Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-05-21
THE CHRONICLE.
OBERLIN COLLEGE.
OBERLIN, May 13, '7S


ED. CHRONICLE = The spring
term Of this college closed on Satur-
day last, and the summer term begins
tomorrow. The attendance last term
was quite large. L believe the lar
gest there has been in spring term
since the war. There were nearly
nine hundred students in all the de-
partments.
If to this number you add about
two or three hundred telegraph and
commercial students you will per-
ceive that we have several young
people in this place.
A great many prophesIed after the
close of the war that Oberlin College
had accomplished its mission and
that it would never again enroll as
large a number of students as it had
in former times. The accounts of the
present treasurer are far from con-
firming the predictions of those
would be prophets
The last week of the spring term
furnishes US with a fine literary feast
and last term was no exception to the
rule. Wednesday, May 9TH, the Jun
ior class held its exhibition. The ex-
ercises consisted of three English ora
tions, one Latin, one Greek, and a
Discussion. The productions were
all fair. On Thursday, the Theolog-
ical department gave one of the best
exhibitions I have ever attended,
Friday, the Union Exhibition of the
College societies took place. For this
exercise each of three literary socie.
ties chooses two of its best speakers
Consequently at the exhibition which
is always well attended six of the
best speakers in college appear. The
productions were fully up to the
standard, which is by no means q low
one.
The Musical Union under the lead
ership of Professor Rice has begun
preparation for commencement,
which begins July S1st and closes
August 9th. Those who have ever
heard the concerts given by this body
.ofsiAgers always look for a rare en-
tertafEment when they take place
I believe no other attraction draws
more people to Oberlin commence
ments than the music.
Some two or three months ago
saw a statement in your columns rel
ative to Mount Union College, which
1 have been waiting for some one to
notice. AS no one has seen fit to do
so allow me TO say word concerning
1t. The statement I refer to was, If I
remember it rightly, that Mount Un-
ion College has more students In her
regular college classes than any other
college in Ohio, and that but two or
three colleges IN the United States
have larger number. Now ] have
no desire to disparage the great work
which that college is doing, neither
have the desire nor time to discuss
the relative values of different college
courses, but il does seem that q great
many persons who read that article
might attach undue prominence to
that institution. How is il that she
has so many regular college students ?
Perhaps Il may be owing to the cur
riculum. Any institution with a
large number of students, can have
large advanced classes il the course
of study is made easy. All persons
who understand the requirements of
our American colleges know that to
enter a first class institution requires
a long and thorough preparation ir
the Latin and Greek languages. This
it is which keeps the regular classes
small. Remove this barrier and num-
bers will increase rapidly. By look
ing at catalogues of Western Reserve
and Oberlin college it will be seen
that to be admitted to the Freshmen
class, requires nine terms (three
years. of Latin and six terms two
years. of Greek. The eastern colleges
require still more. The Mount I'm
ion catalogue puts the requirement
for admission in language, at one or
,wO terms of Latin and no Greek
The standard for admission might be
noticed in another way. A few
years since q student who could not |
enter the Freshmen class of this col
Iege went to Mount Union and en-
5ered as full fiedged Sophomore
When these facts are taken into con-
sideration a reason may be discovered |
for the large number of students in
regular college classes.
TRUMBULL.