rent, 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