University of Maryland College Park - Terrapin / Reveille Yearbook (College Park, MD)

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pulses and tastes, onr mental powers, and last but not least, our habits — habits of doing and habits of thinking. But no one can build well without the plans of an architect, nor mould a character without an ideal. We must have ideal types, and these types must be the highest. We may feel that some knowledge is too wonderful ; it is high, and we can not attain unto it — but that is no matter. Approximation is in itself growth and development. A goal wholly gained means effort ended ; and without growth we will certainly have degeneration. As to what the final end of self-culture may be, we can not say. We do no not recognize anything final in it. Growth is endless, and self-culture has no limitations. But what are its practical results to the individual who practices it? If nothing else, these: First, fullness of life, that is, life whose every moment has a meaning and a purpose, life full of interest, because full of thought and work, life that is above the commonplace and mean, life that satisfies. Second, force of character, decision, clear- ness of purpose, with all the respect and confidence from others that this insures. Last, the conscious- ness of being somc In ' iig, a real entity, self-made, self-controlled, self-owned. Such a consciousness alone is worth a lifetime of effort, and more than compensates for every loss occasioned in its getting. 24

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It will naturally be asked — what are thepiocesses and methods of self-culture ? They are very simple, because perfectly scientific. The first step is em- bodied in the maxim — Know thyself. This we must do, and do thoroughly and fearlessly, or all the rest of our labor will be futile. One can not expect sound conclusions from false premises. All true self-knowledge must come from constant and impartial self-inspection and criticism. We are most of us too indifferent, many of us too cowardly to do this. We fear that we shall find flaws that we do not know how to mend, blemishes that we would never even acknowlege to ourselves. But one must learn to trust himself, to understand his own char- acter, to measure his own possibilities, before he can hope to elavate the one, or to develop the other. When you can truly say — I know what manner of man I am, then you can begin to mould the manner of man you would be. Again since culture depends upon adjustment to environment, we are called upon to place ourselves in harmony with our own surroundings. By the term environment, I here mean everything with which our individualities are brought in contact. Not only our immediate surroundings, but the times in which we live, the state of society in which we find ourselves, our own education, our own habits and thoughts, our own tastes and sympathies. All these are parts of environment, and enlightened self-culture tries to understand and use them all. We have to sift it ; to pick out that which is purest and truest and best, that, in short, which will help us to grow, and then assimilate it, make it part of ourselves: and we have to detect that which is evil and low and base, that which will cause degenera- tion, and then cast it out and away from us. Thus habit, self-control, clearness of judgment, all aid in this process of selection and assimilation. When a man has so adjusted himself to his en- vironment, he has become all that he can become in it. Hence, unless he is content to cease growing, he must extend and widen the environment itself. The man who is so content with his circle of exist- ence we call narrow, and the world is full of narrow men. Such men have lost the principle of growth : their environment fits them : they will never need a larger garment. Again, all men do not develop equally, that is, with equal rapidity, or with equal results. How could they, since the basis of their growth is indi- vidual ? They hold to different standards in morals, in intellectual beliefs, in art, in science. And here a word as to our choice of standards. The materials of self-culture, so to speak are our individual im- 23

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An Incident of ' 95, If 3 ' ou ' ll listen to me, I ' ll relate an event Which happened a very short while lieforc Lent. The fellows who room on the Sophomore Hall, With their usual cheek and pre].osterous gall. Concluded that they were lords of the school. And straightway proceeded the college to rule. The boys who on Madison Avenue dwelt, A great deal of pride and dignity felt, And their Buzzards ' Roost rivals who wanted to reign Were treated with lofty contempt and disdain. But the light-headed Sophomores not a moment could rest. And to open a quarrel all did their best. Now, on Broadway there dwelt a lot of gay chaps Well practiced in making a row after Taps, These, not so high-minded as the Seniors below. Considered the Sophomores as being their foe. And, warned that the Sophs were out on a raid. For a battle got ready, and in ambush were laid. Meanwhile the Sophs had conceived the bold plan Of leaving their quarters to the very last man. And, each arrived with a pillow as a weapon of war. To wipe out the Freshmen upon the next floor. Now, how these wild villains could gain their consent. To go from their hall on such dire mischief bent. To prevent other students at work on their course From doing their duty, by this show of force. Is beyond every reasonable shadow of doubt Too deep for the writer to clearly make out, Be that as it may, it matters not now ; Since the belligerent Sophs were out for a row. They mounted the stairway in two terrible ranks. At its head they were met by a brilliant phalanx Of Freshmen, who, standing prepared for the war Surprised their opponents from the next lower floor. A thunderbolt striking a down from the skies Would not to the Sophs have caused greater surprise. Tbey expected to find all the Freshmen unarmed, And hence had great reason for being alarmed When the strange apparition burst o ut on their sight Of the whole Freshmen class marshalled out for the fight. But too late for retreat, they are in for it now. And fight now they must, the best they know how, All at once at a signal, the Freshmen rushed forth And belabor the Sophomores for all they are worth. And the Sophs, thus attacked engaged in the fight And hammer the Freshmen to the left and the right. 25