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that the fourth gift of college life is ideals of personal character。
To some people the shaping ideals of what character should be； often
held unconsciously； come from the books they are given by the persons
whom they most admire before they are twenty years old。 The greatest
thing any friend or teacher； either in school or college； can do for a student
is to furnish him with a personal ideal。 The college professors who
transformed me through my acquaintance with themah； they were few；
and I am sure I did not have a dozen conversations with them outside their
class roomsgave me； each in his different way； an ideal of character； of
conduct； of the scholar； the leader； of which they and I were totally
unconscious at the time。 For many years I have known that my study with
them； no matter whether of philosophy or of Greek； of mathematics or
history or English； enlarged my notions of life； uplifted my standards of
culture； and so inspired me with new possibilities of usefulness and of
happiness。 Not the facts and theories that I learned so much as the men
who taught me； gave this inspiration。 The community at large is right in
saying that it wants the personal influence of professors on students； but it
is wholly wrong in assuming that this precious influence comes from
frequent meetings or talks on miscellaneous subjects。 There is quite as
likely to be a quickening force in the somewhat remote and mysterious
power of the teacher who devotes himself to amassing treasures of
scholarship； or to patiently working out the best methods of teaching； who
standing somewhat apart； still remains an ideal of the Christian scholar；
the just； the courteous man or woman。 To come under the influence of one
such teacher is enough to make college life worthwhile。 A young man who
came to Harvard with eighty cents in his pocket； and worked his way
through； never a high scholar； and now in a business which looks very
commonplace； told me the other day that he would not care to be alive if
he had not gone to college。 His face flushed as he explained how different
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his days would have been if he had not known two of his professors。 〃Do
you use your college studies in your business？〃 I asked。 〃Oh； no！〃 he
answered。 〃But I am another man in doing the business； and when the
day's work is done I live another life because of my college experiences。
The business and I are both the better for it every day。〃 How many a
young girl has had her whole horizon extended by the changed ideals she
gained in college！ Yet this is largely because the associations and studies
there are likely to give her permanent intereststhe fifth and perhaps the
greatest gift of college life of which I shall speak。
The old fairy story which charmed us in childhood ended with〃And
they were married and lived happy ever after。〃 It conducted to the altar；
having brought the happy pair through innumerable difficulties； and left us
with the contented sense that all the mistakes and problems would now
vanish and life be one long day of unclouded bliss。 I have seen devoted
and intelligent mothers arrange their young daughters' education and
companionships precisely on this basis。 They planned as if these pretty
and charming girls were going to live only twenty or twenty…five years at
the utmost； and had consequently no need of the wealthy interests that
should round out the full…grown woman's stature； making her younger in
feeling at forty than at twenty； and more lovely and admired at eighty than
at either。
Emerson in writing of beauty declares that 〃the secret of ugliness
consists not in irregular outline； but in being uninteresting。 We love any
forms； however ugly； from which great qualities shine。 If command；
eloquence； art； or invention exists in the most deformed person； all the
accidents that usually displease； please； and raise esteem and wonder
higher。 Beauty without grace is the head without the body。 Beauty without
expression tires。〃 Of course such considerations can hardly come with full
force to the young girl herself； who feels aged at eighteen； and imagines
that the troubles and problems of life and thought are hers already。 〃Oh；
tell me to…night；〃 cried a college freshman once to her President； 〃which is
the right side and which is the wrong side of this Andover question about
eschatology？〃 The young girl is impatient of open questions； and irritated
at her inability to answer them。 Neither can she believe that the first
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WHY GO TO COLLEGE？
headlong zest with which she throws herself into society； athletics； into
everything which comes in her way； can ever fail。 But her elders know；
looking on； that our American girl； the commrade of her parents and of her
brothers and their friends； brought up from babyhood in the eager talk of
politics and society； of religious belief； of public action； of social
responsibilitythat this typical girl； with her quick sympathies； her clear
head； her warm heart； her outreaching hands； will not permanently be
satisfied or self…respecting； though she have the prettiest dresses and hats
in town； or the most charming of dinners； dances； and teas。 Unless there
comes to her； and comes early； the one chief happiness of life；a marriage
of comradeship；she must face for herself the question； 〃What shall I do
with my life？〃
I recall a superb girl of twenty as I overtook her one winter morning
hurrying along Commonwealth Avenue。 She spoke of a brilliant party at a
friend's the previous evening。 〃But； oh！〃 she cried； throwing up her hands
in a kind of hopeless impatience； 〃tell me what to do。 My dancing days are
over！〃 I laughed at her； 〃Have you sprained your ankle？〃 But I saw I had
made a mistake when she added； 〃It is no laughing matter。 I have been out
three years。 I have not done what they expected of me；〃 with a flush and a
shrug； 〃and there is a crowd of nice girls coming on this winter； and
anyway； I am so tired of going to teas and ball…games and a