The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1917-03-28
Empty College "H0nOrs"

Empty COliegc "I0nOrS".
In one OF our exchanges we read
the following concerning student in
one OF the higher istitution of learn
ing in this State:
His career at college has been one
uninterrupted succession Of literary,
political and oratorical victories and
honorS and he is sure TO score Just as
noted and decided Il success of his
lies work, for it may be truly said
that he combines a magnetic person
ality with an unusually brilliant in
tcllcct."
Perhaps this young man may have
the talents and prospects which are
limncd in such glowing fashion, but it
is to be remarked that college hon
ors' by no means forcshadow success
IN the world beyond academic walls
Sometimes they arc prophetic; some
times they arc not. There arc tens
OF thousands OF men who were prom
incnt' at college who haven't amount
cd to a hill Of beans since and who
have never climbed tho ladder Of fame.
just as the woods are full Of first hon
earn $500 4 year. On the other hand,
there arc countless mon who were OBJ
Scurc. unnOticcd and almost unknown
at college, not brilliant" or mag
nctic" who since going out into the
world have struck thirteen in success.
That ungainly, awkward fellow who
never wore n dress suit, and general
ly attended to his own business and let
college politics and "honOrs" alone,
may become a captain Of industry,
noted scholar or statesman. The
popular collcgian who garners
galaxy Of college distinctions is Just
as likely TO be a drab and common
place personality after college days as
he is to be a successful parsonage.
The student who gets the most out
Of college is the man who applies the
rule OF reason to his activities there,
who maintains an equitable proportion
in his work and play. The young man
who makes his college sojourn worth
while is neither grind nor sport,
he adopts the happy means of not ov-
erdoing in any single sphere he stu
dies enough to have good class
standing but he does not study ctcrn-
ally; he is interested in college ac-
tivities, but there are things to be
had in college that arc worth more to
him than college "honors" Such
man finds JOY in contact and compan-
ionship with his fellows, in broad
reading beyond the confines of the cur
riculum, in putting as high valua-
ton upon wisdom as upon knowledge.
He does not confnc his quest for
both to the field chartcd out for him
in his courses.
College honors have caused so much
trouble in colleges and universities
that there is strong movement afoot
to remove them from the gift of the
student body and have them awarded
by an impartial board. There are al
ways cliques who wish to control col
legc "honors" and parcel them out,
just as the successful politician hands
out the spoils Of office. This causes
dissension. animosity and bitterness,
things which should have no place in
the heart and minds of youg men in
what should be an atmosphere Of
sweetness and light, OF happy, bright
fellowship. 1t is a tremendous pity
that COLLEGE "honors" exist at all; they
there are so l&gny better and more
lasting thngs TO &c sought by youth.
Such distinctions are eDhcmcral, soon
fed, soon forgotten. Grccavillc Daily
News.