AN ATTITUDE OF MIND

The oft heard accusation that the conversation of Memorial hall and of other eating places frequented by members of the university is compounded solely of sports, women, and the weather, is extended by a writer in the "Dial" to cover all the conversational attempt of educated Americans. "Bring together a group of college men, graduates of the same institution, and what do they talk about?" he inquires. "The same things as the tired business men of theatrical disrepute, sport or women, business or politics in the littlest sense of the word."

Even admitting that American conversation consists chiefly of trivialities, it does not necessarily prove, as this writer appears to think it does, the triviality of our national character. He assigns a large share of the blame to the elective system of American colleges which have produced such a scattering of interests that a common ground for conversation no longer remains.

A close approach to the kernel of the matter is contained in a statement of President Lowell's that "Culture . . . does not mean the possession of a body of knowledge common to all educated men, for there is no such thing today. It denotes rather an attitude of mind than a specific amount of information."

A receptive attitude of mind is the chief essential of conversation. Possessing it, there is no reason why even specialists may not engage in conversation to the interest and advantage of either party. an attitude of intellectual receptivity is the really great thing which a college can give students. It is more than the essential quality of culture; it is the basis of civilization.