The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1917-10-11

and scatter your brahd-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. l came down with a heavy
attack Of 1t along In the middle Of
March.
1 could see everything plainly then.
My foolish eyes were opened. College
days were so precious that after life
would be morguelike compared with
them. And there were only pitifully
few college days. I had used up near
ly quarter Of mine already Used
them up In frivolous ways-squan-
dered them like q drunken sailor ;
spent whole hours loafing in my room
and oversleeping instead of getting out
and soaking In the glorious friendships
80 soon to be severed forever. Why,
even now preparations for commence
ment were beginningl In 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 l might never see Siwash again.
I had wasted the only year might
have In college.
For over a week I was unfathom-
ably detected. My kind roommate,
Blngo Bailey, fused around me and
tried to get me to soak my head or
take large drink Of kerosene, but !
merely threw things at him and de-
clined his suggestions.
But gradually my mental turmoil
settled down into one fixed accusation.
Bad as my other crimes were, there
was one which surpassed them In asi.
nlnlty. / was feather-headed on the
girl question. It was fearful and de.
grading truth. /, Peter Simmons, a
grOwn-up man Of eighteen and presi.
dent of his class, to say nothing OF
being molder of destinies-hadn't ]
helped mold Boggs destlny?-was O
plaything In the hands of designing
females. A pretty girl could smile al
him and bid him follow In shy voice
and thereupon he neglected friends
and studies and made himself that
girls slave.
1t was awful. had no stamina what.
ever. Swiftly I reviewed my six OF
seven master passions Of the year
Every one of them was pretty face,
Whether the face concealed brain or
not had never thought to wonder
A peachblow complexion, companions
able smile, light foot In the dance
that was my conception Of lovely
woman. Bah
When Thought about this for sew
eral days 1t began to have its effect.
l became quiet and powerful within
and stern lines developed about my
mouth. could see them In the glass
quite plainly. l was no longer a trust
ing child to be sent tOddling hlther
and yon by a wOman's voice. l was
Il grown man with great purposes In
life and / had precious little room In
1t for women. Acting on this impulse,
/ broke date with Miss Willoughby
with brutal directness, and declined
my invitation to the annual party Of
the Kappa Kap Pajamas. 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 l had better idea.
Other men had become soured and had
thrown down the girl question. But
! could do something more. After all,
the sex was not useless. There were
fine women and intelligent women
delightful companions and intellectual
comrades. l would be large instead
Of merely Indifferent. would pick
out the brightest girl In my class and
win her friendship. ! would show her
attention and be her best friend no
matter whether she was merely plain
or so hOmely that / would thank her
whenever she wore veil.
This was a really splendid idea. 1t
was lot bigger Than the other. AS
soon as / had conceived 1t forgot all
about my crouch. There was nothing
left of 1t 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.
l had suffered severely, and was
bound to give my idea trial. Fneedn't
carry this intellectual friendship bust
ness to extremes. But l 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 / would even
take her to a party. So l began to
look over my class for possible can
didates for my high-minded and intel
ligent friendship.
I must say there were plenty Of pos
sibilities. l was surprised to discover
how many young ladies' In the fresh
man class had entirely escaped my no
tice. As / say. / had had a frivolous