The sun., 1891-11-30

common sense. their personal aspirations.
and the known intentions Of their parents,
tradition would be there to tell them that
the first scholar Of his class Is sure OF moth
ing but tutorship. and has no guarantee
OF primacy In the profession or calling
which he may afterward elect to follow. In
A word. the view taken. somewhat vaguely
and unconsciously perhaps. by tho majori-
ty OF undergraduates as to the relation OF q
university to the arena OF mature endeavor.
is substantially identical with that taken
by men Of the world and men OF affairs.
The Qualities OF the bookworm which fit a
young man for the cloistered scclusion OF
professional career are certainly not those
which would adapt him to bear the stress
OF the struggle for existence which awaits
by far the greater part Of those who take
an A. B. degree.
This truth dawns dimly but early on the
minds OF most undergraduates. and the
more or less lively apprehension OF 1t lies ut
the root OF their estimates OF each others
character and capabilities; estimates which
often seem Mt the first glance eccentric but
which arc seldom falsified by the event.
Scarcely has the freshman year expired be-
fore they begin to divine with precision
which Ia truly noteworthy. which OF their
fellows are likely to find within some college
precinct their only sphere Of effective effort,
and which, on tho other hand. are likely. un-
less death shall interpose It's veto. to wrest
success from the greater world. They
discern intuitively tho tremendous impor-
tance Of the role played In human existence
by mere physical resources. Thoy may be
almost said to foresee that those men who
are able to draw on large reserve OF
endurance and vitality. start with signal
advantage In the race. Tho more or less
clear comprehension Of this fact is at the
bottom OF tho enthusiasm shown Tor
athletics at universities.
But prominence In ieats OF bodily
strength or skill Is rot by any means the
only ground Of distinction Of popularity in
tho college microcosm. The young men in
a university are powerfully Influenced. just
as they will be in later life. by indisputable
proofs Of mental or moral force. or OF men
tai or moral attractiveness. Partly by in
stinct and partly through their limited
observation. they are enabled to guess
rightly that tho prizes Of human existence
are divided pretty evenly between those
who compel and those who charm. They
admire power Of any sort when it Is
undeniably demonstrated. and they arc
captivated by the sunshine of genial ma
ture. They entertain. perhaps In secret.
respect and almost an awe for those COM
rades who have gained the highest academ-
ical honors. provided the latter have
achieved them not through plodding. ex-
elusive, almost monastic assiduity. but by
the unmlstakable dint OF Unborn abilities.
and provided they are seen to value them.
as indeed they should be valued. not for
themselves. but for their bearing on fruitful
work hereafter.
Tho view really taken by an honor man Of
his requirements Is instantly detected by
his fellows. No youth can deceive other
youths. They can see at once IL he over
rates himself or misconceives the worth OF
his achievements. by the narrowed circle Of
his sympathies. by his failure to heed or ap-
preciate kind Of merit different from his
own. When they find young mans heart
walled in by serene eself-oomplacency from
most OF the varied interests which engage
the little world he lives In. they do not SO
much send him to Coventry by any deliber-
ate plebiscite as accept his own habit Of
self-seclusion for o fact.
The assumption that the attainment Of
high academical honors is. taken by itself. q
bar to college popularity. Is known by ex-
perts to be as groundless as the idea that q
young mans command OF a large yearly
income Is guarantee Of social success In
any tirst-rate university.