The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-07-16
TaE CHEApENTNa OF EDUCATION.

wealth, and even on the part of men OF but
limited means, to give generously for educa-
ton in all departments of study as we are
witnessing at this very day. A New York
capitalist set the ball in motion in our GEN.
tenary year, 1866 and since then the gifts
have been numerous, large, and of such dis
tribution over our territory as to leave no part
Of it uncared for. We have before US at
this moment catalogue of these benefac-
tions, and as we 90 over it we are astounded
at the figures that we behold. Men who
have no other celebrity, and whose names were
never known before have suddenly immortal
lied themselves by bestowing new buildings
and endowments on old Institutions, or else
by rearing new ones. Rome would canonize
these saints of the open purse without day )
delay. Their names, anyhow, will live well
into the future centuries, while those that
now excite the popular wonder will have dis
appeared forever.
The plain English clergyman by the name
of hampton, who set aside his little proper
ty over century ago for the establishment
of an annual course of lectures "to confirm
and establish the Christian Faith, " has writ
ten his name more enduringly in Oxford
University, and throughout the world, than
many starred and gartered nobleman who
can trace his lineage back to the battle of
Hastings, but who has never learned the
princeiness of grand benefactions Giving
in behalf of the minds enlightenment is be-
coming passion, and it is growing stronger
every day.
But why all this giving? Wherein lies its
great significance? Clearly, that knowledge
may reach the greatest possible number of
minds in the least possible time Life is a
rapid stream, and its current must be used
promptly. The child of to day is out of
guardianship tomorrow. These benefactors
have inaugurated measures for those who
have scanty means, and whose minds are
thirsting for the truth, to gain their ends to
the highest and fullest extent They mean
that those who would otherwise remain all
their life in ignorance need not do so, but
that even the heirs of poverty may drink
deeply of the pure springs of learning. They
would tax themselves to make education
cheap, and even gratuitOus, to the coming
generations. But is their object really reach
ed? Is education less expensive in 1873
than it was in 1850? Is the actual purpose
of these princely gifts, these great chapels,
and library buildings, and dormitories, and
gymuasia, and endowed professorships fully
accomplished in the small outlay at this mo-
ment required Of student to gain an edu
cation Oar observation compels us to an
swer in the negative. We have made dill
gent inquiry of students who are still under
graduates in our own and other colleges and
universities as to their personal expenses
during the scholastic year; and we have
also interrogated their parents as to the
amount of their remittances; and the an
swer has uniformly led US to the conclusion
that the expense of an education is not less
now than it used to be before these great
benefactions were made. We know what
an average student has needed for quite
number of years, and we know what he now
needs, or, at any rate, what he spends, and
we see an increase rather than decrease in
the outlay.
A few of the causes are patent to every
one who is at all conversant with the inside
working of our colleges. When new build
ing is erected in connection with any one of
our educational institutions by single in
dividual, it furnishes pretext for soliciting
money for another of equally fine appear
ance and expensive materials, as match
for it. Of course the old buildings must all
undergo repairs and enlargement, either out
of the treasury of the school, or by unseemly
begging for funds from the alumni and
friends The old laboratory is miserably
dark and dirty place, and there must be a
new one. The chapel is puritanical, and
that must give place to light and airy one.
The library must be doubled at one breath,
instead of made to grow gradually, and
therefore normally. The magnificent build
ings are erected. There is, at least, har-
mony, and old things have become new.
But everybody has been overtaxed. The
meeting of the old alumni has been any
thing but sentimental; it has been only a
grand begging occasion. Crushing debts
rest on the immense piles of stone and brick,
with their imposing turretS and-ginger-
bread Then the students get loftier ideas.
They must have club-houseS, and society
halls, and gay boats, and all manner of ex-
pensive things.
Their tuition does not cost them much ;
but still their connection with the school
costs them a sum far in excess of propriety.
The sweet old simplicity of student-life thus
takes on smack of artifcialty and hollow
ness. Luxuries become necessities, and no
wonder the bills reach alarming aggregates.
A student of meager means does not like to
be wanting in gentlemanly lberaGty, and SO
he says nothing to the extravagant devisings
of his fellows. o for students who dare to
stand alone when they know and feel that
they are in the right Where is the gentle
manliness of a senior at college spending