The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-16

talent. from one Of the best families In the
state. committed the very unusual crime
OF cheating IN an examination. The fac
ultv knew nothing Of a. His class held
a meeting ard appointed a committee 10
wait on him az tno hotel. WILMER DC had
gone on hearing that he had been detec-
ted. This committee notified him that ne
would not be allowed 10 enter the college
limits. but allowed him 70 send dray
for his trunk. lie informed the commit
tee that be- had fallen into temptation
and felt the disgrace kceniy. but that
they were right and he would leave The
students notified the faculty Of the oc-
currence and Of their action. and asked
that for the sake Of the or nior's family
he be not publicly expelled. but tnat o."
be- dismissed. The faculty thanked the
students and indefinitely dismissed the
Young man. Repentanf. but feeling that
the stigma would cling 10 him. be soon
left the state %
Professor Stevens denies that this IN
cidcnt indicates any inherent moral SUI
perlOrlty I'm Southern students as COM
pared with their friends in Northern
colleges. and declares that. in his opinion.
a young man VIII generally adapt HIM
self 10 his surroundings Tn support of
this he cites the shameful fact that
some Southern students who had been
scrupulously careful To avoid even the ap-
pcarancc Of evil az home. whore the honor
system prevails. have speedily yielded 10
temptation after entering Northern I'M
stitutions I'm which the system Of cspion-
age was applied.
Leaving "A most unnecessary Inference
10 boz drawn from this Doe omits the con-
sequence necessarily following ln case We
accept bis ylcw-that IL is unwise 20 send
Uniformed young men into such an atmOs-
phcrc. Prof. Stevens as more generous
than Just. / have myself sent a number
Of young men 10 Northern colleges and
I DO not hesitate TO declare that nOfNifh-
standing their surroundings they have
come back as pure as when thcy lefi their
homes. and more than ever in love with
the honor system and honorable practices
OF their own States ! am sure that more
Of them could have been parties 10 am
incident described by a student Of Nor
thern university IN an article on college
Tricks" as practised during hts day. lie
wrote that con the night before am cx-
animation twenty Of his fol0w-siudenfs
contributed sum 20 pay the printers
boy 10 get them cOpiles Of the question
paper prepared hy the professors for
next days use.' a college Trick he
called 81. and knew nothing of tine shamri
However. Prof Stevens concludes the
passage with the hope that Southern coli
legos viii never give up traditions 80
crodfahle 10 the honor system. and with
congratulations I'M which Nc ALI very
heartily join. that its growth 40 the North
has atoly become so marked.
From his paper aud from other sources
we have learned. and learned with inc
crease of hope for the future OF this
nation that 10 IS true as OF oil that oae
that cuts the fandal-wc0d hor0ws lts
sweet odOr. and that since the war some
| Northern men. VINO come South and have
visited Southern schools. have gone back
TO tell The wonders they have soen
/ have thought that the for going would
| interest your readers. bat the purpose
had In view was 20 challenge another and
very surprising statement made by Prof.
Stevens. after his general discussion as
applicable 90 colleges North and South.
and in approaching the close OF his ar
ucle.
lie makes some remarks n special con-
ncction with Harvard University and then
says. THE habit Of cheating is acquired
| in the preparatory schools everywhere.
! though in some Of the best of these DO u.s.
/ largely under control" Whether or not
[ Doe meant SCHOOLS preparatory" 90 H4r-
ward ] cannot tell. but such "a statement
ought not 10 pass unchailenged.
| ! supposed that some newspaper school
master would have answered 10 long ago:
as 10 has not been done. / ask the use of
/ your columns 10 suggest DO Prof. stevens
| that Doe renew DIS Investigations and ex-
anime the private schools OF Virginia.
! knew these schools very well in the
| days when they raised the men whose
memory Is making better men of us and
our children to-day. the men whose home
| bred. schOOlbOy. and student honor make
] thcm worthy 10 follow the truesf. gene
| Test knight and knigltiiest gentleman
| that eyer drew sword in righteous cause
And now. for thirty years I have myself
derived my chief satisfaction as school
master from the almost total absence Of
/ this very vice OF cheating" from the
schools that have taken their places. and
/ from the fact that ln the rare cases ~
| lfs occurrence the Indignation Of tho
other sch0olb0ys and their own power Of
exclusion have been the sufficient punish
| mcut.
Our preparatory schools" at least.
have proved that schOOlboys can be
! trusted. / invite Prof Stevens 10 begin
in Richmond. and he may push his en-
! quirios through al our Southern land.
JOHN +. MCGUIRE.
McGuirc's School. June %. 90.