The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1912-02-02

/ tpelf having hftu III IL, tnere are bnOSe
who realize the difficulty of attaining
success. in the present OF age, without
the higher academical and technical
training, who have looked into the future
and have seen that they will soon have
to contend with qualified, educated, col
Iege-trained men, and who are daily
endeavoring to fit themselves for this
contest.
1t used to be that higher education
was not necessary, that the higher
technical training ofto-day was unheard
Of This was not because the people Of
that day we're not progressive, for pro-
gress has heen taking rapid strides in all
ages ever since the beginning Of time.
But life then was much simpler than to-
day. The young man, who finished
the district school, was fitted to associate
with all whom be was likely to meet.
He was in a position to complete in any
technical or business activity on an equal
footing with almost anyone else. But
gradually the life Of the community be-
came more involved, business activity
became more complex, and, as result,
the academy was added. This failed to
satisfy the growing need. so the high
school and the great university we're in
troduced. Thus, the higher institutions
Of learning we're the inevitable results of
more involved social conditions and Of
the more complex problems Of civil and
business life.
Manypeople, business men especially,
have the idea that university is nothing
but a few buildings grouped together and
filled with dusty volumes Of classic lore,
where pale students" congregate daily
to fill their minds with Latin, Greek and
mathematics. But this is a great mis-
take. The college is a miniature nation
in herself She has her own president
and ether officers, her own advisory
boards, publishes her own newspaper
Has her own postoffice, and at the same
time is closely associated with the big
world outside cosmopolitan and demo-
cratic.
1t is here that the high school gradu-
ate gets his first real glimpse oflife. For
the first time, he is out Of the reach Of
mothers loving hand, Of fathers wise
counsel. He is alone. He is free He
meets temptation he has to meet it
some day. He fights bis first great bat
tie. II he has brave heart, an UNI
swerving sense Of right and wrong, and
an unbending will, he comes out VIC
torious. If he is weak hearted, OF poor
judgment, and easily influenced, be
probably, nay doubtless, comes forth in
defeat, IN shame, in disgrace. Whose
fault is it2 The fault Of the college?
No, because the influence Of the college
is for good. The fault OF the evil COM
panions9 Notaltogether, for these must
be encountered everywhere. The fell
lows fauIt9 Yes, because he was
weakling.
But there are not so many weaklings
as some may imagine: We look, from /
our window, across Berkely Court and
see many lighted windows, many fell
lows bending over their desks plug
ging' for to-morrow's reciiations; we
take stroll across the campus and see
very few darkened windows; we take a
peep into Dwight Hall and note the
college classes for Bible Study assembled, Il
and sec the fellows reading the news
papers and magazines in the reauing-
room; from somewhere 10 the distance
we hear the tinkIe Of piano, the softI
notes 81 violin, and tie strains of
Bright College Years, or I,ooIa-
We look at the yy-grown
towers Of the old Library reared proud
and majestic il the moonlight; we see
the American flag float Idly in the
breeze from tie top 81 Osborn; We take
4 deep breath. swell our chest with
pride. and thank God we're here!
REX Nj. NAyIoR.
Yale College. Dec. 80, 1911.