158 WISDOM AND FOLLY 



creditor, putting forward a claim to all the property on 

 the premises of my printer — my manuscrij)t as well as 

 the proofs of what Lad been set up were entirely swept 

 away. 



However, I had not long been associated there before 

 the contrast between the two Avas made palpable to my 

 understanding — a contrast that seemed almost to con- 

 stitute an anomaly. That learning should flourish within 

 the walls of the colleo:es, while io-norance of the grossest 

 nature should reign without (a fact that cannot be con- 

 troverted), raised at once my amazement and curiosity. 



It was natural to suppose that the knowledge and 

 wisdom of which those walls could so justly boast, if they 

 did not impart virtue, would spread their influence far 

 and wide ; and that every exhibition of folly and dissi- 

 pation opposed to morality and religion would be pro- 

 hibited ; but it is not a very uncommon thing to confound 

 causes and effects, as well as to anticipate effects as the 

 natural result of such causes, that are never realized. 



The very fact of more than two thousand men, most of 

 them in the heyday of youth, in the glow of health and 

 full flow of animal spirits, assembled at college, albeit to 

 receive instruction and to imbibe wisdom, — involves a 

 considerable expenditure, and a circulation of coin. And 

 this is sufficient to attract men of another order, who, 

 armed with the allurements of pleasure, are ever ready to 

 pander to the vices of some, the folly of others, and the 

 frailties of all. 



But these would be comparatively harmless were it not 

 for a certain class, who, from an inordinate love of gain, 

 provide the extravagant with the means of indulging in 



