PRINCETON IN THE NATION'S SERVICE. 271 



to its maturity. The days of glad expansion are gone; our life grows 

 tense and difficult; our resource for the future lies in careful thought, 

 providence and wise economy; and the school must be of the Nation. 



1 have had sight of the perfect place of learning in my thought, a 

 I ree place and a various, where no man could be and not know with 

 how great a destiny knowledge had come into the world — itself a little 

 world; but not perplexed, living with a singleness of aim not known 

 without; the home of sagacious men, hard-headed and with a will to 

 know, debaters of the world's questions every day and used to the rough 

 ways of democracy; and yet a place removed — calm Science seated there, 

 recluse, ascetic, like a nun, not knowing that the world passes, not 

 caring, if the truth but come in answer to her prayer; and Literature, 

 walking within her open doors, in quiet chambers, with men of olden 

 time, storied walls about her, and calm voices infinitely sweet; here 

 • magic casements, opening on the foam of perilous seas, in fairy lands 

 forlorn/ to which you may withdraw and use your youth for pleasure; 

 there windows open straight upon the street, where many stand and 

 la Ik, intent upon the world of men and business. A place where ideals 

 are kept in heart in an air they can breath; but no fool's paradise. A 

 place where to hear the truth about the past and hold debate about the 

 affairs of the present, with knowledge and without passion; like the 

 world in having all men's life at heart, a place for men and all that con- 

 cerns them ; but unlike the world in its self-possession, its thorough way 

 of talk, its care to know more than the moment brings to light ; slow to 

 take excitement, its air pure and wholesome with a breath of faith; 

 every eye within it bright in the clear day and quick to look toward 

 heaven for the confirmation of its hope. Who shall show us the way 

 to this place? 



