The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-22
An Editorial COmmended-Furfh
Facts I'm the Same Line.
TO the Editor of the Dispatch:

10 UtB EuttO W TIC DtoPNt'N'
All Richmond ought to thank you for
that strong and timely editorial in your
issue CT the 18th instant entitled, "Our
City Youth and College Education" Many
do thank you. The comments upon the
article have been numerous and gratifying.
They show that your words only voice the
growing anxiety OF thinking men upon q
question OF vital Importance. As several
DAYS have passed since the article appeared,
permit me to recall its drift and object by
saving that you clearly brought out the
fact that, with all the inducements and fl
cilties for giving the youth OF the city
thorough school-training, the people OF
Richmond do not seem to care for higher
education that with all her boosted intel
ligence and thrift. the metropolis OF the
State makes "sad exhibit" in her patron
age OF the University and colleges OF Nir-
GINA. Our Richmond boys are not at col
| lege. There is a steady decline in the in-
terest Of Richmond people in education.
have only forr catalogues at hant, but
they are from the University and three OF
our best colleges. What do they say !!
There were in the University OF Virginia
| last session lG students from Richmond;
i'm Richmond College, 20; in Fan lolph-
Macon, 6, and i'm Hampden-Sidney "a to-
tai OF 81. Catalogues from the other col
leges would add only a few others to this
number. In view OF the fact that there
were IL students less in the University and
i'm Richmond College last year from Rich
mond than the year before when your cali
culatiOn was made, we may safely say that
last session there were not more than 60
Young men from Richmond in the uniyer-
sites and colleges OF the State. \ partial
review OF such catalogues rs are ut band
show that this is about one hQlf as many as
the city furnished to these institutions ten
years ago.
We are therefore increasing in popula-
| ton and wealth and declining iii educa-
ton. Our citizens are building fine houses
and showing great enterprise in trade, but
they are neglecting the education OF their
sons. Their fathers did better part by
| them, for Richmond used to be famed for
the intelligence OF her sons rs well rs the
accomplishments OF her daughters.
Various excuses are made and reasons
given for this state OF things. But you
have given the correct reas0n-"We fear
| the reason is to be found IN the eagerneSs
| of our youth to begin business and the too
ready willingness OF their parents for them
| to do So" President White, OF Cornell
University, in a recent speech before the
alumni OF Yale College deplored the very
evil to which you cal attention. He says
the " combination of the industrial spirit
with the trade spirit" which he calls
mercdntliSm," is enticing the youth OF
the land from the pursuit of education TO
the less noble pursuit OF wealth. He well
describes ii as dSelse-feyeriSh and
canccrous." 1t is alarmingly true that mer-
cdntiliSm is TODAY dominating our fair city
and whirling our youth into the vortex OF
trade before they have become educated
and before they are able 10 bear the strain
OF business life. \ glance at our catalogues
Will show that country boys, sunburnt and
rough. handed, are knocking ut the doors OF
our colleges. They are willing to deny
themselves, to live hard and dress plainly,
| that they may train their minds and deepen
and strengthen their life forces. Most OF
our city boys, with means abundant and
the best facilities within easy reach, are
spurning the privileges OF education and
declaring that they had rather make s. or
IS per week in stores and offices than win
the highest honors Of the schools. The
one class will surely supplant the other in
the long run. How shall the evil be ar
rested!
BY arousing the public mind and CON-
batting (as you have so well done the pop
ular fallacy that "college education is
suitable only for the so-called learned pre-
fessions that college teaching is worth
less to the boy who is to be a merchant or
a banker. A reform in home sentiment is
greatly needed. Parental influence, and il
need be control III such a thing has not
entirely passed away from city homes),
ought to be eXerted to dispel the fatal de-
fusion which blinds our sons to what con-
stitutes proper life equipment and sue
cess. Educated men and women should
elevate the sentiment Of those around
them, and teach and prove that the mere
winning OF dollars and cents is not the
wisest, the best, or the most powerful use
OF God-given life. In bringing this SUBJ
iect before the Richmond public you are
serving the highest interests OF the rising
generation OF the land and the age in which
we live. Will you not press the matter
further? In the mean time every good
citizen should be concerned TO secure a
favorable answer to your closing query,
Shall the approaching college term show
a better record in this respect for our
growing and prosperous city,"
Respectfully yours, C.. III. RYLAND.
Richmond, August 18th.