William Saam, 1708 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, wants to receive copies of amateur papers, and he desires to edit a department.
Questions and Answers.
Henry W. Hill, who lives in Columbus, O., writes to know the cost of attending the Eastern colleges per year, saying that he gets the impression, from reading the newspaper accounts of football, baseball, and other games, and the list of sons of wealthy parents who attend these colleges, that they are intended mainly for the well-to-do, and that young men of moderate means or of no means are practically cut off from attending them. He especially asks the status of the poor student at Harvard or Pennsylvania. "Is he left severely alone?"
It is easy to suppose that a reading of the newspaper news concerning Eastern colleges would give the impressions here outlined. And yet we are sure that such impressions are not intended to be conveyed by the writers of the news. Let it be distinctly stated, and with emphasis, that the great majority of students at all Eastern colleges, and Western ones too, are sons of poor parents. There is no social exclusion of a poor man because he is poor—none at all. And this is emphatically true at all the colleges. In response to our inquiry, a member of the Faculty of one of the leading universities wrote thus: "Here is an average student. He maintains a creditable standing in his class, and finds time to play football, or the game his fancy dictates. He becomes acquainted with all members of his class, and many besides, and forms numerous warm friendships. He may take college honors, and is likely to receive honors on class-day. His life on the campus, in the class room, on the athletic-field, and at his boarding-club is taken as the measure of his real worth, and length of purse and of ancestry are of equally small value. And he lives comfortably on $500 a year."
Three recent Princeton classes, including honor men, were asked to give their personal expense accounts. Their replies show from $250 to $700 a year, with an average of $442.68. One student gives his account in detail thus: Dues, games, newspapers, $25; Books, $20; Car fare, $15; Clothes, $50; Current expenses, $50; and College bills, $240. Total $400.
F. C. Bears.—The origin of the term "blue stocking" is given by Brewer as follows: A woman's club met at the house of a Mrs. Montague, in London. Men were admitted, although it was a woman's gathering. One of the regular attendants was a Mr. Benjamin Stillingfleet, and he always wore blue stockings. It was one hundred years or more ago, when knee-breeches were in vogue, and the bright blue lower-leg coverings were conspicuous. Hence the name.
The New York Stock Exchange, dear Sir John L. M. Taylor, is a private not a public institution, and is maintained by fees assessed upon its members. It is not the same as the Produce Exchange and the Consolidated Exchange, which have members and buildings of their own. Peter Lindbloom, Baltimore.—The Table regrets it cannot undertake an elaborate explanation of the silver and gold question as you ask it to do. Apply to Congressional Campaign Committee, Washington. D. C., or to State or National Campaign Committee of either party. Simply write a letter containing a brief statement of what documents you desire. They are usually sent free.