The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-09


bodies combined in the same person
with sound and well-trained minds,
but too often, it is true, that the strong
and wen-devcloped body is separate
from tho sound and educated mind.
What we want is such evolution in col
lege trimming as will bring the two to-
gether.
II can't agree with Mr.. Depew," the
speaker continued, "in his criticism
that tho college graduate of to-day is
unable to talk. 1t is true that not
many can talk as we'll Us Mr.. Dcpev.
But. in my opinion, the trouble is that
young college men talk too much, not
too little. Why, sir, there never was
such nation Of orators us is to be found
in the United States at this time. There
is moro oratory to the square inch in this
country than in any other country un-
der the sun, and moro than there ever
was here before. Go to the meetings
of the Good Government clubs of this
city II you want proof of what say.
These organizations are perfect hot
beds for the development of the spon-
tancous and fiery oratory of young col
lcge graduates.
"As to the advantages possessed by
the college graduate in business or pro-
fessional life, there is no question ut all.
The college man has great lead over
his competitor who has not en- joycd the
advantages of liberal education. I
should say to any man about to enter
tho law that he would be enough bet
ter lawyer for having taken the college
course before entering upon his profess
sional studies to repay him many times
for the years and money expended in
college. Some men get to the front
without college training, of course, but
they nrc obliged to work almost in
finitely hnrdor, and, year by year, it is
becoming moro and more difficult for
tho non-collcgc man successfully to
compete with the graduate"
Prof. Il. ID. Perry, who until recently
has been professor of both Greek and
Sanscrit Mt Columbia, but who has re.
Gently resigned the Sanscrit chair be-
cause Of his increasing administrative
duties and his work in assisting to Law
out tho curriculum of his college, is
inclined to agree pretty closely with
Mr.. Coudert. Regarding the supposed
dccadcnce of the art of public speaking
ninong college graduates, Prof Perry
said:
1T is true that less attention is paid
TO elocution i'll the colleges now than
IN the past, but it is n mistake to sup
pose that the spirit of debate has en-
tirely disappeared from among the I'M
der graduates. Tho decline of elocu-
uonary training came about. no doubt.
from the fact that it seemed to have n
tendency to cultivate the memory of
fino phrases and the uttcrance of sound
ing p,atitudcs at the expense of other
qualities, and to cXalt the man who pos
seased fine figure and u sonorous
voice without real ability above the
man who really had something to say.
Here in Columbia there are three or
four societies whose members discuss
current matters, periodically and earn.
cstly. They do not choose such splendid
topics, perhaps, as they used to, nor
believe do they indulge in SO MANY
giittoring generalities.
The aim OF college training at pres
cnt Is to teach students Ia think for
themselves. During their first wears in
college, they have TO be taught how to
study; after that we try TO develop the
capacity for original investigation. The
original investigator will always have
something meaty to say, If he chooses
to talk, and it is to produce graduates
whose words shall be full of meat whom
they open thor mouths that the col
leges arc striving most earnestly"
Regarding the classics, toward which
frof Ferry is naturally favorably in
clined, he said:
Tt Is my Judgment, based upon care
full observation of the achievements of
graduates, that the young man who
takes full classical course is ant TO
win greater success in life than the one
who does not. But am not prepared
TO say that should recommend a liber-
al education to student whose sole OBJ
Ject in life is the making of money. I
think that the business man who has -
knowledge OF classical literature is n
better all-round man than the one who
has no such knowledge; think he can'
ENJOY life better. 1t seems perfectly
clear to, me that be is much better
qualified to perform the broad duties of
citizenship; but, in the narrow sense.
do not know that he would be a bot.
ter broker or grocer or manufacturer.
do believe, however, that tho present
tendency is toward extension rather
than contraction of classical study in
our colleges, and that the college grad
unite of the future will be thorough,
master of the literatures of the past"
MIR. Henry Clcws, the Will street