why go to college-第4部分
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village； the plainest home； give ample space for the resources
of the trained college woman。 And the reason why such homes and
such villages are so often barren of grace and variety is just
because these fine qualities have not ruled them。 The higher
graces of civilization halt among us； dainty and finished ways of
living give place to common ways； while vulgar tastes； slatternly
habits； clouds and despondency reign in the house。 Little children
under five years of age die in needless thousands because of the
dull； unimaginative women on whom they depend。 Such women have
been satisfied with just getting along； instead of packing everything
they do with brains； instead of studying the best possible way of
doing everything small or large； for there is always a best way；
whether of setting a table； of trimming a hat； or teaching a child
to read。 And this taste for perfection can be cultivated； indeed；
it must be cultivated； if our standards of living are to be raised。
There is now scientific knowledge enough； there is money enough；
to prevent the vast majority of the evils which afflict our social
organism； if mere knowledge or wealth could avail； but the greater
difficulty is to make intelligence； character； good taste；
unselfishness prevail。
What； then； are the interests which powerfully appeal to mind
and heart； and so are fitted to become the strengthening companions
of a woman's life？ I shall mention only three； all of them such
as are elaborately fostered by college life。 The first is the love
of great literature。 I do not mean that use of books by which a
man may get what is called a good education and so be better
qualified for the battle of life； nor do I mention books in their
character as reservoirs of knowledge； books which we need for
special purposes； and which are no longer of consequence when
our purpose with them is served。 I have in mind the great books；
especially the great poets； books to be adopted as a resource and
a solace。 The chief reason why so many people do not know how
to make comrades of such books is because they have come to them
too late。 We have in this country enormous numbers of readers；
probably a larger number who read； and who read many hours in the
week； than has ever been known elsewhere in the world。 But what
do these millions read besides the newspapers？ Possibly a
denominational religious weekly and another journal of fashion
or business。 Then come the thousands who read the best magazines；
and whatever else is for the moment popular in novels and poetry
the last dialect story； the fashionable poem； the questionable but
talked…of novel。 Let a violent attack be made on the decency
of a new story and instantly； if only it is clever； its author
becomes famous。
But the fashions in reading of a restless racethe women too idle；
the men too heavily workedI will not discuss here。 Let light
literature be devourered by our populace as his drug is taken
by the opium…eater； and with a similar narcotic effect。 We can
only seek out the children； and hope by giving them from babyhood
bits of the noblest literature； to prepare them for the great
opportunities of mature life。 I urge； therefore； reading as a
mental stimulus； as a solace in trouble； a perpetual source of
delight； and I would point out that we must not delay to make
the great friendships that await us on the library shelves until
sickness shuts the door on the outer world； or death enters the
home and silences the voices that once helped to make these
friendships sweet。 If Homer and Shakespeare and Wordsworth and
Browning are to have meaning for us when we need them most； it
will be because they come to us as old familiar friends whose
influences have permeated the glad and busy days before。 The
last time I heard James Russell Lowell talk to college girls； he
said；for he was too ill to say many words〃I have only this one
message to leave with you。 In all your work in college never
lose sight of the reason why you have come here。 It is not that
you may get something by which to earn your bread； but that every
mouthful of bread may be the sweeter to your taste。〃
And this is the power possessed by the mighty dead；men of every
time and nation； whose voices death cannot silence； who are waiting
even at the poor man's elbow； whose illuminating words may be
had for the price of a day's work in the kitchen or the street；
for lack of love of whom many a luxurious home is a dull and
solitary spot； breeding misery and vice。 Now the modern college
is especially equipped to introduce its students to such literature。
The library is at last understood to be the heart of the college。
The modern librarian is not the keeper of books； as was his
predecessor； but the distributer of them； and the guide to their
resources； proud when he increases the use of his treasures。 Every
language； ancient or modern； which contains a literature is now
taught in college。 Its history is examined； its philology； its
masterpieces； and more than ever is English literature studied
