why go to college(为什么上大学)-第6章
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await us on the library shelves until sickness shuts the door on the outer
world； or death enters the home and silences the voices that once helped to
make these friendships sweet。 If Homer and Shakespeare and Wordsworth
and Browning are to have meaning for us when we need them most； it will
be because they come to us as old familiar friends whose influences have
permeated the glad and busy days before。 The last time I heard James
Russell Lowell talk to college girls； he said；for he was too ill to say
many words〃I have only this one message to leave with you。 In all your
work in college never lose sight of the reason why you have come here。 It
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is not that you may get something by which to earn your bread； but that
every mouthful of bread may be the sweeter to your taste。〃
And this is the power possessed by the mighty dead；men of every
time and nation； whose voices death cannot silence； who are waiting even
at the poor man's elbow； whose illuminating words may be had for the
price of a day's work in the kitchen or the street； for lack of love of whom
many a luxurious home is a dull and solitary spot； breeding misery and
vice。 Now the modern college is especially equipped to introduce its
students to such literature。 The library is at last understood to be the heart
of the college。 The modern librarian is not the keeper of books； as was his
predecessor； but the distributer of them； and the guide to their resources；
proud when he increases the use of his treasures。 Every language； ancient
or modern； which contains a literature is now taught in college。 Its history
is examined； its philology； its masterpieces； and more than ever is English
literature studied and loved。 There is now every opportunity for the
college student to become an expert in the use of his own tongue and pen。
What other men painfully strive for he can enjoy to the full with
comparatively little effort。
But there is a second invigorating interest to which college training
introduces its student。 I mean the study of nature； intimacy with the
strange and beautiful world in which we live。 〃Nature never did betray the
heart that loved her；〃 sang her poet high priest。 When the world has been
too much with us； nothing else is so refreshing to tired eyes and mind as
woods and water； and an intelligent knowledge of the life within them。 For
a generation past there has been a well…nigh universal turning of the
population toward the cities。 In 1840 only nine per cent of our people lived
in cities of 8；000 inhabitants or more。 Now more than a third of us are
found in cities。 But the electric…car； the telephone； the bicycle； still keep
avenues to the country open。 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
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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
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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；
