The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-09-23
A PROTEST
against the Accepted Doubla Stand
ard of Collegiate Conduct,
BY DIR. JAMES h. CARLISLE.

An Article That Every Young Man
Should Read Whether He
Is In College or At
Work.
Il Daniel Webster looking back to an
'ncident in his 10Th year Q79D, when
his father was taking him to school
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 would do all l
could ftr myself he would do what he
could for me. remember that l
was quite overcome and my head
grew di1zy. The thing appeared to
me so high, and the expense and
sacrifice 1t was to cost my father so
great, could only press his har Is and
shed tears. Excellent, excellent
parent! l cannot think of him, even
now, without turning Il child again. )"
Perhaps 100000 young men may be
In American colleges this year. Let
us speak to one or them early in the
session, Is 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 few moments TO collect his
thoughts, and he may give us a frank
answer.
Yes Of course, l expect to be a
gentlemen, that is, as much OF gen.
tlemanas 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
gentlenan, minus the student, gen.
OiemanS except i'll tine 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 locked upon as a privileged wild
animal not subject to the written
laws OF college, city or State, or to the
equally, important unwritten laws of
relineds oreven civilized society. Col.
lege Laws, at one time, seemed to
recognize a peculiar college code. In
the 1Sahcentury fines were imposed
OH American students. The grades
of fines and offense, seem strange to
us now For playing cards fine of
five shflings might be imposed while
one shilling and half would do for
playind any game for money "Going
upon;tAe top of the college was an Of
fenseesual in gravity, to drunken
ness oMlying. 1t Is not surprising,
that n5der a system like that, the
college, boys had rather a confused
creek ss.!Slao orals and manners.
WFnged not 60 back to the rules OF
that(aay to learn what it Is to be Il
gentleman in college. We shall not
try 70 give full definition Of the
word. We may safely take for granted.
that truthfullnesS, honor and kind
ness are included. Does the fact that
young man has entered a college
campus release him from any of these
traits? Il was truthful boy and
man until l enterered college. l ex-
pect to be truthful in vacation and
after l leave college. But during the
session time, some who meet me OIL
cially must be satisfied with little
lower standard in me-" Will any
student deliberately adopt creed or
a practice like this?
Take the question of honor, GER
tainly a vide, all-embracing word.
Will the student claim the privll ge
to play fast and loose with it while in
college? There are certain kinks of
property, in the possession of certain
people, which will most sacredly re-
spect. There arc other kinds OF
property which my ideas of honor and
right allow me to handle without any
sense Of wrong or shame" 1t may be
extreme to say that student who
will take an article from one person,
will take any article from any person,
wherever he can do so with safety.
But it is not extreme to that this
same student has very detective,
cOlor-blind conscience and sense Of
right.
Take the trait Of Kindness. The
name OF Philip Sydney is household
word in all lands where the English
language is spoken. When boy at
oSiiooi; - yCulo VI dPc NloObJ, lie
wrote two letters to his father, one
in Latin, the other in French. He
was rewarded by an answer in which
were W Sc maximS, that helped to
form the boys character and life.
Here are two short sentences, worthy
to be read and practlced by every
English-reading boy. BE courteous
OF gesture and allable to all, with
diversity OF reverence, according to
the dignity of the pcrsOn. There is
nothing that winneth SO much with
so little cost" Does the student of
today approve this, with the reserya.
tion that this high standard must be
revised to suit the public sentiment
OF our campus? Let us suppose a
case. a new student, on his way tC
college, stops for a night with a
young man already in college. All
that sincere refined hospitality and
courtesy can suggest is offered to the
guest. The two go on to the college.
In few days or SO the former host
joins with fellow students to annoy,
mortify, harass and anlict his late
guest. IL there is chivalry, honor,
manlineSs or nobility here it is that
of the Arabian host, who entertains
his wayfaring guests with all possible
politencss, bidding him farewell with
profound bows and repeated wishes
for safe journey-th then hurrying on
by direct path, waylays him anC