why go to college-第2章
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the opposite qualities often become in later years。 An exhilarating
atmosphere pervades the place。 We who are in it all the time
feel that we live at the fountain of perpetual youth； and those
who take but a four years' bath in it become more cheerful； strong；
and full of promise than they are ever likely to find themselves
again； for a college is a kind of compendium of the things that
most men long for。 It is usually planted in a beautiful spot； the
charm of trees and water being added to stately buildings and
stimulating works of art。 Venerable associations of the past
hallow its halls。 Leaders in the stirring world of to…day return
at each commencement to share the fresh life of the new class。
Books； pictures； music； collections； appliances in every field；
learned teachers； mirthful friends； athletics for holidays； the
best words of the best men for holy days；all are here。 No wonder
that men look back upon their college life as upon halcyon days；
the romantic period of youth。 No wonder that Dr。 Holmes's poems
to his Harvard classmates find an echo in college reunions
everywhere； and gray…haired men； who outside the narrowing circle
of home have not heard their first names for years； remain Bill
and Joe and John and George to college comrades； even if unseen
for more than a generation。
Yet a girl should go to college not merely to obtain four happy
years but to make a second gain； which is often overlooked； and
is little understood even when perceived； I mean a gain in health。
The old notion that low vitality is a matter of course with women；
that to be delicate is a mark of superior refinement； especially
in well…to…do families； that sickness is a dispensation of
Providence；these notions meet with no acceptance in college。
Years ago I saw in the mirror frame of a college freshman's room
this little formula： 〃Sickness is carelessness； carelessness is
selfishness； and selfishness is sin。〃 And I have often noticed
among college girls an air of humiliation and shame when obliged
to confess a lack of physical vigor； as if they were convicted of
managing life with bad judgment； or of some moral delinquency。
With the spreading scientific conviction that health is a matter
largely under each person's control； that even inherited tendencies
to disease need not be allowed to run their riotous course unchecked；
there comes an earnest purpose to be strong and free。 Fascinating
fields of knowledge are waiting to be explored； possibilities of
doing； as well as of knowing； are on every side； new and dear
friendships enlarge and sweeten dreams of future study and work；
and the young student cannot afford quivering nerves or small
lungs or an aching head any more than bad taste； rough manners；
or a weak will。 Handicapped by inheritance or bad training； she
finds the plan of college life itself her supporter and friend。
The steady； long…continued routine of mental work； physical
exercise； recreation； and sleep； the simple and wholesome food；
in place of irregular and unstudied diet； work out salvation for
her。 Instead of being left to go out…of…doors when she feels
like it； the regular training of the gymnasium； the boats on lake
and river； the tennis court； the golf links； the basket ball；
the bicycle； the long walk among the woods in search of botanical
or geological specimens；all these and many more call to the busy
student； until she realizes that they have their rightful place in
every well…ordered day of every month。 So she learns； little by
little； that buoyant health is a precious possession to be won
and kept。
It is significant that already statistical investigation in this
country and in England shows that the standard of health is higher
among the women who hold college degrees than among any other
equal number of the same age and class。 And it is interesting also
to observe to what sort of questions our recent girl graduates have
been inclined to devote attention。 They have been largely the
neglected problems of little children and their health； of home
sanitation； of food and its choice and preparation； of domestic
service； of the cleanliness of schools and public buildings。
Colleges for girls are pledged by their very constitution to make
persistent war on the water cure； the nervine retreat； the insane
asylum； the hospital；those bitter fruits of the emotional lives
of thousands of women。 〃I can never afford a sick headache again；
life is so interesting and there is so much to do；〃 a delicate girl
said to me at the end of her first college year。 And while her
mother was in a far…off invalid retreat； she undertook the battle
against fate with the same intelligence and courage which she
put into her calculus problems and her translations of Sophocles。
Her beautiful home and her rosy and happy children prove the measure
of her hard…won success。 Formerly the majority of physicians had
but one question for the mother of the nervous and delicate girl；
〃Does she go to school？〃 And only one prescription； 〃Take her out
of school。〃 Never a suggestion as to suppers of pickles and
pound…cake； never a hint about midnight dancing and hurried day…time
ways。 But now the sensible doctor asks； 〃What are her interests？
What are her tastes？ What are her habits？〃 And he finds new
interests for her； and urges the formation of out…of…door tastes
and steady occupation for the mind； in order to draw the morbid
girl from herself into the invigorating world outside。 This the
college does largely through its third gift of friendship。
Until a girl goes away from home to school or college； her friends
are chiefly chosen for her by circumstances。 Her young relatives；
her neighbors in the same street； those who happen to go to the
same school or church；these she makes her girlish intimates。
She goes to college with the entire conviction； half unknown to
herself； that her father's political party contains all the honest
men； her mother's social circle all the true ladies； her church all
the real saints of the community。 And the smaller the town； the
more absolute is her belief。 But in college she finds that the
girl who earned her scholarship in the village school sits beside
the banker's daughter； the New England farmer's child rooms next
the heiress of a Hawaiian sugar plantation； the daughters of
the opposing candidates in a sharply fought election have grown
great friends in college boats and laboratories； and before her
diploma is won she realizes how much richer a world she lives
in than she ever dreamed of at home。 The wealth that lies in
differences has dawned upon her vision。 It is only when the rich
and poor sit down together that either can understand how the
Lord is the Maker of them all。
To…day above all things we need the influence of men and women
of friendliness； of generous nature； of hospitality to new ideas；
in short； of social imagination。 But instead； we find each
political party bitterly calling the other dishonest； each class
suspicious of the intentions of the other； and in social life the
pettiest standards of conduct。 Is it not well for us that the
colleges all over the country still offer to their fortunate
students a society of the most democratic sort；one in which
a father's money； a mother's social position； can assure no
distinction and make no close friends？ Here capacity of every
kind counts for its full value。 Here enthusiasm waits to make
heroes of those who can lead。 Here charming manners； noble
character； amiable temper； scholarly power； find their full
opportunity and inspire such friendships as are seldom made
afterward。 I have forgotten my chemistry； and my classical philology
cannot bear examination； but all round the world there are men
and women at work； my intimates of college days； who have made
the wide earth a friendly place to me。 Of every creed； of every
party； in far…away places and in near； the thought of them makes
me more courageous in duty and more faithful to opportunity； though
for many years we may not have had time to write each other a
letter。 The basis of all valuable and enduring friendships is not
accident or juxtaposition； but tastes；
