New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-29
THE COLLEGE YEAR.


The colleges are beginning work again for an
other year Most of them. indeed. have already
done so. and the next week or two will see the
latest of them swinging into line The great
seats Of learning in this city are entering upon
the new yesr with especially favorable pros
pects Columbia will open the doors Of It's old
home a week hence but with hopes and expecta-
tions fixed upon the new halls which are taxing
form on Morningside Heights. The University
Is already ut work in the new home in when II
has for year been settled; 1t has celebrated the
formal opening Of the stately new pile on the
historic Washington Square site. and Will pres
emily have n house warming and foundation
laying on University Heights. on an imposing
scale From other colleges, great and small III
all parts Of the country, come udings or doors
opening to larger classes than ever before, OF
increased requirements for admission, OF higher
standards and more extended ranges Of scholar
ship, and Of general progress and prosperity.
IT cannot be said that there IL any marked re-
coverv in the colleges from the hard times Of the
last two years because none was needed mat
Is true, at least. as far as attendance Is con
cerned and II Is n fact Of more than common
cred. to the American people College trustees
no doubt felt the hard times sorey, and so dld
mauy Of the students and their families. Yet
the attendance rolls were kept up at most insti-
tutions. so that instead Of showing decline III
wears OF panic and depression they continued 10
show almost II not qdte their normal increase
Nor was that because college students are as
rue so wealthy "a to be above the effects or nara
t,mes They are not The vast majority OF
them come from families Of moderate or even
slender means The keeping mp OF college at
tendance in hard times, therefore. means that
Americans do not propose to begin economies
and retrenchments at the head. They may. In an
emergency. weae palmer clothes, eat palmer
food. and forego many things but they Will not
starye the mind. Whatever else may be or may
not be done, the boys and girls must be kept In
college So the growth of the college army con
tinued unchecked through the lean years, and
This vear's increase is accordingly only about
normal. But It is very general. and the new
recruits are reported TO be Of excellent qualiiy
The whole outlook is for prosperous and profit
able college year.
There is something highly impressive TO the
thoughtful mind in The spectacle OF so many
thousands OF young men and women al. over
the land simultaneously beginning the work OF
acquiring liberal culture and still more in the
thought OF the entire Undergraduate nos'' Inc
college boys and girls form considerable pro-
norton Of the whole population They come
from all places and all classes, and spend four
wears together in fraternity and equality. and
in q goodly degree Of liberty, too. A greater
leveller Of artificial distinctions OF social rank,
a greater republcanizing or democratizing force,
and greater power for harmony and union
throughout the Nation than our present college
system is scarcely to be imagined Each new
college year means new campaign for man
hood and womanhood. for greater efficiency In
business and higher ideals in politics, for the
leavening Of the whole lump Of the Nation with
that spirit OF culture and progress which has It's
chosen home within the college walls. There is
no date in all the calendar more richly adorned
with the r,ibric Of excellence than that which
marks the opening OF the college year