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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 attention to some of the many forms in which
the winning of knowledge presents itself。
The first of these is happiness。 Everybody wants 〃a good time；〃
especially every girl in her teens。 A good time； it is true； does not always
in these years mean what it will mean by and by； any more than the girl of
eighteen plays with the doll which entranced the child of eight。 It takes
some time to discover that work is the best sort of play； and some people
never discover it at all。 But when mothers ask such questions as these：
〃How can I make my daughter happy？〃 〃How can I give her the best
society？〃 〃How can she have a good time？〃 the answer in most cases is
simple。 Send her to college；to almost any college。 Send her because there
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is no other place where between eighteen and twenty…two she is so likely
to have a genuinely good time。 Merely for good times； for romance； for
society； college life offers unequalled opportunities。 Of course no idle
person can possibly be happy； even for a day； nor she who makes a
business of trying to amuse herself。 For full happiness； though its springs
are within； we want health and friends and work and objects of aspiration。
〃We live by admiration； hope； and love；〃 says Wordsworth。 The college
abounds in all three。 In the college time new powers are sprouting； and
intelligence； merriment； truthfulness and generosity are more natural than
the opposite qualities often become in later years。 An exhilarating
atmosphere pervades the place。 We who are in it all the time feel that we
live at the fountain of perpetual youth； and those who take but a four years'
bath in it become more cheerful； strong； and full of promise than they are
ever likely to find themselves again； for a college is a kind of compendium
of the things that most men long for。 It is usually planted in a beautiful
spot； the charm of trees and water being added to stately buildings and
stimulating works of art。 Venerable associations of the past hallow its halls。
Leaders in the stirring world of to…day return at each commencement to
share the fresh life of the new class。 Books； pictures； music； collections；
appliances in every field； learned teachers； mirthful friends； athletics for
holidays； the best words of the best men for holy days；all are here。 No
wonder that men look back upon their college life as upon halcyon days；
the romantic period of youth。 No wonder that Dr。 Holmes's poems to his
Harvard classmates find an echo in college reunions everywhere； and
gray…haired men； who outside the narrowing circle of home have not heard
their first names for years； remain Bill and Joe and John and George to
college comrades； even if unseen for more than a generation。
Yet a girl should go to college not merely to obtain four happy years
but to make a second gain； which is often overlooked； and is little
understood even when perceived； I mean a gain in health。 The old notion
that low vitality is a matter of course with women； that to be delicate is a
mark of superior refinement； especially in well…to…do families； that
sickness is a dispensation of Providence；these notions meet with no
acceptance in college。 Years ago I saw in the mirror frame of a college
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WHY GO TO COLLEGE？
freshman's room this little formula： 〃Sickness is carelessness； carelessness
is selfishness； and selfishness is sin。〃 And I have often noticed among
college girls an air of humiliation and shame when obliged to confess a
lack of physical vigor； as if they were convicted of managing life with bad
judgment； or of some moral delinquency。 With the spreading scientific
conviction that health is a matter largely under each person's control； that
even inherited tendencies to disease need not be allowed to run their
riotous course unchecked； there comes an earnest purpose to be strong and
free。 Fascinating fields of knowledge are waiting to be explored；
possibilities of doing； as well as of knowing； are on every side； new and
dear friendships enlarge and sweeten dreams of future study and work； and
the young student cannot afford quivering nerves or small lungs or an
aching head any more than bad taste； rough manners； or a weak will。
Handicapped by inheritance or bad training； she finds the plan of college
life itself her supporter and friend。 The steady； long…continued routine of
mental work； physical exercise； recreation； and sleep； the simple and
wholesome food； in place of irregular and unstudied diet； work out
salvation for her。 Instead of being left to go out…of…doors when she feels
like it； the regular training of the gymnasium； the boats on lake and river；
the tennis court； the golf links； the basket ball； the bicycle； the long walk
among the woods in search of botanical or geological specimens；all
these and many more call to the busy student； until she realizes that they
have their rightful place in every well…ordered day of every month。 So she
learns； little by little； that buoyant health is a precious possession to be
won and kept。
It is significant that already statistical investigation in this country and
in England shows that the standard of health is higher among the women
who hold college degrees than among any other eq