UNIVERSITY COURIER.
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pupils of both sexes, and for some time practically was a high school for East Hampton and the surrounding country. Mr. Williston was a manufacturer whose enterprises laid the foundation for the prosperity of the town. His success was always held subordinate to higher aims, and the seminary grew out of his devotion of a large sum of money in 1832 to benevolent purposes.
The leading characteristic of the school is in the attempt which it makes to carry out the idea of the New England High School in education. It was at the outset like other high schools open to both boys and girls, but is now exclusively for boys. The founder was explicit in his wishes that a high English education should be given side by side with the classical, and the school is aiming to do what the more distinctly classical academies have not attempted or have failed in accomplishing. It will be the more interesting to watch the development of Williston Seminary from the fact that the tendency of secondary schools in New England has been and continues in an opposite direction, for the gradual extension of the classical academies has accompanied a diminution of classical scholars in the town of high schools except in great cities, and the economical questions raised respecting education are likely to lead to a further separation of the policy of these two classes of schools.
All of the schools which we have thus considered have been in a measure modifications of the New England high school except the extinct Round Hill School.
The Latin School of Boston in its work and general policy is to be classed with the academies which we have been considering; in its government it is entirely distinct. It has no endowment and its doors are open only to Boston boys or those who have guardians there, so that it is a constituent part of the public school system. The best boys of the city went to it, and private schools preparatory to college were obliged to maintain a high standard to compete with it at all.
The academies of New England rest their name for good work upon the preparation which they have given boys for the power to use college rightly. Just so far, too, as college life means also the maturing into settled purpose of a boy's forming nature, these schools must be accounted most successful which set before themselves the aim and achieve it, of presenting their boys for examination not only before the college professor but before all those silent tests which college life imposes upon the fresh young hearts that enter it. It is noticeable that the tendency in New England is to delegate to the great academies the work of preparing boys for college. Again the concentration of boys in the academies brings certain great schools more and more closely into connection with the colleges, and the question has been raised whether the connection shall not be made so close that the college shall receive a boy from certain academies without examination, throwing upon the schools the aims of proving that they have qualified their graduates for admission to college.
However, these separate questions may be determined there can be no doubt that the classical schools described have not only a historic foundation and an honorable name, but that there are elements of vitality and growth in it which makes changes very possible. Of nearly all it may be said that with whatever pride they look back upon what has been achieved there is in them an eagerness, an expectation, a resolution which are not merely the result of bright competition but of individual ambition to attain ideals pushed a little forward.
SOCIETY NOTES.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.—Organized October 22nd,1882.Meets in chapel of Universalist Church, corner Kentucky and Quincy streets.Bible meetings, Thursday evenings,7 to 8 o'clock. Young men's meetings,Sundays 4 to 5 p.m.All students cordially invited to attend both meetings.
W. T. FINDLEY, F. H. CLARK,
Cor. Secretary. President.
ENGINEERING SOCIETY.—Organized November 24th, 1882. Meets every alternate Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, in Prof. Marvin's room. Regular membership restricted to collegiate engineering students. Members of the Faculty and Alumni admitted as honorary members.
ROBT. M. OSMOND,
Secretary.
ALBERT RIFFLE President.
Dead.
LOCALS.
Kikkabe.
Receptions.
Delta Dozen.
Ingersoll accepts.
Dart wears the bottle.
Thanksgiving accidents.
Annual contest, December 15.
Jane Eyre attracted the students.
Rumors of expulsion are thick in the air.
Transit of Venus, December 6. Reserved seats may be procured of Prof. Smith.
On the 21st ult. a number of our students, consisting of F. C. Thompson, Frank Hutchins, Walter Britton, Glen Miller, W. W. Douglas, W. J. Morse, C. E. Fearl, and P. H. Reed went to Kansas City to hear Robert G. Ingersoll lecture on "What shall I do to be saved." Arriving in the city after dark, the committee from the literary societies called upon the great orator at the Coates House. Col. Ingersoll received the boys in that frank and genial manner for which he is noted. He stated that he would be pleased to accept the invitation, if business in Washington did not prevent. He promised to write definitely in January. He took great interest in the University, making inquiries to the minutest details—asking the number of professors and of students, the number of the latter who supported themselves, their average expenses, the price of board, how much the institution received from the State, and its prospects, "The Kansas school system," said he, "is one of the best in the United States." He expressed surprise at the growth of the State since his last visit. He spoke at some length regarding the recent Republican disasters and their lessons. Upon their leaving after half an hour's pleasant conversation, he invited the boys to take seats on the stage during the lecture, and when the time arrived secured them the best of positions. As an orator Col. Ingersoll probably stands first in America. Lawrence sent down a large representation both of those who admired his doctrines and those who desired simply to listen to his eloquence.