Swarthmore College - Halcyon Yearbook (Swarthmore, PA)

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THE K ACYOi ®r 19 H available, a student body nevertheless resembles nothing in the world so much as a flock of sheep. Some, perchance, hold aloof from the struggle on the specious pre- te xt that the} ' are preparing themselves for the sterner trials after graduation. With most, however, it is sheer ditifidence or plain preference for irresponsible drifting. Yet every baccalaureate orator in the country will soon be busy hailing 191 7 ' s crop of grad- uates as the chosen leaders of the future, specially prepared for this function b} ' their college training! Leaders there are, of course, for the various student activities. — athletic, dramatic, journalistic, religious, social, and what not. Always, however, the tendency is strongly marked for offices in these various lines to gravitate into a few hands. Out of the six hundred students sixteen become known as live wires of the familiar type which prides itself upon never allowing their studies to interfere with their college work. So common is this concentration of power in a few strong or popular hands that faculties have begun to legislate against it. Each undergraduate office is given the value of a certain n umber of points according to the time it recjuires or the honor it carries with it. No student is allowed to accumulate offices in excess of a certain num- ber of points. It is a clumsy mechanical device, a mere crutch at best, but helpful per- haps under existing conditions. What is really needed among students is a wide- spread, vigorous industrious spirit of emulation that will smash prevailing cliques and coteries into fiindereens and open wide all avenues to leadership and influence. Atheltics and social activities are useful in their place, but that place is of secondary importance. Primarily the business of the student is to study. And of the faculty to see that he does it or makes room for men who will. In spite of all the scholarships and aids there are thousands of the latter stamp outside our colleges today. An effi- cient educational system based on truly democratic lines would prevent this senseless neglect of splendid human material and the equally senseless casting of pearls before those not eager to treasure them. Of course this will seem a dreadfuU} ' pedantic and radical conclusion to many of my college friends. The cakes and ale contingent will howl over it in chorus. Dull epicureans that they are, how should they understand that only sturdy eff ort creates healthy appetite? Too well have they grasped the profound principle that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. But they are prone to forget that all play and no work makes Jack a sad shirk. And those colleagues of mine who believe in inspiration rather than perspiration will also protest. Certainly I am not an enemy of the former, but I have never yet seen inspirations ripen unless they were plentifully v. ' atered with perspiration. All things considered, pessimism certainly is not indicated by any thoroughgoing- study and experience of American college life. If there is a body of youth anywhere on this planet more lovable, more vigorous, more clean of body and of spirit than our undergraduate men and women I have never run across it. The miracles of growth that are accomplished between the freshman and senior years constantly renew one ' s faith in human nature. Not that the college can claim credit for all the growth that the booming years between eighteen and twenty-two brings to its children. But Alma Mater at least fosters this growth with keen interest and solicitous cultivation. In the return of her children ' s love her own richest harvest is garnered. Old Ponce de Leon sought in vain the fountain of eternal youth. Many a college professor has found it in close contact and co-operation with an American student body. 11

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THE ymitrm ®f nm For my own part even after teaching twenty years minus Sabbaticals, it seems an extremely difficult matter to characterize the undergraduate world. Experience has convinced me that students are the most variegated and inconsistent, as well as the most lovable, species under the sun. They reflect all the virtues, somewhat magnified, and all the vices, somewhat diminished, of the American life of which they are a part. Without fear of successful contradiction, however, I shall maintain the thesis that the American college students generally are not given to over-studiousness. In so doing, permit me to apologize to the earnest and considerable minority who work con- scientiously and purposefully, often acquiring more in two years than most of their fellows do in four. And as a professor, responsible to that extent for college evils, I accept frankly the heavier end of the burden of this criticism. Laborers, says Mr. Steffens, especially the lowest, most troublesome class of least ' educated ' labor, the I. W. W., are way ahead of college men. Ah, but the col- lege man has already solved the labor problem for himself. Why should he protest, strike, resort to sabotage or other direct action? Counting class-room and laboratory time and all work of preparation the student who puts in an eight hour day is the ex- ception, so exceptional in fact that unless he conceals his industrjf he will certainly be dubbed a greasy grind or dippy stude. In most colleges of arts a six or seven hour working day is nearer the average. All yellow newspapers to the contrary not- withstanding, breakdowns from overstudy are the rarest of undergraduate occurrences. Xearl} ' always alleged cases of this sort will be found to be due to other causes — occa- sionally to dissipation, but more frequently to inherited taints, or to overwork outside of college coupled with physical weakness. Provision for puljlic recreation is now admitted to be part of the problem of con- structive statesmanship. The college student solved it for himself long ago. With his short working day he has ample leisure for this purpose. And he devotes himself to it with passion. Here no discipline is too hard, no coach too severe. As agencies to de- tect latent physical qualities, to develop them to the utmost and to exploit them to the greater glory of Alma Mater, American colleges lead the world. Substitute intel- lectual for phj ' sical in the preceding sentence and ponder the result. In other uses of his abundant leisure the student is not so successful. Let George do it might well supplant the classic inscription over most dormitory entrances. Some of the undergraduate residents more than live up to the equivocal title of this kind of housing arrangement, significantly sacred as it is to our colleges and univer- sities. And in addition to dormitories the facilities afforded by the back seats of large lecture rooms are thoroughly appreciated. Comparatively few students ever read for the pure love of reading, or, after graduation carry a liking for literature out into the world with them. P ' ather as he writes the checks, and mother as she writes the good advice, are blissfully ignorant as to the amount of time sonny manages to consume in mere vacuous fellowship. Soothed by the everlasting tinkle of the mandolin, stu- dents are wont to smoke or dawdle intermina1)l3 ' either alone or in each others rooms. And they have a Gargantuan ap])etite lor social frivolities of the most conventional and stupid sort. College men pride themselves upon their loyalty, and justly so. It is one ot the finest and most fervid of their virtues, the glamor of which lasts to the end of life. Not for worlds would I have it otherwise. Yet there is a certain narrowness in the stu- dent ' s devotion to class, fraternity, and to team, even to the college itself. Retaining all their love for these idolized institutions would it not be possible to develop a more intense interest for the great causes which, in our t nne more than any other, are bat- tling for supremacy in national and international life? In science, art, literature, and social politics there are always issues? discoveries, movements, which should evoke vigorous partisanship among undergraduates. Why should they not set themselves resolutely to the tlireshing out of the real questions of the day in both the academic and outer world? But, as Mr. Walter Lippmann maintains, it is indeed true ol the American college student of today that his ' wild oats ' are rarely spiritual. Superlatively amazing, also, is the lack of leaders and leadershii) in undergraduate affairs. With ample leisure for this purpose and with plenty of fine human material 10

