Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-11-01

tiful and gifted daughters, now in col
lege' writes feelingly on this subject.
Her girls do not posses worldly wealth,
but they possess all other qualities which
should make them desirable associates.
The members of this college society have
not hesitated to hurt and to humiliate
these girls.
After speaking of the mental. spiritual
and physical charms of her daughters
who have been so Inundated, the mother
says Take the opposite type Of girl for
an example of those who belong to this
society. Their parents are affluent, even
wealthy, in some instances so wealthy
that the conversation of the girls is
adorned with references to the number
OF servants they keep, the number of
their automobiles and other similar DOS
sessions. They think of and consider
no one but themselves. They can stab
girls like mine to their sensitive souls
and never give It thought. They seem
to actually enjoy this cruel demonstration
Of their petty power.
my girls have almost perfect dlspo-
sttions and q natural instinct to obey the
golden rule. They are incapable OF
hatred, envy or malice. but they can SUI
fer. and they have suffered, through the
sights they have received from their
schoolmates, who belong to this so-called
high order of class society,""
This is but one OF similar cases which
exist everywhere In America where col
leges societies exist.
1t is the same with mems colleges.
False ideals of life. false standards, re-
suit from such societies. Teachers and
professors do nothing whatever toward
correcting the evils and the unjust con-
ditions emanating from these college as
sociations.
Because the members of these socie-
ties are usually young men and young
women of wealthy parents and of finan-
cial, social or political power, no effort
is made to change or better their
methods. 1t Is the old story of the
power of might over right. The teacher.
even the president OF a college, who un-
dertook to reform college society and
to make 1t democratic and humanely
American in accordance with the early
ideas Of what American standards should
be would soon find himself asked to
resign.
As our country grows older and richer
these evils grow more pronounced. 1t
is useless for worthy young men and
women to rebel against the tyranny OF
college class societies. They must sim
ply reach a higher moral outlook and
realize how small and petty a thing
membership in any society is when COM
pared with the one great purpose OF
life. that OF Misunderstanding.
The greatest. the most successful, tho
most useful, the most admirable people
in our nation today have not, as a rule.
shone in their youth as leaders in COLI
lege class societies.
Many who shone twenty years ago. and
who adopted the airs OF snobs toward
those who were not members Of the
organization. would today gladly ex-
change places with those same snubbed
classmates. It Is to be understood. OF
course, that many excellent. kind-hearted
and decently behaved young men and
women belong to college societies; but
It is also to be understood and empha-
sized that the general tenor OF these
societies is toward un-American stand
ards and un-Christian conduct toward
their fellow students.
It is very much like the military spirit
abroad of officers toward the rank ana
file. Detestable. IL not 10 use a stronger
word beginning with the same first
letter.