Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-12

and he afterwards became diligent stu
dent and one Of the finest fellows in the
class. | should then. advise parents TO
aim to have their sons ready for college
az sixteen years OF ago and TO consider
them ready when they are prepared TO
enter the freshman class Every year
they are delayed after this ieopards their
best development, and while in some
cases they will overcome the disabilities
! put on them they will be moro or less
embarrassed by them. As q rule stu
dents ought 10 be through with their
/ general scholastic training by the time
they are twenty or twenty one years old,
and be ready to enter on professional
! study or on business pursuits. This is
/ the opinion OF the best educators in
America, and my experience with young
men leads mo fully to concur. The
drift Of opinion seems rather toward
an e4lier than later age.
Another point about which parents
ought 10 be careful is 10 insist that their
sons shall take full course and gradu-
/ ate. Were it not 20 serious o matter
+ the notion Of education widely preva-
/ lent. fostered among us to large ex-
/ tent would be ludicrous in the highest
; degree. Tho separste-school system,
when properly restricted and guarded,
has marked advantages; but extended
as it now is its tendency is TO throw
young men out into the world with i'll
trained minds and imperfect prepare
ton. On this plan the professions are
being overstOcked with immature and
partially developed men, who must al
ways feel the need OF adequate culture.
Besides this the stimulus afforded by
the effort TO obtain the degree, the
accidental which must be endured in ao-
complisbing the task, end the intelligent
work which must be done, are all-impor-
tant factors in forming the character and
hallowIn2 the life TO noble ends. Se-
veral years ago a lady living IN one OF
our smaller towns said to me that she
could name twenty-five young men who
had gone from the place of her residence
since the war to different colleges and
universities, not one OF whom had taken
a degree. Size did not know how to ac-
count for it, nor DO |, but [ am per-
susded that il parents had been more
strenuous in the premises the result
would have been far more gratifying
and beneficial, I we'll remember the
saying of a celebrated old blind physi-
clan, uttered to me when youth q"
like to see boy come home at the end
OF his college course with his sheep
skin. IL is his credentiol which shows
that he has done something" No parent
should be satisfied with less than this.
A diploma OF graduation in full course
is very different thing from a certiti-
cate of proficiency in one or more'
schools, and ought to he regarded as the
normal aim of those who attend our col
leges and universities Let our young
men learn patience, fidelity, and perse-
verance in obtaining liberal education.
Let their minds be trained according 10
the methods approved by the experience
Of the wisest men who have given atten-
ton 10 the subject. SCATTERING" as
the sagacious Locke calls it, IS a poor
preparation for life.
Another important matter is brought
TO light in the not infrequent inquiry
phrassd somewhat in these words " |
intend my son for businessman. What
is the use of sending him to college ? "
A sufficient answer to this is that there
are businessmen and businessmen. If
YOU intend him for the one class, then it
is well enough but if YOU wish him to
belong to the other you must give hum
the best advantages. In fact, many Of
the leading businessmen in our cities
and throughout the country are college
bred men, and those who have succeeded
at business without collegiate training
are frequently most forward to save their
sons from the disabilities under which
they labor by giving them liberal edu-
cation. There are plenty OF business
men who take rank with those III profess
siOnal life in the management OF all the
great interests OF society, whose services
cannot be spared without serious
loss. They feel themselves to be
and are the social equals Of any
body, and are at home in any circle IN
which they may he thrown, and they are
generally college. bred men, who in early
life we're trained for the high positions
they have reached. There are other
buNness-men who understand their own
line OF business and nothing outside OF
it-who have no more general culture
and interest in affairs than the ordinary
mechanic or day -labOrer, aud whose in
nuencs in society is ~ little ;elt. | say,
then, let many OF orr sons be encour-
aged to enter on business pursuits. The
varied enterprises Of our highly-fayorcd
and growing country invite aspiring
Young men to spheres Of honorable
aud profitable activity, and it is night
inst they seek their rewards. But let
them be prepared to fill well and with
benefit 10 themselves and society the pO-
sitions they assume. The times in
which We live demand men, not
OF narrow view or partial do
yeIopment but with well-trained
minds with rounded aud mature fur
nishing, and reach Of understanding.
Such can ordinarily he had only at the
end OF course OF severe and protracted
mental end moral discipline under we'll
equipped instructors, and they are wise
who begin early and so through TO the
end. To my inquiry OF one OF the
brightest and most successful members
OF late graduating class in reference to
the profession he intended to follow, he
replied, 81 expect to be G farmer. L
have been reared on farm and like
farm-life better than any other Some
of my friends laugh at me for going
through college while intending to be
farmer, but think will make better
farmer aud enjoy life more for having an
education" That young man was right,
and predict for him not only high sue
cess in his chosen pursuit, but wide and
honorable usefulness in his community
and perhaps eminent service to his
cosntry. 1t is the duty OF man, what
ever his calling, TO make the most OF
himself and other things helne equal.