The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-06
seIf-Made Men In Colleges.

jesse Lynch Williams has been writing
qn article on young men who work their
way through college, which ought to be
generally read in the high schools and
academies. rs well as the colleges. His
statements are somewhat surprising TO
those who are not acquainted with the
| subject. but they are not at all improba-
HE to those who are. Among other things,
he says:
Most people picture the young man who earns
his expenses while at college as long
faced prig who rooms IN a garrett where he breaks
the ice in his pitcher for water to wash with in
winter, and tells himself how noble he is to
persevere in spite of the and snubs of his
more fortunate classmates
III that type of coileCian ever really existed
he is extinct. The modern Sclf-supporting
student is not snubbed sneered at by any
Nody. and he smiles occasionally This is be-
,ausc there more college earning their
living today than before, and because they
a better living One-quarter of the entire
three hundred and one members Of the last class
graduated at Yale supported themselves partly or
wholly; probably all of them ate three meals a
day. and many Of them quite in the thick
| of college life besides. This point is cmpha-
| sized because | know that every year some boys
| think of going TO college and then give it up,
| largcly-thOugh they may not confess it-because
| they hate to think of being queer and out OF
| things This is natural feeling, but it is I'M
| necessary | recall no football team at my col
| lege (Princeton) in the last ten years that did
| not have at least one man working his way
| through and invariably some Of the most popular
| and influential men in every class are self-sup-
| porting"
This is refreshing news to those who
have been afraid that the caste system in
our colleges was destroying even the SEM
| blance of democracy among the students.
There certIlnly should be no snubbing of
any man WHO is earning his education by
youths who are receiving their education
| from their fathers and never earned a cent
| in their lives. but unquestionably there
sometimes is. Mr. Williams, however.
seems to think that the general sentiment
among the students is not such as to ex-
clude from society or the athletic field any
man who is really capable OF being popu-
! lar
| There are two causes OF caste differ
! euces. where they exist in the college OF
today For one. the rich are responsible.
| for tho other, the poor There is I'M
| doubtedly 4 certain set In every college,
whether for men or women. which is dis
! posed to base social standing upon mere
money and the qualities which go with
| it-lavishness, luxury. and epicureanism-
rather than upon character. This set may.
| in some cases, so dominate the sentiment
| Of the students that in some years the
poor student will have a very hard time of
/ it. for the habit of sneering is one which
unconseiously influences public opinion TO
very great extent. Most people would
be ashamed TO reflect upon the numerous
unfavorable opinions they have formed OF
| others. merely because OF some sneering
or cynical comment by acquaintance.
| Almost anyone has qualities which can, il
put in the wrong light. be made the basis
/ of some such comment. and it is easier to
accept the sighting opinion than to argue
the matter out for ones self.
On the other hand. the students who
! work their way through are often actually
unable to meet upon common ground those
who have been used all their lives to the
free spending OF money, and the sssocia-
lions of wealth and culture. The self
made student may have finer qualities
! than his richer comrade; he may be more
I Of gentleman, more talented, more sensi-
BILE; but these qualities are not always ap-
parent at once; they must be brought out
| in he discipline of college life. Not in
! frequently IL happens that such man as
sociates, In his senior year, with men
whom he considered, three or four years
before, his superiors, but who now look
| up to him. II there IS any tradition or
social law Of the college which prevents
| this result, suppOsing it to be possible,
such a tradition or law Is unfortunate.