Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-03
The Mobilization OF the College

ITO PENNSYLVANIANS. in the geograph-
i ical as in the academic sense. the proceed
ings on the opening of the University were
full of the deepest Significance. Nothlhs
could have been more dignRed more in keep
ing with these grave and serious times. FOR
besides the exercises of review, OF song
prayer and fag-rais'ng. an entablature was
unveiled on which appear the names of nearly
fifty of Pennsylvania's academic sons who
leaving their books, their wonted lives and
their beloved homes. have now given their all
in the defense of the ideals of their country.
No inscription could be more fitting than that
inscribed on this memorial roll of honor,
these simple words of the Father of his
Country:
The principle by which my conduct has
been aCtuated through life would not suffer
me in any great emergency to withhold any
service | could render required by my
country.
TN THE old days last year which seem
/ now long ago--we returned to college
when the leaves. dried with the summers
heat. began to fall 1t was the goal of a
migration, annual and climatic. governed by
custom and "A matter of course. 1t was
pleasant to see the old familiar faces in the
old familiar halls and to welcome the fresh
newcomers, who were to us many more
boys to be whipped into the shape of men, to
lead into the happy ways of scholarship
There was the customary pleasant discussion
to the size of the incoming freshman class
which we boasted about If we belonged to the
camp of Philistia. which is wont TO lay much
stress numbers, multitudes increase,
growth and expansion while the old
fashioned among rs shook their sapient heads
and deplored the falling off of that fine
quality which they affirmed had been the In
variable accompaniment of our smaller num-
bers in the past The page of the new college
year was opened in the gymnasium with
cozy. gorifed species of family prayer. after
which each dean spoke his little piece and
made his announcements and, with the clap
ping of hands and with the disciplined ',yells'
so dear tn the American collegians hearts,
we declared open
Nov the scene Is altered. About tall
IN mast on the campus the university gath
ers, led by a military band escorted by we'll
disciplined ranks of marines and sailors, alert,
attentive, equipped in body and in heart for
the realities of war; and our students march
in lOEg and silent lines to their places i'm
ceremony which is far more than that which
marks the perfunctory passing OF time. On
stand in the center of the field the academic
gown mingles with the uniforms and insignia
of military authority. our singing is guided
| and sustained by the accompaniment of
musical Instruments of war, our patriotism
| rises as the flag of our militant country rises
| in glory over us. and our prayers go up, un-
mpeded by roof or rafter, to the blue sky
| above There is new significance even in
| the old, hackneyed hymn, onward Christian
soldiers, marching as 10 war For verify is
our marching las TO war" and the uplift Of
| struggle for the sanctity of human faith
for the prevalence of a great and generous
| ideal of the community OF nations, strong
| upon us
| AND this ceremony of ours, so simple, so
| ~ august s the symbol of momentous
| and necessary change. Our American educa-
| tion. viewed at large and with the eye OF
| criticism IL a hgg,y- piggly AFFAIR, rough
| hewn at skies and sevens, unequal, un-
| realized, full of conflicting aims, and clut
| tered I'm places with superhuous survivals
| And vet II has one great saving ausli;y which
| alone is sufficient to make up Tor all these
| defects American education Is free; and II
| is the education of all. II Is dictated by no
autocrat; II is the slave of no bureaucracy.
| American teachers may not always teach
| wisely or too well but the spirit of American
education is the spirit of freedom; and its
| power to assimilate to raise to high test
| standar rd OF patriotism the thousand and one
| diversities Of humanity that come into its
crucible is the now attested marvel of the
age.
| TT is remarkable to what extent the instinct
| i OF a free people can be trusted; the III
| stinct which il unperverted and not misled
| And il is surprising to what degree, al
| times the Sophisticated expert may be misled
| however Imperative his customary leading
You may sometimes trust a man as "A man
TO whom II might be dangerous to entrus'
your life as a physician. The man in the
street enjoys many advantages; INST among