Knox College - Gale Yearbook (Galesburg, IL)

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lous bursts of oratory. They drew no discouraging' inferences from what they had seen and heard of the condition of the literary societies at Knox since they had graduated, but niost of the active inenibers who heard their interesting stories of the past felt that not only the floors and windows of the East and VVest wings of Alumni Hall needed occasional attention, but that perhaps society spirit and en- thusiasm needed awakening. Gnothautii feasted at the Ellis Club where wit and hulnor thrived under the skillful influence of George Fitch. Adelphi had been provided for by the ladies of the Baptist Uhurch. Professor Griffith acted as toastinaster. Hon. John P. lVilson, Professor XVilliani G. Caskey, of Oberlin, and Edgar A. Bancroft told of the value of the training they had received in Adel- phi, of the practical worth of oratory and debate to the lawyer and to the teacher. They made it clear that the literary societies had some- thing definite to offer to the nian who sought a broad education.

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Even the most prosaic individual in the two gatherings had at least felt thc strong appeal of the classic within him. To those who had become thoroly enthusiastic over the literary, it was emphatically consistent to stroll from thc reunion bampiets to thc front of Old Main and watch the Coburn Players in Twelfth Night. The familiar belfry and battlements of the old building made a romantic back- ground for the rustic stage which had been erected. The green can- vas fence slmt in a plot of ground across which the lmrrying enthus- iast had often scampered for an eight oaclock class. But the ground now held entertainment for his eager mind. Even the taut wires over which he had nimbly jumped now assumed a festive air with stage materials slung across them and with trunks and boxes piled along the walk. Students who had Twelfth Nighti' hazily tangled with a Midsummer Nightis Dream or with Julius Caesar were set 1'ight once and for all by the clever acting of the Coburn Players. A few under- classmen were stage struck on the spot and were engaged by the com- pany to take part in the Canterbury Pilgrims that evening. Central Church was filled that night for the alunmi address de- livered by Edgar A. Bancroft of the class of ,78. His subject was The College in a Conunercial Agef, Mr. Bancroft pointed out that in this age of business enterprise we are likely to overlook the true value and function of the college course. The classics have no essen- tial part in shaping a business career but they contribute definitely to a liberal education. The world needs the man with the liberal educa- tion. The college must, therefore, hold to its true function. It must preserve the classics for their contribution to the ideal of a liberal edu- cation. It must endeavor to accomplish its avowed purpose-to give a broad training, to secure a practical basis for further specialization. The college man must hold his true place as a leader in the world. And so Knox nmst continue to endeavor to realize the purpose for which she was founded. The material demands of the present must not be overlooked, nor must they reduce the college to a mere commer- cial institution that does not educate but simply holds students for I --!fV y1- Z ,f ,i ff ' 1 3' 1 w A 2 J. I If 1, I i f,r . i . . 1 f K gl P f LE 3. , . :E -.1' ,f 7 Xi, I l N l A ' fx tx! V ,f I X1 1 s xx F ,l1'fl1ff i .pill wiv f EEZ fi fi l fl l ill ,! ia! H' 1 lf if 'i ,n if l ll i .LWB .' f I7 r !f-i R. 1, , a 1 fb Haj ifej 5 . , - f in lil 'i+ . l? WY -4 lx