The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-16
THE RICHMOND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. JUNE t. 1913

third year classes at least for the
coming session.
President Eggleston declares that
''it cannot be too often, or too en-
phatically, or too persistently said
that IL the colleges and universities
of this country were closed during the
next half dozen years the loss to this
country in efficiency, in leadership.
In culture. in wealth. In practically
everything that goes to make nation
worth while would be so colossal that
tbe nation could not recover from 1t
in a century OF time" And the presi-
dent or the University of Virginia
gives the perplexing problem Its true
analysis.
Planning For the Future.
.T,et us remember that our coun-
try has a future as well as a present,
and that the colleges and universities.
in a very real sense, hold that future.
The great processes of teaching and
learning, which are as necessary as
nrenaratfon for war, must go on. We
all recall how young men In the civil
War lost all chance of proper train
ing and opportunity for leadership.
The war itself Is scientific war, ana
before il ends, We shall need as other
nations have found, to continue I'M
remittingly AT the task OF research
study and preparation. Every enort'
therefore, that patriotism, seir-sacri-
fee and common sense can MAKE
should be made to keep universities
and colleges vigorous and ready 10
teach young men who come to them
for instruction next year
"Ali this Is perfectly consistent with
the highest ideal of national service.
II colleges and universities should be
crippled and devitalised. the resultant
loss would be greater than tho loss or
a campaign, for learning must live.
and we who direct its work must take
care that 1t lives. Therefore. let US
all hold in mind that the University
! of Virginia will open at the usual
! time in September. and continue It's
/ regular work. with calm and stead
| fast purpose to do its duty by the
young men who gather in It's walls. u
| the end that they may be made MT fol
! citizenship alike during the storm o
war, II unhappily it should long en-
dure. and for the greater tasks or re
| adjustment and reconstruction which
! peace will so surely bring.
! There is need of hard work. sensiol
economy, and simpler living. but thes
are In themselves noble disciplines
and the result, ! dare say, will be fun
or and happier lives. Some younl
men under military age--even higl
school students--are being tempted Il
! abandon their school or college ca
reers to accept what appear to then
10 be very alluring commercial posi-
tions--positions which are aiwaN
open 10 intelligent youths In time o
war, but which are necessarily o
temporary duration. without adequat
future promise. A bright young man
! who ahandons his chance of obtain
. ing high efficiency In preparation 70
the great ard almost unlimited oppor
tunities which will surely offer them
; selves after the war. Is not unlike tina
one who sold his birthright for a mes
Of pottare. The University of Wiz
ginia and It's sister colleges have give
J freely OF their young life for tn
! trenches. the camps, the navy. and tn
air but we must not lose our head
and fail to remember that civiltza
ton is In a deep crater, that in
tellect and character must pull il on
and that the college IL the trainin
ground for intellect and character.
The secretary OF war realizes tn
menace to the nation of the unnecea
sary depopulation of the colleges an
universities, and In part to check
5 and In part to develop into militar
= asset the large body of young me
t in such institutions, he has decide
TO provide for this university an
! other similar institutions military l