The New York herald., 1922-09-27
Overcrowded Colleges.
DO Young Men Go to Gain Kn0ul.
edge or to Enjoy Athleties2

To THE NEW York HEnALp Every
day when read THE New York HER
AID / read its editorial articles and I
seldom find anything but satisfaction in
so doing But will you allow me to take
Issue on a paragraph concerning the
overplus Of college students? You say:
Too many men go to college because
too many foolish parents do not want
their sons to be good carpenters when
they are best fitted to be good carpen-
ters and might, as good carpenters, be-
come big and shining figures In the
building world; do not want them to be
good blacksmlths or gardeners or other
workers. as the case may be. when that
is what they are cut out for and could
make success at-possibly a notable
success.
There is some truth in that: but I
think not the whole truth, probably not
the principal part OF the truth. Suppose
young man has it in him--to use the
colloquial but most forcible phrase-to
be a superior mechanic. What chance
has he to attain such ambition so long
as the labor unions exist? BY the de-
Greg OF their Medes and Persians he
must not dare to rise above mediocrity.
He must commit to memory such prov
cribs as you may strike light IlyI when
you're working for the Government"
He may find himself at the bench elbow
to elbow with an incorrigible slouch.
And he will know that II the employer
ventures to discharge the slouch the or
der will come quickly to drop tools and
walk out unless the said slouch is re-
stored to the payroll. One slouch with
union card In his pocket is majority.
Why should not our young man prefer
TO be a mediocre student with some as
sociates better than mediocre rather
than be n mediocre mechanic with none
Abolish the labor unions and our
young man working in wood may rival
Griniing Gibbons, or working In metal
may rediscover some of the lost arts.
But there Is a larger explanation OF
the overcrowding OF our colleges. For
years the conductors Of these institu-
tions have had such craving for in
creased attendance that they have prac-
ticaliy surrendered to the craze for ath-
letics. and now II has overwhelmed them.
Aa the good old lady said on looking at
Niagara Falls. just think of tho cnor-
nifty of It. Just think OF the students
taxing themselves 10 provide a training
table where q picked team can have
special cooking and suck raw eggs to fit
them for a match gamel And then
think OF that team leaving their studies,
packing their kits and travelling a hun
dred miles TO play against the team OF
another institution OF learning
In William De Miles play OF Strong
heart" there is we'll deserved bit OF
satire in that passage where the stu
dents, wishing to have the hero on their
nine. though he could not pass cxami.
nation in long division of canis morda.
bit. have him enter the college as a stu
dent Of art. On certain occasion one
OF the most eminent OF our college pres
idents few to the rope and rang the
great bell because news had come that
the team that went from his institution
had won a match game. Was he ever
known TO exhibit any such enthusiasm
over students that had excelled In
Greek, or Latin, or mathematics, OF
chemistry. or geology. or American his.
tory. or the writing of English? Yet
that the boys might acquire those things
many Of their fathers had tolled and
many OF their mothers had economical
not expecting to see them come hom'