The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-06-12

No doubt some will be prone 10 uup
them "sissies," "bookworms," molly
Goddess" and even "hypocrites." But
lest you receive a wrong impression
of their concepts, l, as their mediator
and spokesman (although reahzins
my inability for producing an EXPOSE
ton sufficiently clear to make all dis
|senters understand the status of their
belief) shall endeavor to lay down the
fundamental planks, so to speak, OF
their esteemable platform.
To Think Better.
The chief matters to be considered
are the elements that constitute the
practical worth Of an eduction. A col
lege course broadens, deepens, and
heightens the power of thinking. This
worth is fundamental and comprehen-
sive. A higher education does In
crease the knowledge possessed by
the student; but this is small in COM
parison with the value of the increase
in the power of thinking.
The knowledge itself may vanish,
but the process of thorough, accurate,
comprehensive learning, becoming a
part of the students intellectual equip
ment represents a power of incalcul-
able worth. In fact this power is OF
greater value than the product of the
knowledge gained. For the power to
think stands for reasoning, judgment,
the assessment of fact at it's true
value, the relation Of fact to fact, OF
truth to truth, and the inferring of new
truths and new facts. 1t stands for
the power Ito unravel the tangled
skeins of false and true argumenta-
ton, and the laying out the separate
threads of commingled discourse in
proper order and proportion. It means
the appreciation of the great as
great, of the small as small, of the
lasting as lasting, of the transient as
brief, of the limited as narrow. and
of the universal as perpetual. In a
word it means intellectual valuations,
and the appreciation of intellectual re-
lationships.
American Character.
| Now this power has the highest prac'
teal worth. 1T represents the filling
of a fundamental need of the, Ameri-
can character and the American com
munity.
The New World has for it's domni-
|nant characteristic, energy It's climate
Its political conditions or other forces
have made it the most energetic. But
this energy has not been well utilized I;
| its forces have been too largely either
wasted or abused The nation has
not been distinguished by it's large
and sane power of judgment. A prop
er and practical duty should be tc
make this power of judgment worthy
/ Of the New Worlds energy.
A further practical worth of col
1ege education lies in it's power tc
promote the self-knowledge of the in
dividual student, with a view to
wards proper selection of voca
ton. A large proportion Of mer
think that they have not chosen g
proper calling. Such mistake
leads to unhappiness and ineffciency
A college education prompts man tc
defer the choice of vocation to a
period later than that at which he
would choose his life's work were he
not to go to college Through the
acquiring of knowledge, through the
increased acquaintance with Ills fell
lows, through enlarged thoughtfulness
on his own part, he comes into more
complete obedience to the Greek max
i'm of knowing himself. In fact, the
higher education gives the man the
opportunity Of making mistakes
which every man must make. in a
small area, and with slight consequent
harm. which otherwise he might make
in large domain and with dire re-
suits.
Basis for Friendships.
A highly practical worth Of a col
lege education is also found in its
power for forming friendships. The
power of friendship as joy and a
personal satisfaction has been written
about since the time of Cicero and be-
fore; but the worth of friendship as
practical concern does represent as
great collegiate asset. A man makes
more friends while in college than in
all subsequent life. Youth is the age
for making friendship-the college
age is the age of youth.
Friendship stands for personal in
timacy in both process and result
the college time and place are the
time and place of personal intimacy.
AS You know "Lycidas," and Gin
Memoriam" are based upon college
friendships. Lowell's greatest ode
gains at least part of it's immortality
from the inspiration of college
friendships. Now, such friendships
promote the forming of relationships
of the best kinds. Nations trade with
nations that are friendly. Individuals
do business with individuals that are
friends. Men are recommended by
and are selected by other men for
great positions because they are
known through friendship. 1t has been
said that it is worth while to go to
college simply to make friends. In
this remark lies great commercial
and industrial value.
Eniarees Power to Do.
A college education also promotes
facility in the individual student. 1t
enlarges his power of doing, and of
doing with ease what befalls him 1t
saves him from the rule of the thumb.
1t delivers him into the rule of the gen
eral principal. 1t helps him to see
what needs to be done in any given
case; it helps him to find the force
necessary for it's doing: it helps him
to protect his cause and himself from
the necessary perils of his doing; and
1T helps him to relate the conse-
1uences of his doing with other forces