, 1874-05-22
OBERLIN,

OBERLIN.
Fast nud presont-N NAtmosphoro ss-
Observation-Disclosures and Popular
tty-Yro1. j. M. Lzangstos-4Aoyvnrd
Observation-Disclosures
Correspondence qf Ths Chicago Tribune: ~
-.. onEnI1N, o., May 10. 1914.
Oberlin Is q genuine NeT-England village.
There are no mountains, or hills, orrooky placos;
rs for streams, tho classic waters Of Plum Crock
would cnuse Konnoboo man to smile satirically
at tho oven tenor Of their way; and yet. not
withstandlug oil theso objoctions, Oberlin iB, in
the best aonse, just such pleasant community
as often nestloa among the Now Hampshire hills,
or along tho beautiful banks Of the lower ponob-
scot. aDuckoge" is plainly .delinoatcd In tho
life Of many Ohio villages; but sagdahoo, Nor
1imao aud Oneida, ns far as similarity is con-
cornod, aro wrought into ono tout-onsomblo Of
the place. An anecdote is related Of q Seward
man returning from tho Chicsgo Convention of
go, who achieved the following doivoranco,
"Oberlin! tho largest place Of its size In all the
country-Capita1 Of tho State Of Ohio-moro
land to tho aero thRn in any other region-the
people arc negroes and soma whlte-but the
Seward mon aro very respectable folks" The
place onjoys some degree Of notorioty on ac-
count Of its former position "outside tho pale Of
all healthy organizations" Oberlin fanaticism
and oberlin herosy excluded this '4peouliar peo-
pla" from ecclesiastical, literary, and social con-
nection with noighboring communities. There
was q time when tho stald New York Obseruer
horaldod anything now in politics, religion, or
society as tho 'latest Obcrlinism."
Now, it is Haid, oberltn Ia becoming popular;
and ha ia, s gena gRnuePy T. sorg oat T. t
wo can expect IS, that tho world around will ao-
cord to ua tho privilege OF living and enjoying
in quiotness our modiollm Of good and ovil,-Iok
requiring ug to be better than other people, nor
insisting upon It that VIC arc worsc."
People outade speak of the ''atmoaphero Of
Oberlin III tloughit It were laden with bounties
and blesRings that place it high above NIL other
places n the land. Tnts mny be true. "old
performances very high. But the impression
that abstaius TINT Obeslin il, or Inns bocn aacot-
10 in itB character ts far from the truth. "obor
lin WAS always cheerful place and there was
thought unbecoming to. theological professor
or student" Separated from surrounding COM
munlties, in tho midst Of q wilderness whose
crowding-baok give the people rcstleBa energy
and aggressive Aaabite,' oberlin was, from the
shaping Of the place.
Straugora nro very often deceived In their first
estimates OF oherlin and il people. Like tho
little boy WHO saw in Phil sheridan "only. a
Generals famous ride and victory, people who
como horo prilned with notions concerning
"moral atmosphere" in tho ond fluid that m
oborlinito ia nothing moro, nothing less, than
Whom tho institution was organized, On oxpo-.
riment In hygiene was undertaken that shortly
proved q future. Whilo on q visit East, ono Of
tho most celebrated OF those who haye figured
in the history Of tho institution ontored upon a
now experience. Perhaps more through tho in
tluonce Of a persuasive 'roaBt" than any plea
Of logic, ho abandoned his vegetarian principles,
aud sont q message homo to his wifo to allow tho
children "juat as much beef as they wanted"
1t is readily Reen -why Oberlin should have
something Of a notorioty. It is not 10 easily
understood why her popularity should STEADILY
increase. But tho difficulty Ia removed when we
SEQ that In principle, tho Oborlin Of to-day, and
Of generation ago, arc the samo., It is tho
world that Las been gradually receiving and
adopting thoHo principles, once called hercaies,
TINT has changed its standpoint, and now looks
bepignantly Oh al that ernanates from this his
torcal place. The changes that have taken
plaoo are strongly marked in the careers OF some
OF Oberlin'B .graduatea
negro-boy from cIIlliliootho ontorod oborGn, on
into tlo place, ho met tho Children on their way
to Habbath-school. On his way, he had been
compelled to ont luis meala in the kitohonB OF tho
country-taverne, and to find lodgings on the
same principle TINT excluded him from tho
dining-room. But now lie saw no respect OF
persons on account of color. Black Children,
hand in Aand with whito, wo1o making use OF
privileges accorded to both alike. Tho people
fcre, we're, In hts untaught eyoss, 'poouliar
pco1e" indeed. Flo. commenced q course OF
study, and In five yoors graduated from tho COL
lego. Another yoar was spent in Cincinnati aud
Now York, In endeavors to gair admission to
law.aohoo that he might reap tte advantages
him Of ontering private Offices, but these ho re-
fuaed, and returned to Oberlln.. Hero he en-
gngel In tho studies OF tho Theological Depart
ment, ~ the boat preparatory discipline acc9ssi-
yaara he graduated When Howard University
organized, this man, who had risen from his low
position only through pereorverlng effort and
untlagging zoal was appointed Dcan OF the Law
recommended for The Presidency, Prof. John
M. Langaton, the uncouth boy Of thirty years
ago, the scholarly gentleman and orator Of to-
day.. For nearly year he has been acting 90
filling lis clair In tho Law Department.
Tluont In conversation, eugagtuY In ltB man
ncrs, eloquent OH the Platform, lie nadreasea
himself to all as tho worthy. occupant Of tho
position he holds; IN ta an intoryiew With the
been displaced by the recitation.metho ospooi'
ally In lis own department. Tho good results
| acor1liug from thls change aro great. Wher
lectures are given, the student Is not allowed t.
tuko uoteB, Glt iH required to gvo Ills undivided
atteution to tho lecturer. In this way tho stu.
don't acquires roadnoss and thorough know
odre that essentially fits him for tho practice o
hjs profession. No distinction Is made, either Ii
faculty or among the students. as regards ract
color. All tue natonalltles are reprosentga
ladies' and gontlotnen attend, aud gil shades Q
Ohriatian doctrine aro tolerated, and in good par
represented in the faculty. Tho University 90
oupies prominent position, boing one Of u
is position, aa regards other Institutions,
tentra!, and no otlor school in, tho la1a Ii y
Rational iu itB character. It's graduates readIl