Ontario Agricultural College - OAC Bulletin Yearbook (Guelph, Ontario Canada)

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oN'rAnio AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE NINETEEN '1'WENTY.srEi1ENt 0 m C 51-zmnd9 living your college course has not relieved you of the necessity of starting at the bottom. The social contacts, the exercise of wise judgment and the grasping ot' opportunity under the varied circum- stance of every day lil'e are attributes that can be learned only from experience in actual life. 'l'he time and resources you have expended in a college career cannot be accepted at their face value in practical every day life until you have demonstrated that you have in your own case made them items ot' value. You will find that the chief value ol' a college course lies in the opportunity it affords, not to start higher up in practical affairs, but to climb faster and to a higher level than might have been attained without. it. Study of the sciences has provided an insight of physical, biological, and social causes ol' every day phenomena. All teaching, by eradicating prejudice and ignorance, promotes simpler and more exact thinking on technical and economic affairs, becoming every day more complex in their application. Even though one may not be able to operate that small part of the social or technical machine, which becomes his responsibility after graduation, in a manner superior to that ol' one who has had only the practise thereof, the added equipment of causes, ctfects, limitations, anfl interdependence on other agencies will inevitably tend to more rapid advance-,nent in practical alfairs. ln the discharge ot' social responsibility in after life, granting a moderate scale of living acquired, comes the greater opportun- ities for satisfaction and happiness. All phases of college work contribute to better preparation for this duty. To the extent that society has given without cost to the student a large share of the expenses of education, to that extent must the student in his future life recognize his debt to society by making some commensurate contribution to society's welfare in compensation thereof. Habits Page ol' work acquired in study, self-imposed discipline in class room, athletic lield, and in student social activities, sacrifice of selfish interest on behalf ot' fellow students, awakening and developing ot qualities of leadership, all these experiences are gained at a period when the mistakes made in the acquiring process lack the disastrous effect on resources and reputation of such errors in later life. This kind of experience is the peculiar contribution of college and school. As far as possible it is a cross section of actual life, in which the student may live and move, sheltered from the worst effects of errors and mistakes but permitted to take the fullest advantage of success, both for himself and for the benefit of his fellows. As training for all phases of a life work in this social environment of paradoxical self-interest, physical and mental inequality, and equality in power and final authority, called democracy, a college course is the most etlicient social institution yet devised. Then we have the peculiar working out of the human contacts and friendships of college life. The meeting and close association of people from different regions, with widely differing character- istics and habits, is a most potent influence in removing that worst handicap to complete social understanding, prejudice against and distrust of strangers. Human sympathies are broadened, human weaknesses are more tolerantly viewed and human virtues empha- sized by such association. Even though the close individual friend- ships formed through four years of association may in time become weakened through lack ot' actual contact, or the intrusion of friend- ships of after life, yet the fact that friendship has been practised, that toleration has been mutually exercised, is an invaluable training for the complete attainment of social usefulness. A. LEITCH. I Sixteen

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ONTARIO AGRICU i:runA1. cocuzois NINETEEN TWENTY-SEVEN o Q ' C 51.2559 OUR HONORARY PRESIDENT honk: a glimpse of a waving arm: a hearty Hello, Boys, and George Raithby rattled by us in his Ford, ever reminding us ot' our good fortune in the choice of an Honorary President. 'l'his, indeed, is one action of our Freshman Year that we have never regretted, for Mr. Raithby's geniality, cheerful disposition and high professional ideals have made him an ideal President. From the very first, he has seemed more like one of ourselves than an honorary member, and his friendly advice and counsel have been greatly appreciated on many occasions. Throughout our whole course, his interest in us'has never flagged, and we were always sure of his hearty co-operation in all our year activities. Whether formal banquet or informal Weiner roast, his ready gift ol' speech and song has added enjoyment to every occasion, We rejoiced with him when he decided that It was not good for man to live alone, and brought his bride to the O.A.C. Second only to Mr. Raithby himself, Year '27 has benefitted by this union, for Mrs. Raithby has proved a charming hostess at our year func- tions, where her genial disposition and friendly smile have Won her a place in all our hearts. In addition, their latch-string has always been out, and members of Year '27 treasure many pleasant mem- ories of the hours in which they enjoyed the hospitality of GEORGE E. RAITHBY and Mrs. Raithby. Prius linlhtun-n