Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-07-21
APAYlNG VACATION.
some Sapicmi Advice to eniverAity
StndenIs.

some Sapicm AuSlce 10 ehiSeTAuy
Stnden y.
was i'll the Sophomore class in col
lege, and during the term, had spent
many IL tiresome evening in trying to find
ont the areas and other dimensions of
fields, and the practical application of
various surveying formule. When June
arrived came to the conclusion that
there was more practical Use to be made
of the knowledge had gained during
the year. 50, looking around, obtained
tine position of rolman on n survey which
was being made i'll the northern part of
the State. The work consisted mostly in
walking, and entirely in the use of the
hands and feet. On rainy days, the office
was the field of my labor, in tracing
bridge plans and maps, copying papers,
and sometimes drawing field notes.
The sensations, when holding the rod
plumb, with the wind, as sailor would
say, blowing fifty knots an hour, and feel
ing the cooling drops down your back,
while hands are steadying the waving
ten-ioot rod, and both eyes wide open to
catch any signal and ears attent, as those
of the oaks are said to have been when
they followed the tuneful Orpheus-try-
ing to distinguish amid the cracking of
the trees and the pattering of the rain
the call for another "station" any
thing but pleasant.
And one of those July days, thermom-
eter ninety-two degrees in the shade,
with the sun glaring right down, when
the drinking water is hot, and its surface
covered with these beautifully winged
insects which float around, and taste pc
culiarly bitter, and we are seven miles
from home, and have to walk down the
railroad track-that's the time that tries
mems souls But then when you arrive
at some country hotel and the party
gather about the porch, after having
changed their clothes, and had plunge
in some brook, and good, substantial
supper and when they sing some OF the
nonsensicnl college songs, then it is you
feel the glory of Il perfect rest, which
those untried by hard labor cannot feel.
The companions of an engineer are va
ried you find the college boy with the
worn ont grocery clerk, the polished gen
tleman hand in hand with the Jack -of-all.
trades, the son of the banker associating
with the son Of shoemaker. There was
am told, superanuated bartender on
one corps, but when he objected to hay
ing ants put in his lunch, and sand
sprinkled on his meat in lien of salt, ht
was told that he must have mistaken his
calling and when on the next day ht
was compelled to carry for six miles tht
transit" an instrument that weighs tel
pounds for the first mile, twenty for thu
second, forty for the third, and 80 on, 1t
resigned and have since heard that III
has again adopted the profession of 'th
car.
But now, does this pay? 1t most Ger
tainly does. A raw, green college boy
with nothing to do for three months o
the year, gets position MS rodman o
chairman he is paid, say, 80 day tn
best board at the hotel or farmhouse i
never more than 81 per week | am no,
speaking of those places where survey
are usually made. Washing is large
item than you would at first suppose
Above expenses we had about 80 lei
over. Five dollars don't look much for
week of hard work. but what else hay
you gained? You have had the best {
exercise, good country board that the pi
pers speak 80 highly OF in their adve
tisements, generally good companion
and what every college man wants befol
he graduates, look at the world squal
in the face-and he has this if nothil
more. College men, take my advic
Broaden your views with the knowledl
that comes not from books. Lord BacC
says: "Reading maketh full man
but he might have added practice make
man fuller. Do something. If "
can't be an engineer use your science
Much better wear than rlst.-tnristit
LnteHigencer.