Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1911-09-25
OLD COLLEGE OPENS.
St. Johns Has Formal Opening
This Morning For Next
Collegiate Year.
A LARGE ATTENDANCE
Alumni Visiting COllege-Dr. McComas
Opens College With Prayer
Address BY President Fell. 4

AAN AO4 ma opening VI 81 JOIn >
College took place this morning,
Chapel exercises being held for the
first time in the new session. The
Rev. DR.. j. P. McComas opened them
with reading of Scripture, prayer and
address, after which Dr. Fell, the
President, made his annual opening ad-
dress. He said in part:
THE opening of a new session has
many pleasant features. 1t brings
back the old students to their Alma
Mater, it also ushers in a number of
young men, who come full of energy
and zeal, to take their place in our
little commonwealth, and to emulate
the example of those whose deeds and
scholarship in after life have added
prestige and renown to this venerable
college.
That S.. Johns trains her under
| graduates v ELL there is not doubt.
! The work done here is most thorough,
if performed according to the require
ments of the various courses, but
there are other things to be learned
beside what is required in the class
room. To equip a man for taking his
/ place in the world he must be made
an all-round man, his training must
be comprehensive and must include all
departments.
''At the time of life when young
men go to college, they need to be sep
arated from home, and thrown to a
great extent upon their own resources
and abilities. There is no training
like the true college life of campus,
dormitory and healthy college regime
for the development of robust and
manly character, which is the best
foundation upon which to build an
after career of honor and renown.
THE college training is one of which
| books are by no means the only or
most important art. 1t is school
for development of character-of the
manly and best part of character
where chivalry is valued highly and
selishness is out of place. In addi-
tion, a leveling or evening process
prevails. Young men who are endow-
ed with quick intelligence shine in
the classroom then again, others
take the lead upon the campus; ine-
| qualities become relative and all are
encouraged.
| ~ thN wi AAAANNAg NAiCAN 10 NOlllIiQ-
nifty life, where a general nature
should be cultivated, the rights and
needs of ali acknowledged Such rel
les of barbarism as are comprised in
the practice of 'hazing' should have
no part in the esoteric features of
student life. The advantages of such
training are that it recognizes public
spirit and unselfshness as the essen
tial factors in good citizenship. 1t is
life where all rights are acknowl-
edged, where fairness and generous
impulses are at premium.
but in the accomplishment of
any purpose there is quality which
counts for more than intelligence, or
talent, or physical strength, which is
known as persistence The aims of
young men are various, but whatever
their aim may be, it may be described
in the one word-'success, and sue
cess cannot be achieved except by per-
sistent labor.
''It is, perhaps, for this reason that
people who are accounted dull some
times outstrip those who are ac-
credited with high intelligence or
talent. 1t is the old story of the tor
toise and the hare, applied to human
ity. The persistent plodder reaches
the end of his journey before his rival,
who is fieeter of foot, but inconsistent.
The dullard is not necessarily per-
sistent, but the bright, intelligent
man is frequently of a nervous tenn
permanent, impatient and inconsistent.
In the course of his college DAYS he
may stand high in his class without
obtaining that useful training of the
mental faculties which enables a man
to make sustained effort.
tThus it is in the real world which
lies beyond the college, the winner.
whether talented or dull, must always
possess the needed quality-persist-
ence. Whatever his aim may be. he
must keep it constantly before his
mind, permitting no diversions. 1t is
persistent study and practice, rather
than talent that makes the successful
merchant, or banker, or professional
man.
There is no royal road to success
in any calling. Talent, quick intelli-
gence, the ability to learn new lessons
without study are qualities much to
be desired, but they cannot Altogether
take the place of persistence which
seems necessary factor in all sue
cessful effort. Of recent years there
has been disposition to decry the
study of the classics, Greek and Latin.
especially the former, and to substi-
tute therefor preponderence of scien-
tific subjects. Some intelligent peo-
pie think that whatever tends not to
utility is superfuous in education.
But man is not a machine. he
holds particular place in creation,
and mental cultivation adapts him for
the performance of mechanical duties.
not in one or two branches, but in all
branches. The study of the classics
gives vitality to the thinking powers
Their intricacies are valuable as
exercise in developing the mind, and
of creating process of thinking un-