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UNIVERSITY COURIER.
THE INFLUENCE OF A COLLEGIATE EDUCATION.
It is undoubtedly the natural right of a student to stand upon Mt. Oread and gaze with satisfaction on the beautiful city of Lawrence, surrounded as it is by sloping hills and far reaching valleys: his very soul is made to sympathise with nature as he looks upon her wondrous works. His eye loves the blue vault of heaven, the fields, the trees and the river winding far into the distance. To him there is an inspiration in the healthful atmosphere: he scans the distant horizon and "watches the ever changing clouds go fleeting past and leave him to muse upon their mysterious loveliness." He gazes with admiration upon our alma mater, towering high in her rocky firmness, and within his inmost heart he appreciates all the advantages she offers.
Before proceeding to my subject it will not be improper for me to state a few things in regard to the importance of literary societies in a University. We may say that such societies are valuable in four ways:
Firstly. They make us self-reliant, and wear away by constant practice the usual timidity of our boys and the almost excessive modesty of some of our girls. When we have learned how to think and then to express what we have thought, we have made one step towards becoming men and doing manly actions.
Secondly. Societies cultivate extemporaneous speaking and the art of elocution, which is considered by a great many persons of distinction as writers and speakers, to be one of the best of human acquirements.
Thirdly. The acquisition of knowledge is reduced to a practice, and we are even stimulated in its pursuits.
Fourthly. The bonds of friendship are strengthened, good manners are cultivated, and unrivalled social influences are exerted. All students ought to join a good, orderly, progressive, literary society; because in such, some of the most important branches of learning are taught, which can be learned as well in no other place.
The influence of education upon civilization and the development of the world, is a subject, the discussion of which, to use an old trite expression, would require volumes to discuss accurately and adequately; and yet we have the right to talk about almost any thing, but always within the bounds of propriety. It is my intention to pass over the almost unlimited amount of human progress neither rapidly nor slowly, but at a moderate length, to show my views on this subject.
A collegiate education has always had a great influence upon politics and free government. Our representatives generally obtain their education inside of college walls. There are those in this world who show much shrewdness, although they have never received education either collegiate or otherwise. Yet they would have been far more useful citizens had they become educated and thereby fitted themselves for true citizenship. The people in our country are each and every one, sovereigns; they can never wisely manage the affairs of government if left to grope along in ignorance and mental degradation. One of the axioms of our government is that the people must be intelligent. Every young man that has a collegiate education becomes a sensible voter and an intelligent citizen. The voting masses should be educated masses. There are always some things which even the most learned do not understand, but every new ray of knowledge dispels some darkness, under the cover of which, corruption does so much deadly work.
The college Professor is an important character in the political and social world. His influence is felt everywhere; his ideas are inculcated in his pupils; thus we see how important it is that our teachers should be well educated in points of almost vital importance to the student. Their position is at once grave and peculiar; the constitution of a student's mind, and the direction of his thoughts are determined by his surroundings, and those surroundings should be determined by good men. Education quickens the spirits of our students and brightens that golden chain which counteracts injurious things and serves to quicken our impulses to a higher and purer life.
Education exerts a great influence in counteracting wrong tendencies. Through the influence of education our glorious country will reach that period in its existence which our great statesmen and orators continually point out to us. But while the public mind is more dazzled by these accounts of our resources, and of our prompt and powerful progress, than by the stories of mythology, we must, by universal education, guard against those unseen forces that find their origin and development down deep in the hearts of that portion of the American people who would work our ruin and blast our prosperity. No matter where we are born, whether in Europe, Asia or America, we are responsible to one great, unlimited power for our limited power. This one principle stands out face to face with us in our civilization. We can live up to this principle only by education; then if we become educated and thus give our influence to education, so that this influence really controls us in all our actions, both political and social, what sublime glory is in store for us! No doubt each and every one of us often look forward into the future and wonder whether there will be some thing for us to do. The experience of others tells us that if we are willing to work in the world's great field, there will always be a place for each of us.
Education has a natural tendency to elevate. It is with the mind as with the soil, cultivation shows its advantages. The higher the course of education we take, the more severe are the studies and the sterner the discipline the mind receives. The college should be recognized as a place of privilege and honor. It raises us to an advanced degree of civilization. Some cannot or will not appreciate all the advantages offered. Some young men are said to have felt the power of religious influences moulding their minds and hearts. Sometimes a young man fails, and sometimes, by an almost divine power, he is prevented from going further on his course of destruction, and brought back to the path of duty. In college we find the best test of character. Like silver and gold tried by fire, her true sons are produced. Our minds were not given to us for our own private use alone; and having obtained an education from others, we should use our influence and resources for the good of the public. We are all bound by our indebtedness to educators and their teachings, to do what we can to promote the best interests of society. It must be clear to all that our influence depends upon our intellectual training; then our influence is the influence of education. Educated men only, assist in forming public opinion, in making plans for improvement in educating the people, in benevolence, and all in all have an influence in promoting the social, physical and political interests of the world. The influence of education, therefore, is a great blessing to mankind. Education raises a higher order of men and