The Hickman courier., 1881-03-18
Life at cambrIags. Massachusetts.

In Cambridge. ,life there is a happy
mixture of hlgt1< AIMS, prosaic details.
and agreeable cpmpanionships-s some
what disturbed during three-quarters of
the year by excessively. muddy streets
and sidewalks, wherein people sometimes
leave their rubbers sticking while in the
pursuit of social or intellectual pleasure.
pleasant and peaceful as that country
town-Iike city is, however. there Is room
for question whetberit is not too much
shut away from The stir of the great
world. Like itss highways. it becomes
rutted. The very recreations which
professors, literary men, studious ladies,
and cultivated professional people seek
Mt evening parties IS aoften only pro-
loneation of tho dental exercisesfnvoived
In their work Fh6 tone Of conversation
is largely crit c. Even scandal may he
: said her-.- 4 : '''ie, JIG form of ssapaly-
SIS. How sea:olisly C;ambTidg geans
Sometlmess'sslza she pgacticai minutife of
life VIII be guessess when It is whispered
that a lady who could not make her
house furnace work well ats>uded a
course of austerely technical lectur,s on
thermo-dynamicsl
Dancing is a rare diversion, excepting
for young girls and undergraduates. A
-ANbAAbAAtSb iiltdClifis WIZ 4OOhilA OtA az a
small dancing party at private house in
Cambridge, observed with sectarian hu-
NOR that the young women went through
their quadrilles and waltzes as gravely as
if they were "under conviction. Clubs
of ladies, or ladies and gentlemen to-
gether, are numerous; but they are often
rather TO be described as classes for the
study of languages Italian,
! Russian, or even Arabic; and when not
formed for this object, they make essay
reading, the study of literature, or anna
teur acting, their aim. One dramatic
company in especial, embracing members
from sundry families of the greatest SOC
ial consequence, has held a brief season
each winter. for several years, during
which difficult plays are brought out In
excellent style, with scenery, mechanism,
and even music produced and executed
by amateurs Tickets are sold only to
friends of associate members, and the
performances are crowded. Strangely
enough, attempts to found a club among
professors and instructors in the univer-
sity here always failed, though these
gentlemen have their small clubs for the
pursuit of specialties in which they are
interested. OF anything more than a
dillettante interest in literature outside of
the college, and, excepting Mr.. Long
fellow and such men as John Fiske, or
T. w Higginson, there is very little. 1t
is startling fact that Cambridge in
fuences have not been fructifying in this
direction. Young writers are not well
coined, and the men of established re-
nown appear Indifferent as to whether
literary vitality shall continue or cease
on this ground, which is generally
thought to be consecrated to fruitful
thoughts and imagination. Meanwhile
inspiration, breadth of sympathy and
aims, and all tendency to express sturdily
strong ideas and sentiments of national
or general human value, are being sacri-
feed to the desire for specializing culture.
better ~ 10y perfecting. means for
educating Sffie average undergraduate
mind in accordance with higher stand
ard than heretofore. But it is a question
whether it ought not to encourage actual
production instead of mere criticism, and
to stimulate literary growth outside Of
the class room-C'orrespOndent Netg
York Tribune.