The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-04

tional factor. The ideal conception is
that the professor and student are
brothers in the pursuit of knowledge,
the younger brother guided by the
older; both students and both of them
brothers. How many student has re-
membered to the end of his days the
stimulating. genial, helpful influence
of some, at least, of his instructors.
And many professor counts among
the choicest friendships of his life
those formed among the men whom
it has been his privilege to teach. And
it Is evident that, While these pleasing
relations may exist in all institutions
of learning, the small college affords
the most favorable arena for them.
2. In small college, where classes
are apt to be composed of fewer men,
the actual teaching can be thorough
to an extent which is not possible
where classes are very large. There
is opportunity to test frequently, If not
daily, a students preparation, to drill
closely each man, to give immediate,
personal inspection of work in labora-
tories. instruction by lecture, with
little use of textbooks, is a method
well adapted for postgraduate stu
dents. But it may be doubted whether
as good results can be secured in the
acquisition of knowledge or in men
required to give to his professor.
through questioning, the material
facts and principles of the textbooks.
Surely conditions in small colleges
conduce to thoroughneSs.
3. Moreover, the relations between
the students themselves are very differ
ent in large and small colleges. Each
man has at least a speaking acquaint-
ance with every other. There is less
"a nj
cleavage and stratification. 1t is more
possible for a genuine democratic
spirit to prevail. And the average stu
dent leaves a small college enriched
with more friendships among those
who are to be his contemporaries than
is the case with the average student
of one of the larger colleges. Indeed,
from what / have been told by men
who have had ample experience in
both, 1t would seem that law OF IN
verse ratio might almost be formu-
lated-the larger number of fellow
students, the more limited the range OF
acquaintance and friendship.
A. 1t is certain that literary societies
cannot flourish with the same vigor
in the larger as smaller colleges. They
are crushed out by mere weight OF
numbers. They have rendered the
organization OF social life natural, if
followed in smaller colleges where
such organizations may be natural but
certainly are not necessary. For in col
legeS where the number of students is
not so great as to preclude the Vigor-
Gus life of literary societies. it is posi-
BILE to infuse into these the loyal at
tachment of the whole student body.
And it would be hard to overestimate
the value of the many-sided training
yxrI1 oh criHy /
not be good day in American edu-
cation when, if ever, all colleges shall
be so large as to prevent the eff
cheney, if not the existence, of these
societies.
s. In closing this brief discussion of
the advantages and claims Of small
colleges, as this term is now generally
understood, | can only glance at the
fact that i'm them it is possible for in
digent young men to secure the edu-
cation from which they would be
debarred in some of the larger insti-
tutions of learning For the life of
the average student i'm small college
is largely devoid of those artificial ele-
ments which demand the expenditure
of large sums of money. DIR. w. II.
Harper has recently said that it is an
exception when a student in the larger
Eastern institutions spends a smaller
sum than $500 or 81. coca year. ON the
other hand 1T is an exception when
student in our smaller colleges spends
half of these amounts. This single fact
is an index of a different kind of life.
And the emphasis is upon
the difference between the ar
tificial life in one case and
the natural, simple life in the other.
And because the life is simple and
natural, the prevailing spirit in a
small college is earnest and serious
spirit which poverty cannot repress
nor prosperity Danish; a spirit of de-
votion and conservation to lifes high
est ideals.
And now, young gentlemen. the
work of the college for you, so far as
training and instruction are concern
ed. is ended. To-day you enter the
lists, not of a tournament, but of life's
real battle. Kneel at the altar as you
enter the arena. Unsheath the only
sword which can carve your way to
victory. Quit you like men; and.
through the abiding presence Of the
Almighty. may each of you be faithful
unto death that you may receive the
orOvy1l of life