Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-19
"College Training Pays Depew

careers Of its graduates Of 1915 and
found that ten years later the average
income OF members Of the class was
over $1,000. have heard that
William Lyon Phelps said at a Phi
Beta Kappa dinner that as far as he
knew no Yale Phi Beta Kappa man
had ever been failure in life. A
good record In college becomes a
pretty good insurance that one will
get on in the world"
1 noticed the familiar key of
scholarship dangling from the watch
chain Of Senator Depew--displayed
so prominently that one could not
help but infer that of the many deco
rations that have been showered upon
him in the course OF his iIlustrious
career the honor OF being a Phi Beta
Kappa man is very dear to his heart.
"A college education pays both in
cash and culture. Our colleges are
certainly supply the nation with lead
ers," concluded the Senator.
Defends Foot Ball.
But, Senator Depew. what do you
think about the charge that big busi-
ness foot ball Is running our colleges
intellectually. or that boys In college
are deficient in character training?"
II don't believe it." Senator Depew
replied promptly. "Our colleges are
making money out of foot ball. but
that money is used to promote attn
letics for ali the students. It Is foot
ball that pays the way OF other sports
and makes it possible to supply the
equipment for interclass sports. If
foot ball didn't pay for that, tuition
bills might have to. Furthermore, our
foot ball players must keep up In their
lessons. Their intellectual develop
nent Is not suspended during the
foot ball season. Only a year or so
back wasn't the captain of the Yale
foot ball team taken Off the team be-
cause his marks were low? No, the
foot ball tail is not wagging the dog
of education"
but what about the charges that
our colleges are too full Of social dis
fractions and amusement-thatt these
evil influences are developing. on the
wholesale, snobs and sluggards?"
asked
II haven't, found it SO with the
college men have met" replied
Senator Depew. "A very substantial
percentage Of the boys attending
college today In the country are work
ing their way through. This applies
especially to Yale. Harvard and
Princeton. That fact should counter
act the many false rumors that the
big universities afford education only
for the rich.
Life More Interesting.
Boys are just as serious today as
they were in my day. The only differ
ence Is that they have more to think
about today Higher education today
is infinitely better and furnishes more
opportunities for life than it did when
entered college 10 years ago.
when I graduated from college
it was either the law, the ministry
or medicine for the graduate. To
day there are 5000 occupations open
to the college graduate. Life is fuller
today than it was 20 years ago. Boys
are working just as hard. thinking
just as much about their futures, as
the students Of 70 years ago. But
modern life is much more complicated
We can't be so prosperous and not
want to play a little. Our colleges
are not amusement crazy. Life in col
lege has merely become more inter
esting. But so has life in general.
Our colleges are making men, and
useful men. Our colleges are supply
ing the Nation with leaders. Gu,
colleges are not amusement parks MOI
incubators of snobs or sluggards
Education is all right in America
If / had a boy, / would send him tC
college and give him great oppor
tunity."
Copyright. 1850