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Why Go to College？
by Alice Freeman Palmer
BY ALICE FREEMAN PALMER
Formerly President of Wellesley College
To a largely increasing number of young girls college doors are
opening every year。 Every year adds to the number of men who
feel as a friend of mine； a successful lawyer in a great city； felt
when in talking of the future of his four little children he said；
〃For the two boys it is not so serious； but I lie down at night
afraid to die and leave my daughters only a bank account。〃 Year
by year； too； the experiences of life are teaching mothers that
happiness does not necessarily come to their daughters when
accounts are large and banks are sound； but that on the contrary
they take grave risks when they trust everything to accumulated
wealth and the chance of a happy marriage。 Our American girls
themselves are becoming aware that they need the stimulus； the
discipline； the knowledge； the interests of the college in addition
to the school； if they are to prepare themselves for the most
serviceable lives。
But there are still parents who say； 〃There is no need that my
daughter should teach； then why should she go to college？〃 I will
not reply that college training is a life insurance for a girl；
a pledge that she possesses the disciplined ability to earn a
living for herself and others in case of need； for I prefer to
insist on the importance of giving every girl； no matter what her
present circumstances； a special training in some one thing by
which she can render society service； not amateur but of an expert
sort； and service too for which it will be willing to pay a price。
The number of families will surely increase who will follow the
example of an eminent banker whose daughters have been given
each her specialty。 One has chosen music； and has gone far with
the best masters in this country and in Europe； so far that she
now holds a high rank among musicians at home and abroad。 Another
has taken art； and has not been content to paint pretty gifts for
her friends； but in the studios of New York； Munich； and Paris；
she has won the right to be called an artist； and in her studio at
home to paint portraits which have a market value。 A third has
proved that she can earn her living； if need be； by her exquisite
jellies； preserves； and sweetmeats。 Yet the house in the mountains；
the house by the sea； and the friends in the city are not neglected；
nor are these young women found less attractive because of their
special accomplishments。
While it is not true that all girls should go to college any more
than that all boys should go； it is nevertheless true that they
should go in greater numbers than at present。 They fail to go
because they； their parents and their teachers； do not see clearly
the personal benefits distinct from the commercial value of a
college training。 I wish here to discuss these benefits； these
larger gifts of the college life；what they may be； and for whom
they are waiting。
It is undoubtedly true that many girls are totally unfitted by
home and school life for a valuable college course。 These joys
and successes； these high interests and friendships； are not for
the self…conscious and nervous invalid； nor for her who in the
exuberance of youth recklessly ignores the laws of a healthy life。
The good society of scholars and of libraries and laboratories has
no place and no attraction for her who finds no message in Plato；
no beauty in mathematical order； and who never longs to know
the meaning of the stars over her head or the flowers under her
feet。 Neither will the finer opportunities of college life appeal
to one who； until she is eighteen （is there such a girl in this
country？）； has felt no passion for the service of others； no desire
to know if through history or philosophy； or any study of the laws
of society； she can learn why the world is so sad； so hard； so
selfish as she finds it； even when she looks upon it from the
most sheltered life。 No； the college cannot be； should not try
to be； a substitute for the hospital； reformatory or kindergarten。
To do its best work it should be organized for the strong； not
for the weak； for the high…minded； self…controlled； generous；
and courageous spirits； not for the indifferent； the dull； the idle；
or those who are already forming their characters on the amusement
theory of life。 All these perverted young people may； and often
do； get large benefit and invigoration； new ideals； and unselfish
purposes from their four years' companionship with teachers and
comrades of a higher physical； mental； and moral stature than
their own。 I have seen girls change so much in college that I have
wondered if their friends at home would know them；the voice；
the carriage； the unconscious manner； all telling a story of new
tastes and habits and loves and interests； that had wrought out
in very truth a new creature。 Yet in spite of this I have sometimes
thought that in college more than elsewhere the old law holds；
〃To him that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance；
but from him who hath not shall be taken away even that which
he seemeth to have。〃 For it is the young life which is open and
prepared to receive which obtains the gracious and uplifting
influences of college days。 What； then； for such persons are
the rich and abiding rewards of study in college or university？
Pre…eminently the college is a place of education。 That is the
ground of its being。 We go to college to know； assured that
knowledge is sweet and powerful； that a good education emancipates
the mind and makes us citizens of the world。 No college which does
not thoroughly educate can be called good； no matter what else it
does。 No student who fails to get a little knowledge on many
subjects； and much knowledge on some； can be said to have succeeded；
whatever other advantages she may have found by the way。 It is
a beautiful and significant fact that in all times the years of
learning have been also the years of romance。 Those who love
girls and boys pray that our colleges may be homes of sound learning；
for knowledge is the condition of every college blessing。 〃Let no
man incapable of mathematics enter here；〃 Plato is reported to
have inscribed over his Academy door。 〃Let no one to whom hard
study is repulsive hope for anything from us；〃 American colleges
might paraphrase。 Accordingly in my talk today I shall say little
of the direct benefits of knowledge which the college affords。
These may be assumed。 It is on their account that one knocks
at the college door。 But seeking this first； a good many other
things are added。 I want to point out some of these collateral
advantages of going to college； or rather to draw attention to some
of the many forms in which the winning of knowledge presents itself。
The first of these is happiness。 Everybody wants 〃a good time；〃
especially every girl in her teens。 A good time； it is true； does
not always in these years mean what it will mean by and by； any
more than the girl of eighteen plays with the doll which entranced
the child of eight。 It takes some time to discover that work is
the best sort of play； and some people never discover it at all。
But when mothers ask such questions as these： 〃How can I make
my daughter happy？〃 〃How can I give her the best society？〃 〃How can
she have a good time？〃 the answer in most cases is simple。 Send
her to college；to almost any college。 Send her because there is
no other place where between eighteen and twenty…two she is so
likely to have a genuinely good time。 Merely for good times； for
romance； for society； college life offers unequalled opportunities。
Of course no idle person can possibly be happy； even for a day；
nor she who makes a business of trying to amuse herself。 For full
happiness； though its springs are within； we want health and friends
and work and objects of aspiration。 〃We live by admiration； hope；
and love；〃 says Wordsworth。 The college abounds in all three。
In the college time new powers are sprouting； and intelligence；
merriment； truthfulness and generosity are more natural than
the opposite qualities often become in later years。 An exhilarating
atmosphere pervades the place。 We who are in it all the time
feel that we live at the fountain of perpetual youth； and those
who take but a four years' bath in it become more cheerful； strong；
and full of promise than they are ever likely to find themselves
again； for a college is a kind of compendium of the things that
most men long for。 It is usually planted in a beautiful spot； the
charm of trees and water being added to stately buildings and
stimulating works of art。 Venerable associations of the past
hallow its halls。 Leaders in the stirring world of to…day return
at each commencement to share the fresh life of the new class。
Books； pictures； music； collections； appliances in every field；
learned teachers； mirthful friends； athletics for holidays； the
best words of the best men for holy days；all are here。 No wonder
that men look back upon their college life as upon halcyon days；
the romantic period of youth。 No wonder that Dr。 Holmes's poems
to his Harvard classmates f