The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-02

cure of its ills--what we may with
all justice describe as true perspec-
tive for life and its duties.
Glorious Vision of Duty.
Such 81 perspective is good. Is neces-
sary, but without vision ii Is power
less to result in noble achievement.
We need men in these times who
not only have proper perspective
Of life, but, who have equally a clari-
fled vision OF the work that needs
to be done IN the world around us.
We have not achieved the miilen-
MUM yet. and we shall never achieve
1t till college men get the vision Of
their fun privilege in working for
its usherinE in and OF their joyous
duty to measure US adequately to
their privilege. Surely a man cannot
study the noble literature of the
world without getting vision Of the
work To be done Nor can ne delve
into the mysteries of Gods universe
as they are embodied in the great
natural sciences without feeling
forces pulling at his heart to lend
a helping hand toward the accom-
piishment Of til. worlds redemp tion,
And the methods by 9hich 1t is to
he wrought Out---sureiy social science
and history and mathematics and
him That college men do get this
vision. Is ahundantly evidenced by
the amelinratixe work for human bet
terment they are always devctedly
engaged iii. They have led every
real reform and have given life IL
self fer the uplift OF their fellows.
Ii is true that net ali college men
get this vision. hut enough of them
get Il 10 insure the worlds progress
and 10 justify the friends of col
leges In their sacrifices for them,
and charity would compel us 10 Judge
The college and its work hg Ats best
product and not altogether by its
failure. and especially so when the
best work ts SO greatly IN the as
cerdaocy Many man has been
lifted out OF narrowness and bisory
ard selfishness by the libe railing
power 81 the college curriculum. ana
given such q vision Of duty that he
becomes henefactor of his race
There Is no room fnr petty selfish
ness ia the face OF the vision OF
human need az the college course
lays ii bare and points the way 70 its
satisfaction at the hands of men pre-
pared Ia render efficient service
Correct Habits Needed.
The college curriculum also fits for
3 large place In life by equipping
those who honestly pursue II with
>orrect habits OF work and thought.
A man may be as wise as Solomon
and Vet make lie a bungle. because
he does not know how TO work at
a thing coasecutiveiy, systs vnattcally.
unrelentlngly The inEistenCe OF the
college that students do consecutive
work from day to day makes power
fully fer the development of proper
habits The collage regulations, In
convenient at times, are the finest
se1ninarses OF conduct Men who do
the worlds work must learn sooner
or later Ia respect and reverence
authority and 20 be punctaal in the
Is pleasant or not Students in coli
,ege should purposely seek some
course that is hard and unpleasant
for therr~-it Yields the very best
sort OF discipline OF the will. The
work OF the work-a-day world Is net
all sugar~coated. and II the college
course is. IL is IN that respect not
complete preparation for life
Herein lies the weakness Of our
modern elective system, X II en-
courages men to elect emily those
Of their agreeableness ] know that
many philosophers and educationists
will not agree with this position. hi,
experience teaches that he who can
do the things he wouid rather not
do Ia the man who will one day wake
up 70 find himself famous. II Is no
accident that Paurs exhortntion to
endure hardness" was given 10 a
young man. and college men who re-
fuse TO endure hardness" In their
college days will be second vice-pres-
dents or third assistant secretaries
in the counsels OF mankind when
their days of preparation arc passed
Nor does the world have use in any
large way for the unpunetual man.
He cannot be relied on and reliance
is necessary in every department of
human endeavnr. Nor will 1t make
any difference that the lack Of
punctuality lis due TO poor health.
The world viii sympathize with the
sick man. but 1t cannot promote him;
its work must he done. Let college
men everywhere consider that the
habits OF faithful work. OF punctual
discharge of every duty, OF whole
hearted attention to disagreeable
tasks, az Joyous submission to the
powers that he will follow them into
life and will prove assets of ines
Unable value In Its working capital.
And let every college man who treats
these considerations lightly. thinking
he will correct them when he is
graduated, grimly acknowledge that
he cannot Law these habits aside. but
that they will be the warp and wool
of his character and the letters of his
bondage to mediocrity. The man who
graduates without the cultivation of
correct habits of work and thought.
without the acquisition OF the best
r,efhndc ~ sYraSpInn the .nrphlemS OF