The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-07-21
BOwdOin College.
BRUNSWICK, July IS, 49,

To the Editor of the Press:
Your CORES pondent signing himself STU
dent, treating of ''affairs at Bowdoin College,
opens his batteries upon Parent with the
the profound remark that eff all the articles
had been written by capable men, men who
thoroughly understood the affairs of the institu-
ton, their opinions would have far greater
weight" So say we all of us. But when he
adds that in that case, ''people in general would
sympathize with them in their endeavors either
to help or injure the college" l, for one, beg
leave to differ. 1 do not believe that even a
minute fraction of the public would sympa-
thze with any endeavor to injure the college.
But it rather seems to me, Mr.. Editor, that the
college is in much the same condition with the
forlorn old veteran who c'ied out in his distress
"God save me from my friends and FL take
care of my epemies myself
cannot help thinking that Bowdoin's first
and greatest need is to purge herself of all
humbugs and shams. A real student is
pretty sure to detect them, however clad or her
aided, before he finishes his college course. and
in spite of all palaver, it will affect his love and
respect for the institution they fasten on.
The prosperity of a college cannot be adj
vanced by high sounding manifesto, unless
the performance is made equal to the promise.
Young men are proverbaly impatient of pre-
tentious mediocrity. The dignity of a college
professorship is better preserved by faith
full and capable discharge of its duties
than by any display of power to in
dlct college censures and punishments. The
faculty of the college should know that
their cause cannot be aided by newspaper an
nouncements that the indications are that the
class will be fully up to the average in num-
bers. when less than score present themselves
for examination; nor by describing empty pews
at common cement exercises as crowded
houses; nor by such vulgar abuse as the Brun-
swick Telegraph pours out upon men who,
like parent" would be glad to send their
SONS to Bowdoin.
Perhaps it is hardly fair to hold the faculty
responsible for what may be only the bilious
vagaries of the editor of the Telegraph; but 1
submit that it is not wise for the friends of
the college to bully and affront the public
whom Parent" represents 18th such reply
to his communication as this, which L extract
from the Brunswick paper of July II:
AID while REFER ng to college matters, let
us just alude to a communication signed
"Parent" which APP cared in the PRESS of
Tuesday 14th The writer is "sorehead' of
the old school, and vigorously denounces the
existing condition of affairs. He would
move President Chamberlain, and pretty much
every body else, we guess, and go back to the
good old times when it was OF far mole con-
sequence for a man to be good taiker in viii
lage prayer meeting, than competent in
structor of college classes "Parent' says he
has son that he can't send here as things
now are, and whom he will not send
to the two other colleges in the state.
suggest that he be sent to a school of idiocy,
such as may be found al abroad if not at home.
The dishonesty of the writer is conspicuousy
obvious, where he speaks of Bowdoin as bro
ken down institution, and cites in evidence that
0nly seventeen applicants presented themselves
for examination on the Friday previous to
commencement Does not Parent George
Washington's parent didn't teach him to lie)
know that the time of that examination was
exceptional, and that but few people knew
such an examination was to take place? Ger
tanly he did, and we might with as much JUS
tice argue that all parents are fools because one
who appears in the PRESS is magnificently so.
The sheer contained in the above at the ster-
ling old corps of college professors who gave
their uns inted labors for the prosperity of the
college during long course of years, for small
compensation. without grudging, complaining.
or shrinking, is especially ill-timed just now
do not believe it is judicious, when the col
lege is constantly calling on the alumni Tor
funds, to make such unsavory illusions to the
memories of Cleaveland and Upham and New
man and Smyth and Goodwin and others asso-
ciated with them. Would that their success
ors could be induced to initiate their self deny
ing devotion to the institution! If some of
them were good takers in the village prayer
meeting" never before heard it intimated
that they were not all as competent instruct
ors of college classes" as any of the set of men
who are of yesterday" etc.
do not suppose that either the faculty or
the boards of the college are so wise and far
seeing as TO require them imperatively to re-
sent any suggestion respecting the manage
ment of the college through the public prints,
whether it comes from parent or any other
friend of education. | therefore take the liner
of the boards in bringing almost the whole va
cation of the year into the summertime. be-
lieve it will operate to the disadvantage of
those who rely in part upon their own earnings
to enable them to go through college. In or
der to teach the winter schools which have
heretofore given them congenial employment
by which they gained not only ready money
but mental discipline, knowledge of human ma
ture, and tact in dealing with their fellowmen
in favorable positions, they must now stay out
of college and forego whatever advantage there
may be in lectures, recltatons, etc. If they de-
vote themselves during the summer to employ
ments less suited than teaching to promote
haIr ntrl INN
by the new order of things at time of year
when the increased expenses of fuel and lights
impose an additional burden upon pockets not
too well furnished
Yet that class of students has been and is
likely to be the one to which any Maine COL
lege must look for much of its support, and it
is the one which is most likely in after-fe to
do credit TO its alma mater. 1t is no answer to
this to say that the summer is the best season
for yachting, or for needy students to get en-
poy ment as table walters at mountain or sea-
side houses. The fact still remains that with
such an arrangement of terms, the college
must be less useful as an educator of poor men S
sons. For one fear that it will contribute to
increase the growing disregard for college ed
ncation; and this deprecate For while L do
not believe that any of the colleges have been
improved by the recent changes in their ar
rangement, | do not think the desertlon of
them would advance either learning or good
morals. But if a college would thrive it must
learn to conform to the wishes of the great
body of its patrons; and cannot help thinking
that little solid learning is better in college
faculty than much self-conceit.
ALUMNUs
Reported for the Press.]