The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-12-07
College widows.

In every place where there is an in
stitution for the liberal education OF
young men there are more or less young
ladies who take an uncommon interest
in it and all connected with it, especial
" the students, and some say more es-
pecially the graduating class. These
Young ladies know who's in every class
from Senior to Freshman, can tell where
each student came from, and what he is
studying for, what secret society he be-
longs to, whether he is engaged,
how many times he has been "disap-
pointed" and any other interesting lit
tie items that you may wish to know.
Some of them could write a catalogue
impromptu. They are not always the
highest favored girls, but are proml-
ncnt mt every summer picnic and win
ter lecture where students seek recrca-
ton and respite after severe mental Ia
Dor, (?) and are generally in charge
(active or passive) OF some modest IN
der graduate, whom their artless and
alfable manners make perfectly at home
in 4 land of strangers. How they pass
the long vacation is mystery which
has never been solved. Some cOnicc-
ture that they use the time i'll ''cram-
ming" for the fall term-that is,
brushing up on classical authors whose
works are set down among the studies
of that term, and refreshing their MEM
oranda of the most approved quota
tons, and jokes pertaing to them, that
they may be an fait in their initial con-
versati0ns with the new recruits ana
make a good impression on the start.
This imputation, however, we have al
was considered not only Islander, but
a very stupid one. So far as our oh,
scrvation extends, these damsels all
seem TO have discovered the secret of
perpetual youth, and do not like to
mar its effect by adisplay of too much
familiarity with classical lore. Al
lowing Freshman TO enlighten them
on such subjects gives the h""hf"i FOL
low confidence and somewhat increases
his inheritance in his own eyes. THESE
interesting Young ladies are technically
called college widows The term
sounds as if it were intended to POKE
finn at them; which may do Tor outsin-
crs. hut the collegian who would do /;
is n vile fellow. utterly lacking in the
- ''' -t'..""sy "f'u noble ~rn"~"e;ty
which a liberal education should I'M
part. besides hping the basest of in
crates. Who kindly took you under
the shelter of her widowed wing when
Won first left your ma and came among
strangers with Your head filled with
fearful forcDodiugS of those hOrFid
SophomnreS! Who consented to 20
with Won to concerts and strawberry
festivals and with the sweet assurance
Of friendly familiarity more than sup
piled the place of the girl you left be-
hind Won p Who accordcd to the mere
fact of your studentShip more consider
alton than your limited social accom-
plismuents could ever command! Who
listened patiently to your Grafton ut
the public meeting when other girls
were flirting their fans, writing notes
or eating candy Who made up the
lack of sustained applause with COM
plimcnts more direct than delicate 7
Who threw you a boquet rs you made
your bow on commencement day, and
afterwards told all her acquaintance
that it was the best commencement
she had ever attended, and Mr.. IS
(your) Grafton was perfectly splendid
Who but college widowi Young man,
if you have passed through four years
of college life and do not regret the
time there spent nor count it wholly
lost, you owea debt of gratitude to these
much abused damscls. Repress your
sueers, and to your dying day speak re-
specially of the college widows.