USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Delaware > Fifty years of history of the Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio : 1844-1894 > Part 14
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Ever since the invention of letters, the world has experi- enced periodic literary revivals. There was one at the time of Solomon, for he said, "Of making many books, there is no end." There was one at the time of Shakspeare; within fifty-two years in the little country of England-scarcely larger than the State of Ohio-there were two hundred and thirty-three poets who published their works in volumes.
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The present is a time of great literary activity. In short, everybody is a graduate, and everybody is in literature !
Persons go into literature professionally, or to make it merely an avocation. The professional writer, unless he has an independent fortune, would better secure a salary on a newspaper. This is the gala-age of journalism. When I graduated-in 1872 (for I was one of the girls of the Ohio Wesleyan Female College), the subject of my essay was "Magazine Literature," and I expatiated on its facility and luxuriance, but I had no conception of the magazine litera- ture of to-day. Then there were no newspaper syndicates. An illustrated daily paper was unknown. Now the news- paper reporter governs public opinion. No one dares to offend him. He ought to be a good and conscientious man. A few weeks ago, Sir Isaac Pittman, the inventor of stenog- raphy, was knighted by Queen Victoria. The newspaper is a splendid opening for women. An editor said to me, "I need both men and women on my staff. To fly around and get the news, I want the inen. For the embellishments, I prefer the women."
I have a weakness for books written by persons who made literature merely an avocation. You remember that Charles Lamb spent his life as clerk in a commercial house. When his Essays were published and advertised as "The Works of Charles Lamb," he made a joke about it. He said, "My works, my works! They ought to be called my play, my recreation." The trouble about this kind of writing is to find the time. I am sorry that in America there is no chance of honorable imprisonment. Some of the best books extant would never have been written if their authors had not been cast into solitary confinement. But, since no one else will imprison us, we must imprison ourselves. We must say No to dissipations. We must determine to write a fixed time
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each day. However, if that is impossible, it is still no ex- cuse. Mrs. Browning wrote her masterpiece, "Aurora Leigh," in the intervals of social and domestic affairs. She had her pencil and paper at hand; she would write a few lines ; if any person came in, she thrust them out of sight; no one suspected she was writing an immortal poem. I am ambitious for our business men and our professional men. When I look at a successful business man and try to imagine all that he knows about life, I exclaim, "Oh, what a glorious book it would make if I could see the world through this inan's eyes !" I should like to see Mr. Day, or Mr. DeCamp, or Mr. Fairbanks write a great poein, a fine novel, or a dig- nified history. In England, it is not uncommon for members of Parliament to distinguish themselves in literature. Bul- wer, with all his affairs, wrote two hours every day. D'Israeli wrote novels, not very good ones, but they extended his rep- utation. Lord Macaulay is a brilliant instance. Justin Mc- Carthy wrote a good history and good novels. Mr. Glad- stone is an author. Such has not been the case with our senators and congressmen. Henry Cabot Lodge has written a few biographies-I can think of no other. Mr. Blaine wrote his "Twenty Years in Congress," and Mr. Grant his "Memoirs," but both after they had retired from public life.
Theological graduates have acquitted themselves more creditably. They have their prototype in John Wesley. There never was a busier man, yet he found time to write in- structive books for his people, he wrote hymns, he wrote at least one good love-poem, when he was disappointed in love (a man writes poetry then if he never does again), and he wrote a delightful Journal. All our Methodist bishops have been industrious men. Bishop Thomson, for whom this Hall is named ; his Travels and Essays are as fresh and de- lightful to-day as when they were written. Here is Bishop
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Walden, who is always contributing articles to our fine peri- odicals. At the saddest time of iny life I was consoled by reading Bishop Foster's beautiful book, " Beyond the Grave." Dr. Payne has given us grand plans for "Character Build- ing." I am deeply indebted to Dr. McCabe. His explana- tion of "The Foreknowledge of God " straightened out my theological difficulties. All our Church papers are ably ed- ited by theological graduates, and theological graduates write most of the articles in them. One of my class-inates, Mrs. May Alden Ward, has written two delightful books, Biographies of Dante and Petrarch. Mrs. Ward is not a theological graduate, but her husband is. And here I wish to thank and praise Mrs. Donelson. She inspired her pu- pils with an enthusiasm for literature, she instilled correct literary taste, and when she bade us good-bye, she said, "Girls, don't give up your writing." That reminds me, to ask what shall the women write, the women who inake lit- erature merely an avocation? Let them write letters, and beautiful stories, and journals. Sainte Beuve, a delightful French critic, said, "Any moderately gifted and sensitive soul, who dares to write unaffectedly, possesses the material for a good romance."
