Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-08-16
The Small College and the Uni
verS1ty.

advantages of the smaller lnstltut-
ions of learning and the great
universities have been discussed
recently ill an illuminative and
interesting way in the columns of
the Philadelphia Saturday Even
ing Post. The points in favor of
the small college were set forth in
a paper by Rev. Nathaniel Butler,
D. D., president of Colby Unlver-
sity. They are thus summarized: {:
1. "Constant and intimate personal
contact with the best men of the
teaching and governing staff" both
in the class room and socially.
In the great universities much of
the teaching of the undergraduates
is done by tutors and assistants,
and the student seldom sees, or
meets, the professors, at least until
hs reaches the higher classes. On
the contrary, "the president aud
heads of departments, who are,
presumably, the best men in the
institution, are in the mall college,
always accessible. Their business
is not simply teaching hut the
direction of studies and the direct
ion of character" 2. "The location
of the cor - college is in itself a
distinct advantage for under
graduates. 1t is free from those
peculiar distractions and temptat-
ions with which the great city
abounds, and to which the ordinary
undergraduate cannot be exposed
without intellectual and moral
peril" This point is especially
worthy of the attention of parents.
3. The economic considera-
tion." The fact that the small
college is generally near at
hand, thus reducing travelling ex-
pensas, that the cost of living is
lever, that incidental expenses are
fewer-all this tends to reduce cost
of getting an education, and thus
brings is within the reach of many
who could never 60 away to one of
the great universities. 4. "The
Students relation to his fellows"
is also urged rs another great ad-
vantage OF the small college. "As
numbers diminish, individual
responsibility increases. In the
small college The i,sdl.idual counts
for the utmost. His influence is
at it's maximum. Others find him
self out, and he finds his own place.
In the organization Of the college
be finds the freest scope for what
ever talent he has for leadership,
counsel or helpful cooperation.
The college is thus again gym
nasium for the development of
individual manhood. In this it
accomphshes a large part of its
educational work."
In an article on "The Advantages
of the great Universities" Presid-
ent Patton, of Princeton, says:
"a young man would do well to
consider the moral as we'll as the
intellectual influences that SUR
round a college Or university.
His undergraduate life will.
certainly not be conspicuous
success if he fails to acquire,
as the result of it, that
discipline of his powers and that
degree of knowledge necessary for
independent inquiry. But it will
certainly be conspicuous failure
if be does not learn to scorn every
thing base and mean; ii he does
not come into possession of high
ideals of conduct, and, above
all, if he ceases to maintain a
reyerent attitude toward the
spiritual side Of life.
"The friends of the larger in
stitutions of learning cannot afford
to depreciate the work which the
collegs are doing. For it must be
remembered that these large in
stitutions were once small colleges,
and that some of the brightest
names on their lists of graduates
belong to the early period of their
history. We must not despise the
day of small things. If, therefore,
the student is bent on acquiring
knowledge, let him be assured that
ne will have no lack ofopportunity
in The small college. Que does
not need access to a large library
in order to secure a good training
in I.atin and Greek Maagar