The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-03-17
Life at Cambridge. Massachusetts,.

In Cambridge life there is happy
mixture of high aims, prosaic details,
and agreeable companionships-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-ike city is, however, there is room
for question whether it is not too much
shut away from the stir of the great
world. Like its highways, it becomes
rutted. The very recreations which
professors, literary men, studious ladies,
and cultivated professional people seek
at evening parties is often only pro-
longation Of the mental exercise involved
in their work. The tone of conversation
is largely critical. Even scandal may be
said here to assume the form of "analy-
Sis" How seriously Cambridgeans
sometimes take the practical minuti~ Of
life will be guessed when it is whispered
that lady who could not make her
house furnace work well attended
course of austerely technical lectures on
thermo-dynamics!
Dancing is rare diversion, excepting
for young girls and undergraduates. A
| Methodist preacher, who looked on at q
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-German, 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 srlndry families of the greatest Soc
ial consequence, has held abrief 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 club among
professors and instructors in the unlver-
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 q
| Q1ll0GGduG0 Iut6I0Sb OueoAuO "a
the college, and, excepting Mr.. Long
fellow and such men as John Fiske, or
T. W. Higginson, there is very little. II
is startling fact that Cambridge in
fuences have not been fructifying in this
direction. Young writer's are not wei,
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
Perhaps Harvard thinks its proper duty
better fulfilled by perfecting means fe1
educating the average Undergraduate
mind in accordance with higher stand
ard than heretofore. But it is question
whether it ought not to encourage actua
production instead of mere criticism, anl
to stimulate literary growth outside o
the class room-Correspondent Neu
| York Tribune,