The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-06
OBERLIN.


Something About the Town, It's People.
and Its Famous College.
Correspondence Cleveland Leader.
To a stranger visiting Oberlin for the first
time the town presents a beautiful appear
ance, for in spite of its much naligned sltua-
ton and natural disadvantages, it has fought
Its way to beauties, as to eminence in literary
and scholastic reputation, and to-day cannot
be exceled in point Of adornment aud quiet,
home-ike tasteful dwellings and wel-kept
lawns Especially are the full, trim med hedges
of evergreens noticeable, which, even i'll win
ter time must give the town a warm, COM
Portable look. AS they are, or claim to be-
no exceedingly wealthy citizens here, so
there are no poor, and everything you see,
every one you meet, bears the impress of
quiet comfort and content, which in no shape
give evidence OF slOth but argue the result of
patient labor and determination to enjoy life
socially as we'll as intellectually, to the limit
of ease-giving, rational desires.
On every hand kindness and extreme court
esy NEE { the strangers needs, and though
tarrying in a strange land every visitor finds
himself "at home by the very nature OF the
unobtrusive hospitality shown him. And
Just at this time, the town is tried to its ut
most capacity by the demands of hosts of
visitors to the 'Semi-Centennial Jubilee"
Oberlin is a success, founded as it was for the
purpose of liberal education and the preser-
walton Of religious purity. To-day it gives
abundant evidence of having battled man
fully for its princi Piles and won the banner.
Only fifty years ago John ]. Shipherd and
Philo Penfield Stewart succeeded in locating
the town in the then unbroken wilderness,
and consecrated the historic" elm tree,
amid the prayers and labors Of few hopeful
men and women. and named it after the no.
Bile German pastor, John Frederic Oberlin,
who had devoted his life to the elevation
of the benigh:ed people of an obscure
community in eastern France. The town
and coll cge now stand complete. sending
their fame through hundreds of tongues--the
lives Of good and cultured men ard women
Into the world beyond, even to foreign
lands a proud monument to the lives and
labor OF those who have lived and died for it.
With no desire, however, to go into its his
tory let me give you some idea of the pres
ent appearance of its college Square"
where centers all the interest of its students.
The central building, now passing into de-
cadence, was built by Mr.. Tappan the first
liberal Gonator to the Oberlin scheme. 1t is
now boys dormitory, and called "Tappan
Hail." In the south vest corner of the
square is French Hail." named after the
man and patron whose name it bears,
and devoted to. literary and scientific
Rotations. Northwest of Tappan Hall
is Society Hail." containing the col
lege and society libraries and society
rooms. The chapel stands south of
tneSe, ana completes tAe cluster OF SuDstan-
tial buildings The college provides two
courses, literary and classical, and for the
fame of the co-educational system Of the
sexes and to the credit of the lady students,
l CLEANED that the average number of ladies
graduating in the full classical course is
ten annually, and the highest hOnors are
usually gathered in by the fair sex. There
is nothing unfair or unpleasant in the rival
ry existing here between the sexes, but the
ladies say that were the classes of ladies and
gentlemen united at Harvard as here the eff
feet would be elevatng in its results to the
gentlemen. This is plainly apparent here
and is only one more link in the chain that
should bind woman to her duty and teach
her to make her life sublime"
The standard of music here is as high as
that of all the other studies, and the render
ing of the oratorio of the Elijah choruses by
an entirely amateur choir in a manner that
nearly reached perfection is an evidence of
the musical work and training done here.