New-York tribune., 1874-01-01
INTER. COLLEGIATE LITERARY CONTESTS

OBJECTIONS TO THE PIAN-h SCHEME TO AnIlIff
AND PERPFTUATE TIE DULLNESs or COLLEGE
COMMANDMENTS.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR In a recent issue of THE TRIBUNE there
appeared communication in advocacy Of intercoie-
gate brain contests" IN contrsdistncton to what the
writer dubs, In kindly sort OF way, nero trials OF
"brawn," meaning thereby the regatta which Is now re-
ceiying much attention in the American collegiate
world | am not sure but that the best refutauon OF
such chimcra the proposed would be tho actual
trial Of Wit which the writer strongly desires ana
that too carried out regards details according to the
very letter OF his wishes. have doubt IN my own
mind Of the result and IL you will bear with me 10 so
great an extent desire simply TO offer remark OF Two
in connection with the subject showing why 40 NOT
have fah in the lbcnecal results predicted l0f tne
plan
The writer's rst proposition is that plan for such
tercolegiate contests is feasible" Now. the word
feasible has two mesnings-Ope is possible ana
the other practicable" and herein my difference win
the writer lies believe myself that the plan is pos
si0e; so do believe that an annual convention VI
under graduate editors Is p0ssibe but as IN the aIVer
case cannot see what reason earth there would be-
for their coming together, so IN the former canDH
share the writer's views the practioabiy OF MS
PLAN In support OF this proposition the writer drsVs
an analogy tho regatta OF Amer"@n ""ios as
now conducted aud the " brain contest as pIOFN co.
much 10 the derOgati0n or the I0iiner mu9I Uimlt
that his argument ia amusing, il not convincing.
1t is Of that oreSceNdO, climacto nnd whl'b pre-
walls so commonly iB colleges and is Itself the strongest
arp nent against the plan. lie naturally Is alta oss 10
kngy why-giyen so muck enthusiasm ana applause
pertus a vulgar and ilEterae trial o. coegate muscle
Or the Connectcut-tbero should not reSound from tbe
halls OF the academy hundredfOld the applause oVer
the crude ot the que-+-On WhcVheI tie h
fated Oneep Of Scots Jusutahly efeeueu OF bvl'
Thep too, he claims the advantage Tor MS au owe. .o
regatta from a financial point or view "hiIe tne
pense attending latter enormous piat lhcuiIeo h
Inc literary contest would bo nominal; nav
so far from there beng ultimately any eA-
penso at an, i would De- on on yicw tHS o the
writer these bursts OF eoGueuce would be Witnessed
nightly by a tnrong OF people eaeh Of whose heais
represented 80 bill left in the box Office. TIo absuTdIIJ
al rms mart of the plan apparent IN the statement OF
IT, The writer TO have 1orgOteu OF never 10 nave
known three things First that The regatta Is en)Oyed
because Of its own intrinsic merit the rowing belhe sOOu
tue time made being fair whether done bI cOlegdn or
citizen aud in this respect being success III comes on
at season Of the year when all undergraduates need
recreation and amusement and III the Regatta they hnd
even those most Interested Ia them Does ne not
know how long college cOIniDencementa nave Deeh tOi-
eate the fact that "a greater premium would Dc SET
on dullncss" by increasing IN any degree tAi5
already enormous evan Thirdly, he lIbors under the
absurd msappTehenSlOu that the average
thought is worthy of preservation such 10 0e sure,
ChattertOn poet al eighteen, ana NacduIay pro
duced excellent essays while in his university Dnt the
good thing III the of practice and discipline II is
just as much evil used medium for producing
before public notice cOmmODplaces ana cruditles, Ot
which the supply Is already aiarmngIy great. WIN
regard the second third and fourth reasons OF the
writer have ony to enter demurrer and leave me
merits. do not deny the truth OF the state
ments. hut assume the privilege inlVidualy ol not
believing them. CONSERVATIVE.
Nes Yors. Dee. 10, 1873.