The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1907-07-26
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"A1 'hC oSll-Iidue uldO TO LUe COHl-
panion of his early years. Don't you
ever feel the lack Of it?"
Cant say l do" replied the COM
panion. I've had liberal allowance
OF hard knocks, if that's what you
mean"
THAT don't help you out" said the
self-made man. I've had them, too,
but they haven't fitted me for intel
lectusl society. You put me down in
an atmosphere of culture and refine
ment and l get choked up right away.
Can't stand the elevation I've got to
come around and see you to get good
deep breath. Whew!"
''As bad as thaf?"
Worse, You get a collection of
high-browed young men soaked to the
eartips in the Pierian spring discus
ing the classics together and making
you realize your own ignorance and
you'll want to leave"
Some of Bills friends?"
Some of Williams collegiate asso
ciates He alludes to them as the
bunch They are a bunch of sweet
violets, if you ask me. | used to have
some doubts about the advantages of
college for the young man. l haven't
any now. None whatever"
you don't have to give them the
whole house, do your"
by no means. They're mostly
in the music room now. They've got
the piano and banjo and a mandolin
and their own lungs. No, they don't
require the whole house, but they can
fill it all right. Ever hear any of the
dear old college songs?"
Don't believe l have"
They're gems. Ever hear Mother
Goose nursery rhymes Hickory, dick
DRY, dock, the mouse ran UP the clock
and so on?''
I've heard them"
"The college songs remind me of
them to a great extent, although the
morals of Mother Goose are more
wholesome"
That's quite likely"
"Qaite likely, as you say. There
really are passages that are undenia-
bly, suggestive of bad habits. When
you're invited as jolly good fellow
to fill up your glass, yive la COM
pagnie'-whateve that Island drink
down a health to our glorious class
for instance, it makes me feel a little
uneasy"
1t may be ginger pop or something
of that sort" suggested the compan-
ion of early years.
Il fear not" said the self-made man.
''IfAthat was the only one | might try
to believe So but there's an allusion
in another ditty to a tavern in our
town, in which somebody sits him
down and drinks his wine the livelong
day-unmistakably wine"
THAT does sound bad
Il was assured by the president that
nothing of that sort was countenaneed
by the faculty, and my apprehensions
may not be well grounded. | hope
they aren't, but there's too much
drink her down, and meerschaum
pipes and things to suit me. DISCOURSE
/ know they smoke, and if they'ds con-
fine themselves to meerschaum pipes,
] wouldn't mind it so much, but it will
take a week to get the smell of the
cigarettes out of the house, Still, con
.sidering the advantages, | suppose |
oughtn't to complain. Did you ever
hear Billy MCGEE McGaw?"
Il knew James MCGEE once"
II don't suppose it's the same per
son. This ones last name is McGaw,
and he had some connection with
three crows on a tree. | can't make
out what it is exactly, but these schol-
arly young men seem to understand it
perfectly. That's where my lack OF
classical education handicaps me, as
/ said They all tapped their wings
and cried Cav! Caw!" Billy McG0e,
McGaw.' Doesn't suggest anything to
you, eh?"
mo, | don't seem to get it.
II feel little afraid to ask Will
liam about it. / sat down there for
little while this evening when they
started, just to be polite, and of
course | tried to look as II l under
stood, but I didn't, to tell you the hon
est truth"
"A college education is a great
thina, there's no doubt about that,
said the companion of early days.
William is working hard and con
scientiously, I'll say that, for him,
pursued Williams father 81 know
some young fellows just so and loaf
around and have a good time. Will
liam isn't one of that sort at least"
That's encouraging, I'm sure"
I'm told that there hasn't been a
day that he missed attendance at the
GYM" said the self-made man, proud
ly. Hes trained faithfully and he
hasn't let any temptations of classes
and lectures seduce him from the prac-
tice games He thinks that if any va