The Portland daily press., 1889-06-20

whether college education is good for any
thing to the boy who aspires to be man Of
affairs. The opinions set forth show that
the question is still an open one in the minds
OF many men Of good judgment, though the
majority Of the best opinion is, as might be
expected, in favor of the college education.
DR.. Norvln Green, widely known as Presi-
dent of the Western Union Telegraph CON-
pany. is one who does not believe in it for
business men. He says:
A long study may be necessary to prepare for
the ministry or profession, but IL is wasted on a
young man intended for secular business. The
most successful men have known are those who
be CHARITY u pu soms o 10 MIND e wo hd
are now wasting time at college at some manual
labor for which nature has lifted them. Yet there
are many who regret not having college educa-
Ton, and there are a great many who would be
much more useful II they knew less of books.
Henry Clews. the prominent New York
banker, is even more positive in opposition:
The successful men are not those who have
made extensive studies, but those who have
fought their way with the arms provided by
mingng with business men. / know OF very few
men who have given time 10 a college course who
are successful business men. A college man &C.
qnires taste Tor reading. and man cannot have
There is the great trouble. These young men are
not accustomed 20 concentrate the mind on any
one thing Tut fly from study to stsldy. from book
TO book
But S. V. White, another very well known
and prominent banker, takes very differ
ent view:
have no doubt but what am academic train.
ing increases the ability Of the student who
works faithfully. have no more doubt of mental
training strengthening the mind Than have that
bodily training strengthens the body. Some men
nave Unbalanced minds. upon which mental
training will be wasted. just as some men can
never be developed as athletes from i-deveoped
bodies. But as rule academic training helps:
Prof. Ii. T. Peck, Of Columbia Universe
ty cites some examples to prove that what
Banker White says is true. Professor Peck
says
The two great historic figures OF European
craftsmanship today are university men 1t
would be difficult to name the non-uniyersIty man
VINO would consider himself qualified to enter the
,lss' against Bismarck tbe graduate Of ,Goettin-
Gladstone's enthusiasm for Greek had in any way
dwarled his originality or crippled his Intellectual
Whole names are the glory of our race reads like
an extract from the college rolls OF Oxford and OF
USamnrdge. IL the annals OF our own country
Hamilton stands as the greatest master of practl-
cal finance In spite OF his studies at Columbia and
second to him is Chase. the graduate Of Dart
TO have seriously impaired the DO gers of daniel
Webster. Mr.. Blaines bitterest enemies had
never claimed that his college work had in any
way impaired his capacity as a leader OF men. The
greatest names of our civil war are the names Of
those who underwent the severe mental training
OF West Point, whose course Is rigorous beyond
that of the average university yet which did NOT
hamper Grant and Sheridan anu Thomas and
Hancock and Sherman in their pui suit of fame.
Meade wore spectaces and was q profound stu
dent OF the higher mathematics, ye none the less
ne won the battle Of Gettysburg az d turned the
ude OF the rebellion Won Motke is Il master of
seven languages, yet it is believed that he has
some knowledge Of practical WAIT re. and four
nilhs OF all the officers In the German army are
university men.
Other college officers. including several
presidents of well known universities, give
opinions all favorable to college training,
and the weight Of testimony SO far as devel-
oped, is certainly upon their side. The young
men who come out of college this summer
may be surprised and not little troubled
that there should even be doubt that a col
lege education should be of value to one who
aspres to play part in the affairs of the
day. But perhaps 1t will be just as well for
him to come out into the world with little
doubt of this sort as to leave college with
the ide that his attachments are all sufficient
to'giye him living and place in the world
without great exertion.