We graduates are intellectually equipped for literature. But something else is necessary. Besides the head, there inust be a lieart. Besides knowledge, there must be wisdom. The writer needs a high and enthusiastic faith. The soul must not remain void. Talent will never flourish in an empty soul.
Then let us believe that in this world things gradually work together for good. Let us believe in a glorified condi- tion of things liereafter.
I toast The Graduate in Literature ! May he have a clear brain, keen and healthy senses, and may his creed be, opti- mism now, optimism forever.
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THE GRADUATE IN MEDICINE.
SPENCER M. FREE, M. D., Class of '77, of Du Bois, Pa.
The man who has received a college or university degree has a place in Medicine as well as in other callings. It is no mean place in these latter days, and within a few years the probability is that unless a man is a college graduate, he will have no place at all in this learned profession. Medicine is the art of preventing, curing or alleviating disease, and of remedying as far as possible the results of violence and accident.
Perhaps no question is of more interest to inan than the one of life; for what will a man not give for his life ? Theology claims to be the profession of the world, because it has to deal with the moral nature-the soul-which is eternal and hence of far greater import to man than life and his temporal affairs. The Christian physician ministers to both body and soul, and is the superior of his brother in theology or in the other walks of life.
May I pause long enough just here to impress upon each young man who will enter Medicine, the unequalled oppor- tunities for doing the work of our Master in this grandest of callings-for it is a calling.
Pleasant as it would be to contemplate the many thoughts springing out of this subject-the graduate in medicine- such as the position he holds in the medical teaching of the day, the social position he fills, the effect his presence and influence in the profession have upon the standard of the medical colleges of the world, etc., time will not permit. I must pause, however, to make the following statement: Whether Dr. A., who is a college graduate, will succeed better in the practice of medicine than will Dr. B., who is not, cannot be answered now because several things other
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than education are factors of success in medicine. It is beyond doubt, however, that Dr. A., with a college education, will succeed better than Dr. B. without one.
Equally agreeable would it be to discuss the question of the time required to complete a collegiate and a medical course, and whether it pays to wait so long before entering actively one's life work. I can stop only long enough to say that it more than pays to wait. Far better a few years of thorough, progressive, successful, effective work in the profession that leaves its impress on the age, than inany years of ordinary, indifferent effort that sends the worker into oblivion "unwept, unhonored and unsung." No surer truth has ere been said than that by Tennyson, " better fifty years of Europe than a cycle of Cathay."
How delightful an employment would it be to stand in this inspiring presence and briefly sketch the careers of the Mitchells, the Riggses, the Frys, the Kreiders, the Withrows, who have gone from these halls to grace the ranks of Medicine. But I must forego that delight. Our mother need not be ashamed of them. So nobly indeed have they done that not only do they greatly honor their beloved wife- medicine-but even add to the brilliancy of their mother and to the lustre of their charming sisters and brothers.
Pleasant as are these contemplations, I must pass them by to consider briefly but one question, the higher medical education and the necessity of a preliminary college training.
