New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-19
CLOSING THE COLLEGE YEAR.


colleges have already taken place, notably those
of Princeton and Cornell, but this last week
in June is the commencement season par ex-
cellence In scores of institutions throughout
the country the graduating classes will to-day
listen to baccalaureate sermons in which the
college president will utter his last words OF
advice and admonition to the young men who
have been under his care for the last four
wears. or some distinguished divine will fortify
tbe souls Of the candidates for degrees with
the best wisdom which his years and expert
ence can bring TO bear upon them. 1t is nor
probable that the hundreds of young men who
listen to such sermons to-day will long re-
member much of them and there are those
who feel disposed to write down the baccalaure-
ate as one of the legacies of the past which
is tagging superfluous on the modern stage.
II is time -honorcd custom, truly, but with
out doubt it is still useful in many cases, and
il is to be devoutly hoped that the time is far
distant when the pleasant and certainly some
times profitable exercise is given over.
Then. midway of the week, the commence
ments will be held, the hOnOrs distributed, the
degrees awarded, and another army OF young
men will 90 forth more or less well equipped
for what some of the commencement orators
will be certain to denominate " life" The col
lcgc ambitions struggles rvalries, are over.
How well have its opportunities been i'm
proved? To what use has been all this en-
penditure Of time, effort and money? In spite
of the stout contention Of Mr.. Carnegie and
those who think with him that a college course
is a bar rather than help to success in bust
e., rollaOos incrp1 n
Der and the graduating classes are yearly grow
ing larger. The general average of intelligence
for the country is being raised; and no re-
necting person will deny that this is good
thing. For some of the host who 90 forth from
college halls in these last days of June the
four years course has been simply the gate
way fer professional studies now to be entered
upon. Hundreds will engage in business activ-
tiles in some form or other. For few let us
| hope, have the college studies been merely n
preparation for life of Incidence and ease.
| The college course has been in vain if it has
| not developed the manhood in the young men
who are now completing it ; if it has not made
them more symmetrical and wel-balanced; il
| it has not made them good all-around men,
while at the same time in most, if not all, cases
disclosing the particular bent of each ones
mind. 1t is not the things learned that make
up the highest good of the four years devoted
10 college work ; it is the discipline, the mental
training grasp and quiclSness thus acquired
which is the chief thing. The college exam
nations and the diplomas which are their Sc
quence disclose little on this point.
| Moreover in the little world of which most
of our colleges are the centre there is valuable
knowledge of human nature TO be gained the
| rough corners are merclessy rubbed off and
characters are largely formed, or at least their
general trend is determined. Herein lies one
great advantage which the college or university
| in a small city or town, where the students are
Of necessity maSsed together, has over one
| situated in big city with no dormitory sys-
TEN and little opportunity for homogeneous life
Conduct. Matthew Arnold has said, is three
| fourhs Of life. And conduct is determined by
| character. On this point the college years are
| potent, if not decisive. This is the tombstone
| by which the value of college training is &c
| be tested. The college which turns ont pro-
| found scholars is less successful than the one
| from which comes year after year company
| Of men with wc-cstabshcd principles and
wellmoulded characters. Any discussion OF
| the value OF n college education which leaves
out this point omits the most vital matter of all