Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-10-19
4 LETTER TO FRBszABN


1
| OF College Lite.
At this season Of the year when the Fresh
man is just advancing within those precints
that exclude from the outer world the mys.
teries and mArvels Of college life. when the
Sophomore, Junior and Senio. are again
buckling on the Armor Of push and energy
or Of sloth and indifference. preparatory I,
gaining an increase in priceless wisdom or
ploueh'ng the same old rats, rs the case may
be. perhaps u few words-not of advice, fol
that 10 the tack Of the sAges-but of friendly
conversation from one who has nearly com.
pieted the collegiate mil-courss. may not BE-
out of place.
The ordinary college curriculum has 80
many branches, 50 many departments aud
on-shoots Of the came, each and every one
of mere or less advantage to the earnest stu.
dent that il 10 impossible to here 90 into the
details regarding them. Ii 10 enough to say
that no faithful worker ever considered the
time devoted to any OF these divisions or sub.
divisions ~ wasted.
The first and foremost aim in entering up.
on college course 10, of course, OF ought TO
be. the pursuit. and attainment of knowiedy
In every honorable and legitimate direction.
1
say, who seek the halls OF learning merely to
pass away four years Of time for which no
other disposal has been or can comfortably.
be provided by wealthy parents y, home. To
say that these young men gain absolutely
nothing and are worse OF than At home 10,
in the greatest majority of eases. substantially
untrue. 1t 10 impossible to spend this amount
of time amid collegiate scenes, surrounded
by refining influences, baliowed by the mem,
ories Of eminent men gone before and whose
| talents for ages to come shall do honor to
1 their respected Alma Mater, aud associate
feelingiy with the cultured companions with.
out gaining y portion. at least, of that " siom
more precious than great riches
| One year. at lesd, after, or. perhaps be
fore entering college, ones life work or vo-
cation should be, or already has been decided
upon. As soon ~ this determination has
| been reached, measures should at once be
instituted to lay an early corner stone for
the future intellectual and physical te e.
ment. The regular prescribed course, To be
cure, furnishes ample scope for employment
Of time 10 the average student and shouii b.
the obj CO of the maximum amount of brain
work, but sort of side track can be built
for the patronage Of hours not found nece,-
sary TO the preparation Of the daily lessons
For instance, If the future profession is To be
in the pursuit Of medical proficiency mach
time may be saved and not a little knowledge
gained by selected course of collateral
readii upon subjects embraced under the
topic in contemplation. The same can be
said relative to all the other branches in the
battle of life. The young man who intends
TO enter business after graduation eau easily
take up line Of special reading from which
will accrue invaluable benefit.
But college life should not be all book
work The four years space may be not in
aptly likened TO an enormous ever er-rey0lving
polsher or burnisher. wearing away the un-
slightly knobs and breaks of the rough and
angular character, both mental and ply steal.
divine and temporal, and rendering the
ungainly Freshman an alumnus of very
satisfactory and creditable personality.
| One of the most important levers in the
| accomplishment of this desired effect il
good heslthfui exercise and plenty of it.
1t Is, in fact, an absolutely indispensable
Aijunct TO a healthy mind and body. The
student, too. perhaps has not attained his full
growth and requires a not uncomfortable
amount of mixed light and heavy exercise
or recreation to aid in keeping an otherwise
| sluggish system in good condition. This
all co ieges now furnish. Out door sports.
mcnts are Of the utmost benefit when not
carried to excess. These. of course. are
principally for h. warmer months Of the
school year, but pleasant and profitable
hours may be passed within the walls Of the
gymnasium, on the bars, rings, running
track. etc, and that good, all-round,
| sprightly feeling of solid contentment can
thus be kept with us continually. Provided
| Of course, outside excesses of variou, sorts
are not allowed to infringe upon nature .
perfected handiwork.
Care of the general health should never
be neglected; for. with all precautions, i'll
ness will encrosch upon the play grounds Of
health, removing all desire and capacity for
mental improvement Proper regard for
the necessity of having good whole some
food for daily-not nightly consumption will
do much to eradicate any symptom, Of ap-
preaching disease and ward of conse quebi
discOmforts. The exactioDs, too. of dame
nature relative 10 her "sN eet restorer, sleep,
cannot be overlooked or disregarled with
any subsequent degree of satisfaction or
safety. About 30 much snpiDe or lateral re-
taxation must be taken or both bodily and
mental health will degenerate with greater
or less surety and rapidi'y.
In this connection should be spoken u few
|
adopted by not few young men who are
sadly and, perhaps, irrepsrably injuring
themselves by wanton disresard Of the fe ~
admonitions given above. rhe young men
referred to are those who enter college un-
der the terrible load of heavy pecinisry EN-
barassmebt and in the most praise worthy OF
all laudable attempts hat Of get ing an ed
ucation--overdo their powers in every direc
ton. Their aim IL most emine ntly com
mendable but the methods frequently taket
for its attainment are most surely at fault
This is not mfr, quently seen only when TOD
late and the health and vigor necessary e
permanent progress gone. The young mar
who starts upon mis- four years, course
without the funds on hand or a
least forthcoming in due season foi
the necessary comforts Of con
tented life, has aroused the charitable query
whether he isn't attempting too much. Ia
the early days when Sir Isaac Ne~ton Wal
content to draw his circles with I
piece Of charcoal upon . rough board
the pioddinR student could very easily brooI
the most puriianical piainness and simplicity
Nov, however, in these days of champagne
and shoddy, Of disp'sy Of tea cups and csrvet
oak, IL takes q boy Of more than ordinary
stamina to put up cheerfalIy and contentedi,
With the uncurtsined window, the uncarpetet
floor, the unad0rned mantle piece and tha
chilling barre ness so well calculated to re
, tard the development Of the clouds silve
/ lining. Nov, we are not advocating thu
luxurious ease and extravsgance Of the OH
, entail, but we do contend that the father ant
; mother or friends Of the boy who will hav'
an education a, any cost are doing him
= gross injury 10 not sending with him thei
mite At least. TO make his room a. home