The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-17
UNFORTUNATE FUN
 AT THE UNIVERSITY

I Tn the home which for the present is
 mine, your excellent paper brings daily pleasure and interest. We have long in- appreciation of the many good things it contains (not the least of these, in our opinionA are the columns filled by the
 work of Mrs. Uliman and Mrs. Jacobs). | It is with sincere regret, therefore, that we are now forced to write, vocng a protest The report in yesterdays | Age-Herald of the bright quips of the
 students at the University of Alabama
 on the recent deplorable troubles there ! among the teachers and leaders of those students, causes sorrow and apprehen- | sion to many thoughtful, earnest people. 1 Bright and witty, indeed, were the lit- erary and pictorial ebullitions of those students, as they are reported by The l Age-Herald. But is the highest educa-
 tional work in Alabama to quicken and
 develop intellectual power only? Can 1t
 leave neglected, dwarfed, deadened the sympathies and impulses of kindly con
 sideration for others? And what of the case? For it is inconceivable that Dr.
 Losey could have labored at the Univer- | I long retained in his position there, and yet not have been worthy of respect l and gratitude from that student body 1 which they on this occasion cruelty de- nied to him.
 l We are not presuming to speak a word in defense of this teacher, so generally 1 recognized as a man of ability in his ] chosen line of work-so sharply and un-
 compromisingly condemned by the pow l CTS that be-" Yet we are obliged to
 question the moral and spiritual atrnos-
 phere of the University of Alabama when
 manifestations such as The Age-Herald | reports appear there Is it in accord with Christian civilization, or even with the standards that mere human ideals I set up, to deride and jeer the man who ! Is down? Is that not rather the savage, | barbarian spirit which finds fun in the 1 defeat, loss pain of another? To treat | an alien and stranger thus cruelty is 1 bad. But for one who has walked daily with us, sharing and helping in our 1 common tasks, to receive such treatment | from Christian people Is unthinkablel Was there no development of imagina- tion in all that student body that could enable them to feel and see how, in such crisis, man must yearn for whatever of true and loyal friendship could be given him Why did they not know the cruelty of refusing that bread, and tossing the stones that they did? 1 Is the answer to these questions to be | found in the fact that intellectual bril- Iiancy, in our educational world, has come to occupy the whole field. has left no roor,, no recognition, for moral and | spiritual life and energy? That there was nothing rough or wild in all that ] fun, that it was refined, intellectual, ] delicate, highly polished-may be it's very l point of danger. Human nature craves, demands fun. Yet a certain degree of lofrr Itrats <4r. | sensibilities be not shocked even fin fun" Does this higher demand pertain to the form or to the spirit as well? ] True education will make us quite as sensitive to the inward spirit as we are to the outward form.
 We write in no condemnation of youth ful, bright. outbreaks of humor These are wholesome. good, welcome, provided always that the higher moral law be not violated. It is the part of true educa- ton to help youth appreciate those laws and regulate its conduct by them Our contention is that there was grievous violation of those laws by the students of the University of Alabama, according to The Age-Herald's report. Our plea is that the youth of Alabama, presum-
 ably being there trained for leadership, should have the education that will make them worthy leaders; that will give them
 true nobility, big standards of conduct
 anu llAS.
 Justice, kindness, humility are essen
 tial, fundamental virtues demanded by
 all true education, no less than by the
 Christian religion. We hold that evil
 dence of these virtues In the very bright,
 very entertaining performances of the
 students at the University of Alabama
 as reported by The Age-Herald. lis con
 spicuous by it's absence. And if it is
 objected that one's fun is scarce by the place to seek evidence of his virtues, we
 must reply that no surer index of a per sons development and character can be
 found than his sense of fun, his way
 of amusement.
 And because we have such strong con
 viction that the most brilliant intellectual
 development, if it lacks the essential
 fundamental virtues, will fail to make
 truly great men--we are forced to voice
 this protest, silently made by many
 most able and useful citizens of Ala
 bama. A. E. KENNEDY.
 Montevallo, February 4. 1916