Lake Forest College - Forester Yearbook (Lake Forest, IL)

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T H E 1 9 1 0 F o R E s T E R and four years in medical college is still a mooted question. The preliminary training obtained in undergraduate work is of inestimable value to the prospective medical student as it enables him to select in his later work the essential from the non-essential and enables him to concentrate his mental energies, a result which is essential in the modern medical schools, as the advances have been so rapid in medical sciences that it is hard at the present time to crowd all the subjects into a four year's course. It seems to matter little whether this preliminary training is obtained in the scientific or classical course. It is argued by some that the broad culture provided by the classical course is the essential thing for the medical student, by others that the scientific course makes one more critical of existing ideas and conditions and arouses in the student the mental attitude of construc- tive doubt which is so essential at the present time. The student entering medicine at present arrives at a time when the material emolu- ments are on the wane. Preventive medicine has deprived the practitioner of the -finan- cial rewards associated with bygone epidemics, is gradually destroying the white plague, and is teaching methods of living which conduce to continued health and long life. The tendency at present is for each one entering upon medicine to contribute to medical knowl- edge by personal effort rather than to consume that which has gradually accumulated. The preparation required at present demands an undergraduate course, four years in a medical college, from one and one half to two years as an interne in a hospital, and later an assistantship with an older man, well established in practice and inspiring in character. It has been amply demonstrated that the college preparation best fits a man to attain to the requirements above and to discharge the duties demanded of him by the community and profession. 555l Monroe Ave., Chicago. DEAN D. LEWIS, M. D., '95. The College Man in the Engineering Field. Engineering has been aptly defined as the art of making a dollar earn the most interest. In this definition the practical nature of the subject is clearly emphasized. The scope of the engineering field has increased wonderfully in comparatively a few years until now there are many subdivisions of the general subject and each of these offering a field large enough and wide enough in range of application for the best efforts of a large and increasing number of young men. Along with the mining, the electrical, or sanitary engineer we may soon expect to have developed the agricultural and the aeronautical engineer. Take, for instance, the American railway of today which is a stupendous institu- tion in so many different ways affecting the lives and offering employment to a vast army of workers. ln the early days of its development the engineer acquired his skill largely by tradition and experience, and was engaged mainly in the initial building and projecting of possible new lines, leaving the completed road to the care of the unskilled and untrained. Vvhereas now every system of consequence has a large corps of trained engineers and a much larger corps of recent graduates, hopeful and anxious to secure that experience which is so necessary in making them capable and successful in their chosen work. Nor is engineering wholly an end in itself but to many, a preparation and a means to greater rewards. What is perhaps the foremost railway system in the country chooses its executive officers, from president down, largely from its well organized and trained engineering department. It is well to note the difference between the engineering profession and that of either law or medicine as affecting their relations with the publicg in the latter one generally 21

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- ,,,, , , .- .,, F-.pf sf,--gf---Nqr - - ' Q 5- y - T 1-1 E 1 9 i 0 F o R E s T E R The College Man in Law. Law, medicine, theology, and pedagogy have always attracted college men and will con- tinue to do so, despite the increasing demand and reward for the collegian in business. The border line between business life and profes- sional life is constantly narrowingg of recent years the business man has had to learn a good deal of law, while the lawyer has had to be- come more or less of a business expert. Indeed, it may be broadly stated that the best of modern lawyers are fbecause they must bel good busi- ness men. This exempts, of course, the Held of crimi- nal law, except where the criminal law impinges the banking business. The bankers' colony, so called, in the federal prison at Fort Leaven- worth is large, and bankers are also represented at most of the state penitentiaries. It has taken lawyers with knowledge of finance to prosecute these bankers, and other lawyers similarly equipped to defend them. It requires a busi- ness-like, analytical mind to follow a sharp, clever transaction through a maze of crooked commercial details. The same is true of questions involving illegal rebates, unlawful combinations, and trusts either predatory or non-predatory. Old-time lawyers deplore the commercializing of the profession, but whether they like it or not, the fact remains that law and commerce were never nearer together than now. The hint in this for the college man is to study business as well as books, and finance as well as politics. Law is a progressive science, popular impression to the contrary notwithstanding, and it gradually conforms itself to the spirit of the age. In law, the successful counselor or practitioner must always keep an open and a studious mind. He must be honorable first, then observant, judicial, and analytical. Literary and oratorical fluency are desirable but not absolutely essential. The re- quisite qualities can be cultivated in any college, provided the student possess a modicum of diligence and will power. HARRY L. BIRD, '94. The College Man in Medicine. The past decade has been characterized by a rapid advancement in the require- ments demanded by medical colleges and a change in the conduct of the medical courses. The best proof of the value of a college education or its equivalent is furnished to the prospective student of medicine by the raising of entrance requirements for medical colleges and the attempt at standardization of these throughout the different states. Whether the ideal course should be a combined one of six or seven years leading to both a bachelor and a medical degree or should consist of four years undergraduate work 20

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Pl fji T H E 1 9 1 0 F o R E s T E R deals with an individual, while in the former, with a corporation. This in some way may affect the pecuniary reward which many think is not generally commensurate with the high standard of attainment required or the successful prosecution of the object sought. Nevertheless it is a fact that the recent graduate need not expect his services for a year or two to be regarded as very valuable to his employer, however much they may be to himself, and it is needless to say that this fact is duly recognized in the monthly pay check. Engineering is very largely a matter of common sense and experience, and not- withstanding the scientific basis of the subject and technical training which now has become of the highest importance, one who has not a bent for the practical in his nature is not likely to find either the work or the rewards therefor permanently attractive. Davenport, Ia. M. WOOLSEY, '96 The College Man in the Mission Field. In order to learn and -master the language of an oriental people and put himself in proper working relations with their customs and social conditions a missionary needs just that mental equipment which only a college education can give. Life on the mission held is very primitive and simple, and again it is very complex, in the sense that the missionary, the man from the outside country is supposed to know all about the heavens above, the earth beneath, and the waters under the earth. Every bit of intelli- gent information that the missionary can give to the satisfaction of the native's inquiring mind will be so much pure gain in reaching the hearts and establishing confidence in those whom he is seeking to evangelize. When the missionary comes to the task of translating the scriptures and making a literature for the people or preparing text books for the schools, he will be grateful indeed for every hour of conscientious college work spent in the study of languages. The great mass of material pre- pared for class room work may be forgotten but there remains a language habit which will enable him to translate with facility and skill. While a student the college man has had ample time to develop himself socially. This is a prime requisite on the mission field. As a missionary he has relations with the peasant, the merchant, the prince, the priest, and with the highest officials of the land. l-le numbers among his associates ambassadors, consuls, doctors, lawyers, and commercial men-graduates from the best institutions in England and Europe. Therefore as a college man whose social instincts have been properly developed he will commend him- self to the native people. He will approach the great oriental religions with a courteous spirit and will be gentle and tactful and fair to all the life-long customs and habits of the people. Among the foreigners and Europeans he will appear the jovial, wholesouled, dependable Christian gentleman whose very presence radiates sunshine. The college man is a necessity on the mission field. l-le is qualified to cope with the great and varied missionary problems. Whether in the capacity of teacher, evangelist or physician he holds within himself the forces which can help transform a heathen world and make its life and conditions sweeter, happier, and holier. Lake Forest, Ill. HENRY WHITE, 22