The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-12
COLLEGE LUxURIEs MONEY BUYS.
A Fathers Experience on Visiting Son
conditions as He Knew Them.

New York Sun.
but there is not the corresponding rate
of increase in the scale of college luxury
that there is outside"
One father who worked his way through
college and up in the profession in which
he occupies a high place only grunted
when this explanation was mentioned.
Il visited my son at college, last year."
he said with the expression he used when
any of his clerks tried to bluff him and he
knew it. 1T was an interesting expert
encel
when 1 went to college L had about as
many luXuries as a prisoner in his cell. l
worked on a farm summers to get money
for the winter and myi what a Shylock
that farmer was. He got more for his mon
ey than any man l ever expect to see. L
couldn't get enough that way, so L stayed
out and | drubbed reading, writing and
arithmetic into the dull-headed pupils of a
district school Cor a term and then went
back to college and passed up the work
Discipline of that kind didn't encourage
one to squander money L can tell you, and
/ found a small room with a roommate
that didn't eat into my capital very far
each week. We cooked our meals ourselves
and split our wood for the stove that
kept us indifferently warm between times
Those meals weren't exactly what you
might call hearty. But 1 used to think they
were. Friday nights l walked ten miles be-
tween me and home, and back again with
a bag Of provisions on my back. 1t was a
task 20 get the pies through without break
ing them. But did IL. Yes, L carried my
food on my back those days and wasn't
ashamed of it.
II suppose 1 was thinking of the old
times little as the train pulled into the
station of my boys college town and |
stepped on the platform and / was rather
startled TO have a quite efficient-looking
man step up to me and say: Mr.. Harry is
at recitation, sir, and couldn't meet YOU,
but If you'll ride up to the house, I'll make
you comfortable till he comes This was
my first introduction to James Eames who
makes college a path of roses for my SON.
At the society house where Edward lives
he led me into a luXuriously furnished
room with beautiful pictures. couches, easy
chairs, a piano and various feminine votive
offerings about that thought l recognized.
This is Mr.. Edwards room, sir James ex-
planned. and you're 10 use il while here
He then proceeded to light the fire and
unpack my dress-suit case in the most
matter-Of-fact way, while | sat back and
remembered my poor. bare room with its
wooden chairs and deal table.
The next morning l was dressed by 1:l5
as usual. and then l heard a step in the
hall. and opening the door L saw James.
I'm just going in 10 turn on the young
gentlemen's heat sir he said, they don't
like TO get up in the cold.
Il thought of the ice / used 10 break in
my college pitcher in the morning and the
fire / used to build with bl lie, frozen fin
gers Well. James walked the young gen
uemen' and after he had pleaded with
them three separate times they awoke TO
the importance of the occasion and hustled
into their clothes, and James ran about like
a distracted hen until his flock was off for
f.-eakfast 1 saw several Of the rooms as
we passed and / assure you they looked
worse than a Third-avenue pawnshOD on
auction day. But James had everything
sbinshaDe before noon. He was alarro
clock valet caretaker bootblack and man
of-all-work. All day long Il was. oh
lanes blacken my shoes won't you2i
sJan1es is my gray suit brushed?' James
where is the laundry James. get eight