The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-06-28

factor in the productive scholarship OF
the country
THE NORMAL FUNCTION.
Now turn 10 the second and what may
be called the normal. function Of tho col
lege. the function Of turning out each
year many hundreds Of men who shall
possess the trained intelligence. and
pecislly the character that will enable
them 10 hold high the renown of this
ancient seat OF learning by doing useful
service for the nation. II Is not my pur-
pose 10 discuss at length what should be
done at Harvard 10 produce tho right
| spirit among men who go out Of Harvard.
but rather 10 speak OF what this spirit
should be. Nor shall speak OF the ex-
ceptions. the men to whom college life
is a disadvantage
Randolph Of Roanoke. he Of the biting
tongue. once remarked Of an opponent
] that he reminded him Of certain tracts
Of land which were almost worthless
! by nature. and became entirely so by
/ cultivation or course. II in any indi-
vidual university training produces
\ taste for refined idleness, a distaste for
| susta ined effort. a barren intellectual ar
rogance or a sense OF superciious aloof-
ness from the world OF real men who do
the worlds real work, then ii has harmed
that individual; but in such case there
remains the abiding comfort that he
would not have amounted 10 much any
way
! Neither a college training nor anything
else can do much good 10 the man of
weak fiber or TO the man with a twist
/ In his moral or intellectual makeup. But
/ the average Undergraduate has enough
robustness OF nature. enough capacity for
enthusiasm and aspiration TO make IL
worth while TO turn 10 account the stuff
| that is I'm him
! There are. however. two points in the
undergraduate life OF Harvard about
which l think we have a right 10 feel
some little concern, One is the growth
| OF luxury in the university. do not
know whether anything we can say will
| have much effect on this point but just
| so far as the alumni have weight hope
10 see that weight felt in serious and
sustained effort against the growing ten
dency to luxury. and in favor Of all that
makes for democratic conditions.
THE HARVARD UNION.
One Of our number, the one whom
| think the rest OF use most delight To
| honor--Colone HiRgnson-has given 10
our alma mater the Harvard union. than
| which no better gift. no gift meeting a
| more vital need. could have been given
| TO the university. 1t Is neither possible
nor desirable TO try TO take away all
social differences from the student life
but IL Is a good thing TO show how un-
important these differences are compared
TO the differences of real achievement
and compared also 10 the bonds which
! should unite together all the men who
are In any degree capable Of such real
| achievement; bonds. moreover. which
should also knit these capable men to
their brethren who need their help.
The second point upon which I wish 10
| speak is the matter OF sport Now I
shali not be suspected OF a tendency un-
duly to minimize the Importance OF sport
believe heartily In sport ! believe in
out door games. and do not mind in the
least that they are rough games, or that
those who take part In them are occa-
soIally injured. | have no sympathy
whatever with the overwrought senti-
mentality which would keep a young man
in cotton wool and I have n hearty con-
tempt for him II he counts broken arm
collar boup Hs or serfous consequence,
when balanced against the chance OF
showing that he possesses hardihood,
physical address and courage
But when these injuries are inflicted by
others. either wantonly or OF set design.
we are confronted by the question, not Of
domage 10 one mans body hut OF dam
ase 10 the other mans character Bru-
tality In playing game should awaken
tho heartiest and most plainly shown con-
tempt for the player guilty Of II; es-
pecially II this brutality is coupled with
low cunning in committing II without
getting caught by the umpire I hope
10 see both graduate and undergraduate
opinion come 10 scorn such n man as one
guilty OF base and dishonorable action
who has no place In the regard OF gallant
and upright men
II Is bad thing for any college man
20 grow 10 regard sport as the serious
business Of life II is a bad thing 10 per-
. NIT sensationalism and hysteria 10 shape
I me development OF our sports. And
o finally ~ Is a much worse thing 10 permit
% college sport 10 become in any shape or
4 way tainted by professionalism or by so
. much as the slightest suspicion OF money
v making and this Is especially true N tho
10 professionalism is furtve N the hoy or
. man violates tho spirit of the rule while
striving to keep within the letter Pro-
y fessional sport is all right I'm its way.
IS an glad 10 say that among my friends
g number professional boxers and wrestlers
Is oarsmen and baseball men. whose regard
20 | value. and whom I'm turn I regard as
n thoroughly good citizens
, AN UNMITIGATED CURSE.
But the college undergraduate who. In
II furtive fashion. becomes sen,i-profes.
e sional is an unmitgated curse and tina,
X no. alone 10 university llfe and TO TN,
cause of amateur sport. for tho colleg,
: graduate ought isaftcr years 10 take IN,
n lead IN putting the business morality NJ
e this country on n proper plane and n,
a can not do Il N In his own college career
!. HE code ~ conduct has been warped ans
ir twisted Moreover the spirit which nut,
2 80 excessive value upon his work as Z,
produce this semi-professional is itself un
j. healthy. ] wish 20 see Harvard win .
y reasonable proportion Of the oontests n
NJ which IL enters. and I should be hearth,