THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 225 



inferior. A more extended observation only served to strengtlien 

 our first impressions. Tliere was a manifest sympathy between 

 teachers and scholars, which led them to feel that they were a 

 unit — partners in a grand enterprise — the success of which 

 depended upon each man's doing his duty. This power of 

 enlisting the sympathy and controlling the public opinion of a 

 school is the great secret of success in its management. We 

 had but to shake hands with President Clark to feel that he was 

 enthusiastic, and all the manifestations of the examination 

 proved that his enthusiasm had diffused itself among his asso- 

 ciates and pupils. 



The recitation in mathematics was good, considering the short 

 time that had been devoted to this study, and also the fact that 

 few of the students, probably, had been previously trained to 

 habits of investigation in this exact science. Pure mathe- 

 matics are dry fodder for most minds, even when well disci- 

 plined, but to take boys from a farm and put them to the study 

 of geometry, is like taking cattle from foraging in a green 

 pasture, and confining them to be fed on dry hay. The exam- 

 ination in chemistry showed that this science had been pursued 

 with a better relish, and had been better digested. Probably 

 many of the students, while pouring over the demonstrations of 

 Euclid, had asked, " What is the use of this ? " but while 

 pursuing the less abstract science of chemistry, its practical 

 bearings on their future business were so manifest, that they 

 were encouraged in their course by seeing the goal so plainly in 

 sight. Many older heads, on looking over the list of studies in 

 the college, have asked us, " Why is the course of study so 

 comprehensive, and the time for study extended to four years ? " 

 The impression on some minds seems to be that lads can go to 

 an Agricultural College, and graduate, much as our clerks do 

 from our commercial colleges, after taking twelve lessons in 

 writing and six in book-keeping. We might put boys through 

 our Agricultural College in the same style, giving them a few 

 lectures on chemistry, and a lesson or two in digging potatoes, 

 and they would graduate dunces, having acquired little 

 knowledge, less mental discipline, but much conceit by their 

 college course. But if we v/ish to elevate the business of farm- 

 ing, if our aim is to develop true manhood, and lay the founda- 

 tion for intellectual strength in the students of the college, then 



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