Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-01

Il don't care how a person is edu-
Gated as long as he knows and I'M
derstands, l would rather barter col
lege for anything better, much as |
adore It's memories. sacred and sweet.
All l ask Is the wanting to under
stand-that eager search for ulti-
mate truth, that answer to whence
we come, why we are here, whittier
we CO."
Thus declared Arthur G.. Staples,
editor of the Lewiston Journal, in
addressing the Augusta College Club
at its annual banquet at which the
men We're guests, held Saturday eve
ming at the Augusta House. Humor,
satire and philosophy found place in
Mr.. Staples discourse, and while
keeping his audience in the best of
humor the speaker took occasion TO
bring home many facts pertaining to
college, college training and educa-
ton in general. 1t was, indeed, a re-
markable address. making a deep i'm
preston upon the audience.
The long row of tables in the ban
quet hall were prettily decorated with
cut flowers and potted plants and
were set TO rabout 100 members of
the club and guests. Piano selec-
tions by Mrs. Earl C. Goodwin and
singing by the assembly We're enjoy
able features, following the delicious
banquet.
Mrs. Dean Presides
Mrs. Milton o. Dean. president of
the club, presided as POSTMASTER. In
her opening remarks. Mrs. Dean said
that just as in college days when the
functions most looked forward to
We're the parties to which outside
guests, especially the males. would
be invited, so the Augusta College
Club looks forward to its annual ban
quet. She declared that two requi-
sites Of successful banquet were g
delectable menu and a good speaker
both having been secured on this oc.
casion, and with a reference to the
ability of the speaker of the evening
she introduced Mr.. Staples
Address, BY Mr.. Staples
After prefacing his theme with sew.
eral humorous anecdotes dealing with
the higher learning, Mr.. Staples de-
clared that he had little or no in
terest or concern in what college does
to us.
ut does very little to some. much
to Others" he asserted. What / am
interested in is what we do for col
lege, with college and because OF col
lege. I find for instance in earlier is
sues of Who's Who in America'-a
fair sort of compendium of active
citizens Of America, in spite of al
that is said about 1t by those who
are not in it-that out of 1900
names in the book about 1900 are
college graduates. This is about II
per cent. Less than a quarter of one
per cent of the names were those OF
self educated.
This is of little vital interest. We
know that college is an opportunity
a privilege, maste word. What
would like better to know (and which
1 do not find) is how many OF the
vast hordes of youth passing through
college in the past 20 years plot fol
themselves lives of spiritual and
social helpfulness and make OF
themselves records of usefulness and
worth. How many Of them went to
college as dreamers of dreams and
makers of music? How many wanted
to go? 1t is the wanters who get:
it is the getters who want. How many
went to college with aspirations for
service that college really met? How
many went to kill time-to pet and
be petted: to get letters on their
sweater fronts. The Plastic age is