Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-10-08
III Were to Go to College Again

The following article, written by Rev.
Thomas Simms, formerly pastor of the
Middlebury Congregational church, re-
ceived honorable mention in prize con-
test in the Congregationalist of Sept.
4, and is well worth reading:
Granted that as youth / possessed
the same experience and wisdom which
mature years have brought me, should
select a college having for its president
a strong, virile, conscientious man, in
whom the students have the utmost
covet noble manhood. ] should de-
eide upon a college which, while giving
due prominence to physical training
does not subordinate all else to. athle-
tics.
where the fraternity spirit is normal,
and where the expenses of societies and
fraternities do not embarrass students
of average means.
While in college / should through the
gymnasium and by other methods, seek
to build up a strong physical body, to
serve me in good service through the
that follow.
My relations to the college faculty
ought to be quite different from that
which obtains in many quarters. As
Stunning that they are men of superior
ability, without whom it would be i'm
possible for college to exist it would
be wise for me to avoid a spirit of
hostility, criticism and aloofness and in
RI of
the advantages that would result from
a friendly attitude toward them and of
close personal contact. 1t would be a
great gain to me while in college if |
were able to keep free from all hostile
criticism of men, addresses and SER
mons,
Approaching the great value of
friends and the rare opportunity college
affords for cultivating body of sincere
friends, to whom | may be loyal
throughout life, | would be slow to
choose and eager to hold as friends men
of high ideals of earnest purpose and
sterling qualities. Allegiance to a few
of this stamp | should put far above
mere general popularity.
AS a student it would be my purpose,
while seeking to learn something about
many things, to become an authority
upon one line, philosophy, history, Ian
guage or other subject. The end of the
freshman year is none too early to be-
gin this specializing.
1t might be wise for me to make a
confident of sane college graduate,
either of or outside the college with
whom | might consult and up TO whom
| might look for counsel.
AS student it would be my aim to
master subjects, rather than particular
/ text books, and to gain a broad and
accurate knowledge rather than to
make fine recitations-to learn to think
to ask of myself questions and seek for
answers and to learn the important art
of investigation.
AS to flnance-Were | to earn my way
through college it would be wise for me
to do a maximum of wage-earning dur
ing vacation, so as to devote the maxi
mum of time while college was in SEES
sion to regular college work; 1t would
be folly for me to devote the major
part of my time while in college to earn
ing money, and far better either to
borrow, securing myself by a life insur-
ance policy of thousand or two thous-
and dollars, or prolong my course by re-
naming out year or two rather than
impair my health or my scholarship by
outside work during college time.
Reaching the junior and senior years
1t might be well for me to seek to ac-
quire that very important knack of lead
ing men, since every college graduate
ought to become leader of men in
after life.
Upon graduation should have a
sound, strong body, trained and sane
mind, sweet, companionable spirit and
a deeply-rooted belief in righteousness
and God, my four years course would
be productive of the highest permanent
benefit.
These are some of the things dream
of doing were | again back in college,
but alas! were |, as a youth, again
there | should probably very foolishly
shun the faculty, be Indifferent to ideals,
grow hypercritical, catch the extreme
fraternity fever, regard the four years
as prolonged picnic, declare athletics