" I cannot understand," says Hoppe-Seyler, "how at the present day a physician can recognize, follow in their course and suitably treat diseases of the stomach and alimentary tract, of the blood, liver, kidneys and urinary passages, and the different forms of poisoning; how he can regulate the diet in these and constitutional diseases without knowledge of the methods of physiological chemistry and of its
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decisions on questions offering themselves for solution, and without practical training in their application."
To this we may add, how can any intelligent, conscientious man be willing to enter this great field of medicine, dealing as it does with human life, unless he has a thorough knowledge of man, of his diseases and of all measures useful for their relief or cure ?
No intelligent architect will construct a great and massive building upon a poor foundation ; that must be deep-even down to the rock; it must be broad and well cemented, or it will fail to support the superstructure. Many medical men cannot build large and magnificently, because their foundation will not support the structure. They feel their limitations and strive against them; but despite all efforts they are compelled to fall behind and to see other and younger men with more thoroughly trained minds pass on before.
The candidate for medical honors should have in addition to a good general education a reading knowledge of German, French, Latin and Greek. He should have a mind well trained to habits of thought, with its memory and reasoning powers thoroughly developed. In addition to these things, before entering a medical college he should be familiar with the vegetable and animal world, with preventive medicine, legal medicine, hygiene and medical history. How can he better obtain this knowledge and attain these qualities than by a classical or scientific course in a university? Following this, he should become familiar with anatomy, physiology, physiological chemistry, pathology, bacteriology and phar- mnacology. This familiarity should be obtained not only by text-book and lecture, but by laboratory practice and study. Having completed the above-named courses, he is prepared to take up the practical branches, such as general medicine, surgery, obstetrics, gynæcology, and the several specialities,
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most of which can be best learned by clinical instruction. What better preparation can a man have for properly grasping these important truths and obtaining these broad views of medicine than by a regular college course ? Indeed, I might say that it is well-nigh impossible for anyone not a college or university graduate to thoroughly master this higher medical curriculum.
These are not imaginary demands, but are the requirements the great medical schools of the world have established for graduation. The universities of the old world, and Harvard, Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins, and some of the other schools of this country, have taken the stand for higher medical education. Some of the States have enacted laws in accord with this broad and thorough basis of medical culture. The other States will follow their example. The tide has turned. Soon will it be said : " Old things have passed away ; behold, all things have become new."
The art of medicine is of such import to the human race, is so intricate in its phases and so fraught with responsibilities, that no man can be too well prepared to practice it. It is urged that medicine is not an exact science ; that it depends so much on experiment that scientific attainments are unnecessary ; that the ability a physician possesses is shown by the length of time he practices the art, and not by the amount of knowledge and by the well-trained mind he brings with him at the time of liis entrance into the profession. This has perhaps been true to a considerable degree in the past, and it contains some little truth at the present time ; but eaclı year medicine becomes more and inore an exact science. To-day, thorough training and knowledge count for more than years of practice. The world at large is coming to learn this, and ignorant men and quacks will soon be no more. They will cease to be, because 110 demand will exist for them.
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The colleges and universities of the world are digging the sepulcher of empiricism. The graduates of these institutions are even now wrapping its grave clothes about it, and soon will they so firmly cement and seal the entrance to this tomb that no Christ will ever arise with power enough to call this Lazarus forth. It is a burial from which there will be no resurrection.
We who are in medicine feel that our Alma Mater, so dear to the heart of each son and daughter, which stands to-day not with the hoary hair, the fading vision, the trembling limbs of age-though fifty years of life have passed-but with the raven locks, the flashing eye, the firm step, the noble bearing of youth, must have a part in this work. She must send her graduates into the medical colleges and universities of the world so well prepared in mind and heart that they can stand beside the best, and, having finished their professional studies and entered this grandest of all callings, can, in terrific strife for place, show to the gazing multitude the beautiful colors of the O. W. U., flying, as they do to-day, above the front column of the advance guard without a single stain of ignorance or dishonor upon them.
THE GRADUATE IN THE COLLEGE.
