New-York tribune., 1906-04-18
MISS TARBELL ON WELLS.
Congratulates College on Being Small and
Individual.

The Wells College alumn9 had the somewhat un-
usual honor At their annual luncheon at Sherry's
yesterday Of being complimented on the incon-
spcuousness OF their intelligence
II like your intelligence" said Miss Ida Tarbel
who Was the guest Of honor because 1t isn't too
conspicuous l mean" she hastened TO add that
it is "A kind Of all-round element with 70 special
talent standing out aggressiveIy."
Miss Tarbe also said that she liked Wells Col
lege because il dared 10 he itself and 10 be
small She was talking about The Imitation and
the Real and lamenting the almost universal ten
dency to imitation.
The purr of the South is beautiful she said
and the precision Of tho New Englander is not
without its charms, but when the New Englander
tries to purr the results are disastrous to fndiydu
ality. The results of imitation in dress ara fearful
and wonderful Twenty-thrd street Is the most
distressing place earth. for every one Is irving
TO initiate the things in the windows But let
nun or nursemaid go by, a real swell stem ont
OF a carriage and we recognize cnce that this
IS the real thing. The nursemaid is distinguished
in her cap and apron, but on Sunday ubor sbo
is trying 10 initiate her mistress see what an ugIv
thing she is,
This tendency To imitation manifests itself NOT
only In speech and dress, but in the mind PeonIe
run after popular persons regardless of tenpera-
mental affinity The poor. instead Of being them
selves, envy the rich, regardless of the fact that
money IN itself doesn't bring content or position
ana mat IN incompetent hands nothing gives peopIe
NN~'- i'O'Nt VI ilidhlilB IOolS OF themselves
then there is imitation thinking which is com
moher than any other kind of imitation
me Rev DR.. George Morgan Ward president of
"els College, also congratulated the institution on
being small and being able to give Individual at
tehtlon to students. bat he said that this was \
distinct financial disadvantage
W g cannot depend on the professional giver -
ne Sald Tor he wants to get the most for his
money The secretary of one of these givers wrote
me recently that if his employer gave money to a
certain institution, which named. he would
benefit one thousand students every year, while at
Wells he would only reach one hundred and fifty.
Therefore he thought it better business TO give to
the larger institution. and therefore the burden of
the financial future of Wells College must rest
largely with the aIumne."
MISS NJ Helena Zachos, president of the Eastern
Association OF Wells College. presided. and there
were other addresses by Mrs S. A. Swenson and
Mrs. Elbert Carpenter former students and pres
ent trustees of the college. and by Miss Helen +.
smith. former dean. Miss Smith made an
honorary member of the association. and the prize
OF so given annually by the association for the
best English essay written by student of the col
lese Was presented to Miss Helen Hawks Editor
OF The Wells College Chronicle" The presenta-
ton made by Mrs. J. ID. Higgins. and Miss
Janet Mcdonald was honorably mentioned.
Mrs. Grover Cleveland. who is Wells alumn8,
was expected 10 be present, but was detained.