Litchfield enquirer., 1879-01-09
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1st. 1879

W OdIl. 1SG ISiH
 The village 'lyceum has had up for discus sion the past two weeks the question of Amer ican Colleges and the evils of college educa- ton, and the debate has not only enlisted the attention of some of the prominent men of the town, but has aroused net little feeling on both sides of the question.
 At first thought, it would seem to be quite fair subject for difference of opinion as to the merits of college management. If properly brought forward not a few among the most intelligent of college graduates themselves would be found disposed to criticise the whole system but, as the question was worded, there was really only one defensible side to it. Resolved, that colleges and college educa- tlon, as at present conducted, are productive of more evil than good"
 This radical view of the subject was not on- ly voluntarily taken by the principal speaker on the affirmative Tn the line of his duty as dlsputant, but he evidently was fully in sym- pathy with his causeand earnestly enforced his remarks with thoroughly studied statis- NA>S "''" Sp'"i- oeoICulCutS I1C WAS well SllD- ported by his own colleagues, and the affirma- tive had fair presentation as far as ability and preparation were concerned. The mega tive side of the question was also very ably supported and no one could complain on the score Of failure of either side at the debate to leave the subject for decision fairly on its mer It's as presented to the audience. A vote WAS taken, the ladies participating, and it appeared that the negative had won almost the unani- nous voice in their favor
 Rev. Geo. s. Thrall, the leading disputant for the colleges presented in the course of his remarks, the following interesting statistics obtained for him by Prof. Willis J. Beecher, of Auburn, N. Y. "Of 15 Presidents of the U. S., pursued the usual college course 3 pursued other courses nearly equivalent to that of the college. 3 were not literally educated in the ordinary sense of the term. Of IA ou, of F Vice Presidents, 8 graduated, 1 pursued liberal course with private tuition, and | ! were not literally educated Among 19 on, | of "A Secretaries of State, 14 were colleee graduates, while were not. Of IA among 3e associate Judges of the U. s. Supreme Court, Il were graduates, 2 pursued equivalent courses and one did not. Of out of 7 Chief Justices of the U. S., pursued the colleoe course, and the 9th had classical education Ot 22 among 29 Speakers of the House of Rep- resentatives, F were college graduates and 5 were not 3 Vice Presidants X Coou.. . State, A Judges, and Speakers are unclass. ned, because it is not convenient at the mo- nent to ascertain the facts in regard to them. It may be assumed that they would not cbanp. the average. Weigh the ordinary classical course against all other modes of education whatever. Assume that one man in a bun- dred is graduate then on the data just given by going through college, a man increases his chances for the Presidency in the ratio of 15C to l; for the Vice Presidency, 133 to 1 ; for the Premiership, sS0 to 1; for the Speaker ship, $40 to 1; for the Supreme Bench, 3s7 tc l.; for the Chef Justiceship, 800 to 1; fer the average of the positions 295 to 1.
 Regular disputants, affirmative, Mr. Simeon Platt. Rev. Elijah Woodruff, Mir. George Clark. Negative, Rev. Geo. S, Thrall Mr. Sheldon Logan, Mir. J. C. Brinsmade.
 The weight of argument for the colleges was materially strengthened by an able speech from Mir. F. w. Gum.
 Next question selected for discussion uRe solved that dogs are nuisance" y