New-York tribune., 1902-06-29
THE PERIL OF THE COLLEGE.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir. Your editorial entitled THE Peril Of the
College" is interesting reading to every college
man. Some time ago read editorial in 1T ne
Evening Post Of similar pufpo-t- The writers OF
beth these editorials have assumed that the day
Ct the small college about over. that the aoli-
isy Of the university to enable man TO take one
year OF professional study during his undersradu-
ate course and thereby shorten by one year MS
preparation for his profession was killing the
small college. The whole argument in both edi-
torials is founded this assumption but the as
sumption is not founded fact
The small r--.a~7s are not only holding their
e-ra hut in =. .-ast at any rate are growing
almost if not quite rapidly as their big sisters
re small college. Wesleyan from which / was
graduated has shown increase in thirteen out Of
The last fourteen years In that time the number
Of students has increased from 100 TO 3o the fac
ulty from IS 70 sc. the endowment from S9ooeo 10
S40 90 about S210Gl0 has been spent on build
snEs and an equal sum is now in hand for new
buildings. This increase is not exceptional VIII
iarns, Amherst. Dartmouth. Bowdoin. Brown ano
the other small NeW-England colleges can sho"
similar. and IL. some cases even greater, growth
As far as our editorial relates 10 the past there
fore. il is founded on false premises and cannot
stand. AS TO the future, man can speak with
certainty. ! esotistical enough to believe that
can see as far INTO the future as the writer OF
your editorial ! believe that in the future the
srnan college will occupy important place as IT
has in the past In the past very large proportion
Of the great men Of cur country have been grada-
stes OF small colleges The same reasons which
have enabled the small colleges 10 produce these
men will operate to produce men Of equal prom
hence in the future Every college man knows thai
large part of the benefit of a college course is
derived from influences outside the classroom The
eoAsge associations the college spirit, me meet, &
ing together OF men Of like purposes apart from Inc
H1uences OF this Workaday word, exert an m n
nuence on the character equal in import lance with
ne knowledge derived from the recitation or iec'
ars 49,
The college life in the small college differs from
ne lie in the university. In college OF three
nsgh5or. He not only knows al MS t%eno" %
Students, but he knows MS instructors ana forms
more Tnafkes ' IN fbe small College than In the
S.iVersity There is cot the opportunity for me tae
e I've moderately the rich man derives no social
benefit from his wealth.
-nsa IN the small college the Ureek le,esr iy
,,o,nites play prominent part. Inc ming ins Iif
together OF the four classes in the fraternity NE
.s Ieas the syrapathies and engenaers the eo1ese
than the class spirit or man oI IA llioo -
ssste means the small college VIII continue TO pc
Esctve, because there alone can he enter the
me chief argument. however OF those who ex-
M 60 TO t5 na,astT n5 ,he Because fhey cam there
nSsssn their preparation for their professions & Oy
hxer. xear. 10 doubt that will appeal to many; l nnt
WHO WI be willing to devote the extra year to
require as good a nrensration for entrance as the
University. The Eew-Ensisnd universities and
.sse .ss,ssees have common standard The courses OF
rssssy required hy the small colleges are quite as
nsio as those the university. There viii always
college course nose e' do a not care to hurry into
nprolesslon. and 10 those the close contact ot
os snd student the intimate and quiet Ie
0S1lreees VII not lack for students ,.
Ia. r., ee saueaton OF the American the univers,s M
psce and the time has not yet arrived when 1t Is
Fy to discuss 'the perl trT Of The p ggsv1s
foushkeepsie. " Y. June W 25 1907