The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-14
VALUE OF RICHER EDUCATION.
President Jordan, of the State University,
Speaks of the Advantages 1t Affords.


President David S. Jordan. OF the State
University. delivered an interesting lecture last
evening, at Y. II. C. A. Hall, on the subject,
1.-THE Value of Higher, Education Only
small audience was in attendance but the 1ect-
ure was one of the best of the course. DR..
Jordan vigorously defended the practical value
of higher education as well as the social and
mental qualities which were at
tanned by it Entirely outside of the
instruction and training obtained by q
youth at college there was the experience and
benefit 20 be gained by association. Many ge-
muses. had lived who had accomplished great
things, although their lives had been passed in
solitude, and poetry was said to be born of soli-
tary reflections; but ir was an undoubted fact
that all great works had been accomplished by
the association of men and ideas Nevertheless.
college life developed the individu atty OF a man
TO the highest degree. It appeared to cultivate
uniformity above originality but one could be
increased without the other being diminished.
College men had the courage OF their coEvie-
tione, because they knew what grounds their
convictions were founded
The speaker encouraged young men to be
ambitious. 1t did not hurt any TO be
bilious. It was better to attempt TO build
bridge to the moon than not TO build any at all.
Hence, young man should never make up his
mind that common school education as
much his abilities called for. The world al
ways turned aside 10 let any pass who
knew whittier he was going. While it was true
that 81. 600 education could not be put
50-cent boy, yet 1t was an experiment. we'll worth
trying for better that than that 50-cent educa-
ton should be put on $40, 600 boy.
II know man." said the speaker, Whose
sole occupation is to drive every day to
pasture and to watch her there until evening,
and then drive her homo again. Only for that
cow, the world would not need that man."
Many young men, he said. thought that they
could not consider college education becauseit
cost money; they were too poor. That was
mistake. No young man poor who had
good health and had depending him.
To be poor was good fortune for young man,
as had time and again been proven and the fact
was nowhere more apparent than IN the case of
the college students. The boys who were
sent TO college were not worth much, but the
boys who went to college were the future lead
ers of the world
A practical question was. would a college ed
ucation pay, considered solely as financial in
vestmentl 1t would, but few men who were
anxious for the highest education looked at it
from financial standpoint. A famous scholar
had once said: II have no time sir, to make
money" mans value not to be measured
by the amount of taxes he paid But there was
no question that college education was a good
thing considered purely from a financial stand
point. Although only FIVE men in a Thousand
had college educations, more than half the
places of honora and trust filed by coll
1ege men. 'In every field. from baseball TO
craftsmanship. it was science which the
race"
While the general populace in this country
that of England and Germany. the leaders of
this country were not well educated. Ameri-
statesmen bore the stamp of m9docrity,
and had, indeed, become q national jest. We
were too busy chopping down trees and
breaking prairie. Nowhere was the
raw material so abundant, but it
wasted in unworthy attainments
Everywhere was the need of competent men
evident. In medicine, America was to-day the
paradise of quacks. and in law of shysters.
The supply of good lawyers was in no wise equal
to the demand.
In conclusion he answered the young mans
interrogatory, where shall go to collegef"
Go to the best you can, said he. The most i'm
portant thing to be considered in looking at
college was its faculty. strong aud
earnest faculty, and not-buildings, museums,
etc., served the purpose of the young man seek
ing education. The teachers were of more
Importance than the studies. They impaired
what could not be cleaned from the books and
were, moreover, a source of inspiration TO the
students. His ideal of the best college was the
college in which each subject taught tho differ
encs how few the subjectsl taught by
master. That would indeed De college of mas
fa