, 1881-06-12

The New York Times thtIlkS 1t pertinent
Just at this season Of college commandments
to direct tue attention Of the gradutes to the
recent death of L. }. N. Hale, of Uayerhill,
Mass, whose estate is estimated all the way
from 5000, 600 to SS,0O0,000. ''Tlle bearm.
of this remark depends upon the application
on it." as NTr. BunsbY would have said. Tho
late Mr. Hale was not only il multiplied
millionaire but was graduate of Dartmouth
College. Instead of entering ono Of the pro-
fcssiolls ne went into Il manufacturing busi-
ness soon after leaving college, ultimately
became proprietor Of extensive woo!cn-inl1ls
in New Hampshire, then breiched out into
various enterprises, and died possessed OF
great wealth. The lesson which the Times
seeks to draw from this exceptional case is
that more OF olr college graduates should 80
into business after receiving polite education
and fewer of them into the law, medicine,
church, and journalism. The writer pursues
his ho.nily in the following strain:
No sensible man. no matter what mas been the
nature OF his training, looks upon business
career us beneath him. 1t vii! not 10 Tor my ~,
young man VINO must make his own way in life
To ilntter himself thnr 1t is nobler to tnrn SS0H
Il ycur in the law than to make two Or three
times Us much In trade. II college graduates
could ret rid Of such foolish notions, und wero
abte to tHkeu juster view Of the relative proha-
bi1itics Of substantial success In the various oc-
cupation5 that are open to them, VIC should hear
less about the ovcrcrowding Of the professions
The luck of capital ought not to deter the alnbl-
fol oss Of the os Worlds re%
started in life with no other cnpitnl than their
brains, Tho mnin thing is to get to work at
something, ana to grow. 4 college education
ought to 6e quito a5 scryiceabie IN equipment
for Il business career lis for the practice ut a
profession, and its posscssor should be just as
rfei i'm, in nth thaf
there were more college men like Nr. Hale the
endownents and bcnetuctions upon which our
colleges subsist might be more generally than
now the gaft OF their graduates.
This view OF the relative merits of business
and 4 profession as all attractive career for a
college graduate is only partly correct. SO
far as it was intended to impress upon young
men just entering upon practical life that
there is nothing in business pursuits unwor-
thy Of the best educated, the purpose was a
good one. But the same lesson might be
more fairly illustrated BY the life Of any hon.
orable, cultivated, and wel-poiscd business
man who hnl not accumulated millions, but
had enjoyed a happy and useful life. TO
hold out the example of man dying worth
several millions Of dollars and connecting
Herewith the mere accident of college eau-
NAL4ob3 ID NalINA4AlLtt " N4HAL
wealth is exceptional III every business ca
rcer, and perhaps more exceptional in the
case of college graduates who so into blls-
ness than in the case Of young men who are
reared i'll trade after receiving a common
school education. 1t is palpable mistake
to maintain that "a college education
ought to be quite rs scryiccable all
equipment for business career as.
for the practice of a profession" This
las not been the usual experience of men.
The devotion of several years to the study Of
the dead languages and higher mathematics
is not SO good a preparation for success in
manufacturing or merchandising as actual
contact with business methods. The story
of the late Mr.. Ilulu's life Is not tnil with
sufficient circumstantiality to serve the
average college graduate rs 4 guide. 10
make his SUCCESS 4 safe example ft'r others,
it should be known what his own tastes and
inclluations were; under what circumstances
he went into business; whether inherited
capital or special opportunity did not CON
tribute to Ills rapid advancement to great
wealth; and, equally, whether Ills own life
was happy one, and whether he employed
his large fortune to make others happy. The
record of great wealth alone is not sufficient
basis for Indicating Il certain direction rs tile
proper course for the average college gradu-
ate to pursue.
The intelligent choosing of career Is
necessarily governed by individual circun1-
stances. 1t is we'll enough to say III Il gell-
eral way that the professions arc over
crowded. and it is undoubtedly true that the
college curriculum prepares many persons
for law, literature, the church, the news
paper office, and the practice Of medicine
who would much better 70 into business.
But If it il n mistake (which many young
men are apt to make) to imagine that trade
is beneath their attainments and aspirations,
it is equally true that many other young men
start out with another fullacious and mis-
leading notion that wealth Is the great re-
ward of human struggle, and that con-
tentment, power, and honor lie in the
path Of money-getting. Many a lawyer,
doctor, OF writer is happier on moderate
income than the man who amasses great
wealth as merchant Or manufacturer. Nor