The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-10-05
POOR STUDENTS.
TAeir Struggles and Trials while Attsua-
ing Colleges and Universities

TAcfr Struggles and Trials while Attenu.
ing Colleges and Universities.
Not long ago young student, who
had been pursuing his education in the
University of Vienna, suddenly disap-
peared from his usual haunts. After
some days it was found he had COM
mitted suicide. He left letter behind
him, stating that he had taken his life
from sheer despair. He had not eaten
any thing for eight days, and in the
midst of winter he lacked the clothing
to keep him warm.
The struggles of poor students to get
an education are brought wildly before
us by this tragic incident. 1t is true
that il is extremely seldom that a poor
student is driven TO suicide. But the
hardships and sacrifices which young
men who are eager to be educated are
frequently called upon to make, and
the trials they undergo, form an inter-
esting though often melancholy story.
Yet the courage which poor students
sometimes display. their fortitude in
bearing the ills of poverty to acquire
learning, their perSiStency in pursuing
their studies while doing without the
ordinary comforts of life, and the brav-
ery with which they confront ridicule
and isolation among their fellow-stud-
entS. form noble and praiSewOrthy ex-
amples.
History and literature are full of the
struggles of poor young men to get an
education. in spite of poverty of pocket.
There is MANY an instance of such a
Young man working his way from
drudgery and mental toll up to high
and honorable callingS, and even to
eminent stations of life.
The famous Samuel johnson, who
Was one u the greatest English writers
of the last century, was miserably poor
while he was at Oxford, and was COM
PEELED to leave the university before he
had completed its course on that ac-
count. One of the chief trials of poor
students is the cOntemptuOus treatment
of the students who are better off than
themselves. Johnson's pride was so
deeply wounded BY such treatment
that he actually left college because
his mates laughed at the holes in his
shoes.
HE was needy" says Maeaulay of
him, ''eyen to raggedness; his appear
ance, indeed, excited a mirth and a
pity which were equally intolerable 90
his naughty spirit. One always re-
members the rough, seamy-faced, raw
boned servitor, stalking about in winter
with his shoes worn out"
johnson had a friend, however,
whose struggles to obtain learning
present far more lofty example than
does johnson himself. Oliver Gold
smith did not allow himself to be
driven from college by ridieule or
poverty. Goldsmith entered Trinity
College, Dublin, when he had scarcely
a penny. He acted as servant TO the
fellows, carried up the dishes for their
meals, swept out the court-yards and
waited upon table. He wore a coarse
black gown, and the red cap which
announced his mental position. The
future poet suffered many torments
while in college; but proud as his
spirit was, he did not WELD to its
promptings, but pursued his dreary
and difficult path to the end. How
bitter his experience was. may be seen
by what he wrote to his brother, who
had asked his advice about a sons
education: ''If he has ambition,
strong passions and an exquisite sensi-
bility TO contempt, do not send him to
college"
But to the struggle made by Gold
smith in early life to obtain an educa-
ton, we NAV fairly attribute his after
fame as q poet and dramatist. The
reward of his courage and persistency
was abundantly reaped at last.
sAs Sydney Smith said, learning is
often cultivated on little oatmeal"
and the qualities which inspire the poor
student to persist in his object, in spite
of every i'll and obstacle, may bring
him success, If not fame and wealth, in
later Youths Companion.