The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1917-01-04


of that month the college will explode
and scatter your brand-new lifelong
friends to all parts of the country.
This is the reason why so many col
lege boys become pensive along in
April and get what is technically
known as an ingrowing crouch.
OF course seniors have this disease
hardest, but even freshmen are not
immune. I came down with a heavy
attack Of it along in the middle of
March.
could see everything plainly then.
My foolish eyes were opened. College
days we're so precious that after life
would be morguelike compared with
| them. And there were only pitifully
few college days. 1 had used up near
ly quarter Of mine already! Used
them up in frivolous ways-squan-
dered them like drunken sailor
spent whole hours loafing in my room
and oversleeping instead of getting out
and soaking in the glorious friendships
so soon to be severed forever. Why,
even now preparations for commence
ment we're beginning! In a few weeks
| the boys would be gone. Some Of
them would never come back. Bangs
might stay at home the next year. AL
len was doubtful about returning-at
least the faculty was doubtful for him.
Even I might never see SiWaSh again.
L had wasted the only year 1 might
have in college.
For over q week I was unfathom-
ably detected My kind roommate,
Eingo Bailey, fused around me and
tried to get me to soak my head or
take large drink of kerosene, but l
merely threw things at him and de-
clined his suggestions.
But gradually my mental turmoil
settled down into one fixed accusation
was one which surpassed them in ash
ninity. I was feather-headed on the
girl question. It was fearful and de-
grading truth I, Peter Simmons, Il
grOwn-up man of eighteen and presi-
dent of his class, to say nothing OF
being mOlder, of destinieS-hadn't /
helped mold Boggs' destiny?-was a
| III
females. A. pretty girl could smile at
him and bid him follow in shy voice,
and thereupon he neglected friends
and studies and made himself that
girls slave.
It was awful. had no stamina what
ever. Swiftly l reviewed my six or
seven master passions Of the year.
| nf q faro
Whether the face concealed q brain or
not 1 had never thought to wonder.
A peachblow complexion, Il companion
able smile, q light foot in the dance
that was my conception of lovely
woman. Bah!
| When 1 thought about this for sew
eral days it began to have it's effect.
I became quiet and powerful within
and stern lines developed about my
mouth. I could see them in the glass
quite plainly. I was no longer trust
ing child to be sent tOddling hither
and yOn by a wOman's voice. l was
Il grown man with great purposes in
life and T had precious little room in
it for women. Acting on this impulse,
I broke a date with Miss Willoughby
with brutal drectness, and declined
my invitation to the annual party Of
! the Kappa Kap Pajamas. 1 would
ignore the sex entirely during the rest
of my college course. Men had too
much to do in college to be bothered
by the woman question.
But suddenly 1 had better idea.
Other men had become soured and had
thrown down the girl question. But
I could do something more. After all,
the sex was not useless. There were
fine women and intelligent women
| delightful companions and intellectual
comrades. I would be large instead
of merely Indifferent. l would pick
out the brightest girl in my class and
win her friendship. I would show her
attention and be her best friend no
matter whether she was merely plain
or so homely that I would thank her
whenever she wore veil.
This was n really splendid idea. 1t
was Il lot bigger than the other. AS
soon as had conceived it I forgot all
about my crouch. There was nothing
left of it but my stern resolve. AS a
matter of fact, the resolve was little
weak in the back, too. For, as con-
valesced, the idea Of causing pain and
sorrow to all those beautiful and trust
ing young girls became intolerable,
and I hastily recalled my regrets to
the Kappa Kap party.
I had suffered severely, and I was
bound to give my idea trial. needn't
carry this intellectual friendship bust
ness to extremes. But I could pick
out the girl-a plain one-and at least
go and call on her. That would show
my firmness of mind and discriminate
ing character. Maybe I would even
take her to party. So I began to
look over my class for possible cam
didates for my high-minded and intel
ligent friendship.
I must say there were plenty of pos
sibilities. I was surprised to discover