The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-13
THE COST OF COLLEGES EDuCA.
TION.


In these hard times, when money is
difficult to come by and threatening to
become more SO, it is refreshing to be
reminded that some Of the most val
liable things earth has to offer are
still to be had at moderate expense.
A little pamphlet entitled 1.-THE Cost of
Living at Princeton" has just been put
forth with the sanction of President
Patton, of that university 1t con-
ltains facts collected by Prof. Sloane
and one Of the Princeton trustees. de-
signed to contradict the impression
that boys of limited means can no
longer take full advantage of the edu-
cational advantages of that institu-
ton. The statistics show that the typ
1cal Princeton man who graduates
with honors lives comfortably on $500
a year or less. and AYERS that he has
good time doing it. AS rule, the
higher the honors, the smaller the
bills. One of the "cum laude" men
spent an average of $267 yearly during
the four years course, while out of
thirty honor men in a certain class
seventeen averaged less than $500 per
year.
But more reassuring and much more
interesting than these statistics are
the personal letters from various grad
yates which are given. Some of these
prove that not only does it cost moth
ing to go to college, but that it is a
money making affair. One young man.
who entered with $130 in his pocket
four years ago, graduated last June
with larger bank account than he
had had at the beginning of his senior
ceived no help from home during his
course. Another boy, who learned his
Greek grammar while riding a sulky
pillow on the Northwestern prairies,"
got enough out of his share of a crop
of No. hard wheat to take him to
college for one year. The three other
years he supported himself by tutoring
and running an eating club. He found
work to place him in the first group
every year, to be a champion football
player and belong to college club as
well.
What Is true of Princeton is doubt
less equally true of all but one or two
of our larger colleges, and the moral
of 1t all, at the present juncture, seems
to be that, while it is a decidedly bad
time for young man to go into bust
ness, it Is an admirable time for him
to go to college. The value Of a col
1ege education to boy who intends to
become business man has been hotly
discussed. The real truth about it is
that 1t prepares, not for business, but
for life. II boy is good for anything
at all, the four years of college life
will confirm his principles, deepen his
ideals. furnish him with an, adequate
notion of the intellectual richness of
life, provide mental interests for the
leisure hours Of his future, and give
him chance to attain a certain spir-
iSooh SSiA-CoAituSiiSc ocIOTe ne Is
thrown into the crushing, not to say
distorting conflict Of the actual world.
It will also furnish him with a larger
| number Of friends, who like him for
what he is in himself, than are attain
able in any other known form of life.
and this alone is worth the price of
admittance, If by any means that price
can be raised. The boy who is not
| needed at home this winter, and who
has the grit displayed by the men
] whose college careers have been cited,