New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-24
INTER COLLEGIATE LITERARY CONTESTS PRAC
TICABLE

TO mo Bditor OF The Tribune.
SIR; Your columns on Education in the issue
OF every Wednesday or Thursday have been regarded
with great both by educators and by the under
graduates of colleges "A member Of the lastmen-
toned class beg tho Of small space in your
valuable paper answer, we'll ~ able, some OF
the objections brought against the proposed inter collie
giao literary contest by Conservative, In your Last
Wednesdays issue.
Nothing could be practicable than the plan pro-
posed An aquatic contest is certainly the most difficult
20 ind proper places and that has been done
fully for past twenty years Baseball tournaments
10 connection with the college regattas have added
much the interest Of the days sport last year at
Springfield running match between representatives
OF the different colleges Of the enjoyable fea-
lures OF tho day. There would be nothing
or difficult about Introducing gymnastc exhibi
oular struggles Of REGATTA week: 1t would give inland
colleges opportunity TO compete for prizes whereas
now they unheard Of In the athletic college world
as their situation preeludss their entering for aquatic
honors There is little difficulty in dsposing Of SOUL
races and with equal facility, think, manage
the other skull contest The plan proposed by The Prince
ton Lh and afterward by The Courani was nrst sug
Your correspondent conservative" speaks OF the
impracticaby of an intercollegiate rhetorical exhi-
several colleges but to elect their speakers and
they select hall In the town where the regatta
ours and appoint judges and then everything settled
but the award OF the prizes and this could BIO
plshed easily every year at the
speaks Of college commencement exercises neces-
sary evils" concur with him in that but he Ia alto
gether wrong IN comparing that with tho Junior Ex."
The gentleman may not be aware that commence
ment appointments are made on the result OF marks Of
scholarship irrespective OF rhetorical ability aud that
valedictorian may be the poorest speaker in the
Glass; whereas the JUNIOR EX speakers are appointed
solely their merits orators. This may somewhat
account the difference Of interest on the two
sOns. proprety In comparing THIS contest with
the OF under graduate editors winch he audes
to- Nothing could be accomplished by such convention
feels tho want of such movement. NO one has
yet spoken OF the degeneracy OF re Hdrrdrd Ad,oea
The Yale Record The Princeton La, or The Williams W
dets Until that such a convention would only re-
.ut In waste of fare whereas an Inter collegiae
rhetorical exhibition would stimulate the students OF
the different colleges to renewed activity IN the ars
rhetorical" and the men who are not blessed with
large bceps but with the sllyery tongue would thus
be enabled carry OF great honors as they who pull
the winning boat. The contests IN scholarship might
be made equal facility, though perhaps not attend
ant with equal interest This IL movement the need
OF which long been felt by college men. aud hope
members OF "a throughout the country VIII unite In
IN successful
during tho week. IL Troy Is selected
tho place of tho regatta II seems quite likely IL
viii be- may 10 AGAIN wtness-ftun, yuH frojo esf-not
only tho revival OF the Oympan games, but also the
contests which made Cicero and Catno great.
wstsADss 0aiL10s A2ts. Jan. T. LdIl Y, r. NJ "A