The San Francisco call., 1909-08-17
GINFSSOUND WORDS
TO ENTERING CLASS.
President Wheeler Addresses
Students at First University
Meeting of Semester

BERKELEY, Aug. 16.-Sound words
IF advice were given TO the members
Of the freshman class when they met
the student body of the university for
the first time at the first university
meeting of the year in Harmon gym
nasium this morning. President
Wheeler was the speaker of the occa-
sion. In part he said:
The chief things for which man is sent to
college are: (I) 10 be trained in the pursuit Of
knowledge: (2l 10 be trained for the successful
practice Of some life activity; CD 10 be trained,
il possible. IN the intelligent mastery OF SOME
enc Of the human pursuits, so as to create,
discover invent; "a 10 be trained ID estimating
the moral values, as TO be member OF so
cietF, not a thorn in its side; TO TO be trained
ia the maintenance and development Of physical
health, without which all the other things are
vain; 90 10 be trained in the orderly eo-opera-
ton with the purposes Of society. which means
both submission to the law and assertion Of IT,
ATTENTION TO STUDY
l. Don't forget-whatever else you may do-to
give regular daily attention 10 your studies and
10 attend 10 that first Of all. When a man be-
gins to get behind. he is apt 10 tnd "a stern
chase a long chase" and then loses his ambition.
The first half Of the fan term is the sorest test
because Of its distractions. The number of those
who drop cut at the end Of that term is pitifuily
great.
? Don't plan 10 drop out with course half
finished. 1t is something a man will always
have 10 explain in after life. Why did you start
and then quitg Accepting the bribe Of an i'm
mediate livelihood generally means selling one
tirthriEht for a mess Of pottage. Stick II out,
fight il through; don't be beaten in the hrst
sklrmish. man loses respect for hmseh-
DON'T FOLLOW THE CROWD
5. Don't follow the crowd in choosing studies.
Have a field Of your own. You viii get more at
tention i'm the less frequented courses. You will
have more Individuality as a student
H. HrrHa. ararn ~ E0rT
good in mathematics. Don't choose branch OF
II merely because you think you have prae-
ticsl bent. certainly not because you have not
been good at your books IN the high school You
viii be grievously deceived. Mathematics and
mechanics wiz undeceive you. Only the best
scholsrs should venture upon these courses 9th
viii find themselves later. even II they pun
through. second rate engineers
3. Don't choose law with the idea that II you
prove poor student you can yet manage TO i've
hr your wits, or at any rate drop into some
political Office. There is nothing more piuful
and seedy than broken down lawyer living
preesriously cn politics
PUBLIC SPEAKING
g. Nba.erer your occupation is 10 be. practice
public speaking and correct and expressive writ
ing. There is no walk Of life in which these
viii not give you a great advantage This is a
social world. and you must be able TO state your
case II you expect TO have weight. Our men
are strikingly deficient in the use Of the English
language especially in public speech Have
rour voices trained Take the courses in public
speaking. Learn TO express yourselves carefully
in ordinary conversation Write much. Read
sound English Have good book ready at hand
fsr 8 chance 10 minutes Of leisure.
Z. Be sure you have among your intimate ac-
uuainfances a good proportion Of solid men OF
serious purpose, good sense and clean life You
can not make your college life success II you
associate with men who are idle. reckless or I'M
moral You viii surely be infected sooner or
later. Watch and see II you have come to ad-
mire the type Of men who swaggers in gait and
speech turns one brm down and the other up
and ieaus against post. hand in his pocket
and The other wrapped about cigarette II so.
fake ny advice snd choose another model. For
you are on the wrong track The men Of whom
he class and the college viii be proud 25 years
from nov VIII mostly come from those who work
hard In college.