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THE ymitrm ©? 4) regress of tl)e V ar By J ' ri ' .siileiit .luaepli Swain G ment. celebrated as F ' ouiid- The exercises were President VV. H. P. President Joseph S a!n ' OMPLYING witli the reciuest from tlie Alumni Association, the Board of Managers changed Alumni Day from Third-day to Seventh-day. The change went into effect last Commence- In order to make Alumni, Baccalaureate, and Com- mencement Days on consecutive days and at the week- end, the Commencement period has been somewhat short- ened, the Commencement being held on Second-day in- stead of Fourth-day. Perhaps a longer period of trial is necessary before hnal judgment can be passed on this arrangement, but thus far the change seems to have given satisfaction. Founders ' Day Tenth month 28th, was this year ers ' Day. The attendance was large, held in the Outdoor Auditorium. Faunce of Brown University, gave the chief address. We have seldom, if ever, had at Swarthmore a more fitting or more appreciated address than that of President Faunce. The day was a fine one. The speaker placed himself in touch with the audience at once when he said, If this is a specimen of an Octolier day at Swarthmore, then I wish that all the year were October and all the world a Swarthmore. Wharton Hall The third and last section of Wharton Hall, the men ' s dormitory, was almost com- pleted during the past summer. In all essential particulars the building has been com- pleted as approved by the donor, Joseph Wharton. The problem of a suitable college home for the young men is now solved for this generation. In connection with the completion of Wharton Hall it seems appropriate to call attention to the fact that the dormitory for men is only one of the many gifts of Joseph Wharton for the up-building of Swarthmore. He gave the money for one-half of the Science Building: all the money for the Meeting House; he helped to endow the Library, and endowed the Professorship of Political Science. He gave in all about $250,000 to the college. During a long and useful lifetime he set a noble example of great achieve- ment, high intellectual attainment, and sterling personal character. The New Athletic Fields It has been evident for many years that some change in our athletic field was nec- essary. Whittier Field was too small, was too near buildings already erected and was the natural site for at least three new buildings. With the completion of Swarthmore and .Alumni Fields this question has been satisfactorily settled for all time. In order to make way for these fields it was necessary to move the water tank, the barn, and the servants ' quarters, and to construct new tennis courts. The grading itself involved the movement of a great amount of eartli, sliale, and solid rock, the greatest cut being about fourteen feet and the deepest fill about thirty-five feet. The money for grading the baseball field was given in part by .A ' umni and others, and the remainder for this field and all the money for the football field and track was given by Morris L. Clothier, ' 90. Tlie Committee that solicited the funds consisted of Howard Cooper Johnson, ' 96, Chair- man: Morris L. Clothier, ' 90: Henry C. Turner, ' 93, and Robert H. Walker, ' 02. . portion of the fill required for the new fields w s obtained by lowering the grade of Whittier Field and making it conform to the natural slope from the Chemistry Building to Beardsley Hall. This not only furnished material for the fill liut in addition greatly improved the a|)pcarance of this portion of the campus, and also impro c(l tlie sites for any new buildings that may be located there. The college is much indebted to all tliose who have contributed to make this movement possible, but feels esijecially indebted to Morris L. Clothier, who gave so generously, both of his money and time, that the College might have these large, lieautiful, and conveniently located fields. Beardsley Hall The Engineering Slio]) liuilding, in Tenth Month last, was named by the Board of Managers, Beardsley Hall, in recognition of the devoted and efficient services of Arthur 12