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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
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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。 Russell； men did well to
hang above his portrait some wise words he has lately said； 〃Never forget
the everlasting difference between making a living and making a life。〃
That he himself never forgot； and it was well to remind citizens and
students of it； as they stood there facing too the ancient words all Harvard
men face when they take their college degrees and go out into the world；
〃They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament； and they
that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever。〃 Good
words these to go out from college with。 The girls of Wellesley gather
every morning at chapel to bow their heads together for a moment before
they scatter among the libraries and lecture…rooms and begin the
experiments of the new day。 And always their college motto meets the
eyes that are raised to its penetrating message； 〃Not to be ministered unto；
but to minister。〃 How many a young heart has loyally responded； 〃And to
give life a ransom for many。〃 That is the 〃Wellesley spirit；〃 and the same
sweet spirit of devout service has gone forth from all our college halls。 In
any of them one may catch the echo of Whittier's noble psalm；
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WHY GO TO COLLEGE？
〃O Lord and Master of us all Whate'er our name or sign； We own Thy
sway； we hear Thy call； We test our lives by Thine。〃
That is the supreme test of life；its consecrated serviceableness。 The
Master of Balliol was right； the brave men and women who founded our
schools and colleges were not wrong。 〃For Christ and the Church〃
universities were set up in the wilderness of New England； for the large
service of the State they have been founded and maintained at public cost
in every section of the country where men have settled； from the
Alleghanies across the prairies and Rocky Mountains down to the Golden
Gate。 Founded primarily as seats of learning； their techers have been not
only scientists and linguists； philosophers and historians； but men and
women of holy purposes； sound patriotism； courageous convictions；
refined and noble tastes。 Set as these teachers have been upon a hill； their
light has at no period of our country's history been hid。 They have formed
a large factor in our civilization； and in their own beautiful characters have
continually shown us how to combine religion and life； the ideal and
practical； the human and the divine。
Such are some of the larger influences to be had from college life。 It is
true all the good gifts I have named may be secured without the aid of the
college。 We all know young men and women who have had no college
training； who are as cultivated； rational； resourceful； and happy as any
people we know； who excel in every one of these particulars the college
graduates about them。 I believe they often bitterly regret the lack of a
college education。 And we see young men and women going through
college deaf and blind to their great chances there； and afterwards
curiously careless and wasteful of the best things in life。 While all this is
true； it is true too that to the open…minded and ambitious boy or girl of
moderate health； ability； self…control； and studiousness； a college course
offers the most attractive； easy； and probable way of securing happiness
and health； good friends and high ideals； permanent interests of a noble
kind； and large capacity for usefulness in the world。 It has been well said
that the ability to see great things large and little things small is the final
test of education。 The foes of life； especially of women's lives； are caprice；
wearisome incapacity and petty judgments。 From these oppressive foes we
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long to escape to the rule of right reason； where all things are possible； and
life becomes a glory instead of a grind。 No college； with the best teachers
and collections in the world； can by its own power impart all this to any
woman。 But if one has set her face in that direction； where else can she
find so many hands reached out to help； so many encouraging voices in
the air； so many favoring influences filling the days and nights？
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