The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-09
THE COLLEGE GIRL SELF.
PORTRAYED.
Is Her Head In the Clouds?--Is she
l'ufit for Practical Life:


To THE EDITOR OF THE'suN-Sr. Some
time ago ! read an article which you
| published concerning plain Facts About
| College Girs' and the subject appealed
| to me especially should like to add
few plain facts from my own expert
ence to the general knowledge Of the
| public concerning college life for girls.
| ] am a student at st. Lawrence Unit
versity. coeducatopsl college Of north
ern New York, and will present my
view Of student life here.
l. Naturally ! too have heard many
| disparaging remarks about the college
| woman. that she walks with her head
| In the clouds" and Is mot NJ for practical
life" We'll. here is a sample OF the
sort Of clouds we girls have our heads
| In up here In the north:
| First. about fifteen or more of us live
| IN our own fraternity house, which we
| own. The house is an old one. one Of
| 'he spreading, high ceiinged back from
! the road type. and we run 1t ourselves
| We have a dear little old lady for our
| chaperon, and we employ a cook. Re-
| yond that the girls do everything. one
| OF us II chosen Ns "housekeeper" each
year. which means that she must attend
to the ordering of meals. see that rules
| are obeNcd. that the house is kept in
| good repair. and all such important.
! housevifely things. At meals It Is the
custom for under class men to wait on
| table. as II Is also their duty to answer
! the telephone and doorbell There are
! house rules besides the regular college
| rules which must be obeyed The house
must he quiet after half past 7 every
night, and beds must he made before a
certain hour In the morning. our house
I IL lad g,. .
! and always with one idea, the good of
the community. We are all here for
the sam, purpose. which is to become
/ educated IN every way. not only by
| studying books but by studying people
/ and learning to understand others and
| varyin points Of view. We find IL is
necessary sometimes to subject our per-
sonal desires to the good of the COM
! munit, We strive to cultivate poise.
| graciousness and unselfishness: in a
word, to help each other toward our
own ideals Of true womanhood
Vet II is far from "cloudlike" life We
| lead. but a very happy. normal one.
We fatter ourselves on being an unus-
ually congenal crowd Of girls but OF
course have our ups and downs like any
live people. our upper class men rule
but do not walk over" the under class
men. ara there is the best feeling be-
tween them Just here I should like TO
say that ours Is only one OF the fra
ernities at ST Lawrence and this fours)
IL a sample of the life of most OF the
women in residence here
Now as 10 the college life not fitting
girl for practical life. Indeed. the
college is an embryo world Itself: what
better training can a girl want for life
than practice in living in perfectly
70 ~ cir1a
have a distinct advantage in our fra
ternity life, for We have the opportunity
Of making home OF our own. We take
mighty pride in our dear old house
and are willing 70 make countless sacri-
fees for its Identifying. Then too we
have al the comforts Of a home. With
our big. old fashioned kitchen ne don't
hesitate to wash and iron our own
! clothes when our pocketbooks suggest
II. and IL is possible to get up feeds"
q little more elaborate and more prac-
teal than the cha 'nC dish alone per-
mi,s. though the latter has its place
Resides the atmosphere Of home our
house provides II also offers many So
cial advantages Twice month we en-
terrain the ladies Of the town AZ informal
teas" II is the duty NJ some one OF
the sophomores to manage these at
: homes" the girls taking charge IN turn,
50 every ore has her day. She must buy
tho cakes. tea. sugar. lemons. and ar
range the tea table. Then she too pre-
sides on the day itself The freshmen
serve on such occasions While these 1T
tie affairs are most Informal. neverthe-
less they all tend to add certain
amount OF dignity. a desirable touch 90
assurance 10 girls manner. whether
she plans to rule the state or the school
room.
Since 81. Lawrence is 2 coeducational
college We entertain in other ways Each
fraternity Is entitled TO three house
parties" a term. Two OF these may last
until 10 o'clock and one until IL. In
preparation for these affairs o. course
We do everything ourselves. We plan
/ favor dances. decorate. and make sand
witches and salad. and usually succeed
/ In having a jolly. healthy time, The
/ spirit of -, Lawrence guarantees whole
some fun to swenten hard work.
/ 7 have said ST Lawrence Is coedu-
I rational Just a word as to the prac-
/ teal value ~ coeiucation n girl,
then. though ! know this rs too broad
= subject 10 hc covered I'm few words
First. then. coeducation teaches girls
not to firt when n Cirl attends classes
with Young man. when sho works
with hih ard plays with him. she learns
to see him as he really u. and laughs
/ at the idea Of superior man" who was
. created for woman to attract and hold
/ No am not suffraCist. hut DO
think a coeducational college is an ex-
/ cellent place for a sentimental high
school girl 10 70 70 recover her saner
feelings neither am 7 prude, I hope.
/ hut - mans a man for n that" 7
/ think that at coeducational college
/ girl learns to appreciate tho right
/ side Of = man. tho serious side With the
gay. II is hard for = girl really to
/ know man she has only me- a.
/ dances. hut let her enter the class room
I with him. let her meet him In the
morning when her hair has refused to
! look right and she knows her hat Is
/ OH crooked: let them strive together
! toward common goal ~ "education''
/ in it's truest, finest sense. and YOU will
/ have an ideal compsn'onshp. COM
rad- spirit similar 70 that 81 the little
/ boy and girl'' age, only q maturei
friendship, q reliable one and purer.
truer attitude toward this poor abused
old world ELEANOR VI ALprIpGE.