Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-17

begin with a glance at Deglnnlng-
a brief view of starting, or setting-out,
in general.
'No matter what we try to do,
We have TO begin II we ever get through"
I quote this couplet from an address
made last summer in school by small
boy. The lines seem juvenile, and yet
they bear marks of ancestral origin.
They were, in fact. the premeditated out
put of ancestral brain.
The resolute affirmation, 1--WE have to
begin If we ever get through, has spirit
in it. 1t is robust with the stalwart vigor
of truth universal Its breadth covers
every case. Beginning Is related to per-
Torrance as closely as seed to the crop
or as marriage to population. In the
conduct of life it is the antecedent of ev-
cry consequent, a premise to every con-
cluson, the precursor and pioneer or all
achievement. In spite of the economy or
work and the devices against waste which
science has addad to modern availability,
beginning has not been abolished or made
superfluous in a single instance. No dis
covery for dispensing with 1t has ever
been brought to light, Even the scientific
dreamer, so far as heard from. has had
no vision Of it's ultimate elimination or
discrimination or discontinuance.
When to begin is always question
in limine 1t stands in front OF every
undertaking, and may be regarded as the
original previous question, The time Tor
beginning q career at college differs in
different cases according to circum-
stances and yet there is "a simple general
rule for all cases IT is this: Begin when
you can; early if possible; late, II neces-
sary; but BEGIN.
BOYS and young men are afflicted with
many ignorances-many sorts OF ignor-
ance, and one of the sorts most prevalent
is, ignorance of the CAN; ignorance OF
4 g.. civ haxy r a
himself to do. This ignorance hides OPP
portunity and keeps hundreds and thou
sands out. Of college. If II could be dis
pelled. there would never be vacant
seat at any college or university through
out the land. Where opportunity is oo-
vious without search for it. there Is often
a lazy indifference to it-an 1ndlHerence
which leads to it's neglect; but many
very many, who most ardently desire
COLLEGIATE education see no way tor them
TO obtain It, Now and then one OF these
discovers a. way, and he forthwith aVahs
himself of a. Students of this class are
among the most eager, energetic and am
bilious on the college rolls.
The old saw which says, 'Where there
a will there's a way" is profoundly true
but the saw, rightly construed. asserts
only the existence of a way, and neither
points 1t out nor afirms that IT VIII De
found. VIII is a great explorer, great
hunter, but is often bafted ana dlsap-
pointed in it's search. However, there is
no cause for despair. AS the world prog
resses the good things of life become more
easv of attainment, and among these
things is a collegiate education. Tnat is
far easier to be obtained now than II was
in times past-times so recent even as my
own boyhood and young MANHOOD were
I boy now, it seems to me could not
fail to find my way to college from the
,4orf1 A.
bun, and / regard It as perhaps the great
est misfortune of my life that ala not
find it when l was a boy
As II turned out, I was to be and am
the personihcation and embodiment OF
late beginner. i have unique expert
ence in extreme lateness fancy look
late; certainly I feel late, and though L
stand before you apparently alive, l
frankly admit that were l described as the
late L. e. b. the description would be lit
orally accurate, and anything but a mis-
fit. Until was 20 years older than Chan-
cellor Hill now is, 1 had not even selected
the college which 1 was to enter, nor mad
1 fully decided to enter any l was de-
uberating, but my mind was not made up.
I was so much gratifed by Mr.. Hills pro-
motion from the ranks or the Alumni 10
the CHARACTERISTIC, and was so conf1dent
that good and great consequences Would
result therefrom, that my zeal for the
enthusiasm, and held a revival and was
a mourner on account of my estrangement
from the university brotherhood. wanted
to Join: and finally, as you know L did
Join in a qualified and rather irregular
way. 1 wanted everybody to go to the
university that could go, and feeling SEN
sibly and sorrowfully my own need Tor IN
struction, II went for it," During four
DAYS 1 breathed a college atmosphere,
mostly on the campus, but for few
hours within the walls. 1 entered as
freshman and am still very fresh; but at
my age, to be fresh is something, and L
am we'll satisfied. am studying at pres
ent on detached service" and have been
ever since the four days expired. OF
course expect to return in due time and
at proper intervals thereafter until l
complete my course. But in the main am
an al fresco or extra-mural student.
Why went to college so late has for
general reason the simple fact that l had
not gone earlier. But there were par
ticular reasons also, at which need only
hint My practice in applied mathematics
was In some respects far too limited, and
in other respects had outgrown my theo-
retical knowledge. For instance, 1 had
carried biologic multiplication so far that
the increase of life in my immediate quar-
ter of the Cosmos was altogether new to
that region. The effect on vital statistics
has been indicated by the Atlanta Consti-
tuition in headlines running thus: Tide
of population rising in the south-for the
first time this section is growing as rap
Idly as the north" The Constitution did
not, believe, impute this effect wholly to
me; but certainly have been one Of the
chief promoters of population, and surely
it was high time for me to enter college