New-York tribune., 1902-06-15

also be called professors m America, within the
walls OF his own college Thus. the undergraduates
from the beginning of his course enters l''o per
relations with the faculty OF MS own COZ
lege who are interested in him not only tor MS
own sake but also because OF the credit and re-
nown of the body Of which he forms part
He attends lectures and rectations but in ad-
dlton to these he receives private instruction. so
that the formality OF the classroom thrown aside.
ne comes close personal relation with men
capable of guiding his steps. apprectating his DIM
culties and stimulating his Efforts. His credit Is
theirs and If he shows unusual excellence no
pains are spared TO perfect his scholarship in
particular.
An American boy standing on the campus his
first day Of residence looks round him: he sees the
seniors realizes the difference between them and
himself wonders how he shall make a name,
mark a place for himself Now. what he do?
Unless he is exceptionally gifted physically he can
not enter the athletic life Of his university. In
whatever direction he looks unless he Is exception
ally gifted, he finds himself condemned to re-
spectacle medocrity. to take the part of snecta-
tor a member Of the public while others perform
in oxford college each freshman is a val
liable asset He is almost forced into the RANKS
of the rowing men. For whatever he can do. or
thinks he can do is the possibility of interest
and approval of his fellows not so very difficult
attain. The traditional objects of competition
whereby the colleges obtain distinction among
themselves may all be very wisely chosen But
they exist There is a solidarity of interest among
ulu= of hearty interest and warm companionship
to every strain Of excellence that man may show
in the recognized lines.
Again owing to the limitation of the members
resident in one college freshman is not looked
on as of distinct species. lie has from the be
ginning the advantage of intimacy with men older
than himself and is not limited to the society OF
boys just liberated from the restraints of school
life
And not only in the recognized lines does
student find the stimulus OF cOmpanonship- HIS
tory shows that again and again coteres have been
formed among the undergraduates. bound on some
new adventure of thought. phase of de
veopment social artistic, religious. The students
who come from the public schools have mostly
been forced into one But there are enough
in the university who have had exceptional ed
ucation form. finding another those little
bodies associated by sympa thetc tastes which do
so much to stimulate the development of the in
dividual members
The erection of spacious dormitores by private
speculation in which every apparatus of luxurious
living is furnished. is witnessed in some Eastern
universities, is altogether foreign TO the EnElsh
traditions. A certain simplicity and uniformity of
life is maintained which is good both for the rich
and the of moderate means.
In England, among his fellow undergraduates.
the American student will mingle with those on
whom full share of the responsibility of the ad-
minstration of a great empire VIII subsequently
fall. If he loses those aSSocat tionS of friendship
with his own countrymen which college en-
genders. he will have in their place friendships
which will enable him TO look on national affairs
with broader view, and which will be doubly
valuable America begins to manifest more and
have found a temporary assuagement in the plains
of the West.