New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-03
IyrER.coLLEGI1TE AlreRIRY CONTESTS

4 PRINCETON STUDENT PROPOSES INTERCOLLEGIATE
CONTESTS ~ Scholarship ESSAY WRITING, ANn
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND POSSIBLE RESULTS
OF SUCH SYSTEM OF CONTENTION.
To the EditOr OF The tribune.
SiR Ga the 18th of July last IN immense
crowd from all parts OF our LAND gathered a spring
field to witness u trial Of physical strength Educated
muscl. % contend against educated miSeo, and
intense was she excitement throughout the co!eg.
world. The electuc Telegraph h3shed the glorious
triumph Of Yas throughout ell the States, and the daily
p,oors gave up their columns 10 glowing accounts OF
the great college regatta. Not word woulI Wrte
derogatory 20 these contests. l do not claim
fellowship with that tlmidclass who fear tha'
the "college Is changing into canoe, ana thhS
brains fast apsng into arms Of btawn" BE ths as
1. may, claim that tho bockmen should have An eluh
chance with the boatuIen. Brain, being more powerful
Is Of far greater Importance than brawn and 10 pal
pablo reasons can be found why the intercoc siais
contest should be restricted to boating an thoroughly
convinced that It should extend scholarship and
essay writing and to oratory Bi 10 one proposing %
radical movement there viii DO hundreds Of oOuserga-
tves TO protest and put IN their eternll Mo- For tn,
of such. expected 10 state the reasons for
the belief within him. and this shIll endeayor 10 10
through the columns OF TIE TRIBUNE.
plan for such intercollegiate contests h feasibs
boating For weeks and months before toe Regatta tho
crews OF tho colleges intending to cCl.poio must bs
incidental expenses not 10 loss OF me are by
means infatesimal. the cash accounts OF those col
ana expense 81 carrying boats by raj Tor hun
drcds OF miles. Now 1T contests PROPOSED no snch
ob,races exist. 1t would not be necessary, Tor rio
cess of the proposed contests that band OF men should
be hurried on 20 T@eg and GeSS 4 og ' ani
manuscripts carried 10 the OF action VII much
greater convenience ana dispatch than paper Shells
Then why not bsvs o literary contest between our
coegesi IN regard 10 the contests in scholarship sew
er prizes should he given IN the most important Sc
parff
G10. These prizes should 40 open FOR competition %
al thS soieSss IN AT ne TS dc 10 me
The Judges should he men of national regulation II
Que prizes should be In the department OF scisnet
PROF. Henry OF the Smithsonian Institute w0ld iuhH
the duties OF the position with marked ability 10 ne
pTiZs be IN political science. such mtn ~ Nharef
Franci, Adams wOull lend weight aud arouse en-
thysiasm In tie individual student The samo prnclp
OF procedure which have indicated could be appied
10 the essay contest In carrying out tDs sysicu and
applying 10 tn oratory, more prominent ana serious az
ueulties become apparent The number u speaker ior
instance. wOul1 be TOO large left open Ia al the anu
bilious men in the college. The proper plan would "
for each college t. have an open and decide upon
Que 10 represent them at the ntercoi6gats
contest II the number proved too large Tor one aitr
subsequent day. There should De community of these
contests, with suitable prizes Tor dee 'maion deh1s
and orations. sdch contests wound arouse lhe "hos
college world, because. as IN the regatta, vac
students themselves could witness the struggle Grtndei
than the Grandest feats OF the bceps muscle would Be
such IN which the brli the aroused passions
tie s mastery nd the victory Tue thncrs sfpisas.
would surpass the widest shouts at Springfield Ihi
Music in New-York City. and until an eudowmept wm
effected tickets could readily be soid for 81 each ana
whole machinery would be selfactipg and selfpayng
H. This system of intercollegiate contests wonld pro
lowship between the graduates aud under graduates
colleges. One Of the finest features OF the rega.
nov demand brain race as Wen a. boat raeS
American University, consisting o. grand brother
hood Of eo!loses IL which senerou; snd ep'n .ss,
striving, for literary attainment, sound au0larsnp
cultured oatory, aud elegant expression ~ t9lugaL
The scholars and writers Ia colleges shOlld become
acquancd ana the INTERCOLLEGIATE conte 10 tho true
American tournament for accomplishing this end
III. such contests would furnish sntaD.e and ade
quate reward TO the meri o.ious To bs sure college
way reward the studious nj the deserving, yet tbt
reputation obtained ID melely nominal, because &c IL
comparatively small value IL Is local. aud rarely
extends beyond the campus For this reason tho smet
morbid Indifference is often found really Superior
There should be some such incentive to orlng mes
to the front. where they may stand IN real lines
". The rendition ~ some such intercollegiate sohemo
and It's Introduction will tend produce higher cui
ture and advance the cause OF liberal education IN our
country The subject OF physical education began TO os
discussed only some 20 years ago. Among all It's adyo
Gates the boating mou have undoubtedly shown Ie
greatest tact because they have seized upon this primer
pie OF the intercollegiate contest. claim that thess
literary contests could fail TO make their nyigoTst
ing presence iet throughout al the grammar Schools
ana preparatory Institutes, ana thus yOnng men, carry
life. would Dc putting forth vigorous enorts ana srsin
ing themselves for taking part In tins national arena
The an. uton Of the whole nation would he dreetede
ibis subject of hieGer education. and legislation woaa
nnay be brought 10 bear as lever " ADVANCE ths
cause anu insure its glorious triumph. -
Al intercollegiate Association should b. formed tns
wear by represent vcs from the hercnt colleges ana
some plan arranged for these contests. Tue minede
need OF such enterprise II an endowment Let no
college students the real want Of such contests
t the presidents aud professors In colleges aas
cate such system, and s0sle phiantht0plSt wa y
ready aid With hs thousands. There never yet was
worthy cause That did not later. mad generous
supporters ia America. Priuceon cyary car reces.
Mics this fact IN her Green sud Miquandi LafsJous
has her Pariee; Yale aud Harvard aud Columbia ana
Rutgers their generous supportefs, aun the inle,
collegiate contest. II the students really aSsiro H. WI"
not long ga begging for guardisa ard sdpporter -
PRINCETON, kov. %. ISIS W.T. va