The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-06-21
THE GRADUATES.

With the closing weeks OF June
begins the annual exodus of bright
young students from the universe
ties, colleges, academies and high
schools. Some have but just be-
gun their life Of study, while others
have completed their work of pre-
paration and are about to cast
themselves upon the cold mercies
of the cold world. Surrounded by
admiring friends and praised by
the public generally, the work of
subduing the world or Of at least
making a place that shall complete
the successful career Of the past
seems a very easy matter. There
is certain amount Of intoxicatiOn
to the last year Of school life, and
the grand finale which ughers
the neophites into the hard
realities of life. They have suffered
the trials of lower classmen
and gradually, by dint of conscien-
tious work at their studies, have
made their way up the ladder of
knowledge and of social standing as
mapped out by class lines. With
the senior studies have come senior
dignities. AS members of the
highest class in the institution
they have taken part in social
functions, they have possibly come
prominently before the public at
athletic events, as officers or mem
bers of literary societies, and have
gained a notoriety not altogether
digtasteful to young manhood.
Finally, during the last days of
their school-life, during the gradua-
ton week, the departing senior is,
to all intents and purposes, the
biggest parsonage of the day.
He is dined, his presence is
courted by under classmen, his
relatives and friends gather to
witness the ceremonies of the exit,
he appears upon the stage before
an assembled throBg, and is ap-
plauded with quite as much enthu-
siasm-oft times more-as the |
most noted public speaker. This is |
all very well. We would not adj
vocate the doing away of the cere-
monies, yet there is something |
pitiable about it. Few men take a
greater drop in their valuation of
their own ability than during the
first year out Of college. For
four years, possibly more, they have
held the position of A. B. of the
class of X. Y. in a well-known in
of learning.
Put upon the world, thrown into
competition for daily bread,
the world forgets a. B. of
the class X. Y. He is simply
q common, everyday man. He is
just out of college and really
doesn't know much of the practical
side of life. He has a great deal to
learn. In applying for position
it makes little difference what
college he comes from. The first
question that meets him is what
can you do ?" 1t is very often the
case that he is obliged to take a
position much below that of a
friend who has gone into business
from the common school The
graduate finds that at the outset
the world does not seem to appre-
3iate his ability. Then again, life
IS different. He has to pay his
OWN board bill and he finds that
ne cannot spend his time at parties
and enjoying other social pleasures.
He cannot skip day and tell his
employer that he will make it up
tomorrow. There is 10 cutting re-
citations in business life. He must
keep pegging away, with his nose
CLOSE to the grind stone," as there
are a hundred and one ready to fill !
MS place and do his work quite as
veil.
The realities of life thus thrust
mon tjo oro 1,,ata ooroo how'd hut