South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-18
THE MOST IGNORANT NAN.

There is an unusual sort of student at Columbia
University, perpetual student it were who never
misses term and who has covered the entire range
of topics offered by the college and retraced most
Of them.
For Al years he has been regularly enrolled upon
the roster and expects to be enrolled there as long
as he lives
At first hand you would say that it $ a commen-
dable spirit which prompts man to spend his life
time in the search for knowledge
And so it might-if ever he impaired that know
ledge improved uEon it, if he ever turned his
learning to any
As a matter of fact the real reason for his re-
naming in college is that his uncle left in trust
sum of money. the income which is paid TO him
long he remains in college.
His uncle. of course. thought that he was provid-
ing him means of becoming useful citizen and
learned man.
Instead, he has made Of him a parasite and, de-
spite ell the facts that he may stored away in
his brain, the most ignorant in the country.
Knowledge is power-therefOre the poweress
is without knowledge.
knowledge is a means to an end--and the man
who uses his brain except as a store house for
fact or theory has no real knowledge
When the condition of the legacy provided a
living for him all through his life the youth chose
the easy path and remained it until he is now too
old to a living.
1t is wonderful thing be a student for life
time if be mo5e than a student and have real
purpose in acquiring knowledge.
But TO be a student in name as way Of escaping
responsibility and work is but another form OF
tramp life or bondage.
Can you imagine what this man has done in all
his years?
He saw his first classmates go out from that
college 10 put their trained minds 10 work 10
achieve and battle with realities instead of books
set his meals that interest fund He probably
promised himself that first year that the next vaca-
would end his student life just after he got
little training business conditions were
better.
He found the next year and the next
and after four years he began to hear Of his
first classmates who had begun to make money and
win fame Others. perhaps, had married and have
babies in their homes and these he pitied
You imagine what happened when the boys
back at the end of ten years for their decen-
NAL reunion He probably went that year and SPOKE
bravey of what he intended to do in the way Of in
vestigatons he making in special line
He probably never went TO another reunion but
shrank away in contempt for himself and his cow
ardice as he them on the campus and heard
stray stories OF the sons that would enter the
year.
SO there he stays pensioner for life his sentence
70 study but never put that knowledge to useful
service.
His mind Is probably the best filled in the nation.
If You reckon by the different of information
he has gleaned-and the most useless.
He knows language but he does not know the
people who speak them. He knows science but he
never applies il TO the creation OF thing the
development Of even a flower. He knows philosophy.
but has in his heart only the fear OF himself and OF
meeting the world.
When people try 10 be kind and helpful to others
it might be well to ponder the conditions attached
10 that helrfulness In this case it has created an
educated coward. and robbed him Of any real
knowledge.