The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-30

The grapes which dye thy wine are
richer far,
Through culture, than the wild wealth
Of the rock;
The suave plum than the savage
tasted drupe;
The pastured honey bee drops choicer
sweets,
The flowers turn double, and the leaves
What We call culture the ancient
Latins called humanitas, q word which
brings to the front an essential quail
ity of culture. namely. freedom from
prejudice and provdncialism, a wide
expaEaiyeness of sympathiss. The
The pursuit of the branches of polite
learning, 1t must be granted, has
sometimes issued in a fastidious SD
periority which hold aloof from the
mass of humanity, II, inded, It did
not despise It's rude manner its COM
monplace thoughts and Its empty in
terests. But such a dainty product Of
mere literary and aesthetic pursuits
is not culture. 1t lacks the root idea
Of humanitas. Besides this humane
ness and catholcity Of feeling, culture
recognizes tho supremacy Of the soul
as against the insistenca of sense, and
imposes a lofty. unselfish life ideal.
1t enhances the excellence OF our
nature in its harmonious expansion,
II we may follow Mr.. Matthew Ar
mold 1t involves the scientific passion
| for pure knowledge, the moral and
social passion for doing good, for re-
moving human error. clearing human
! confusion, and diminishing human
misery, the detsire to make reason and
the will OF God prevail. Such culture.
| he adds, Is of the highest practical
service. 1t is equally apparent that
such cultrue Is the proper instrumene
by which the college may realize its
| high mission as an agent OF the king
| dom for the benefit Of mankind.
The opportunity for this service has
| never been larger or more inspiring
| than 1t Is today. Here is the needy
State calling for equipped men OF pa
| trkottsm and character TO serve the
| people in legislation and administra-
| ton. One of the most pleasing things
| in more recent history Is the increas-
| ing number of men who are carrying
the college ideal into the service of
| the State. But the public life OF the
| college man Is by no means restricted
| to official position. Indeed, the mod
ern Democratic State Is not governed
-, by its officers, but by its atmosphere.
| by the subtle, pervasiye. universal
| power OF public opinion. And the re-
| spons.bility to guide and TO correct
this king of the new Democracy falls
heavily upon those who have the rare
| pri4lese Of college education.
There Is pressing demand for the
building up Of public conscience on
the civic obligations Of wealth, on
sanitation and the battle to eradicate
infectious diseases. on racial poisons
4 al txlt
and social impurtty, on the insane per
! petuation of degeneracy through IN
restricted independence in the matter
of fHietse eligibility -TAe enemies o!
| the life of man. sumo of them en-
| trenehad in vested interests or deep
set IN an inveterate aristocratio tradi-
tiopn--who viii meet them In the
open field of mortal combat. but the
men who have the college equipment
and the college IDEAL? And the ene-
miles Of tn social order. that mon
sirius arrationality. war, which car
ries commercialism to the extreme
OF social suieide--what can break It's
| back but the idealism and intelligence
| Of the college men OF the world, who
are now finding in the new patriotism
q new arena for the martial virtues:
| social injustice wherever 1t may APP
pear, the arrogance and oppression OF
corporate wealth. the hard conditions
under which the poor fight the end
less battle for bread. the cry of the lit
tie children for their inalienab,e rights
| of playtime and education--here,
college men OF the country, is no snal
part OF your task and your oppor-
| tunity to push forward the growing
| kingdom OF God, the reign Of rights-
| BUSINESS and peace.
| And permit me to remind you that
high purpose and true ideal. a
| good equipment and recognized task.
| amount to little unless they are hook
ed up and talke- hold on the actual
| situation at the place Of most ar.
| gent need. Those famous North Car
| oina resolutions which. more than q
year before the national declaration