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in England shows that the standard of health is higher among the women
who hold college degrees than among any other equal number of the same
age and class。 And it is interesting also to observe to what sort of questions
our recent girl graduates have been inclined to devote attention。 They have
been largely the neglected problems of little children and their health； of
home sanitation； of food and its choice and preparation； of domestic
service； of the cleanliness of schools and public buildings。 Colleges for
girls are pledged by their very constitution to make persistent war on the
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water cure； the nervine retreat； the insane asylum； the hospital；those
bitter fruits of the emotional lives of thousands of women。 〃I can never
afford a sick headache again； life is so interesting and there is so much to
do；〃 a delicate girl said to me at the end of her first college year。 And
while her mother was in a far…off invalid retreat； she undertook the battle
against fate with the same intelligence and courage which she put into her
calculus problems and her translations of Sophocles。 Her beautiful home
and her rosy and happy children prove the measure of her hard…won
success。 Formerly the majority of physicians had but one question for the
mother of the nervous and delicate girl； 〃Does she go to school？〃 And only
one prescription； 〃Take her out of school。〃 Never a suggestion as to
suppers of pickles and pound…cake； never a hint about midnight dancing
and hurried day…time ways。 But now the sensible doctor asks； 〃What are
her interests？ What are her tastes？ What are her habits？〃 And he finds new
interests for her； and urges the formation of out…of…door tastes and steady
occupation for the mind； in order to draw the morbid girl from herself into
the invigorating world outside。 This the college does largely through its
third gift of friendship。
Until a girl goes away from home to school or college； her friends are
chiefly chosen for her by circumstances。 Her young relatives； her
neighbors in the same street； those who happen to go to the same school or
church；these she makes her girlish intimates。 She goes to college with
the entire conviction； half unknown to herself； that her father's political
party contains all the honest men； her mother's social circle all the true
ladies； her church all the real saints of the community。 And the smaller the
town； the more absolute is her belief。 But in college she finds that the girl
who earned her scholarship in the village school sits beside the banker's
daughter； the New England farmer's child rooms next the heiress of a
Hawaiian sugar plantation； the daughters of the opposing candidates in a
sharply fought election have grown great friends in college boats and
laboratories； and before her diploma is won she realizes how much richer
a world she lives in than she ever dreamed of at home。 The wealth that lies
in differences has dawned upon her vision。 It is only when the rich and
poor sit down together that either can understand how the Lord is the
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Maker of them all。
To…day above all things we need the influence of men and women of
friendliness； of generous nature； of hospitality to new ideas； in short； of
social imagination。 But instead； we find each political party bitterly calling
the other dishonest； each class suspicious of the intentions of the other；
and in social life the pettiest standards of conduct。 Is it not well for us that
the colleges all over the country still offer to their fortunate students a
society of the most democratic sort；one in which a father's money； a
mother's social position； can assure no distinction and make no close
friends？ Here capacity of every kind counts for its full value。 Here
enthusiasm waits to make heroes of those who can lead。 Here charming
manners； noble character； amiable temper； scholarly power； find their full
opportunity and inspire such friendships as are seldom made afterward。 I
have forgotten my chemistry； and my classical philology cannot bear
examination； but all round the world there are men and women at work；
my intimates of college days； who have made the wide earth a friendly
place to me。 Of every creed； of every party； in far…away places and in near；
the thought of them makes me more courageous in duty and more faithful
to opportunity； though for many years we may not have had time to write
each other a letter。 The basis of all valuable and enduring friendships is not
accident or juxtaposition； but tastes； interests； habits； work； ambitions。 It is
for this reason that to college friendship clings a romance entirely its own。
One of the friends may spend her days in the laboratory； eagerly chasing
the shy facts that hide beyond the microscope's fine vision； and the other
may fill her hours and her heart with the poets and the philosophers； one
may steadfastly pursue her way toward the command of a hospital； and the
other towards the world of letters and of art； these divergences constitute
no barrier； but rather an aid to the fulness of friendship。 And the fact that
one goes in a simple gown which she has earned and made herself； and the
other lives when at home in a merchant's modern palacewhat has that to
do with the things the girls care about and the dreams they talk over in the
walk by the river or the bicycle ride through country roads？ If any young
man to…day goes through Harvard lonely； neglected； unfriended； if any girl
lives solitary and wretched in her life at Wellesley； it is their own fault。 It
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must be because they are suspicious； unfriendly or disagreeable
themselves。 Certainly it is true that in the associations of college life； more
than in any other that the country can show； what is extraneous； artificial；
and temporary falls away； and the every…day relations of life and work
take on a character that is simple； natural； genuine。 And so it comes about
that the fourth gift of college life is ideals of personal character。