The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-08-25

not only all they know, but good
deal more, too.
This place Is free from all such ordi-
nary tricks that students are often
guilty Of in other institutions of learn
ing. We have no college yelk we know
nothing about hazing; we do not make
night hideous with our noise; we do
not drink and carouse; we spend no
money in gambling and riotous living.
In fact, the atmosphere here is not
conducive to the growth of trickish-
ness. But it must not be inferred
from this that we have no tricky stu
dents here. Some of our students are
full of tricks; at least they lose no op-
portunity to tell about the tricks they
have turned, while far greater num-
ber love to tell about the tricks they
are going to turn after their time ex-,
pires- is, mean, when they have
finished their education. Many who
have graduated from this place have
become famous, and not few more
than famous-infamous, in fact. Our
portraits adorn some of the leading art
galleries of America. 1t often happens
that when student leaves this institu-
tion representative of some other state,
or foreign government, meets him at the
door, and offers him such inducements
to accept service with the state or gov
ernment he represents, that the student
finds it impossible to refuse to accom-
pany the representative of such state
or foreign government.
Some years ago an agent of the gov
ernment of New Zealand accosted
noted student who had just finished
fourth course in Shoeology in this
place, and told him he was much
wanted in New Zealand. The student
would much rather have remained and
practiced his profession in this coun-
try, but the agent had such persuasive
ways about him that he soon overcame
all the objections raised by the learned
Shoeologist, and agreeing to pay his
fare to New Zealand, he, upon their
arrival in that country secured for him
a government position, which, accord
ing to the terms of agreement, is to be
of twenty years duration. You may
form an estimate from this how the
world values our services. Sometimes
when noted student leaves mere differ
ent states fairly vie with each other
as to which shall first secure his SER
vices.
[ must call your attention to another
error of judgment in your last letter.
1t is an easy thing for father to ac-
cuse his son of having been mean in
his young days, but such accusation
when apalyzed is found to consist of
the following ingredients: Prejudice,
81 per cent; falsehood, per cent; mis-
conception Of boys nature, 3-5 per cent;
truth, trace. "Come, let us reason
together" A boy just born has moth
ing but what he inherited from his
parents. If he has physical and men,
tai perfections his parents are in no
wise slow to take credit for them; but
if, as he grows older, streak of
meanness develops in him they shift
the blame on the shoulders of the dev-
il, the hired man, the hired girl,
the man in the moon, or any other
creature, or being, who may, or who
may not, have had chance to cor
rupt the angelic nature of the kid.
Sometimes they blame the kid for his
own meanness- which is altogether
unreasonable. We all know how slow
ly children acquire traits of individu-
ality, and we also know how suscepti-
BILE they are to outward influence. 10
be brief, then, the logical conclusion
seems to be this: If was mean in
herited my meanness from you, be-
cause my mothers composition was
free from meanness; if I did not in
herit it from you then the environment
in which you kept me must have been
responsible; and since you were re-
ponsible for your sons environment,
you were responsible likewise for his
mean traits s-therefore repent, you old
sinner, repent!
Lovingly yours,
HIRAM SLOwGO, JR.
life in made mn of meetings and