The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17
WHAT A COLLEGE BOY GOES
THROUGtI-By George Fitch
How Ingowng Crouch Made Peey Simmons Happest of Men

freshmen girls and the moral obtuse-
mess of old Horace when suddenly
began to feel depressed.
| didn't do 1t Intentionally. In fact
| was indignant over 1t. / had nothing
to gloom over and I didn't want to be
sad. And yet | was. ] grew worse
and worse until at last | got up and
went away to my room. where | sat
down with spring crouch writing
around in my healthy young vitals. as
miserable as yellow dog in a snow
drift.
I could see everything plainly then.
My foolish eyes were opened. College
days were 80 precious that after life
would be morguelike compared with
them. And there were only pitifuly
few college days. had used up nearly
a quarter. of mine already. Used them
up in frivolous ways-squandered them
like a drunken sailor: spent whole
hours loafing in my room and over
sleeping instead OF getting out and
soaking in the glorious friendships so
soon to be severed forever
Why. even now preparations for COM
mencement were beginning. In "A few
weeks the boys would be gone. Some
OF them would never Jme back Bangs
might stay at home next year. Allen
was doubtful about returning-at least
the faculty was doubtful for him. Even
might never see Swash again.
had wasted the only year I might have
In college.
| writhed for several days as I
thought OF all this. Then my mood
changed. I became eavage, implacabIe.
bitter-at myself. | began to kick my
ls1f MA tnl l,. h..
had no mercy "You are a loafer-
swat. You have wasted your fathers
hard earned money-swat. Just last
week you got a new suit OF clothes and
ruined 1t in n chapter house scuffle-
swat-swat. You go through your
studies without troubling yourself to
understand them-swat. You are
frivolous-swat You will waste your
college years and live forever with only
some insignificant job between you and
the poorhouse-swat. Serves you right
-swat-swat-swat."
1t was fine exercise, but hard on the
feelings. For over week I was I'M
fathomably detected. My kind room
mate, Blngo Bailey fused around me
and tried to get me to soak my head
or take a large drink of kerosene. but
merely threw things at him and declined
his suggestions.
But gradually my mental turmoil
settled down into one fixed accusation.
Bad as my other crimes were there was
one which surpassed them in asininity.
! was featherheaded on the girl ques-
ton. II was n fearful and degrading
truth. I, Petey Simmons. a grownup
man of Is and president Of his class. to
say nothing Of being moulder of desti-
nies-hadn't 7 helped mould Boggs's
destiny?-was n plaything in the hands
OF designing females.
A pretty girl could smile at him and
bid him follow in shy voice, and there
upon he neglected friends and studies
and made himself that girls slave. I
wriggled and persplred with shame
when i thought of II. Hadn't I spent
three valuable weeks trying to steal
collection of street car signs for Miss
Severance? And why? She had given
me two dances and walked to chapel
with me. Hadn't bought "A whole ban
quet in a basket and rsked expulsion
by climbing up the fire escape and leav-
ing said basket where Miss Ayleswing
and Miss Dunmore could find It? And
why? Because they had confided to me
that I was clever.
Hadn't I toted Miss Willoughby to