Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-14

agitate and quicken the mind-these i'm
pose upon you and upon me, and
especially upon the custodians of the colleges,
a responsibility which demands the combined
wisdom of age and youth. Age alone will hesi-
tate and falter; youth left to itself might go
astray. Both in rarest combination and har-
mony are needed. / have no fears that any of the
questions of scientific and practical courses of
study, often treated as coming into conflict with
the classical, will result either in disaster TO our
career or in confusion to our senses; for it is
already as well settled that the two must prosper
together under equal endowment and encour-
agement, as it is settled that there has been Il
grand sublime world in the past, and that there
is a more beneicent and magnificent world in
the present That question will take care of
itself. The more real questions which
concern this epoch relate to the organic
and elemental rights and duties of the
constituent members of society. And at
this moment, when men and parties are
talking of new departures in other fields of ac-
ton, then comes before us in the pathway of
our institution of education something that can
not be turned aside, that may as well be con-
fronted, whether it be substance or a spectre.
would treat it as substance. allude to the
question of the admission of the two sexes to
an equality OF privilege and benefit in the high
err seminaries of learning throughout New En-
gland. Theory and argument appear to pre-
ponderate in favor of the proposition, and to be
right there IS to be found in such case as that.
The test of experience alone is partially want
ing-but think we have usually found that eX-
perience is somewhat accommodating to theory,
and follows gracefully in the train Of argument
and truth. For one | am in favor of closing
the debate and taking the question, so far as
we here are concerned, with it. | am cordial
ly in favor of making the experiment of adj
hitting our friends heretofore excluded to
the privileges of the classes, if they shall
desire it, and shall establish the usual qualitica
tons. Nor in my judgment is it at all improb-
atle that the class-rooms would be greatly i'm
proved by the new accession. Some one writing
of Raphael said that his pencil melted when
ever it approached woman or an angel. am
not able to see why such influences may not
proftably be transfused through the austere
forms of the collegiate recitation room. AT all
events, have sealed my opinion. And as the
committee of arrangements have very properly
been drumming through all the classes of fifty
years standing or less in quest of the establish
ment of scholarship funds, as fit memorial
tribute to the occasion, | have sent in to my as
sociates of the board of trustees my humble
offering of a scholarship endowment, with the
condition that its benefits shall be appropriated
to woman upon the basis of equal fitness in
the examination In that direction it is offered
and may heaven grant it a blessing.
Gov. Bullock, also in few sharp words,
criticised the action OF the trustees IN putting
uH tnG uucStlOH Vi WOlticu " lut COl-
lege, and expressed himself strongly in favor,
not only of admitting women, but of admitting
them now
My fellow Students the occasion is for much
serious reflection as well as social rejoicing. We
have many departed and beloved to lament;
but the moving procession of life will not stay
in mourning. We pay the passing tribute at
every grave of n classmate, and resume our
walk in the paths of the living. In those paths
we in our turn soon shall fall, and may fondly
hope for only the same momentary honors.
This age is so crowded with men, with thick
coming events, with engineries and forces
in ceaSelessl motion, that the individual per-
son is lost sight of when he ceases to act. Yet
in all this scene of modern life each one of
us still retains his individuality and respon-
sibility. Eeach one of us will still hold to
the last his own circle of taste and affec-
ton. And in the waning years let it be one of
our aims and one of our consultations to keep
bright the golden ciucture that binds us to this
home of our youth. like the custom at Har-
ward of having a message of remembrance at
every recurring anniversary from its oldest
living alumnus. The college and the son can
never part in life If it be possible that the last
days of the scholar shall become dreary, then,
even then, he may draw solace and cheerful
ness from this association of his alma mater
with himself. As he descends along the vale,
and other associations give way he may still
address to her his invocation and hope:
"Be thou the rainbow to the storms of life!
The evening beam that smiles the clouds away,
And tints tomorrow with prophetic ray!"