The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-09-21
A PROTEST
against the Accepted Doubla Stand.
ard of Collegiate Conduct,
BY DR.. JAMES q. CARLISLE.
An Article That Every Young Man
Should Read Whether He
Is In College or At
Work

Daniel Webster looking back to ar
incident in his 18th year Q797), wher
his father was taking him to schoo
six miles from the home, writes: "On
the way my father intimated to me
his intention of sending me to college.
The very idea thrilled my whole
frame. He said he then lived for but
his children and if l would do all !
could for myself he would do what he
could for me. I remember that !
was quite overcome and my head
grew dizzy. The thing appeared tc
me so high, and the expense and
sacrifice it was to cost my father SO
great, I could only press his hands and
shed tears. Excellent, excellent
parent! I cannot think Of him even
now, without turning a child again. u
Perhaps 1000 young men may be
in American colleges this year. Let
US speak to one OF them early in the
session. 'sIs it your purpose to be a
gentleman while in college?" Per.
haps he is at first, disposed to resent
the question as an insult. But give
him a few moments to collect his
thoughts, and he may give US frank
answer.
Yes, of course, I expect to be a
gentlemen, that is, as much OF gen.
tleman as a student can be. You
know some things are excused in a
student and expected in him, that
can not be done by ordinary yonng
men OF our age. / expect to be a
gentleman, minus the student, a gen
tleman, except in the things where
my student character makes me fall
short" Unfortunately there was a
time when an answer like this was
natural. For generations a student
was looked upon as a privileged wild
animal, not subject to the written
laws of college, city or State, OF to the
equally important unwritten laws OF
refined, or even civilized society. Col
lege laws. at one time, seemed to
recognize peculiar college code. In
the 18th century fines were imposed
on American students. The grades
Of fines and offense, seem strange to
US now. For playing cards a fine OF
five shillingS might be imposed while
one shilling and half would do for
playing any game for money. Going
upon the top Of the college was an Of
fense equal in gravity, to drunken
ness or lying. 1t is not surprising,
that under a system like that, the
college boys had rather a confused
creed of morals and manners.
We need not go back to the rules OF
that day to learn what it is to be a
gentleman in college. We shall not
try to give a full definition OF the
word. We may safely take for granted.
that truthfullness, honor and kind
ness are included. Does the fact that
a young man has entered college
campus release him from any Of these
traits? II was a truthful boy and
man until enterered college. I ex-
pect to be truthful in vacation and
after I leave college. But during the
session time, some who meet me Off.
cially must be satisfied with little
lower standard in me-" Will any
student deliberately adopt creed or
a practice Ike this?
Take the question Of honor, GER
tainly a wide, all-embracing word.
Will the student claim the privilege
to play fast and loose with it while in
college? There are certain kinks OF
property, in the possession OF certain
people, which I will most sacredly re-
spect. There are other kinds Of
property which my ideas OF honor and
right allow me to handle without any
sense of wrong OF shame. " 1t may be
extreme to say that a student who
will take an article from one person,
will take any article from any person,
whenever be can do so with safety.
But it is not extreme to that this
same student has a very defective
color-blind conscience and sense o1
right.
Take the trait Of kindness. The
name of Philip Sydney is household
word in all lands where the Englist
language is spoken. When a boy at
school, u years Of age Q566), hi
wrote two letters to his father, on
in Latin, the other in French. He
was rewarded by an answer in Whlct
were W Sc maxims, that helped t.
form the boys character and life
Here are TWO short sentences, worthy
to be read and pract1ced by every
Englisa-reading hoy. BE courteou:
of gesture and affable to all, Will
diversity Of reverence, according II
the dignity Of the p?rson. There il
nothing that winneth so much Will
so little cost" Does the student o
today approve this, with the reserva
tion that this high standard must b
revised to suit the public sentimen
of our campus? Let US suppose
case. a new student, on his way t.
college, stops for a night with
young man already in college. Al
that a sincere refined hospitality an