Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-04-03
Delaware Csueas.

J. MURPHKr, ESQ
Tothe Editor Of tie Commercial
In your paper OF the 26th Of March, ult, Mr..
d. ]. Murphey published an article which pur-
ported to be defence of himself, but which
was, in reality an attack upon Delaware Col
lege
] would not feel It incumbent upon me to no.
tloe his communication, but for the fact that Mr.
Murphy holds the high and responsible position
Of trustee Of the very institution which his rep
resentations, left uncontroverted are so well cal
culAted to injure.
That the reader may appreciate the truth OF
my apprehension, quote an extract from his
publication, wherein he assigns his reasons for
sending bis son to another institution
Last commencement when he (his som was
prepared TO enter regular classical college,
hesitated where to send him for though did
not think this college, 30 young aud so recently
revived, had the advantages OF Older and better
endowed institutions, felt under some obgs-
| tions to pAtronize home institutions until the
President Of Delaware College at a very slim
meeting Of the Board Of Trustees and by only
one majority, passed q resolution admitting
females-a measure l heartily disapproved Of
Not that am opposed to the thorough educa-
ton OF ladies, but think young ladies' and young
gentlemen should be educated in separate col
| legee."
Thus it may reasonably be inferred that il the
President OF the College had not AvAiled him-
| self OF q very slim meeting OF the Board OF
Trustees TO pass a resolution admitting females
We should even now be reaping the advantages
Of educating Mr.. Murphey's son. This is a so
| rious charge to bring against the President OF
| the College, and every fair minded man will say
| should not have been brought without good proof
But the facts are not as he has stated them. 1t
wAs not "a very slim meeting" for the meeting
at which the resolution passed was in point of
| numbers, more than an average one aud the
resolution had been introduced by member Of
| the Board at 9 previous regular mee ing had
been laid over for three months came up in
regular order at q subsequent meeting was
thoroughly discussed; and finally adopted not by
only one majority but by majority Of two
thirds
He WAS present at both meetings. and there
fore had the means and opportunities Of infor-
nation and surely ha should have taken pains
to inform himself before he ventured to cast
reflections through the public prints, upon an
officer with whom he is brought into confidential
relations, and with whom il is his duty TO co-op-
crate for the promotion OF the best interests Of
the college. II is proper, however, for me to
express the opinion that the tnisstatement was
made ignorAntly but when MIR. Murphey on the
| very day or the day before his article made its
| appearance, discovered the truth, cannot un-
derstAnd why he did not in justice to himself to
me. and to the Board of Trustees at once make
the necessary correction. have waited in vain
for some modification OF his statement but at
last am driven to the disagreeable duty OF show
ing its falcity
IN CONNECTION may duu tHht 1 nave en-
| deAvored to ascertain the views OF the absent
| members OF .the Board on this question of the
admission Of females, and, as far as have been
able to learn, the action taken has been heartily
| approved. and our experience Ike that OF all
| other institutions whore this cuuise has been
| adopted, amply justities tho wisdom Of majori-
i ty OF our Trustees
| In the discussion OF the qnes ion b.fore the
Board OF Trustees the pnncipal Ob lection, urged
/ by Mr. Murphey, il l recolect risltly,wp based
/ nyVU IIn had
been to school with girls, and the effect OF fe-
/ male influence upon him was not beneficial. MIR.
Murphey's memory may be At fault here, for
though he is no. an old man, yet lis school
days, imagine, are beginning to be in the dim
distance Of the past. And further respectfully
| submit that he may ascribe to female in
| huence effects which should be charged
exclusively against himself. 1t is somewhat
difficult for man OF exemplary life and es-
| tablished character to realize how lie could
have been, even in the giddy period OF youth,
| negligent--not to say wAyward and, therefore,
| when the fact is brought home to him he natur-
| ally seeks solution by imputing to others
causes which were really sslf-originating and
| inherent
Let it be borne in mind however, that do
| not say that Mr. Murphey was not in all respects
| 4 model youth l am endeavonug only to ac-
| count for the charge which he seems to have
| made against himself. But for the sake OF the
argument let us admit that in his case the co
education OF the sexes was not success i;
would be illogical to conclude from this one in
stance that the measure in its general applica.
ton would prove a failure, There are eXcep'
tions to all rules. There may have been what
the doctors call idiosyncracies in his case
Even now We may occasionally find youth Of
rare temperament and peculiar constitution
upon whom this usually wholesome influence
may have the effect to distract the mental facul
ties, or to agitate the nerves to such degret
a. to produce chronic excitement. Such cases
may occur at rare intervals, and when they arr
met with should be treated with great care anG
cTcumspection but it would be unreasonable,
to make the general good subservient to them
There is another point in Mr.. Murpheys ex
PLANTATION to which l wish to call attention.
quote AGAIN.
"a year or more before this college was resus
ctated, had sent my son to a preparatory
school purely classical desiring to give him
thoroughly classical education. When Delawar
College was reorganized Agricultural Col
| lege did not thlnk 1t prudent to interrupt hin
until he had finished his course in that institu
ton"
Now some persons might conclude from thi
expression Of MIR. Murphey that Delaware Col
lege is purely Agricultural institution or
any rate they must conclude that the classics ar
| not thoroughly aud satisfactorily taught here
This impression ID strengthened by tue mutilat
ed extract which he makes from the act OF Con
gress for establishing such institutions as ours
That may do him no injustice give his el
! act words THE language OF the compression
} al act substantially il The leading obiect shd
8 be to teach such branches OF Learning as are II
lated to Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts
, Although the werd " substantially il put i
by way Of precaution, suppose, yet this que
tAtion mark would induce the belief that lis el
Q tract is both full and accurate. l will take til
U liberty OF completing the extract by supplyin
J what he has omitted. THE leading obiee
shall be without excluding other scientific an
classical studies and including military tactics
. | to teach such branches OF learning as are r,
[ | lated to agriculture and the mechanic arts
There are no italics in the original. Now th
truth Is that under this very provision Of th
act OF congress, we do profess to teach the clai
t | sice just as thoroughly as they are taught
! any OF the purely classical institutions OF tn
i | country.
. | Now to ascertain whether we make good OF
I professions, propose this practical test
: Let Mr. Murphey select any member OF on
Freshman class to compete with his son in an o,
, animation upon such branches OF study as IL
Q purely classical institutions require as cond
= tion OF admission and such as are taught in Ii
6 said Institutions during the Freshman year L,
t three good scholars and experienced teachers
= | selected to conduct the examination and sint
: MIR. Murphey's son was prepared for college by
Massachusetts, school, and is now at Princeton
it would tend to secure fairness il We should q
ect the examiners from non-residents Of Ne
Jersey, Delaware and Massachusetts. Whilst
have no disposition to restrict Mr.. Murphey in h
d choice OF our students, respectfully sugge
that he select one who was prepared for colieg
/ in the town OF Newark and whose parents resiC
here. make this last suggestion because
& has expressed the opinion that it is better
send boys away from home to be educated.