Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-08-21
college Education.
HAwppxx-srDSEY, Va. August II. 1892.
IT, n !. E,fS,,.. NJ he Disn0fch.

College Education.
HAwPDxN-SIDsEY, Va. August IL. 1872.
To G.s Edsaor of he Dispatch;
The question must soon be decided by
many parents whether or not their sons
shall be sent to college. Few more i'm
portant inquiries arise. When youth
has reached proper age and attained a
certain modicum of scholastic prepara-
ton, the point. what nextf neces-
sarily presents itself. he. must ord,-
nariiy be put 10 business or be sent 20 col
lege; be confined to some special avoca-
ton or by further and wider study. be
fitted to fill higher position, to doanobler
work, and TO enjoy more OF lfe
The object OF collegiate education as
distinguished from business or special
training is 10 culture and develop the
,olok man. When properly conducted It
has regard to the physical, intellectual.
emotional, moral. social, and religious
nature, and seeks to cultivate each IN con-
nection with the others, 40 that the result
NAV be n symmetrically developed man,
who recognizes his relations to God and
society. is inspired by noble purpose,
possesses good degree Of useful and ele..
waiting knowledge, with q desire for and
capacity TO obtain more, has confidence IN
his faculties aud ability to use them. and
is ready to enter any special line OF enort
to which his tastes or duty may lead, with
the assurance of comfort and success.
There have, IL is true. been many IN:
stances of men who have attained all
this without previous connection with
college. but none feel more keenly than
they the odds against which they have
commended and the disabilities under
which they still sometimes act. Such men.
too. are among the foremost IN educating
their sons. In his last report TO the Gu.
rators of Harvard University President
Elliott states that much the larger proper
ton of its students more than 80 per
cent.-are sons of college bred men.
This is also true at Hampden-Sidney. two
thirds of whose students are the sons OF
men who themselves did not enjoy col
lsgiate advantages. II is also significant
fact that such men, when they attain large
wealth, are often forward to give 1T for the
foundation of new institutions OF learn
ing and the endowment OF existing col
leges and universities. long list OF such
whom would be Peabody, the elder Van
derbilt. Johns Hopkins. McCormic. X. l..
and A. Stuart, and others.
A further testimony to the value of COL
legiate training has lately been given by
the formation of National association OF
Business Men, with Its centre at Philadel-
phia, whose object is to introduce into
colleges and universities elective ana
substitutiopsry studies for some al
ready existing. so that course spe-
cially adapted to young men design
ed for the higher departments of bust
ness may be marked out. The asso-
citation is composed chiefly OF bankers.
leading merchants, railroad men, &C.. and
It is proposed to aid colleges in their EFFORTS
TO adapt themselves to the end in view.
Already one gentleman has given to the
University of Pennsylvania 500, as tne
foundation of certain subsidiary chairs
needed for the success OF the plan, AT
Hampden- Sidney, and perhaps most OF our
southern colleges, steps have been taken
in the same direction, and doubtless as
their funds increase these plans will be
perfected. but the movement IS chiefly OF
interest here as showing how college edu-
cation is regarded by those highly. quail
fed to Judge. 1t is no longer looked on as
q luxury, but as q necessity; as ordinarily
a sine qua non. if man - to mt himself for
the highest positions either In professional
or non-professlonal lire.
One thing that seriously interferes with
the collegiate training of youth is the mis-,
taken view entertained by teachers and
parents in reference to the age at which
youth should enter college. IL seems to
be the impression of such that the older
the student the greater the probability
that he will conduct himself properly and
devote himself TO study, whereas exactly
the reverse Is true. Ample experience
shows that the earlier boy with suitable
preparation enters college the more surely
will he prove good student and go on to
graduation. In an exhaustive report on
this subject, published several years ago,
President Elliott shows that at Harvard
the constant tendency. for quarter OF
a century has been to lower the average
graduating age. until at that time 1t
had come down from rs years soon
after the close of the war to 20 years,
which he regards as the model age at pres
ent.
AT Hampden-Sidney, in graduating
class of twenty-six last June. the average
age was fraction under 2l-ten were 20
wears old and under; Sax were Just 81, and
ten over that age. OF eleven who reached
the honor grade seven were under II years
old and four OF these were under 20. OF
the two who took two degrees one was just
20 and the other under. One who took the
A. NJ. degree on postgraduate study was
lust Al. The average age OF the
college, exclusive of the graduating class.
was eighteen years. Twenty were IL years
old and five under. Thirty-three wore
over q years old. Many OF the best and
most successful students in the lower
classes were among the younger members
of the college. These facts seem 70 sus-
tain two positions of President Elliott
"a the normal age fos a student to enter
college is l6, and (2) by the time he is 20
no ought to have taken his degree and be
ready to enter successfully on business
life, or to begin special study Tor his
chosen profession. n
The following conclusions also seem
warranted by this discussion:
1. The question of college or non-col-
lege education is one which parents ought
to have before them from the beginning
OF the school life of their children.
Otherwise, when they reach the proper
ace thew NAV be found unprepared, aiad
then tho probability is they have lost tatfr
chance, or at any rate have thrown away
several wears or precious time.
3. The trend Of enlightened opinion IN
this country is immensely in favor of col
legiate training as afording assurance OF
fitness for the best positions and 10 per-
form the neblest service 70 society, the
Church, and the world.
5. Those parents who are able TO give
their children this advantage and fail to do
SO assume responsibility which they viii
probably regret and for which they may
Afterwards 30 blamed by those who suffer
this priyation at their hands. Every child
has a right 10 the best opportunity which
ia parent can afford. Ii he fails to get it,
II Is a sad misfortune. II. getting it, he
fails 10 improve il, 1t is his fault.
RICHARD NICKNAME.
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Accepted Hts Offer.
fJudee.1