and loved。 There is now every opportunity for the college student
to become an expert in the use of his own tongue and pen。 What
other men painfully strive for he can enjoy to the full with
comparatively little effort。
But there is a second invigorating interest to which college
training introduces its student。 I mean the study of nature；
intimacy with the strange and beautiful world in which we live。
〃Nature never did betray the heart that loved her；〃 sang her
poet high priest。 When the world has been too much with us；
nothing else is so refreshing to tired eyes and mind as woods
and water； and an intelligent knowledge of the life within them。
For a generation past there has been a well…nigh universal turning
of the population toward the cities。 In 1840 only nine per cent
of our people lived in cities of 8；000 inhabitants or more。 Now
more than a third of us are found in cities。 But the electric…car；
the telephone； the bicycle； still keep avenues to the country open。
Certain it is that city people feel a growing hunger for the
country； particularly when grass begins to grow。 This is a healthy
taste； and must increase the general knowledge and love of nature。
Fortunate are the little children in those schools whose teachers
know and love the world in which they live。 Their young eyes are
early opened to the beauty of birds and trees and plants。 Not
only should we expect our girls to have a feeling for the fine
sunset or the wide…reaching panorama of field and water； but to
know something also about the less obvious aspects of nature；
its structure； its methods of work； and the endless diversity of
its parts。 No one can have read Matthew Arnold's letters to his
wife； his mother； and his sister； without being struck by the
immense enjoyment he took throughout his singularly simple and
hard…working life in flowers and trees and rivers。 The English
lake country had given him this happy inheritance； with everywhere
its sound of running water and its wealth of greenery。 There is
a close connection between the marvellous unbroken line of English
song； and the passionate love of the Englishman for a home in the
midst of birds； trees； and green fields。
〃The world is so full of a number of things；
That I think we should all be as happy as kings；〃
is the opinion of everybody who knows nature as did Robert Louis
Stevenson。 And so our college student may begin to know it。 Let
her enter the laboratories and investigate for herself。 Let her
make her delicate experiments with the blowpipe or the balance；
let her track mysterious life from one hiding…place to another；
let her 〃name all the birds without a gun；〃 and make intimates
of flower and fish and butterflyand she is dull indeed if breezy
tastes do not follow her through life； and forbid any of her days
to be empty of intelligent enjoyment。 〃Keep your years beautiful；
make your own atmosphere；〃 was the parting advice of my college
president； himself a living illustration of what he said。
But it is a short step from the love of the complex and engaging
world in which we live to the love of our comrades in it。 Accordingly
the third precious interest to be cultivated by the college student
is an interest in people。 The scholar today is not a being who
dwells apart in his cloister； the monk's successor； he is a leader
of the thoughts and conduct of men。 So the new subjects which
stand beside the classics and mathematics of medieval culture are
history； economics； ethics； and sociology。 Although these subjects
are as yet merely in the making； thousands of students are flocking
to their investigation； and are going out to try their tentative
knowledge in College Settlements and City Missions and Children's
Aid Societies。 The best instincts of generous youth are becoming
enlisted in these living themes。 And why should our daughters
remain aloof from the most absorbing work of modern city life；
work quite as fascinating to young women as to young men？ During
many years of listening to college sermons and public lectures in
Wellesley； I always noticed a quickened attention in the audience
whenever the discussion touched politics or theology。 These are；
after all； the permanent and peremptory interests； and they should
be given their full place in a healthy and vigorous life。
But if that life includes a love of books； of nature； of people；
it will naturally turn to enlarged conceptions of religionmy
sixth and last gift of college life。 In his first sermon as
Master of Balliol College； Dr。 Jowett spoke of the college； 〃First
as a place of education； secondly as a place of society； thirdly
as a place of religion。〃 He observed that 〃men of very great
ability often fail in life because they are unable to play their
part with effect。 They are shy； awkward； self…conscious； deficient
in manners； faults which are as ruinous as vices。〃 The supreme
end of college training； he said； 〃is usefulness in after life。〃
Similarly； when the city of Cambridge celebrated in Harvard's
Memorial Hall the life and death of the gallant young ex…governor
of Massachusetts； William E
