New-York tribune., 1902-05-08
COLLEGE LIFE VALUES.
CHIEF BENEFITS OF THE ACADEMIC AT
MOsPHERE LIE IN ITS DISTINCTIVE
NESS. SAYS ONE INSTRUCTOR

Much has been said in recent years Of the value
OF college life. apart from its opportunities for
study, or intellectual acquisition" the college
people themselves term IT, From a prominent
Woman's college comes the opinion Of an instructor
VINO bears the title Of doctor Of philosophy and
who is competent 70 discuss college life values
Even II We cannot agree with the dIctum Of n
wei known college president. It is better TO have
been and loafed than never to have been at all
she says. we can recognize the large benefits OF
the academic atmosphere Of the high planes OF
thought the essential democracy. the ceaseless
testing and choosing Of individual worth. and the
stimulus Of enthusiasm and vigor in the student
body To these must be added the value Of the dis
cipline in the forms and customs Of the college
1t IS easy TO that the more distinct the col
lege world is and the more unlike life outside the
greater is its value In these ways Just military
or governmental life must have its separate atmos-
phere and code sc must the academic. Few would
queston-putting aside the matter of Intellectual
training-the value Of life az Oxford or Cambridge
in comparison with life at London University
even at the universities of the Continent. II is
merely matter OF ancient buildings and fair gar
dens; the life itself moves there with a dignity
and simplicity that seem the right and true ac-
compartment Of intellectual pursuits. The innu-
merable peCuliarities OF custom and ceremony,
which appear cumbersome and even absurd to the
stranger. prove rather to be corveniences and COM
forts. easing the strain individuals
Although our own colleges are historically off,
shoots Of Oxford and Cambridge. no would
seriously assert that should borrow their codes
and customs. We have already much that has
descended Iegitmately from them and has become
integral in academic life; we have much more
that is the natural outgrowth Of our> own situa-
ton. The question is how continue this prog
ress with power and distinction
The danger lies in conformity, not to Old World
forms. but TO non-academic. 1t is the effort TO
make the college world miniature copy Of the
great outside world that saps its strength and
dwarfs the growth of the individual student The
energy early called into play in the work Of
college with plenty of torchlight and stump speak
NOT learn so much of leadership and citizen
ship as who ceVotes himself 70 learning men
ana tnelr ways IN the poHligs OF ms CplLese "ou.
The effort IN womens colleges 10 duplicate me
functions of fashionable life lessons the natural
social intercourse Of the students, and so deprves
them Of development in genuine social skll ana
''If We would remember that colleges are not
technical schools, that they do offer it in
cooking or politics that their work Is train IN
the spirit rather than the practical methods OF
the many deTnanGs MADE upon me eo.ieEeSs hol
only upon the curriculum. bur upon the life at
literally, open 10 ali the winds or doctrine pQt as
free from the cloister from the mart. And out
OF this full growth II will develop its own code
and ceremonies. In this literal life lies the chief
This is true not only OF the relations between
college and college Each must keep 10 It's own.
Certain things the common property Of the
academic world-as caps and gowns commence
discard as IL wills Others belong TO certain kinds
of colleges. universities only. or to colleges in
tutions. Still others personal 70 individual col
leges. private property as II were Nassar would
not think of borrowing the Yale custom of tap
ping nor would Columbia want Mountain Day
or a musical cheer