New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-18
WOMAN's COLLEGE AND PARENTS
Accepted Parental Conclusions, with a Sug-
gested Change Of Attitude.

For the last three years have been much in
terested in investigating the idea of college ard
college life which is common among parents and
guardians" writes a member OF the group Of
elders Just named. Material has been collected
from all available sources. which were numerous.
the variety. both in parents and girls being great
And the observer comments humOrousIy. i must
admit thar in the light OF the result of my inves-
legations, I surprised that any OF these girls
We're allowed to stay in such extremely dan
gerous place than a week
First, on the score o; health I made some
startling discoveries which compelled me 10 doubt
the parental affection OF those who, holding such
ideas Of college, still sent their daughters They
think so far as 1 can judge that college thin
slippers are worn whenever it is rainy snowy,
that hats considered the proper thing for sun
day and for teas, but for other occasions. No
matter how i'll one may be one never has the doc
tor Fudge is the principal article Of diet and
no day is complete without least one fudge
party. which generally takes place about midnight
The towns in which colleges are located are SO
small that 1t is Impossible buy pins or
soap but they filed with the most vanous
characters, ready 10 pounce on uuwary maideHs
found strayiug about after s O'Clock. What said
villanous characters do during the day what
attracts them 10 college towns is not stated.
From the educational point of view the com
n1entary goes on very little apparently is gained
10y a college training, since no one ever does any
work during the four years. Students cut reel
tations any number Of times without evil results.
No one, in fact. opens book except during
animation week. when goes to bed al all.
The whole college sits up foT six successive nights.
its head bound in wet towel. and consumes
black coffee 10 keep il awake This method Of
working is naturally strain and the result is
that every one goes TO the intiruary for week
TWO after the ordeal Is over
The intense rigor Of the climate is another mat
ter which causes great anxiety"-in the parental
economy. IF the North Pole formed the college
flagstaff. more could be used In fitting
the young explorer. The college town is about or
a parallel with Boston, and yet the winters there
are far more severe than at the Hub Of the Uni
verse This may strange. but the parents
have it on good though always UnmenJioned
thority. and precautions must be taken accord
inFIy.
Not only from the physical and mental. but
also from the moral standpoint. college is consid
cred very dangerous place To judge from the
observable results all the small vices be
carefully cultivated there. The fact that a girl
may have been late 10 Breakfast every morning
studied disorder IN ner bureau drawers-on the
principle that desired article will always be
found on top-such facts do not change the color %
The parental glasses Let The girl once so to col
Isge ana the institution becomes q convenient peg
on which to hang the responsibility for ali her
These are the conclusions drawn by those who
have some slight basis of Information from which
the old bachelor uncles and rela-lves-whose pic
ture or college only the sight OF basketball game
higher education was spoken when Tennysou wrote
vision OF the sweet Si-l undergraduates in their
caps and gowns pacing elm shaded avenues, book
In hand. or sitting r1agb Die inches ly FLASHING
fountains Sometimes they 10 wandering on
petitions into the country. but these occasions
they always accompanied by servants. who
spread sIlkeu pavliI01s where the fair CoiegtaEs
rest IN tho heat OF the day and preserve their
complications one visit 70 q college Town would
dlspel this beautiful vision forever. II cruel
however 20 shacJer the ideals OF the old, and sure
IS u Is better that ElcI Crearuers should never
have their eyes opened. II WouIG be bes- y the
bachelor urcies should visit the academic town
uot az ALL at least only ~ commencement week,
when the whole O'.eEs actually does walk about
the grass IN its hest clothes.
But the corrective for the erroneous views ot
ordinary parents and guardians Is not impossible
OF discovery. difficult though the application ~ %
DE / advise that ting members OF tn academic
institution should w-lte home less about draUati-s
and dances. and more about lessons Sch course
may produce dry letters. tut surely anything
better than have the families think the4- daUgh
tiers frivolous. praulntics may be talked about
only during examination week. and slippers may
De left al home vacation PROOF taat thei-
owners exist without them.
such acmoni tons says the writer. finally
are merely the suggestions OF kindly observer
Il is the duty OF each person 20 make the remedy
Ct the individual case. for surely ~ IS worthy
undertakiuE-JLis or changing the idea % college
which is too prevalent f. the minds % parents
and guardians Truly. 70 must be most unpleasant
70 think OF ones daughter taking l1us walks ~
slippers. lace dress and no hat. when the Their
mometer stands at Is degrees below Eero-Ur. stu
worse 70 feel that her brain IS slowly deteroratng
from the want OF USE