The Portland daily press., 1875-08-23

sity or acquired in departments for which the
college course is obviously a preparation. IN
numerous cases, however. even distinctions
coming strictly within this definition are ex-
cluded by the necessary limits of the work; as,
for instance, there is nothing to mark the
membership of associations, such as the Philo-
logical Oriental or Historical Societies, or the
Association for the Advancement of Science, or
any similar organizations at home or abroad,
election to which is honorable and supposed to
indicate achievement in literature or science,
but IT recorded in full, with all other titles
creditable to their possessors, would make the
catalogue "a droll work" indeed especially if its
dimensions were still further enlarged by
chronicle of all the distinctions won
by men of Colby in the field dur
ing the late rebellion, from the first rise
of the private, through all the success
sive degrees of military rank. But upon what
ground could the catalogue claim to recognize
any military service, even in the case of the
cavalry commander ''who paid five dollars in
1859 for the diploma of master of arts?" and
whose well earned title, however sscrupulously
suppressed by the Trienuial. is not likely to
be overlooked in the army list Let it be re-
membered that the University does not profess
to furnish the special education designed for
the solder-still less the exceptional talent by
which be sometimes rises without that educa-
ton. Her college training, always valuable as
preparation for the business of life, directly
opens the way to success in scientific, legal, lit
erary and political pursuits, and she may fairly
claim to record, as in some sort her OVID, hon.
ors attained by her alumni in paths to VIII ich
her instructions have led them. But commoa
sense revolts at the absurdity of parade of
military titles in the catalogue of literary in.
stituton. The tablet in CClbys Memorial Hall
bears witness for the dead that her children
have been willing to shed their blood for their
country; the fame of The living soldier is in
that country's keeping.
As to the Latinity of the catalogue, its Of
fence is old as the college, which must ITSELF
we fear. be regarded by the Advertisers critic,
as "a wretched piece of individual affectation."
But while the college continues to stand, an
endowed and embodied protest against what
ever is crude, superficial and insiDcere in the
spirit OF the time, we see not why it should
abandon any of its characteristic customs in
Difference to that vulgar jealousy which grudg-
es to institutions Of learning the privileges
commonly conceded to every other order. Not
a science, not an art, not a trades-auild, bnt
has its traditional fashions, its Anticipated sym
bols and arcsna, fool:shness to the unintiated,
but sacredly guarded by the fraternties among
which they are as household words. Why
should not the University have her Latin cata
The ''ndividual'' look of the thing need not
dismay our Alma Mater. 1t is the dame of
weak wit, or doubtful reputation, who makes
unseemly haste to obliterate the traces of age
from our conference.-the the wise and stain
less matron whose many sons rise up and call
her blessed. If the Latin catalogue be bnt
wrinkle on the brow of cur mother it is
wrinkle dear to every lover of good learning,
and as such, we rejoice that the unfilial and
unscholary suggestion in favor of Triennial
catalogue to be printed in English, with
complete record of real distinctions (?) was
SO fifty rebuked by the silence of the alumni,
at whose meeting it was hazarded, as we'll as
by that single voice which rang true to past
traditions, and invoked the continuance of the
old custom for 'the next hundred years.
The alumni have reason to be gratified by the
exactness and elegance with which the Latin
Professor has executed most laborous task,
complicated on this occasion by unusual diff
culties The notice, printed IN English on the
cover of the catalogue, and obviously intended
to reach persons unfamiliar with the Latin,
yet able and willing to contribute additional
Information required by the editor, is ludi-
crously misunderstood by the Advertiser
critic, who evidently regards the Trlennial as a
sort OF bottomess pit of occult and mysterious
learning, and takes that notice in ''plain Eng
fish" to be light suspended over its ''uuin-
telligible' depths for the benefit of the saver
age graduate" by some special bene7olence on
the part of the Latin Professor. A.G.