New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-14
INTER COLLEGIATE LITERARY CONTESTS

SEVERAL LEADING COLLEGES GIVE ADHESION TO THE
PRoJECr-LErrEEs FROM CHANCELLOR CROSBY,
PRESIDENT PORTER, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS,
AND OTHERs-A CONVENTION CALLED AT HART
FORD, FEB. 10.
To the EdttOr OF The Tribune.
SIR: In The TRIBUNE OF Dec. 3, you pub
shed letter in advocacy OF INTERCOLLEGIATE literary
contests Since that publication, the subject has been
thoroughly discussed by the college papers and maga
zines, and 1t has called forth small amount OF com
mcnt by the press IN general Toe great majority Of the
colleges favor the movement and desire I'D speedy con
summation.
As index OF tho favor which this literary contest ia
destined TO obtain from literary men aud prominent
educators allow say that letter has been received
from James r. Fields, esq of Boston, giving assurance
Of ms cordial cooperation, and subscribing 500 to the
OF the enterprise. This il the nest egg. Here
with letters from Chancellor Howard Crosby, Presi-
dent tearns of Amherst, President Chadboarne OF VIII
iams President Porter of Yale, President McCosh Of
Princeton and from Charles Francis Adams of Boston
These letters written with permission to pn6isn
the in The TRIBUNE. You Will see by the resoin
adopted by the students OF the College of New
Jersey, that call IL to be sent Immediately to the
American colleges inviting thom to send delegates TO
| Hartford on Feb. 10. w. II. W.
college Of NeloJerSeg Princeton. " j., Feb. 3, 1874
LETTER or CHANCELLOR CROSBY.
DEAR SIR: Your inquiry concerning my views on the
subject OF intercollegiate literary contests Is received
wrote some time ago 10 Col Hggi0son in their adyo
cacy tThe boatracng contests have been carried 10
sueh an extreme tnat 'ho'e Is Srcs' "eou =,
current In favor OF brain work. know OF no better
Institution for this purpose than the intercollegiate con
tests in learning SIch an institution VIII also greatly
% @ we d ~ ColIegss moreoYer
will then take rank according TO just scale not accord
ing To numbers "a most faaclons crlcrlon ouI aeeOru
he 70 Woih @ s,ro Won of NV mi, indorsement of
| the plan and nv belief in its feasibility
University Of NcU York. HOWARD CROSBY.
LETTER OF PRESIDENT sTEAREs.
80 -, .,, =. ,o,o,.;o, 90 ,,o host
athletic sports and trainings az belonging o to oes'
work OF the college cannot regard them when prop
o,I ooductod 40 inurions or without value Our re-
oiS 'o"'u''o' 90 -, - $500 oo,o oxrosod
cent rowing matches though IN some respects eAposou
TO adverse criticism I'm others deserve commentator
They have taught Tho youth the country that the
h, e Pcnpect for cnleges and Interest in them has
been | Increased Nor ia tie sefdenal. quckness OF
SIch The piysraI compettions require without value
as intellectual discipline ana preparation io' "'l'
Rnt tho c,Ieoiate contests You have in mind
seem especially appropriate tor stuueuts, no
pIlcpai onlsTa t 6 nr",an mn snch il The ordering
Of Providence that publicity and praise necessarily
among the most p0Welim nun, me- i ~ Of 6rst
class students they would be injurious to character
have seen far more magnanimty and generosity devel
oped by prizes IMAM petly yeaousy anu r Tor
say let students contend ana contend hohOraoy LOT
10 them Essay-wrItiug TO least desirable as
| subject for competition, so much opportunity for
nm airness would be possible In connection with It. But
your proposition in general would cheeruly encour,
age likely to increase public interest ana personal
attainment in literature and science. W d. slEAkNs'
Amherst CoHege Jan TO- 1917
LETTER FROM PRESIDENT CHADBoUkNE'
DEAR SIR; college men nave Dohd oi union "ho
they are students Ill tnelr oo'n"on pursuits anu EU
yates from different colleges nave many Aihureu assn
cations when naturally unite them 's hieocr9 Vi o"o
community We recoguEe the intimate relauonshlp anu
practical equality OF the different colleges by inviting
tneir graduates only to attend our examinations
but to vote with in recommending our own students
candidates for degrees ANY. that VIII promote
this cordial relation between the colleges anu az the
same time nce them to more thorough work is desira-
Bile We have too many distractions IN college ana TOO
little OF thorough scholarship II literary contests can
| be instituted and conducted In such manner as TO
brn out and eucoura re those in our colleges who
able and willing to give examples OF better scholar
ship than secure, desirable end would be ac-
| Notwithstanding more desirable even than ex
hbitions of physical strength ana Skill and ceriaihy
founded than any results secured Dy tne use
| Of oar or bat. - T. a CHADboohNE'
| LETTER FROM PRESIDENT PORTER.
Ibave NOT given sufficient attention 10 the
proposed intercollegiate literary contests TO make u
for me TO say ANYTHING except that should very
cordially favor any project which would tend to bring
the colleges ana universities nearer 'ogetheI anu u
stimulate them TO the hghest anu mop est AMBITIOUS ~
respect TO 'ne an anV MAN rpn he
devised which promises to be feasible 1t will, per
suaded, meet with general favor WhethGf ls pIac
uc3ps ~ 'n, a ~ 20 hold n convention snch ~
ia nronosed If natural and almost necessary means OF
| .ooPihinn,, ~ concIusion n Porter
| VoIs SoJieoc Feb q 1s74
~ - -, r,rs,,,,,.r ,.,oe,
| LETTER FROM PRESIDENT NJ CoSh'
GENTLEMEN: You have been pleased to let me know
oil along what Won have been doing TO secure an inter-
. 80 y,I,, r ,.,,,o - -, boar,ilv of tbo
collegiate conpel''oh. i'pp'''o u '' Ho"'.'' - '"0
end you havein view, but with an important expana-
| g. do MT evnoct very much good from "A public
"o Wv -, ,ha 49,, bio,hoo, ,,,,o on rho
trial OF OratOry' ou SCI 'no Wy , 70, ora