WILLIAM F. KING, D. D., LL. D., Class of 1857, Mt. Vernon, Iowa.
MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN : I heartily thank you, sir, for the honor of participating in this memor- able occasion, and the kind compliments of your introduction. But any honor that may seem to point to me, more surely points to our dear Alma Mater, whom we all most gratefully salute to-day. " Salve, magna Parens !"
When I recall that my matriculation was in the first decade of our now venerable University, and that by the forbearance
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of the trustees of a sister institution I have been permitted to share her fortunes for over a third of a century, I am led to suspect that I have been invited from the young and modest West to prove by post-prandial speech that I am not wholly a reminiscence-a capacity which some of my anxious class-mates and cotemporaries may for prudential reasons doubt my qualification to fill, but unfortunately for them and for me, my antiquity may be demonstrated before I sit down, for this overpowering occasion may put me in the condition of an old friend of mine at a recent World's Fair dinner. He was a most remarkable old gentleman, for before dinner he remembered George Washington, but after dinner he remembered Christopher Columbus.
In speaking of Columbus, I am reminded that it was mnost benefiting that our fair Columbia should have invited all the world to the celebration of her four-hundredth birthday in a grand exhibition of human progress. So to-day, with equal propriety, our beloved Cornelia is hostess of guests numerous and worthy, drawn from the various provinces of the Republic of Letters. And as slie lovingly points to them as her jewels, they unitedly shout her plaudits. To become one of these jewels was the early aspiration of every alumnus, and no title or emolument has come to any of us since equal to "Son of Alma Mater." And as we gather from afar to greet our loving mother on her fiftiethi anniver- sary, it is an inexpressible pleasure to find her fifty times fairer and stronger and more beloved than when we first sat at her feet. This pleasure is intensified when we walk about our Zion, telling her towers, marking her bulwarks, and counting hier places and the liosts of her elect Israel, and still more when we catch a glimpse of Monnett Hall and learn that our young mother has consented to break the spell of old tradition which compelled hier to bring forth only inale
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children. Monastic culture may have been suited to a darker age, to " cloistered friars and vestal nuns," but
"In cloistered state let selfish sages dwell, Proud that their heart is narrow as their cell."
But the keener and more luminous vision of our day and our land demands for men and women alike the strength and the refinements of scholarship.
We come to this high festival with tender recollections and hopeful anticipations, with thanksgivings for the past and aspirations for the future; we
" Come, with one impulse, one fraternal throng,
And crown the hours with banquet, speech and song."
In this bright jubilee, no congratulations for our fair hostess are more hearty than those which we bring from sister colleges which are glad to recognize their obligations to this elder sister whose example they have emulated, and at whose shrine so many have kindled their lamps. We greatly appreciate the far-reaching light of this noble Pharos, built upon the rock of truth by wiser than we, to warn from the reefs and shallows of pernicious doctrines.
All learning is cosmopolitan and reciprocally helpful. It has no petty rivalries. Every noble benefactor and every true teacher is an inspiration to all the rest. There is no gratitude better worth having than that felt by successive generations towards those to whom they owe their education. These higher institutions of learning, when wisely founded, are the best and most permanent of human institutions. They become hallowed spots in the eyes of the people. Pupils retain a warm attachment for them, wars spare them, and international law throws its protection over them. They outlive constitutions and dynasties. The twelve great schools of England were all founded over three centuries
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ago, and many of them have lived through the transitions of six dynasties upon the English throne.
From the first, great attention was given in this institution to the development of pure and noble character. Wholesome precept was reinforced by the example of pure and magnetic lives. The old celebrated Sabbath afternoon lectures had a literary and spiritual power beyond computation. I doubt if any university in the country has ever had their equal. These and other human agencies crowned by divine favor have made this one of the strongest christianizing forces in the land.
