Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-09-26
lie New COLLEGE Year.

( SNdueu campus, dIItf It's summer
siesta, teens with life. Along with the
renewed talk of academic pursuits the
air is filled with the sound Of prepara-
ton for the fall sports, whose part in
the training Of our virile American
youth is not to be lightly estimated.
! The opening Of all these institutions Of
learning, great and small, for another
year of study, is Of much importance
| beyond the immediate communities in
| which they are located. 1t means that
about 100000 Of the most intelligent
| and promising young men ana women
Of the land exchange the home roof
| for the dormitory, over one-fourth Of
| them for the first time 1t means that
this great army which will have such
. vast influence in shaping the future
Of the world, is to be disciplined and
armed for the conflict of life. 1t means
! that this host Of young people is TO be
surrounded by the strongest influences
for good, amid scenes rich in scholarly
tradition and sacred in association.
where high ideals are encouraged and
| noble aspirations formed. and where
pleasures are enjoyed ana friendships
established whose influence lasts for
life and which are an inspiration long
after the lectures ana demonstrations
are forgotten.
The increased general interest in the
opening Of the colleges arises partly
from the noteworthy growth and de-
velopment Of the colleges themselves.
parity from an increased recognition
Of the value of collegiate culture to
All men, whether in learned profess
slons or in trade and partly because
the number of college alumni in
society at large is rapidly increasing
There are those who can remember
when a college graduate in business or
anywhere outside Of the professions Of
law, medicine and theology was a
rarity. The development Of the col
leges themselves is one Of the most in
teresting features Of the case Time
was when the college was a sort Of
hermitage whose inmates were OBJ
livious or irresponsible to the great
flowings ana ebbings Of the human
tide without the walls. Such is no
more the case. It is now recognized
that the scholar must be- a man IF
affairs. the man Of thought must be a
man Of action; and so the college is
kept in the closest possible touch with
the general progress Of the nation in
social, industrial ana even political
affairs. NJ SOONER is a new popular
want manifested or a new sphere Of
activity opened than the college e.
| tabishes q chair of instruction or a
department to deal with it. More than
one noteworthy illustration az this fact
is to be perceived at the present mo-
ment in the leading colleges and uni
versitics.
Every fall finds the colleges of the
United States a little better qualified.
as 4 whole, in equipment ana teaching
force, to train their students for posi-
tions Of leadership in real life. ana
every fall finds the youth Of the land
4 little more responsive to the attrac-
| tive prospect Of liberal education.
The year that begins with this month
Should be one of the most prosperous.
ana certainly. in point Of attendance,
the most notable in the history Of
| academic instruction A large propor-
tion Of the new endowment funds If
nearly $1,000, 900, contributed before
| the commandments Of last June, will
be available this year. ana not only
| will the great universities be enabled
| to present still more complete facili-
ties for scientific research. but a null
| titude Of less pretentious institutions
| viii be enabled to offer their student
| populations somewhat better advan-
tages and to spare for other purposes
some of the enegies Of their faculties
which had been absorbed in a des-
| pcrate struggle to make ends meet.
Good times ana a succession Of good
crops should bring students focking
| from the farms ana villages. Just as
the panic times Of several years ago
kent them at home. That pride in the
cause Of higher education which has
| appealed to the purses Of our wealthy
men has stimulated the ingenuity and
enterprise Of college presidents to
| make the opportunities Of their insti-
| tuti"ns complete mirror of the di-
verse activities Of American life. The
| universities are piling up the electives
as new conditions suggest them. The
increasing demand for educated men in
business affairs has certainly left its
mark on courses Of study.
|
| 1t * truly touching to note the con
| Germ Of the Democratic newspapers
| lest Senator Hanna on the stump say