Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-09-26
COLLEGE BEGINS
ANOTHER YEAR
Indications That Freshman Glass
Will Number at Least
160 Students.


the new age, this spirit OF reconstructioh'
has taken hold Of the Chinese
and the Chinese republic is augury
of the coming day which Will put emma
abreast with other governments III 'he
forward march OF progress
In private life the man who lives ex-
ac.ly as his fathers lived before him. who
does not push out for himself. VINO hesi-
tntes TO exercise his own power of initia-
tive, who refuses to read modern DOCKS 10
wear modern clothing. and to appropriate
modern conveniences is tho narrow mlnd-
ed intellectual dwarf who lives without
making any contribution either to his
Swn happiness or to the Detterment OF the
condition of his fellowmen.
The opponent OF reconstruction is an
obstructionist He is non-progressive he
Is usually worthless.
Considering this whole problem Of re-
construction as applied to human life,
there are certain restrictions that are nee
essary. II is we'll to distinguish between
sane and insane reconstruction, between
rational and irrational reconstruction.
The man who tears down In the spirit Of
destruction without intent to rebuild
stronger and better than before, II is to be
condemned as strongly as to the man who
refuses to reconstruct.
An insane proclivity for destruction
within the last decade seems to have
taken hold Of the educational world. The
colleges Of me country are not the only
institutions which have become possessed
with this desire to break down and build
Id simply to be in the fashion. Individ-
uals as we'll as institutions have fallen
victims to the craze of the age and are
pulling down and building up without
@ full understanding of the worth Of the
old and without due appreciation OF the
real value of the new.
The appeal which bring to this body
of young people is for the cultivation of
q heathful spirit Of personal RECONSTRUCT
ton. a reconstruction based upon an
Intelligent conception Of past events, an
Intelligent appreciation Of present OPP
portunities and an equally intelligent
understanding of future possibilities.
Sanity In the reconstruction process is
the shibboleth would have you take
now. and for all time for your personal
reconstruction.
The opportune time for personal re-
construction is when the spirit Of this
age demands 1t and when the indi-
vidual realizes his need of it. / know
of no better time for intellectual re-
construction than during the period Of
college life.
He who realizes the need Of recon-
etruction. in his physical or intellect
ual or moral life. and puts It of until
an uncertain tomorrow Ia an mex
cusable procrastinator. gambling in
futures. He is presuming on coming days
which may never be his.
1t is safe to say that a large per
Won't nf fha "a 49,,
come to college come without having
formulated correct habits OF studies They
come without having any system for
their work. To my mind there Is nothing
more pathetic than the college student,
who after all is not real student.
A college student who says that he
has studied for three hours on a lesson
and he has failed to master thereby
makes confession to one of two things
either he Is born intellectually short" or
else he has not worked the right way.
To learn how to study is the first real
problem that confronts the college
student. Many students have not learned
the great lesson Of concentration. The
most successful men train their minds
to act forcefully and rapidly during GER
tain hours and then drop everything
relating to their work until the next
day.
1t Is Important that every ono should
learn how to be a good loatef. The
man who does not work we'll does not
loaf we'll
would not for one moment think OF
suggesting any interference with the
pleasures Of college life. am sorry for
the student who has no interest in
athletic activities. who gives no attention
to the development Of the social side Of
his life. He is missing large and
valuable feature Of his college life.
insist. however. that the stroll with a
college ohum In autumn days. or the life
on the campus or in society halls can
not bring the full measure Of 10Y unless
they come a. the climax Of reward, in
the consciousness Of the real work pre-.
viously well done. Athletics and social
life. in the last analysis. are only In
cidental. It has become quite the fashion
for some college students who do not do
their work we'll to speak contemptuously
of the student who works we'll as "a
greasy grind" II I had to choose be-
tween the so-called grind and the indolent
dodger. I should take the former.
The college man or woman most
worth while Is the all round student
sential to his intellectual development but
who In connection Herewith Is effective
in other activities. and more effective be-
cause OF the fact that his honest and
efficient work In the class room makes
him worthy OF the confidence and respect
OF his fellow students.
II the time for intellectual recon
struction be when the need OF recon.
struction IL recognized, the same is also
true as applied to moral reconstruction
He who realizes the need of n better life
higher ideal. has reached, in thai
realization, the day when reconstruction
Tor him should begin.
The Christian religion Is tho result OF
rational evolution. 1t came to a pre-
pared people. 1t was a challenge t.
thoughtful men and 1t presented perfec
deal. 1t cannot be forgotten. however
that a restatement of old truths Is Otter
necessary In order to meet the demandi
II advancing civilization. So It may bs
that our religious ideals will need re-
casting. He who approaches this task
Of reconntructing religious ideals with
reverence is benefactor. not only t.
himself. but to his fellow men.
The history Of nations Is the story OF
reconstruction processes and our politica
conceptions need frequent renovation.
It IL not so much. though. to these
general matters that desire to apply
this reconstruotion thought. I would hav'
come closer home TO the'moral life o.
very student. old and new
Do not misunderstanding reconstruction
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