The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-18
s1e COLLEGES AND SMALL
Case in Favor OF tho University Put by y
Recent Graduate.

Recent Graduate.
To THE EprroR OF THE SuS-Sir: Your ID.
+. X" asks II the instruction In the university
10 really superior to that OF the smafcollege.
l believe that examination will show IL TO be
at least equal and probably superior. He
speaks Of the famous professors who perform
little classroom work: let me mention only
such names as Jadd. Hadley. Sumner. Sey-
mour and Peck OF Yale University OF whom
spcnd from eight to fifteen hours week In
active teaching. This does not sound like
dislnclinaton or lack OF ability: IL averaged. II
compares we'll with the work done by the So
called tutors" Possibly these men and others
like Thorn in Harvard and Princeton have
gained their places by literary efforts. Ger
tainly II cannot be denied that men like Had
ley OF Yale the late DIR. McCosh Of Princeton
md many others are or have been authorities
in their branches. Nor does their ability to
express knowledge on paper detract from
their pedagogic value IL rather adds to II.
A word as TO the tutors" Who are those
much maligned menu Does the absence OF
Professor" destroy their scholarship BY no
means: they are. almost without exception.
vigorous. studous. thinking young men OF
high ability and possessed OF the best educa-
ton that the German and American univer-
stiles can offer Are they inferior workmen
when COMPARED to the professors Of the small
colieges1 II 80. why are they so eagerly sought
by the SIN all colleges and why do the faculty
Hats OF these latter show 30 many chairs oc-
cupied by former university tutors1 Indeed
one has only to sit under their instruction to
know their character. ability and earnestness
Moreover. these men are working under the
constant direction OF older and wiser heads
those OF the great professors who have charge
OF tho departments. IL Ia to his training
there that many q small college owes the exec
utive ability Of an officer who has guided the
institution through some financial difficulty o r
the pedagogic ability which has made some
department famous for It's excellence.
Your correspondent decries tho present social
atmosphere and luxurious living at the great
university. This Ia. | believe. the real ground
OF feeling against such an institution Yet IL IL
somcthng for which the university IL In no
way to blame; 1t is. moreover. greatly exag-
There j. an old saying that the man who
seeks evil, finds II. A man who is inclined TO
yiSll t2 temptnti2n will ind i anyyhere do
ppt believe Il makes any difference e thew are,
bent anywhere. Even il lie goes to p@rdi,on on
more quickly, at the large university which
get there anyway peops talk ' t Sna much S vol 81
Environment, When shall We r"ailso that a
man takes the opportunity for good or evil.
one thing perhaps may be wrong and
unfortunate. some boys at college have too
uniyersity-wh 1t is not-it is the parents
fault
cess OF money or any other cause leads to n
distinct line between rich and poor Such
distinction seldom exists. The snob is found
IN the university as rverywhere else. But H. Is
despised by rich and poor alike. | could mem
ton many instance. To prove the opposite OF
n N mi N hot
q cultured gentleman fails Of recog alton from
hi- mates. be he rich or poor. The Door Is never
Your correspondcnt's Commentary" gard
Ing President Dwight is no commentary AT all.
unto his day The University grew to need a
9, h1ancer. President Dwight was such man,
read the Faanca Gronce ali the tim eoef B ne
he can read and interpret 10th; that ability
has done much for Yale University
In regard to athletics l have little tn cav.
That subject IL usually exaggerated by both
sides. In most colleges. large or small. It re-.
This is no distinct evil OF the uni
yer@lty she has more men to draw from and 40
is by no means the sane. though many people
s snnrs TO inlnt So Tor me university 70 be
supreme In the university.
their Justification Is irfreIuent. The two
small colleges. Certainly. also the athlete re-
ceives more newspaper notorinty But IL ia
scarcely true that he outshines his mates in
college, Society elections. the great college
honors. are seldom based on this more than
on anything else.
u, In coHclus'on, the university appears to offer
The wider field along every line OF endeavor:
lts opportunities are untold: its evils are gen,
orally overstatcd and the objectIors based
thereon easily answered. / purposrly do not
mention Greek fraternity life. as II ia a separate
subject for discussion. Personally, I favor IL
and can see no obstacle to 1t Inherent in the
size OF Il university. YALE ng
NEW YORK. Dec. IL.