New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-12
MASTER OF THE C[AQUE THE WESTERN STUDENT
He Is More Breezy with the Fac.
ulty than His Eastern Brother.

William Stcarns DAVIS, professor of his
tory i'm the University OF Minnesota. writing
about THE Western Student as Seen by
His Instructors" In THE Century Maya
zine" SAYS:
"A few years ago student OF the junior
class I'm the Western college where | was
then teaching came to me with a peculiar
burden of woe. His college. let me say
parenthetically was one amply recognized
over the United states for it's high stand
ards OF scholarship and it's success In de-
velopng both brains and character.
Mr. Davis he said I am in an awful
fix. | need your advice.
How can aid YOU?
We'll YOU know | am candidate for
the presidency Of my class Everything
seemed to go smoothly. and then the other
fellows bobbed in with an argument / can't
exactly meet
What is it?'
They say: NO ore has ever been elect
ed class president at College who is
not self-supporting. Now, my father pays
my bills ] don't wait on the table shake
furnaces. shovel walks or beat rugs. I've
thought of doing IT, but since my father
can afford to put me through without so
doing It hasn't seemed fair to steal the
jobs of the other fellows. Now Ms
gang is boosting him because he's worked
on farms summers and washed dishes win
tiers since he was a junior cad THAT Is,
academy STUDENT. What am going to do .
Il gave my friend a few stray thoughts
as to how he might overcome his direful
handicap. Being really most excellent
and popular fellow. he was ultimately
wagged their heads over "A most unfortu-
nate example. 1t is not likely, however.
that many such examples or arguments
accompany the class elections at Harvard
or Yale.
Every college East and West has its
stories Of successful struggle for an educa-
ton against heavy pecunlary handicap, but
never in the East does an instructor con-
front so many of these bitter. logged bat
ties.
You are getting behind in your work
! said once to a student. Now. know YOU
don't lack brains What's the matter?
Why, sir ! didn't manage to lay up
much money peddling this summer, so |
arranged to clerk in BIS drug store
evenings until closing time III p. MI, and |
have TO rise at to care for eight furnaces.
The result is I'm so sleepy / can't really
do good work: but I will try to drink
more strong coffee and keep awake
In this case | was dealing with man
who unquestionably was gaining much !
from his college studies; but the case be-
comes very pathetic when a student enters
college on the strength of high school /
certificate granted by an overndulgent !
principal and undertakes TO battle for an |
education when, even if he were wcll-to-do, |
no self-rcspecting institution could long !
Keep him enrolled.
I'm sorry fellow professor said to a /
pupil: you try very hard. It's no lack of
honest work. but Heaven never made you /
for a college man. There are lots Of other /
things to he done I'm the world Go and do
them. and don't waste any more time and
money around the university You can
never be graduated
I'm afraid you're right. professor as
scented the poor fellow. I've the grit, but
not the gray matter. I've been boarding
myself on Il cents day for the last three
months but it's no use. I'll give up.
1T may he safely said that few mex
perienced instructors starting their work
at Western college need the warning a
seeking my first appointment Don't begin
at D. a famous Eastern institution; !
the students are very brutal to young
teachers. Start in the West. where they
will treat you like a gentleman
This thoroughly respectful treatment In
the classroom is sometimes accompanied
by a, camaraderie outside that is refreshing,
il properly appreciated and controlled
II is not usual a New Haven or Cambridge
for a freshman to tap his instructor on the
shoulder and inform him. That was bully
lecture YOU gave us or for a junior TO APP
proach with the announcement We'll. PROF.
Won did hit IL off with a corking fair test
this morning Good natured criticisms are
likely 10 be given very honestly without
offence to any right minded instructor.
Sometimes the desire of students TO make
friends with their teachers becomes a
problem. especially in coeducational insti-
;utions I shall have TO cancel part of my
office hours. a professor said TO me re-
Gently. Miss r and Miss Nj come in
every day now; they tell me all their
family troubles. and if there is anything
they haven't told me it is because will
not let them And yet ] am expected to
do research work"
The Western students have much TO
learn from the East. They must learn that
lettering over a wise old book is not ncccs
sariIv idleness; that information is not
knowledge: that many things are worth
learning even II they will never add
penny to ones income. But 1t is in no
unfriendIy spirit asserted that the average
student of the East may learn as much or
more from the average student of the
West. that the four years Of college are
NOT four years of polite leisure admiXed
With athletics before entering upon the true
business of life. but four years OF coura-
e,eous effort toward a definite end and that
the mere chance to make TINS effort Is
worth buying perhaps at heavy price
THE Western student bodies have thc'r
faults. many. grievous. Yet at least IL
cannot be said OF them as of one great
Eastern college. that they have the best
countrv club in America; or as ot an
otbor. that the students are taught TO
take off their hats before brewery OF
as Of another. that the leading under
graduates live on the Gold Coast. Ihey
nave their own problems, their own ioioieS
and their own virtues"