There was also early developed a broad love of letters, rather than the niceties of scholarship. The student was helped to assimilate the thoughts and sentiments of authors and teachers, rather than to magnify the technicalities of scholarship. The marrow was regarded as of more value than the bone that encased it. They believed with Montaigne that man should be " taught to love virtue instead of learning to decline virtus."
The Humanities and those arts rightly called liberal have here continued to claim their ancient right and to yield their fruitage of culture and character. Science, too, under the stimulus of the new education, has had an increasing share of attention, helping the mind to organize whatever is learned and bringing it into true relations to other knowledge, thus making life noble and generous. But is there not ground to fear that all the colleges are under temptation to unduly force university forms into college methods too narrow for them? Are we not, in the college grade, in danger of pushing too far or too fast the elective system, and the lecture system, and the work of original research ? While these systems have great value within moderate limits in a college course, yet it is easy to carry them beyond the
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age and capacities of college students and the scope of college equipments. The same tendency to extremes is observed in the popular athletics of the day which brings together 2,000 weaklings who need exercise to witness the extraordinary efforts of a few nines who do not need it.
If it is still demanded of the college to inspire and maintain high ideals of life; if it is expected to continue fitting its pupils to cope with as many exigencies of the day as possible, then it must continue to give an all-round education, and to turn out Aristotle's four-square men, capable of holding their own in whatever field cast, ratlier than lop-sided ones abnormally developed in one direction. I have not much admiration for those specialists who know only one thing, and though they know very little about that one thing, are supposed to know all about it, because they know nothing of anything else. Special aptitudes are likely to take care of themselves, but latent possibilities can best be discovered by experimenting in different directions. Lowell happily hits the mark when he says the " many- sidedness of culture makes our vision clearer and keener in particulars."
When I recall my personal debt to our dear University, the high ideal which I formed under the inspiration of these classic shades, and when I look into the beaming faces of my dear old teachers, Doctors McCabe and Williams, whose minds and souls are still blooming in immortal youth ; and still more, when I recall the precious memories of the forceful Harris, the seraphic Thomson and the sainted Merrick, I am led to exclaim, how wide-armed is the teacher's calling, gathering its material from every side, going the grand round of human endowment to select what it will enrich and bless, making all interests of society in some measure its debtors, all achievements of body, mind and character in some sense
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its outcome, never adequately appreciated till it is lain down, never realizing its own elastic ideal but by what it makes of man, giving him his first dim vision of what he may become, and setting his face rightly towards his present, which is housed in the material, and toward his future which shall be without house, spiritual and eternal.
The last session of the "Jubilee " was held in Gray Chapel, on Thursday afternoon, June 21, with Hon. D. S. Gray, President of the Board of Trustees, in the chair.
Governor Win. Mckinley, who was present, made a de- lightful off-hand speech while thanking the trustees and faculty for conferring upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws. All the friends of the University are deeply indebted to the Governor for his warm interest in the building of University Hall.
THE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE A NECESSITY TO THE CHURCH AND THE STATE.
By REV. C. H. PAYNE, D. D., LL. D., Secretary of the Board of Education of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Ex-President of Ohio Wesleyan University.
MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN : During the progress of these festive days we have all heard so many eulogistic words concerning the institution whose semi-cen- tennial we now celebrate that I have felt somewhat appre- hensive lest those who are not connected with the Ohio Wesleyan University might begin to feel it were better for them had they never been born. I am, however, fearful that my address will not bring them mnuch relief.
Fifty years of noble history have more than justified the eloquent prophecy of the fervid Elliott when, in language that seemed to tax hyperbole, he pictured the future of the
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institution to be planted beside the ever-gushing spring. A half century has passed, and for far-reaching and beneficent influence we may well challenge any institution in Church or State, within the same period of time, to produce a par- allel. In answer to the question, " What has the Ohio Wes- leyan University accomplished ? " we stand dazed and smit- ten with wonder by the very embarrassment of riches at hand. Figures, indeed, march before us in startling array, grand and imposing, but wholly inadequate to represent reality.
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