantly falling TO pieces We knew
nothing of the laws Of ventilation, or if we did we
were yosng and cared nothing for them. We lay on
soft beds il we chose them. And most OF us chose
item But before we sought them we sat up late as
suited our needs whns and this was often very late
In the important matter of eating and drinking we
were left wholly to our own guidance. We boarded
where we chose If we chose indigestlble food we
readily found it. OF course had some pocket
money; and the qualification of the palate is one of
the chief pleasures Of the young, we INDUCED IN extra
allowances Of pastry, oysters confectionery ana wlne
And very usual hour for taking these extra allow
ances was late in the evening.
What an effect such life would have on the charac-
ter az regards purity any one may Judge; II might
not iiure may but many ii would iniure, and nIure
teriolsy.
We have sketched life that is q most wicked out
race upon every psychological law But 1t Is not only
upheld but Advocated patI oalzed and petted every
where. Miss Martneau we think It Is, says that the
cost of intellectual emnence IN America Is health and
all liz Iess gs. Most Of our eminent literary men are
graduates of our colleges. Is the result wonderful
! when the antecedents are Known But most oil our
| cerg, men, lawyers doctors and students do lot gam
! euinence, but they do lose health Our country Is
characterized by lis fearful amount of chronic disease
] OF this awful mass of evil our colleges contribute
la ge proportion And il seems to us, IN these days OF
! phlantlTopic legislation little aw-making might not
be us, lesslv expended on the Sc institutions. We legs
late in favor of our juvenile factory population and OF
our drunk ards famiies College students need SIM
liar benefit Fathers and mothers, who do not know
what college life IT, often undergo severe sell derals
10 send some favorite child to scene In which he Is
exposed to severe and terrible evils Thousands on
Thousands of most touching Incidents Illustrative OF this
fact could be cited Our College Professors are usually
merely book.men, too ignorant of everything but
study TO know low to advise guide, and govern the
students under them in the al-mportaut matter OF
physical health We hope that the Press will effect
what is not likely to be effected in any other way-the
lomedying of this 100 long neglected evil.