Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-09
EDUCATING A BOY.
Much More Expensive Now Than II Was
SO Years Ago-Atfending College on
Only $500 Year.


Only $500 Year.
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH,
What does it cost to furnish first-class edu.
cation to our boys? There are scores of parents
in this city and vicinity who are no doubt in.
tently considering this problem.
A Pittsburger who has son at one Of the
foremost colleges Of New England said in a
recent interview: my regular bills for my sons
education are close to $1,000 a year. By the
strictest economy he might reduce expenses to
scotland some students manage to get expenses
down to SS0O-Dut this will require an economy
bordering on niggardliness. The frstclass
college of to-day has its societies and clubs of
different kinds which make heavy demands
and the 6 best ST can A. do is to keep my son within
the $1,000 limit"
Another citizen, who has achieved marked
success in professional lines, said In response
to the query, what does 1t costyou to educate
yonr boys?
my expenses for my oldest son who grad
uated at - were close to 81, 800 year the
last two years of his course, 1 felt this to be
pretty steep, in view of my own college ex-
penses at Canonsburg, which did not amount to
over 5000 year, the half of which Ipaid myself
by teaching in vacations and staying away
winter or two to get little ahead.
Times HIVE Changed.
"At old Jefferson College, between lS4O and
1860 the majority of the students spent less
than $500 year. A few Southerners, for whose
education an occasional darky was sold, passed
these figures and I remember some instances
where students, who expended $500 in a year,
were regarded by their fellows as guilty Of
wild extravagances.
1.-THE only way that such huge sum could be
disposed of by student was by frequent pleas
ure trips to Pittsburg and gambling habits. 1
could name number of men who are now
prominent in the different professions whose
entire education did not cost as, much as the
average now paid annually for the education Of
a student at Harvard, Yale and Princeton"
The American drift of late years has been to-
ward putting educational advantages beyond
the reach OF poor mems sons, and making our
great colleges aristocratic centers. The boy at
Canonsburg 40 years ago, who taught school
the burden OF his education, was none the less
esteemed by his fellow students because of his
homespun clothes and habits of economy.
Working Hard for an Education.
The writer remembers the arrival of rustic
tow-headed boy at that institution, as raw as
boy could be. who is now one of the foremost
men of the Presbyterian Church. During most
of his college course this youth boarded at
home, which required daily walk of ten miles,
and, as special privilege the senior year, was
enabled to board IN the village at 81 25 per
week, with an addition of about so cents for
lodging
The writer is not Of those who are disposed to
say that "the former days were better than
these" But certainly the tendency to make
our colleges expensive and place them beyond
the reach Of sons of poor families is DRIFT in
requires an outlay Of 81. 500 a year is not likely
tn fully estimate the value Of his opportunities
or wisely improve them. ]. H. Y.