New-York tribune., 1905-01-08


The college man is no pharisee
He does not divide his world into -
those who have attended college
and other men" He has his
clubs TO be sure; but these are not pharisaical
though they are exclusive. They are societies of
veterans with common memories and for the most
part. common ideals. They are defensible as such
There would be little adhesion in the mere pride of
learning; certainly not enough give pernanence to
association
In my observing the college graduate is likely
TO be modest concerning his attainments He has
had some measure OF his ignorance. Nor IS he dis
posed TO be demanding Except economicallv) of
recognition He carries signs if by signs
Mr. Lewis means oTnblerns OF scholastic rank And
he Is not likely in first half-hour OF converse"
TO discover YOU that he has sailed with Ulysses
worked four years on the mathematics that make
railroads possible. performed any intellectual
feats analogous TO those Of the Cow camp He
may not disclose TO you his acquaintance, even
though il be slight, with Ovid Horace, ana he
may insist upon using plain English instead of
employing words which Cicero stole from Lucus
Cassis having written in the language OF every
day converse he may decline append the translation
IN Latin grammatical otherwise l say he may
give Of these scholastic signs and yet his life may
have been ennobled and made a hundred times more
useful than Il he had not had the training which would
let him honestly and 1nodesy employ these signs he
chose 50 10 do
And being modest Of his learning. perhaps more
modest than he ought 10 be, he is disposed TO
claim privileges because OF his degree. heard
President Roosevelt say in an address before a body
OF college graduates IN Chicago that If college
IN the Rough Rider Regiment had asked a favor or
privilege because he a college man he would have
done his best 10 get that out of the regiment
Immediately His language doubtless foTci-
BE than this but ] have accurately represented his
attitude And his attitude Is typical Of the American
college graduate l believe. He does not, rule,
parade his degree; nor does he present his sheepskin
as accrediting him 10 sne-ures. He asks no favors.
He Is the most democratic OF men in spirit He IS
ready TO play the game
have memory illustrative 1t IS typical
the spirit i shows though il IS extreme in its Incl
dent ! had the great pleasure in the early days of
my college presidency OF conferTing degree upon
certain handsome, representative, American young man,
OF no great scholarship. but OF highly attractive per-
sonaty. He was captain OF the football team, much
liked by students and professors. He went to Har-
ward after graduating for year in the study
OF law though he did not intend 70 practise it. He
might have gone into comfortable clerkshiP in
great corporation. instead, he out a section
hand upon a railroad. Whenever ! passed ever his
section used always go out upon the rear platform
10 wave nv greeting 10 hrn-this fellow, who
descended from Revolutionary heroes who had
comfortable home in which he might have stayed,
a college degree and proud record as halt-back and
captain OF an eleven and who now one OF gang
OF section railroad track that ran through the
prairies Two years later when, returning to the
West ! was travelling over that same section with
President Mckinley found my young friend still at
work but longer seCtion-hand He was IN charge OF
hundred making some extensive changes
in the road-bed He IS now years after graduation
q roadmaste-.
do not know where he would have been without
q college training ! am only citing his attitude
toward life in coming from college, illustrative OF