The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-01-22

Fifty years ago college faculties su
peryised very closely the conduct OF
students both within and without the
classroom Those were the days be-
fore the wise men had discovered that
boy at IS years Is mature enough in
mind and body to be his own master,
regulate his own hours choose his own
course of study and be responsible only
to himself for his conduct. Modern
college faculties know a good deal more
about the nature OF boys than did the
strict old pedants of the elder day. We
know now that the freshman never ell
ects course of study with an eye 10
ease rather than profit. We know
now that when left to himself TO do
what he pleases with his nights, re-
moved from all restraints either of
home or of college authorities. he sell
dom falls into evil ways, seldom learns
to drink or gamble. and never. never
picks up that costly and demoraliZing
education which comes of much fire.
quenting the so-called tenderloin dis
trict.
But in spite of this notable superior
ity over that of three or four decades
ago, the San Francisco Bulletin thinks
the college life of the present day has
certain dangers and evils of which the
faculties are not aware, but which it
will be difficult TO eliminate without in
vading the large freedom now enjoyed
by the students.
One Of these evils is the smoking
habit, which has become almost uni
NEiSdt dAtpllS EluntA4iS VI al
At Harvard, according to a newspaper
dispatch recently sent from Cambridge,
nearly every student smokes to excess,
and the consumption of tobacco by the
Harvard students is enormous. No
attempt is made to root out the habit
in the student body, and the faculty are
as devoted to the fragrant weed as are
the boys.
Perhaps the physical damage done
to the students by this generous if not
excessive use of tobacco is not great
enough to give cause for worry, but the
waste of time, money and energy rep
resented by all that smoking is some
thing not easy TO calculate or pleasant
to contemplate. Smoking costs good
deal of money, and the young men Of
Harvard, most Of whom have their for
tunes yet to make, are acquiring an ex-
pensive vice while acquiring an expens-
i've education. and thus are mortgaging
their futures.
1t is a question worth considering
whether the social side of college life
is not overshadowing the scholastic |
side. AT Harvard especially the rich
er stu Tents put on great deal of what
is called side" dog" or ''lugs. They |
have fast horses and automobiles, they |
live in luxurious apartments and man
age to spend a great deal Of money.
This sort of thing is not only bad for
the few that can afford it, but it is
worse in its effect on the body of stu
dents who cannot afford it, but who, by
obaying an instinct of human nature,
endeavor in some measure to initiate it
ana thus fall into a dangerous way Of
living beyond their means.
College life should be absolutely dem
Ocratic. There should be no exclusive
sets, 10 extravagant living, no snobbery
among the students. Students ought
to fraternize with one another, rich and
poor nigh born and low born, A col
lege in which the spirit is not demo-
cratic is a menace to the republic.