The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-08-08
ology, but simply under graduates.
We find here an army at least $4,000

ers of the New York Ledger--for the
advantage of this great multitude of
young men is this article written
why should I go TO college2 1t
will consume at least four years of
precious time. If I am unprepared, It
may require six years or more. It will
cost, including expenses for clothing,
books and travel, even ii seek the
cheapest college, at least 5000 probably
$500 year. All this must be taken out
of the morning of my life. Will 1t
10 answer this question, consider a
few facts. These facts illustrate prin-
ciple.
In Lanman's "Dictionary of the
United States Congress-" published in
1854, the names and short biographies
of three thousand eight hundred and
ninety-two men (if we count aright) are
given, who have been members of the
United States Congress, from 1883 to
1864. OF more than one thousand OF
them il is expressly stated that they
were educated in college. About as
many more are said to have been well
educated, (probably some of them in
college,) and of many no information
is given except the date of their office
and the States which they represented,
the fact whether they were educated in
college or not being unknown, while
considerable number reached their
honorable position by the reputation
acquired by success in military pur-
suits. Colleges are now more numer-
GUS relatively to population than for
merly, and we are sure, from a careful
investigation of the matter, that consid-
erably less than one in hundred of the
men in the country have been gradu
ates of colleges.
Following the general average, there
fore, less than one in hundred of the
members of Congress should have been
educated in colleges; but the fact shows
more than one in three, perhaps nearly
one in every two! This fact deserves
attention.
In like manner, according to the gen.
eral average, only one in a hundred Of
our Presidents of the United States
should have been educated in college,
and it would not have been strange ii
as yet not one such person had been
chosen; but in fact, ofthe fourteen men
elected directly as Presidents, all but
five were graduates of college, and three
of the five non-graduates, owed their
influence to their reputation as militia
ry leaders acquired in war, and the
fourth, Abraham Lincoln, not able to
go to college, surmounted difficulties
by hard work, and made himself d
statesman and an orator, and to 8
large extent scholar. Nine out Of
fouit teen is the number educated in
college, instead of one in hundred!
The same thing would be found true OF
governors, judges, and other such Off
GERS.
Again, take such a book as Alibone's
History of Authors, and as you cast
your eye over the catalogue of distin.
guished names, observe that nearly all
of them have been educated in univer-
stiles. All preachers, physicians, law
yers, teachers and editors, at least
should have systematic education
equal to that obtained in college.
but" says the hesitating young
man, :'I know of many EXCEPTIONS
OF course you do. Many have achieved
success in literature and science and in
the professions by obtaining their train.
ing and skill in some other way. Gen.
orally by reading books written by col
lege- educated men, and by actual con-
tact and work with such men. But
this is kind of 1eft-handed operation.
The man works at disadvantage. II
he is very plueky he may succeed, just
as one can learn to play on an organ
without teacher, or learn to speak a
foreign language without a grammar.
But why adopt this difficult and lncom-
plete method, when better way is Of
fered? You can travel from New York
10 California afoot if you please; better
earn some money, buy a ticket, and 60
Perhaps many a young man would
reply to this: 81 do not aspire to be a
member OF Congress, or the Governor
of "A State, or an author, or editor, or
teacher, nor am / anxious To enter any
one OF the professions so-called. There
are lawyers and physicians enough,
and 1 am not called to be preacher
is there any reason why should go to
college?"
reply by asking you few ques-
tions: Do you wish to lay in store a
good stock of valuable mental power
Do you wish to train your mind, as
well as your body, 10 act skillfully ?
Do YOU wish to learn the laws OF
thought, of language, of nature? If
so. and your circumstances allow it,
go where you can accomplish this end
the best-to college. AS it regards time,
the best use to be made of the years of
youth is discipline. Who likes to see a
precocious boy? A INDUSTRIOUS infant,
from five to fifteen, as dignitied and
precise and grave as an old man? Who
would not be shocked or moved TO
laughter to see child of this age gray
headed, and his face clothed with full
beard? But why should the mind out
strip the body, or the occupation out
strip the mind +? 1t is wrong for a
young man to be in hurry about as
Stunning the cares and success of mature
eighteen to twenty-three years of age,
generally go to seed early, and bear a
small crop. What man-whether mer-
chant, farmer, or whatever his bust
ness-ever regretted spending too much
time in obtaining an education? Those
who start at twenty-five we'll educated,
generally outstrip those who start ear
lier, uneducated.
"But 1 am poor. shall have to earn
nv own expenses"
Do it then. Thousands have done so
before you-strong, successful men. If
YOU cannot take this advice, do the
next best thing. Be studious. Read
and think Systematically. Do not be
in haste to get rich. There is true
wealth in bodily health, in a well
stored mind, in genuine religious
character. With these, life is essentially
noble.
''But, WHAT SHALL STUDY, if enter
college?"
A few years ago this question would
have been about as superhuous as Tor
a soldier with regular rations, or half
eat? ALI had one prescribed course.
Now, however, there is variety. In
the University of Michigan, for in
stance, land we refer to it only as an
example, there are five parallel courses
of study, partly separate and partly in
common with each other, anu all on
one platform. The student now must
inquire, shall study the good old time
honored classical course, with its Greek
and Latin ? or scientific course, en-
bracing Latin? or one excluding Latin
and substituting modern languages? or
civil engineering or mining engineer
ing? Do not decide this question
hastily. Consider your ultimate
purpose. Are you young, or do you
n n 10 xEit al
Take the old course. Have you no
tasta for Creek or I.atin2 Select one of