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

BY DIR. JAMES n. CARLISLE.
An Article That Every Young Man
Should Read whether He
Is In College or At
Daniel Webster looking back to an
Incident in his 10Th year Q797), when
his father was taking him to a 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 fur myself he would do what he
could for me. l. remember that l
was quite overcome and my head
grew dizzy. The thing appeared to
me so high, and the expense and
sacrifice 1t was to cost. my father so
great, could only press his hands and
shed tears Excellent, excellent
parent! l cannot think OF him. even
now, without turning child again.
Perhaps l00,0 young men may be
IN American O'leges this year. Let
US speak to one or them early in the
session. rs 1t 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 q frank
answer.
Yes Of course, expect to be a
gentlemen, that is, as much OF a gem
tleman> as student can be. You
know some things are excused in
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, q gen
tleman, except in the things where
my student character makes me fall
short. 4 Unfortunately there was a
time Wneu 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, or to the
equally Important unwritten laws of
refined. oreven civilized society. Col
lege Laws, at one time, seemed to
recognize peculiar college code. In
the lSehcentury fines were imposed
on American students. The grades
of fines and otfense, seem strange to
US now For playing cards fine of
i've 'shflings might be imposed while
one smiling slh,ii and q half would do for
playind any game for money. "Going
upon1ae top Of the college was an Of
fenseEtSual in gravity, to drunken
ness odlying. 1t is not surprising,
that uEder a system like that, the
colleges5oys had rather a confused
creek, 54Slo ofals and manners.
We nCeu not go back to the rules of
that,day to learn what it is to be a
gentleman In college. We shall not
try 10 give full definition of the
word. We may safely take for granted.
that truthfulInesS, honor and kind
ness hre included. Does the fact that
a young man has entered a college
campus release him from any of these
traits? Il was a truthful boy and
man until l enterered college | ex-
pect to be truthful in vacation and
after l leave college. But during the
session time, some who meet me ofti-
cially must be satisfied with a little
lower standard in me-" Will any
student deliberately adopt creed or
q practice like this?
Take the question OF honor, GER
tainly wide, all-embracing word.
VIII the student claim the privIl 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 are 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,
whenever he can do so with safety.
But 1t is not extreme to that this
same student has very defective,
color conscience and sense OF
right.
Take the trait Of kindness. The
name of Philip Sydney is household
word in all lands where tile English
language is spoken. When boy at
school, II years OF age U566), he
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 person. There is
nothing that Wlnneth so much with
so little cost" Does the student of
today approve this, with the reserva-
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 to
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. If there Is chivalry, honor,
manliness or nobility here it is that
of the Arabian host, who entertains
his wayfaring guests with all possible
politenesS, bidding him farewell with
profound bows and repeated wishes
for safe journey then hurrying on
by direct path wavlovs him and