The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1902-07-26
DANGERS OF COLLEGE GrP1s
The firsf'f ear Of Life in an In.tit,.
tion of Learning Is a Test
of Character.

Catherine Lee Bates, professor
English literature at Wellesley. ,ba
nous women's college, has been ,r
ing of the college girl of the nar;as
and her experience among the cl.Sr
qualities her to write understan5ir~
". says an educational journal I,
Miss Bates opinion that the fresbm.
year is the danger year Health -
be so impaired that the student is -
home. there to be most erroneousIr
pointed out as the victim of oyerstrdrr
Conditions may be incurred that r;i
hamper all the subsequent course -
the oyerworried, over-shamefaoaa
girl. who must take time and strepo,b
from the work of her sophomore vesr
to make good her freshman failures
and hence incurs new conditions IN
the new subjects, dragging lat each
remove a lengthening chain mis-
conducted freshman year, too, NAV sx
a reputation for fightiness, loud man
ners or the like upon one who. wbs,
the first intoxication of her liberty
has passed, could have lived up to
good name, hut is led by pride and
pique, as she sees the better elements
in the student world withdrawing from
her, to cast in her lot with the wildes,
and most featherbrained
ship of the place.
This is the dark side of the picture
Many freshmen have been prepared bv
judicious training at home or in school
for undertaking the direction Of their
daily lives. Others are quick to profit
by the hints of comrades or by their
w observation. Required lectures
on hygiene. frequent tests in class.
work. fortunate friendships often
counteract the perils of inexperience.
And the student who comes success.
fully through her freshman year has
all the chances in her favor for a glad
and honorable college course. She has
learned that freedom lies within the
circle of law. not without it.
The typical college girl before her
sophomore year is over has her W at.
fairs in hand and brings a fund Of
superfuous energy to the business Of
the commonweal. The executive abil.
ity developed in American college life
is a continual surprise to the onlooker.
To the timid entering student many
things within the next -four years be-
come possible. She may be found run.
ming a magazine dealing shrewdly with
printer and advertiser, reading proof
writing items. leaders. reviews. She
may practice a wide range of activitie,
on class committees. from CONDUCTING
a campaign in undergraduate polite,
to planning and carrying through tn,
social functions of gala days WHERE
guests are numbered by hundreds o.
by thousands. The athletic association
may trust her with grave responsible
tiles in the selection and laying out o
golf grounds or in arranging for al
Intercollegiate tournament. If he
Greek letter society is building it
chapter-house it may fall to her 10
to confer with architects and decora
tors, buy rugs, divans and other fur
nishings or engineer the finance o
the whole enterprise. The sense of dis
hdhNC btlNtth sthloi anu lItSIildl
is not altogether fictitious. On tn
practical side of life alone the fou
years cannot count for more tina
arithmetic confesses.
Women colleges have faculties dis
gruntled in proportion as they fin
their occupation gone. They are n
longer asked, in most instances, I
make and to administer rules for stu
dent conduct. The students are sell
organized into a self-directing and sell
disciplining body. The faculties ar
obviously out of place in this projecteI
dreamland of youth and mirth an
beauty. Hence they are prone TO con
plain that, what with undergraduate
business and what with undergrad
ate pastime, there is no room left i
college for the intellectual life. HOY
do these hurried and preoccupied girl,
with festal music tinkling in thei
heads, have opportunity to behol,
1.-THE bright c-ountenances of truth il
the quiet and still air of delightfu
studies?"