The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-09-16
Or. HUGHES ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Its Lofty Purpose Should BE TO Fit
Men 70 Further the Legitimate In.
terssts Of the Race and Push Those
Interests TO the Supreme Goal.
lspeclal Correspondence.l

Interests TO the Supreme Goal.
lsneclal Correspondence.
Greencastle. Ind, Sept l2-Wlthin |
A few days this old college town will
take on new life with the return OF
eight hundred students TO the halls Of
DePauw University. an institution
which for three-quarters OF a century
has been a training ground for the
youth of the middle West. and during
that period has given TO the work Of
the world many men and women who
have become eminent In their chosen
fields Of endesyor. Some recently
complied statistics show that OF the
graduates OF this typical Western in
stitution who received their diplomas
up TO 1900. two have become governors
OF states two lieutenant governors.
two cabinet officers, Ave foreign min
listers. five attaches and consuls. seven
United States senator's, ten members
state officers. twenty-one state sena-
tors twentv-three federal and state SUI
preme judges. ffty-nine state repre-
sentatives. and seventy-seven officers
in the army and navy; fifty-one col
lege presidents, l29 college professors
and lO4 city and county superintend
ents II Is interesting to know that
OF the graduates OF DePsuw 654 have
become teachers $40 lawyers, 3s9 min
listers and missionaries. lat bhysieians
l02 newspaper men. 80 authors.
II is not strange that the authorities
OF DePauw have chosen as a motto:
THE test OF an institution Of learning
is the man II produces. Judged by
this standard DePauw University is
entitled to rank high among the col
leges and universities OF the eonntrv
The colleS should stand" says
President Hughes, "as a preparing
agent between the theory and the prac-
tice OF life To make the statement
more human and personal college
should carry the power that resides In
young people out 70 meet the opportu-
mites that wait in the world With
these general conceptions all men
would agree The skeptic might
query whether our average college was
meeting this idea, but he would not
deny that the proper aim OF higher
Institution is 10 unite the theoretic
and the practical worlds.
Under this conception the college
has a duty with reference TO the ply
steal development OF its students. The
discussion Of certain athletics 10 per
ennIal. but the admission Of the beae
nclal character OF gymnastics should
be Just as perennial He who implies
that a student should pass from study
20 recitation and from recitation tC
study again. and that college life
should follow this regular round alone
is maker OF the paths OF death. The
body has its rights. and these rights
must be recognized in any proper plar
OF college life.
Purpose Of College Training.
'Inasmuch as the very idea OF col
lege presumes that il has vital rela
ton 10 the mental life. II may justl!
be demanded that an institution shal
! train minds into accuracy and power
into accuracy because otherwise powe
, may serve falsehood into power, be
cause otherwise accuracy may prov,
the mere vanity OF exactness. Prot
ably none will deny that the function
OF the true college. as somewhat dis
: tinguished from the university. 10 Z
r give the mental life an approach q
completeness. II is plain that special
! ism may become too special. Tn
= ideal is stated in the sentence. a ma
, should know something OF everythin
and everything OF something.
This implies that a college shoul
s provide both for generalism and spt
cialism. The generalism Will save tn
specialism from nsrrowness; and IN
T speoialism will save the generalisr
9 from indenniteness. Men sometime
saw that intellectual development
1. comes from studying rather than fror
= study. and that the plea for the oil
!, curriculum failed TO take note ef thi
fact. There is truth here, And ye
It omits an important item. Owe
e specialism may train the mental facu
r ties: but over-specialism cannot ope
r the various avenues through which III
mind moves ont toward life an
4 through which life moves In upon IN
4 mind
Az 20 the Social Side.
"Then also our higher institution
should make men strong on the socii
g side. This statment does not rela'
10 the frils and bows OF etiquette
though in the sense OF social formalii
, the college is not without duty. TT
|. monastic idea has passed; the joys
q fellowship shouls have right OF wa,
a the grsces OF sociability should be Gu
y tivated. II the world will not be p
q tIest with the college graduate who
q mainly a dandy. neither should It
II patient with him who Is mainly
q boor.
A But when social IL used as rela
o ing to human fellowships and the
a influence. the colleges have a larl
a field. Often they set lives In perm
W nent directions Garheld,s stateme