But I Conceive
That The General Level Of The University Education Is Higher There
Than With Us; That A Young Man Is More Sure Of Getting His
Education, And That A Smaller Percentage Of Men Leaves Harvard
College Utterly Uneducated Than Goes In That Condition Out Of
Oxford Or Cambridge.
The education at Harvard College is more
diversified in its nature, and study is more absolutely the
business of the place than it is at our universities.
The expense of education at Harvard College is not much lower than
at our colleges; with us there are, no doubt, more men who are
absolutely extravagant than at Cambridge, Massachusetts. The
actual authorized expenditure in accordance with the rules is only
50l. per annum, i.e. 249 dollars; but this does not, by any means,
include everything. Some of the richer young men may spend as much
as 300l. per annum, but the largest number vary their expenditure
from 100l. to 180l. per annum; and I take it the same thing may be
said of our universities. There are many young men at Harvard
College of very small means. They will live on 70l. per annum, and
will earn a great portion of that by teaching in the vacations.
There are thirty-six scholarships attached to the university,
varying in value from 20l. to 60l. per annum; and there is also a
beneficiary fund for supplying poor scholars with assistance during
their collegiate education. Many are thus brought up at Cambridge
who have no means of their own; and I think I may say that the
consideration in which they are held among their brother students
is in no degree affected by their position. I doubt whether we can
say so much of the Sizars and Bible clerks at our universities.
At Harvard College there is, of course, none of that old-fashioned,
time-honored, delicious, medieval life which lends so much grace
and beauty to our colleges. There are no gates, no porter's
lodges, no butteries, no halls, no battels, and no common rooms.
There are no proctors, no bulldogs, no bursers, no deans, no
morning and evening chapel, no quads, no surplices, no caps and
gowns. I have already said that there are no examinations for
degrees and no honors; and I can easily conceive that in the
absence of all these essentials many an Englishman will ask what
right Harvard College has to call itself a university.
I have said that there are no honors, and in our sense there are
none. But I should give offense to my American friends if I did
not explain that there are prizes given - I think all in money, and
that they vary from fifty to ten dollars. These are called deturs.
The degrees are given on Commencement Day, at which occasion
certain of the expectant graduates are selected to take parts in a
public literary exhibition. To be so selected seems to be
tantamount to taking a degree in honors. There is also a dinner on
Commencement Day, at which, however, "no wine or other intoxicating
drink shall be served."
It is required that every student shall attend some place of
Christian worship on Sundays; but he, or his parents for him, may
elect what denomination of church he shall attend.
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