why go to college(为什么上大学)-第3章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
7
… Page 8…
WHY GO TO COLLEGE？
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； interests； habits； work； ambitions。 It is
for this reason that to college friendship clings a romance entirely its own。
One of the friends may spend her days in the laboratory； eagerly chasing
the shy facts that hide beyond the microscope's fine vision； and the other
may fill her hours and her heart with the poets and the philosophers； one
may steadfastly pursue her way toward the command of a hospital； and the
other towards the world of letters and of art； these divergences constitute
no barrier； but rather an aid to the fulness of friendship。 And the fact that
one goes in a simple gown which she has earned and made herself； and the
other lives when at home in a merchant's modern palacewhat has that to
do with the things the girls care about and the dreams they talk over in the
walk by the river or the bicycle ride through country roads？ If any young
man to…day goes through Harvard lonely； neglected； unfriended； if any girl
lives solitary and wretched in her life at Wellesley； it is their own fault。 It
8
… Page 9…
WHY GO TO COLLEGE？
must be because they are suspicious； unfriendly or disagreeable
themselves。 Certainly it is true that in the associations of college life； more
than in any other that the country can show； what is extraneous； artificial；
and temporary falls away； and the every…day relations of life and work
take on a character that is simple； natural； genuine。 And so it comes about
that the fourth gift of college life is ideals of personal character。
To some people the shaping ideals of what character should be； often
held unconsciously； come from the books they are given by the persons
whom they most admire before they are twenty years old。 The greatest
thing any friend or teacher； either in school or college； can do for a student
is to furnish him with a personal ideal。 The college professors who
transformed me through my acquaintance with themah； they were few；
and I am sure I did not have a dozen conversations with them outside their
class roomsgave me； each in his different way； an ideal of character； of
conduct； of the scholar； the leader； of which they and I were totally
unconscious at the time。 For many years I have known that my study with
them； no matter whether of philosophy or of Greek； of mathematics or
history or English； enlarged my notions of life； uplifted my standards of
culture； and so inspired me with new possibilities of usefulness and of
happiness。 Not the facts and theories that I learned so much as the men
who taught me； gave this inspiration。 The community at large is right in
saying that it wants the personal influence of professors on students； but it
is wholly wrong in assuming that this precious influence comes from
frequent meetings or talks on miscellaneous subjects。 There is quite as
likely to be a quickening force in the somewhat remote and mysterious
power of the teacher who devotes himself to amassing treasures of
scholarship； or to patiently working out the best methods of teaching； who
standing somewhat apart； still remains an ideal of the Christian scholar；
the just； the courteous man or woman。 To come under the influence of one
such teacher is enough to make college life worthwhile。 A young man who
came to Harvard with eighty cents in his pocket； and worked his way
through； never a high scholar； and now in a business which looks very
commonplace； told me the other day that he would not care to be alive if
he had not gone to college。 His face flushed as he explained how different
9
… Page 10…
WHY GO TO COLLEGE？
his days would have been if he had not known two of his professors。 〃Do
you use your college studies in your business？〃 I asked。 〃Oh； no！〃 he
answered。 〃But I am another man in doing the business； and when the
day's work is done I live another life because of my college experiences。
The business and I are both the better for it every day。〃 How many a
young girl has had her whole horizon extended by the changed ideals she
