The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-02-06
Now And Then, or Then And AoWe
Southern Christian Advocate.

southern 'LNflSIlau AufoCdle.
Nothing is absolutely sure one
change Somewhere I read those
words. And one IS never 0!ore pro-
foundly impressed with the truth they
convey than when he contrasts COL
lege life and college activities OF Tor
ty years ago with those OF the pres
ent. And it S the character or the
changes that gives us pause, bringing
sometimes. a smile with sladness-
sometimes a sigh With sorrow. These
we would forGet: those We cling TO as
child to the earliest recollection o.
his mother.
The year I entered college. October,
1872, about seyenty-fiye students MA
circulated, and faculty and trustees
were delighted with the Increase In
numbers. 1t was a molly crowd,
made I'D of boys and men ranging III
age from fifteen to thirty years, and
in weight from ninety pounds to Z6O.
Some we're we'll dressed. while 9TH
ers, the majority, were robed in In
expensive material, the best We
could aff0rd. IT those days We wore
boots. Mine were coarse and strong,
and, when I walked across the floor
or campus, they creaked with TIM
idity in full accord with their size.
My suit was of corduroy, and every
stitch in it was put there by the IT,
gers of my dear mother. I loved that
suit for her sake and was proud Of
it, not for its intrinsic value. but for
the love and hopes and prayers thar
were stitched into it. l had one cra-
vat for which I had paid fifteen cents,
and didn't sleep we'll that night be-
cause I thought I had been too ex-
travagant-one for ten cents might
have done just as we'll. Let one en-
ter students room today and he'll
find a half bushel basket Of cravats
of all sizes, colors and shapes.
Let the reader not forget that We
were then not far from the great
Civil War. Many Of Us were the
sons of widows, who somehow got
US of to college, enriching us with not
much Of this worlds goods, but bless
ing US with a wealth of prayers and
heart -throbs that clutch our memo
ries to this good day.
On the mind and heart of a boy
brought up on the farm among the
negroes, mules and goats, college
campus makes indellible impressions.
He enters a strange new world, and
one that will try the foundations of
his character and find his manhood
or the lack of it.
Everything about Wofford looked
large to me. The main college build
ing with the twin towers. standing
like silent sentinels, impressed me
profoundly. The faculty seemed
larger thar the men I had seen be-
fore The Seniors. too. looked un-
usually large and strong and wise.
Was it an Illusion? Well, let it be;
shall never regret it.
''Cn the whole" as the great Doc
tor Carlisle used to say, that was a
serious minded student body. They
--N~e here for business ard not for
frolic. Naturalization was as easy
matter in those DAYS. The entrance
examinations were oral and of short
duration; now, they are written, and
are sometimes narrowing. Then the
course of study was 30 fixed that the
new man just dt into the Fresh class,
Or didn't fit, and that was all there
woe fo II uo ,,,r,c{ bav,o q cI;obt on
Quaintance with Latin, Greek and
mathematics and be able to parse af-
ter the manner Of Smith or Bullion.
Every man is the architect of his
own fortune Then. there was prac-
'ically no choice Of course of study.
now the bewildered Freshman is puz-
Zled for week in some cases to
determine just what he wants and just
how to fit himself in to the daily
schedule of recitations. Then, we
lad three, and only three. hours of
~""'tatio--~ d-v. two il the morning.
heg'nrino at 10 O'Clock. and the 9TH
er in the afternoon from 8 tc I
O'clock; now, we have six recitation
periods, beginning generally at 9
o'clock, but with q fl y classes and
one or two professors Nho 90 not
sleep as we'll as thov '!cei to. work
be@;ns at 7:20 O'clock. That's NOT
TIE rr'e: it's only the evception---
and that proves tie rule" as dear
old Professor David Duncan used to
be so fond of saying. Sometimes