Gilpin observer., 1913-04-17

Without IOOlDdil tedIu, WILL
" out college colors. without even
yell? If any American should
20 to Paris that is what he. or she will
see, writes F. L. S. in the Kansas City
Star.
When | tried to find the University
of Paris-or the Sorbonne-I had to
use my Baedecker and then to supple
ment the information it gave with d.
rections furnished by a corner ser
geant de vile. From the boulevards
you can reach it by taking rickety
double decked street car, or. surer and
almost as cheap-in Paris-a taxi. But.
once deposited before the main en-
trance you will swear a mistake has
been made.
"Ou est elle?" l asked.
"Ici," replied the cocher.
stood before an old ruin, a "vener-
able" ruin, like all those in France
and Italy. looked In vain for the
campus; there was not blade OF
grass In sight. l scanned the horizon
for a standpipe on which the numerals
OF this years class might be painted.
tried to find quad" Nothing do
ing.
The old building is not detached
like university buildings in America
1t Is a somewhat squatty structure,
crowded in between higher buildings
! in a narrow, noisy street. But OF
course, this Is not the whole of the
university. as soon found. Adjoining
| is a big four-story bunlding, thorough
ly modern, but more like hospital in
appearance than college hall. 1t
stands flush against the sidewalk, and
street cars, motor cars and trucks
pass 1t through the paved street in
front In a never ending procession.
The university is in busy quarter.
in one of many centers of commercial
activity. No one, in passing. would
suspect that 1t is a great seat OF learn
ing. 1t bears no distinguishing mark.
Bearded Students!
l stood before the entrance to the
new building and waited for the stu
dents to appear. saw half a dozen
men and two or three women. The
men were all bearded and evidently
well along toward middle life. They
wore neither caps nor sweaters; there
was nothing of the "rah-rah" in their
appearance. They seemed to be seri-
Gus men OF affairs. The women were
no younger and looked even more
sober. And these men were really
"undergrads" and these women were
really co-eds!
There are many reasons have
Il t.l- 1ttf " n r Il
son between the University Of Paris
and those of America is almost out OF
the question. The Sorbonne student
attends his class or his lecture. then
goes about his business or his pleas
ure. alone. There is absolutely no
community life in this ~" There are
no "frats" or other societies. There is
no college paper. no class organiza-
ton. no spring dance or "pig dinner"
or "junior prom" or "nightshirt pa
rade"-no anything which the healthy
red blooded American finds when he
enrolls in university. There is moth
ing but business-spelled with the big
gest Of Bs-in the Sorbonne.
All this, anyway, is true Of the great
mass of students. II was inconceiv-
able that among $4,000 students there
should not be some who are yet young
enough to look now and again on the
lighter side OF life. who are not SO tre-
mendously serious that they regard
with horror everything which is OF the
earth earthly.
Public Examinations.
When man enters the Sorbonne he
is already bachelier. in letters,
science. medicine or law. The man
who follows profession in France
aims, to greater extent than some
men in America, to obtain the very
best possible equipment. Entrance to
the Sorbonne demands prolonged and
exceptionally thorough work. while the
university course Itself ordinarily con-
sumes four years. SO 1t Is easy to
understand why he may be well along