The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-07-09
Monday. July 9. 1877:
College Graduates.


1874 there were 34S universities and col
leges in this country, with 3, 7s3 instructors,
and 56,692 students, Ohio, it seems, has
the most, 81, and yet few Of them are
known by reputation outside the state Of
the fraudulent president, and very few
even by name. Pennsylvania comes next,
with 81; then follows New York with 26;
Illinois, with %; Tennessee, with 10; and
Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri, with II each;
while California, the new state, boasts u;
and Massachusetts,, the fountain head Of
collegiate instruction, the home of the
great Harvard University, has but col
leges.
Such a multiplicity of institutions for
the attainment Of classical and scientific
education is more indicative of the desire
to furnish facilities therefor, than of any
high standard Of scholarship. The COM
mencement season for 1877 is now sub
stantially closed, the few weeks last past
having been fruitful in these exercises,
and the press overAowing with more or
less extended reports Of the young gentle
men crowned with blushing honor, and
the addresses Of persons distinguished in
the literary, scientific, or political world,
who have hidden the young graduates
God-speed and have given them world of
good advice
The most obvious thing to be said, in
this connection, Of the thousands who
annually 70 forth from college halls to
enter upon the further duties of life is,
that if they avail themselves of whatever
knowledge they may have acquired in
applying it wisely and faithfully to the dis
charge Of the duties of after life, the pre-
paratory term of college life will be Of es-
sential service, and they will have no occa-
sion to regret having devoted few years
OF their young manhood to the studies pre-
scribed in an acadamic course, On the
other hand, if they haye been negli
gent in their studies, have mis-
spent their time, and mis-applied
their advantages, they will only be the
more conspicuous ounces for having
neglected their mental culture and squan-
dered their opportunities. 1t is this class
Of attendants at college who contribute SO
much towards bringing collegiate train
ing into disrepute,
It is an habitual thing with GER
tain class Of men to decry the utility
of collegiate education, and to praise
the benefits of an early and severe
application to practical business. This de-
ponds somewhat upon the mental constitu-
ton Of the young man, aud what he is
intended to be fitted for Even in the case
Of the dullest of collegians it is something
gained for them to enter the world with
some notion, though it be but vague one,
Of the best things which the human intel.
lect has produced. However much they
may have neglected, they seldom altogether
despise literature, and ever after entertain
respect for such as do prefer literary pur'
suits to those of wealth. AS an Exchange
truly remarks,-"these alumni, as they are
called in the college catalogue, have thei'
practical and prosaic value. Wherever
they may be, they exercise a wholesome
influence. They keep watchful eye upoI
the public schools; they promote the lee
ture courses in their localities; they are
the ministers, the 'squires, the physicians
who, even in these days of Democratic
irreverence, are respectfully consulted
about the management Of the town affairs
When complaint is made that our college
do not send out many great scholars, i
should be remembered that great scholar
nowhere and in no age have been numer
Gus; while we may say with equal trutl
that few countries can exhibit population
30 fairly and so generally educated as on
Own. For this we are indebted both t
the public schools aud the colleges, w
have a good many Of the last named be
cause we have so many Of the former
There will always be a majority of me-
who will stop with the acquisition of ele
mentary learning, but even these make
small thoroughly educated class possible
by maintaining in their way the good rep
utation Of knowledge. We have advance
80 far that ignorance is ignominious-wh
can deny that in this is the possibility G
going much further2"