Princeton University - Nassau Herald Yearbook (Princeton, NJ)

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Yo UR P111NcE'1'oN T1-m HPICTOIIIAI. IQEVTEXVH BOAIIIJ THE TIGER BOARD

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THE Nassau HE1i.ALD Philadelphian Society,s scope in thisydirection-its secularizing if you like-as shown in its plans, itsumodern methods, and the character of its weekly speakers, illustrates this observation and also indicates that the Society, without any loss of real religion, has outgrown the age of leading strings, and has waked up to the new world and the new opportunities surrounding it. Judging by such examples, therefore, I think it within reason to say that the Class of 1916 has seen arise in our over-developed undergraduate life a distinct movement away from wastage of energy and time, and a sensible effort toward rendering the multifarious forces and expressions of Princetonis under- graduate vitality more efficient and labor-saving through or- ganization and centralization. But there remains much to be done. I have not noticed any corresponding steps toward a solution of the problems of our social life, our maj or sports, and our dramatics, nor 'Coward the lessening of the number of our activities, the slowing up of the pace under which too many men live, nor toward the elimination of the melodramatic and spuriously sentimental from certain of our procedures. So much, then, for extra-curriculum activities-the aside- showsn as they have been scornfully labelled. What of the other side of our life, the side which is presumably just as important as the so-called sideshows? Is a corresponding growing upi' tendency discernible there? I think there is, although the tend- ency is by no means so strongly marked. Princeton is still a long way from being the honors college which I believe to be her ultimate logical end-a notion to which I shall presently return. VVe have instituted honors courses for upperclassmeng we are admitting juniors to Phi Beta Kappa, and although lately we have .done nothing for that academic Ishmael, the sopho- more, we have periodical tests for freshmen Cwhich I do not defendj, and a system of advisers for freshmen fwhich happily is to be reorganized on totally new lines next yearjg and We have enlarged the scope of our probation rules so as to make WUI

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THE NASSAU I'IERALD them operative in midwinter and alsof cover non-athletic activi- ties. The authorities at least havexdiot. been marking time. Wfhat of the undergraduate? . 1 think the general student works harder than he used to. I ani confident that the average second or third group man in 1916 has not only done more work but has got more out of it than the average second or third group man in my day. 1 do not think, however, that this should be counted unto him greatly for righteousness, we worked just as hard at courses that in- terested us. The difference is that you in 1916 have had more courses to awaken your interest and in particular you have had behind you a better and a stricter scholastic administration. You have certainly read more than we-the records of the library show that. Have you read to any better purpose? Some of you have, but the rank and file? For I cannot help wondering, since college lifexas less com- plex twenty years ago and we therefore had more leisure, whether we who used the library as it was in those days did not know the library better and did not read more slowly and more fruitfully, less feverishly, less carelessly, than you who are busied about so many things. The reply will be made of course that the very quantity of required reading in these preceptorial times has led you into hasty and slovenly habits-in other VVoonnow XVi1,sox '79