Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1922-02-22
Miss Florence Minis Writes of
High Resolve of Oklaho-
ma Student Body.
Dear Advertiser:

OSdl. faOfCl GlSCl
As we all grow older, we tend to
look upon the youth of the age in
which we live, as frivolous and care
free to a perilous degree. 1t is said,
that perhaps the sheep look with dis
approval upon the lambs that gam
Dol on the green, instead of being
satisfied with quiet munching of
grass. We have thus cried wolf so
long that when at last we do find the
young people of generation taking
life too lightly, the youths first
thought is that this is what has al
ways been said.
Now older and wiser heads than
mine, heads that have grown grey
with understanding and experience,
have brought my thought suddenly to
"a standstill, and as 1 look around me
1 see an appalling lack of reverence
for things holy, rejecting duty for
pleasure and lack of respect for learn
ing. was, in my school days guilty of
the same offences. / used to carry
my Latin book around under my
arm at recess time in the hope that
this pious act might cause me to i'm
bibe some knowledge of Caesars jaw
elins and weary marches, without my
having to mentally figure them out,
but I did not gain thereby. l was
seeking royal road to learning.
It's like taking fast train through
the Rocky Mountains. One arrives at
the destination the quicker, but the
scenery on the way is one continual
blur. So it is with learning, pursued
by the royal road. One may even get
diploma, but the things that were
missed are more valuable than rubies.
I must put my thoughts in more con-
crete form. Some days ago President
Caldwell stood before the student
body of the University Preparatory
School and delivered an address glo-
riously eloquent. 1t brought convic-
ton to the hearts of the hearers. 1t
IS not given to many nere5mortals to
speak with "the tongues of men and
angels" as he does. The gist of his
speech was that we have become de-
moralized in this fast going, material
age, and need to be brought back to
the standards of our forefathers who
founded this nation on principles
which we are rapidly growing away
from.
AS a result of this lecture, and
through the advice and help of the
faculty, committee from the stu
dent body drew up a set of resolu-
tions making a stand for reform, for
more sane living and for renewed
allegiance to the God of our fathers.
1t was .stupendous thing. The state
is ageg with the prophetic vision of
it. These resolutions have been print
ed and are now being signed by the
Individual students who feel that
they can conscientiously subscribe
their names, perhaps by every stu
dent of the U. P. S. These resolutions
are to be signed by the governor and
then hung here on the walls of this
institution as memorial to the boys
and girls who in 1922, resolved to
stand for classicism as opposed to
Jazz, for seriousness as opposed to
negligence, for back bone and moral
stamina as opposed to lack of will
power.
Following this admirable stand of
the students, this week has been set
apart as sort of fac Ilty chautau-
qua. One talk is given by member
of the faculty, during each after
noon. So far the discussions have CEN
tered themselves mostly around
ideals, around use and not abuse of
opportunities, and a return to the
sane high standards of our Puritan
forbears.
We are different generation from
that of our grandparents. We de-
mand much of life, and give little in
return. We are growing extreme;
they were moderate and temperate.
While I am yet young, l have a
right to accuse my own generation,
myself along with it, of taking the
easiest road to the goal. And<even as
1 write, I find the surest possible
proof of what 1 am saying in my own
mind, for want to use slang to give
my thoughts their exact meaning.