The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-10
Catholic Colleges Defended.

TO THE EDITOR or THE SuN-Sir To me II
seems that so sweeping and triumphant q
dcnunciation of Catholic colleges as that OF
Mr.. Lee would have the natural effect of taking
from those attacked institutions their very
raison d'etIG how they can still exist is a
mystery--thot they should still exist an Of
fence. Such trumpet blast might well cause
their very walls TO fall
But lo' o voice from Manhattan College is
heard-a good college in an obscure nook. The
constitution Of the order that conducts it
prohibits the teaching Of classics, l. e. Latin
and Greek. so that any graduates from that
college or others OF the same order might
well stumble at Latin rendering Of an Eng
fish theme; tho translations were, however,
not Creditable. But to condemn all Catholic
institutions because eleven young men, of
whom only two were graduates, did not ac-
quit themselves gloIiously, il to be guilty Of u
very harsh judgment.
II every reputedly wcll-educated man who
did not know the name Of the Federal COM
mander at Gettysburg IL to have the stigma
OF his deplorlble Ignorance transferred 10 his
Alma Mater, then it is hard on the loving
mothers: know three graduates of the Col
lege of the City of New IOrk--a Jewish rather
than non-sectarian ipstitution--who habtu-
ally speak OF the musstnsh. another who was
guilty, not once but many times, OF referring
to two rhyming lines of verse as COwplet
pronounCinG II distinctly rs Cow. Shall l
therefore say that all is bad at the City Col
legs?
And whom a callow youth, sophomore or u
junior says that the Copernican theory is
that the centre of the universe is the sun,
would not II friendly eye. or even an indii.
fercnt one, see that In the young fellows mind
universe meant the solar system? And the
awkward expressions about levers and cranks
wouldn't it be quite fair to interpret them
with few "as IFS" or "as IL werC's"? Much
stress is laid. not less than half dozen times,
on the statement that Millions Paradise
Lost is the fret English epic; ! never. heard
will consult Manual Of English Literature
by Thomas Arnold. NJ. A.. of oxford, and
professor in University College, Dublin, he
will find the statement, repeated several times,
that paradise Lost" IL the one great epic in
English Some Others are named. only to be
dismissed with these productions do not de-
serve serious examination"
To portions of the indictment, then, no
doubt Guilty" must be pleaded. No doubt
some exceedingly young and heBdlong boys
longe9 to rush in where angels would. under
the circumstances, have feared to tread But
they met their deserts, that being the purpose
of an examination: and their downfall has
Lee to despair and to intimate that Jesuit
and other instructors of Catholic youth are
taking money from poor people and rendering
no equivalent There isn't college on earth
not one~whcse graduates uniformly attain
the goal their fond parents hoped for: but.
named below. | got my moneys worth, in
the phrase of the day, and great deal more
besides | wish the good doctor had been a
little more explicit ns to the frequency with
which graduates of Jesuit colleges are re-
jected at Dunwoode to the CONSERVATION"
of their former teachers.
ROBERT P. GREEN.