The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-22
DOES IT PAY?

DOES IT PAY.
On, Tuesday last the Puget Sound uni
versisy, at Tacoma. closed its commence
ment, exercises. and the exercises Of other
institutions are in progress all around US.
The tioming and going of this college com.
meneament season suggests the old ques-
tion:,, docs it pay to 70 to coilege?" The
only sperson who can justly answer this
question 10 the person who 10 obliged and
permitted to decide for himself between
four years in college or four years Of
fundamental training for . business
csreess. Among the clauses of the will of
the late Rufus Hatch, at one time q great
and successful "bear" operator in Wall
street. is the following:
dosuos wish my boys to 90 10 college. but to
receivts commercial education. Should any OF
them, however. wish 10 become . lawyer. doc
tor or clergyman. then he may go to college;
butS snuch prefer that my sons should learn .
mschanical trade that they will always b
sure af an honest livelihood.
The idea Of Mr.. Hatch is that college
educVtion il OF no advantage to man un-
less lie intends to be lawyer, doctor or
a clergyman. This is . popular. but OK.
ceedis,gly narrow and shallow view of the
purpose and potency of sound education.
The true answer to the question, docs it
pay 10 90 to coilsge?' must be given by
the boy himself. II he is . boy with .
thirssdor knowledge for its own sake: with
. tasts for sound literature for its own
sake ;.with fXed desire to secure a schol-
arly gaining for its own sake. It will be of
advantage for him to 60 to college, but il
he IL not at oil that kind of . boy: il he
only *oes to college because his "father
wants him to go" and Is both able and
willing to pay the bills: If he goes because
he knows he will shave good time:
If hp goes because no cares more
abous the genteel pursuit and practice Of
athletics than he does about knowledge,
learning. literature and sound scholar
ship. :.hen he had not better go TO college,
for twill do him no commensurate good
for his loss of time and it may do him i'm
meas arable harm in cultivating habits of
gcnseal Incidence. affectation and dissipa-
ton. Given a boy with thirst for books.
literature. knowledge and learning and
college life will not hurt him, but will
probasaly help him by its social attraction
between large number Of young. bright
and ssenerous minds oil bent on the same
pursuit of knowledge and sound scholarly
training for its own sake. But if the boy
has NO thirst of this sort; has no thirst for
anything Of college life save its incidentals
Of athletics, amusemenss and play a COL
lege education will do him moro harm
than good.
II il not matter OF any particular con-
seoue;nce whether your boy means to be a
dociot-. n lawyer or a clergyman: the thing
of consequence is whether your boy is
tuili far business or built for books; If he
loves books aud study; loves literature.
kno~s edge and learning. lie. him go to co.,
legc ;but if he loves college only for the
sake VI It's opportunities for social enjoy.
men,s for It's incidental athletics and noi.
steroes play. don't send him TO college,
for ais brains are not Of the sor;
that declares any dividend from a
college course. There are plenty Of robust.
minded boys who have no taste for books
or study. and yet have plenty OF executive
intellect. Such boys do no, need a college
training beyond n specific technical school
Tor ssme practical calling: they need The
outdoor and indoor discipline, experience
ana flaming Of a business life. Send such
boys 20 college and shey waste their out;
door :energy in play that would DO en-
CROSSED and utilized by the practical in
dustrs. and activity OF business
ThG purpose Of a college education, o,
any other kind OF education. is no, 4
maks} specifically lawye- a doctor or .
| Clergyman; ii is 10 maze a wsam on. Of III,
/ bov. :!S>ass boys. Who have n thirst for co,
/ sese 'sssh ia opportunities ana encourage
( meat: for literary study and culture ane
/ the foundation Of sound scholarship. ar,
better Tor going 30 college eu: al. hons ar.
rot ee'scr fer going 30 college. ani ws BE-
We've ;hs. some hoys are actual,
worse fer having geae 30 college
/ bscaaae they @ere by nature ah.olu,sl,
| Incapable 81 utilizing seriously IL. advaa
| ssges. ard wasted their time ana tsgsn,,
| in ~. gncenssniA atmosphere, Sen1
| vear eoy t. college If he Aas fAlrs. ~,
eeek.. All literature. loses kmov edge and
lsarElss and has fixed desire 10 -, 70
college because Cf these things. ba. neve,
send nsrn nscrw'v because you can afford 10
PAY bis bills. for you ELL in .hs. even
caly Nssie yoar money aai cripple you:
toy.
ifycur hcy las - passionate a lore for
athletics thai 10 does nos care mach ia,
b.. scsfks. dens SEND him 10 csslesyr: hs
can h-coEne 8 famous athlete withca;
sending h.n 10 college: IL Ass tastes sss