Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-06


relegated almost exclusively TO the young
women. In one university, for instance.
the professor Of English literature told me
that IN his Shakespeare courses all his
students were women. 1t is obviously de-
sirable that the young women should have
training in letters and in arts, but II is 70
be deplored that the young men seem to
be deserving the ideals Of general culture
and pressing into the courses which lead
directly to money making.
A Wholesome student Life.
The life Of the student bodies in the
state universities is remarkably pure and
wholesome. In the great agricultural
states Of the Missouri Valley the majority
Of the students are from the country, eager
for knowledge, earnest in work and clean
in life. They come, as a rule. from families
Of moderate means and are bound to get all
they can out of the institutions. One
misses something Of the sentiment which
attaches to the older universities OF the
east and to their hallowed traditions and
associations. but this is gradually growing
and university loyalty is not as uncommon
as 1t was twenty years ago. Nevertheless,
l noticed at the commencement season that
the speakers frequently addressed them
selves to urging the alumni to take more
interest in university affairs and to be more
constant and regular in their attendance
upon university functions. There Is no
doubt that athletics play a great part In
the development of college sentiment The
evils which attend intercollegiate athletics
in the middle west and in the east are not
unknown in the Missouri valley, but inter
collegiate rivalry contributes to the up
building Of college loyalty and also has an
appreciable effect upon the standards Of
living in the undergraduate body. A col
lege cheer, college flag. a college song
have a place in a college education which
is far from contemplate, and l should have
been glad Of more, and not less, of boyish
enthusiasm and exuberant esprit de corps
in the festivities | attended The social life
Of the students is depended chiefly on the
Greek letter fraternites and sororities and
the various clubs and societies These
bring the young men and the young women
into congenial groups and while they
sometimes cultivate an unnecessary eXclu-
siveness and bit Of harmless snobbishness,
they are for the most part healthy in their
influence.
High Aspirations Realized.
In 1889 James Bryce wrote Most Of the
western state universities aim at
covering more ground than they are as yet
able to cover. They have an ambitious
program, but neither the state of prepara-
ton of their students nor the strength of
the teaching STAFF enables them to do jus
tice to the promise which the program holds
out They are true universities rather in
aspiration than in fact" In the sixteen
years that have elapsed since these words
were written the promise has been fulfilled
and the universities have rapidly grown
toward the measure Of their ambitions and
hopes. More than any other institutions
they now mould and impress and inspire the
higher life of the commemorative they
serve. A visitor from the east can never
feel quite sure how far his judgment of
western institutions has been affected by
the cordiality of the welcome he receives,
but no one can help being struck by the
life and spirit and sense of responsibility
that pervades the state university OF the
west. 1t is contributing TO the industrial
and political and intellectual and spiritual
life Of America elements Of incalculable
worth. Without depriving vigorous youth
OF the originality and heartiness and ag-
gressive force characteristic of our west
ern communities it presents the opportunity
for refinement. Its influence make for the
creation of an animating ideallsm. It is a
great privilege which the administrators
| and teachers in such university enjoy, in
that they bear some part in upbuilding. not
merely a great and beautiful mechanism,
| but q spirit mind, a temper, a character.
They are building their lives not merely into
| a great and permanent institution, but into
that which lives and moves and has it's be-
| ing In the hearts, the emotions the intellect
the conscience OF the coming generation.
| They have the JOY and the power of be-
queathng good, of stimulating virtue and
patriotism of breathing - customs, in
stitutions, open minds ar. rateful hearts
a breath OF life and energy which will
never become extinct.