The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-17
GOOD MANNERS.
Many College Graduates Seem Lack
ing In Them.

Edward Everett Hale in Boston Christian Reg
lister.
At the Inauguration of Miss Hazard, President
Eliot, IN a most courteous address to Miss
Hazard, congratulated her on the position she Is
to occupy as president of Wellesley College. With
his own clear-sighted wisdom and in that pro-
phetic habit in which, perhaps, he most distin-
guishes himself, he said, in substance, that the
presidents Of the women's colleges have white
paper to write upon they are not tied up in the
tanges Of medieval traditions. And, among
other hopes with which he illstrated this remark,
he said that he thought they might be able to
inculcate manners with more success than the
old colleges had done.
This remark challenged some indignant COM
ment among teachers. and L am told that it has
called out some protests which 1 have not seen
1t seems to me that this must be from a mis-
apprehension of what he meant by manners, or.
perhaps from that narrow view which should
confine manners in the little realm OF the
etiouettes or decorums of ordinary social life.
In truth, however, the evils and dangers which
DIR. Eliot had In mind are much deeper than
those which discussed in handbook Of
infelicties which can be corrected by three lines
in ladies' newspaper addressed to Polite or
Maggie. who write for information.
For instance, happen to know man who has
taken pleasure for many years past In sending
through the women's colleges young women Sc
lected from the public schools by their teachers
az being specially fit for the higher education"
My friend has paid the whole expenses Of these
young women through their college courses. at a
charge of do not know how many thousands of
dollars. This year dozen OF them, more or less.
were graduated at different colleges. or that
generosity and to invite him to her commence
ment All the others took their diplomas with
out one word to him or any expression In any
form of gratitude.
Again, a distinguished leader OF this communi-
ty. who died few years since, cautioned me
with the caution which his father had given him
when he came to manhood. The father said: IT
think you will like TO help young men in their
education Take care never to accept from them
any written obligation. Here two three
thick files OF such obligations which have taken,
and which the writers have forgotten. 1t always
makes me cynical to look at them
once more. the treasurer of large educa-
tional fund who had for many years sent annually
a dozen twenty checks TO students who re-
ceived benefits OF that fund, told me that in ten
years time he had never once had receipt in
Acknowledgement of his payment. In the annual
audit of his accounts he always had to present
the checks which these young men had been
obliged to indorse.
I put in print these three disagreable anecdotes
because / think they illustrate remark which I
heard made by the late Mr.. Memmnger, OF JEFF
ferson Davis's Cabinet. 1t was at club in
Charleston. s. c. in 1s4s. that Mr.. Memminger
uttered a remarkable protest against public edu-
cation. He said virtually, that it cut the tap
of gratitude. He said that If the children
would wean them from the love Of their fathers
and mothers. He said that public education was
pathetic in this was that it was said that
he himself had been brought up in an orphan
asylum and knew nothing of that tenderness for
whose defense he was contending.
May 1t not be fairly asked II som. OF our chill
dren do not grow up with an impudent self
concert nurSed ana Dred Dy our determinations
about public education? Fools. speaking to them
on anniversaries tell them that they are the
most important beings in the world. They know
that the State taxes itself for their training as
IL does not for armies and navies. And the dan
ger is that these little gentlemen and ladies shall
come TO think that they belong at the head OF
the board, and that these unfortunates who
teach them. who feed them. who clothe them,
sort Of Helots. quite unworthy OF any re-
spect beyond what supercilious patronage may
express.
The whole discussion OF manners, IL IL is 10 be
OF any use. viii bring back TO the central
truth-that these colleges and these schools exist
for education, and not simply for the petty de-
tails OF instruction. To make OF them mere in
formation bureaus is to degrade thep. We have
for them unless they can make men out
OF boys and women out OF girls. This means
character IL means that. first OF all. boys and
girls, young men and young women. shall know
who they are, why they are, and what they are
10 live for. They are to know that they are In a
world where each lives for all and all for each.
II they can grow to this knowledge under the
contagion OF the teachers to whom such training
is intrusted, by the dignhed and noble spirit
OF the body of young people among whom they
live, good manners are secured. 1t may be.
though IL will probably not be. that a girl may
direct a letter upside down. but the letter with
say the right thing. II may be that she will use
the wrong fork at the dinner table. but she win
be sure TO thank God for the dinner.