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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。 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；
〃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
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？
End