The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1906-07-31

L
The most inexclusive of institu-
tions, the university has all along
had to combat the idea that it
was a sort of "school for rich
mems sons. !" This, too, in a
State which was described some
years ago as being without a
begger or a millionaire" Out
in the rural districts many peo-
pie have the idea that a poor boy
has small chance there-that
there are all sorts of discrimina-
tons against him, even if be has
the courage to undertake the
course. The number of poor
boys who have been equipped for
life there, who are now being
equipped, has not as yet appa-
rently availed to remove false
impression. Such being the view
entertained by certain portion
of the people of the State, it is
not strange that the protest
against fraternities met with a
measure OF belief and sympath Y.
Their mere existence seemed to
spell inequality. They have been
magnified to sinister proportions.
Their members are supposed to
spend most of their time cultivat-
ing scornful looks to be lavished
on the unfortunate youth who
doesn't happen to belong to one
of those powerful and mysterious
organizations. And, worst Of all,
the State has been told that the
social set around Oxford practi-
cally ostracise the student who
is not a s'fraternity man. The
young ladies, all in pink and
white, have no smiles for the
swain who can not pin fratet-
nifty badge upon her perforated
shirt waist in return. The RENE
dy? Abolish fraternities and the
age of gold will come again.
1t seems tempest in tea pot.
College fraternities are very
harmless things; sometimes they
are helpful. II they were abol-
ished, the students would have
little cliques just as before Some
would probably be silly enough
to give themselves airs because
of them, and other students
would probably, as now, be fool
ish enough to be panied because
they were not invited to partici-
pate in the mysteries. AS for
the social ostracism in the little
town near the university, assum-
ing there is such a thing, that
shouldn't be borne hardly by a
young man with any pride or
common sense. He should be
able to recognize the Stiffness of
it.. He might also incidentally
remember that he is there main
ly to study. Oxford is no part of
the university, and the universi-
ty ought not to be blamed for
any discomfort of which the town
is the cause. Blame Oxford.
Or perhaps it would be better to
blame neither; better to GO about
ones business, which is to pre-
pare oneself for the concerns of
life, without paying attention to
matters that are really worthy of
no attention. If he does this at
the end of his four years of study
he will have something to take
away with him instead of every
thing to leave behind. One can
carry off his requirements, but
not the bevy of college widows
who make merry with the sue
ceeding generations. And, no
doubt, most of the non-fraterni-
ty men take this view of the mat
ter. But there have been others
who raised the voice of loud COM
plant so that the State was made
to hear.
1t is to bo hoped this and every
succeeding board will be able to
improve the institution. Ii must,
of course, either go forward,
keep pace with the demands of
the time, or go backward. To
date it has not gone backward.
There is nothing about the Uni
versity of Mississippi of which
any citizen need be ashamed. 1t
would, however, have gone
further and done more if it had
had more money and a more un-