Springfield College - Massasoit Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

Page 18 text:

6ditorials School publication C O years ago the death-knell of Xobody’s Business was sounded. The secret of the failure of that ])eriodical seems to have been that the snggestiem contained in the name had a reaction upon the students. Xohody cared much about it. Tho the student body at the Training School is small, there is no reason why wc should not publish a monthly, representative of all the activities of the school. While graduates of an institution arc interested in the discussion of technical subjects ])ertaining to their work, they are equally desirous of being kept in touch with the life of the students. Our excellent Seiiiinar caters to the huMuer desire in a mo.st satisfactory man- ner, hut is less i)leasing in its ai)])rcciation of the latter. The majority of schools, many of them no larger than T. S.. ])ublish a i)aper attaining both of these ends. T should he second to none. There are two possilile solutions of the ])rohlem which faces ns. The task of editing a representative sheet might he handed over to the Student .Association. I ' his body could then elect an editor who .should he assisted in his work by a hoard of six assistant editors — three Seniors, two Alid- dlers and one Junior, elected by their respective classes. There, of course, would also he a faculty editor on this hoard. The other alternative is ])crhaps more feasible. The present man- agement of the Seminar might he su])plcmented by a student committee of. say, four members — two Seniors, one Middler and one Junior, each chosen by his class. The forty or so pages allotted to this snh-committee would contain information regarding all the activities of the students, their recreation and their work, their lighter as well as their more serious thot. The publication that would result from some such plan as this would he representative of all sides of onr school life.

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THE M ASSASOIT 13 “ Keep for us, O friend, where’er Thou art waiting, all that here Made thy earthly presence dear. “ Keep the human heart of thee, Let the mortal only l.e Clothed in immortality. “ And when fall our feet as fell Thine upon the asphodel, Let thy old smile greet us well.” In jVIemory of Doctor Durgin By Dv. 5Cl. 6. Ballaiitinc C l IE ' I ' raitiing; School sustained a heavy loss iti the deatli of the Rev. Dr. I)e ' itt Clinton Durgin, which occurred oti Decem- her 2. Six years ago, at the age of seventy, he removed to Springfield and made his home with his daughter, Mrs. L. L. Doggett. Although in no official way connected with the school, he at once tnade for himself a necessary jtlace in its life and found a cordial welcome atnong the students. Class after class elected him to hoitorary memher- shij). His tall, majestic form and long white hair and heard and his kindly hearing made him a notal)le figure in the reading room and lecture hall. Age had not in the least chilled his companionable nature. Ilis work had always been among the young, and his heart was young to the last. He delighted in hall games and all the social gatherings of the boys. He had an unfailing sense of humor and a dry wit that always drew an interested group around him. He illustrated the manliness, the geniality, and the dignity of the Christian religion in a way that none who saw it can forget. During these six years since his life work has been supposed to be closed and he has been in so-called “retirement,” Dr. Durgin has been quietly doing for the Training School an invaluable service in en- riching its ideals, ami he has left the memory of his exalted character to be added to our endowment of inestimable traditions.

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THE MASSASOIT 15 On Dormitory Life ’hen grouped together in places where the refining influence of elder persons does not enter, young men have a tendency to become lax in their habits of life — their manners and dress. This holds true, to some extent at least, of Training School men. The “sweater habit’’ and other habits equally as undesirable frequently victimize us. These have a harmful influence not only on the individual himself, hut also on the student body as a whole. Some colleges have a certain uniform which most of the students adopt. In some “schools” the “hoys” are rccpiired to dress neatly, hut at T. S. there is no dress restriction — each man is a law unto himself. The financial problem enters largely into the life of every T. S. man and possibly influences him to he a little less careful in his dress than he would otherwise be. But to dress neatly one does not have to dress e.x- pensively. For a very small monetary consideration the things essential to neatness may be given proper care. It is said that “clothes do not make the man.” True as this is, they have an important influence in that direction. W’hen one is well dressed, when one knows that he looks and feels like a gentleman, other things being equal he will act like one. The reflex action of neat attire is very great. This is a question of importance to T. S. men, for no sooner are we graduated than we are ])rojected into the best society in the towns, cities or colleges to which we go. People will require of us neatness of dress and pleasantness of manner. W’e who have been negligent in regard to these matters during our years of preparation wfill find a sudden transformation by no means easy to make. INIany of our cant phrases, many of our apparently harmless actions, will not he tolerated by our new acquaintances. While at school, therefore, we should build for time and not only for the ])resent. If we are tempted to lower our standard of right, of propriety, or of conduct, let us be on our guard, assured that if we yield to these tendencies we will lessen our usefulness. They may seem to he trifles at the time, hut it is attention to the trifles that makes perfection, and “perfection is no trifle.”