Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-07-11

class. The test is not whether it is q
pleasant and agreeable way of spend
ing several years time and several
hundreds or thousands OF dollars in
money, but whether the same time,
energy and money could not be better
expended in other ways for the bene-
fit of the party interested. 1t is a
question, too, that can never be def
nitely settled except by trial and ex-
perience in each individual case.
Whether John or Mary ought to 90 to
college or do something else can only
be determined according to the best
light obtainable by those interested,
and after the decision is made, no one
can say whether or not the best course
has been taken.
We trust we have a proper under
standing and appreciation of college
training. TO the youth OF natural
capabilities, it opens up a broad field
wherein he may store his mind with
much that is useful and satisfying. If
he enters this field with a determine
ton TO profit TO the utmost, and stead
lily pursues this object throughout,
there is no doubt OF the nature of the
investment in this particular case.
such a student VIII leave college much
better prepared for business or profess
sional life than under any other posi-
BILE form of discipline. Besides the
curriculum, the young man in college
may learn great deal that will be Of
value to him in after life. The adyan-
tages Of college associations are not TO
be underestimate in this era Of gener-
al college training. The diploma it.
self counts for something. even II fire.
quently sneered at. The young man
just ont of college always has an ex-
cellenU idea of himself mot a bad thing,
in many cases. He feels his impor- /
lance, and this will not suffer him TO |
tread the lowly path of those less .
favored in the matter OF training.
This very self-assumption not infre- .
quently wins him a place that would
have been quite impossible to him
without it. We have seen boys of
very mediocre ability, whose college
training did not measurably improve
them otherwise, but who gained their
own selt-esteem TO a degree that en-
boldened them to push on and win
good positions in life. 1t is not al
ways, or even as a rule, that the best
scholars achieve the most. They may
lack in other and quite as important
College training is just as
apt to improve the poor scholars as the
good ones, providing they are not J
lacking in the prime elements of char
acter, judgment and industry
And, really, it is the effect OF college
discipline on these prime elements
that is worthy of the most considera-
ion. II it is beneficial to character,
improves ideals as well as ideas,
the judgment and teaches I
habits of industry and application,
hen, and not unless, is college educa-
ion to be commended. However !
bright the intellect, ii can easily be OBJ i
'cured by lax environment and impure I
associations, by erratic notions, or by !
aziness. A college which does not 1
give due attention to these important /
matters is unworthy OF patronage. II Y
5 not what the young man knows, but !
what he is able to make use OF that :
counts. knowledge is the ammuni- +
ion, to be sure, but it requires the J.
rifle of good character the !
teady hand of industry and the keen n
we ofjudgment to land the shot where i
{ will ring up bullseye. Every per- 5
on not an imbecile knows enough if d
lie could place it right to land him a :
winner Study the successes and
ailures in life and you will note with
urpuse how little knowledge really Y
cunts compared with the ability to H
Iandle what one has. Napoleon said u
{ was not the battalions under his
ommand but the force he was able 10 fl
ring to a single point against an en- a
my, that won him victories.
And knowledge is not a locked store !.
ouse, to whose entrance the college is
he only gateway. Men and women p
+ intelligence are able to absorb Q
nough without the aid of college \
raining to serve them well IN life. If n
eally ambitious, it is not at all diff G
ult for them, in this era OF widespread e
earning to acquire enough so that :,
hey may conduct themselves credit n
bly, in public life. The person denied II
college course has the time at his G.