why go to college(为什么上大学)-第2节
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society； college life offers unequalled opportunities。 Of course no idle
person can possibly be happy； even for a day； nor she who makes a
business of trying to amuse herself。 For full happiness； though its springs
are within； we want health and friends and work and objects of aspiration。
〃We live by admiration； hope； and love；〃 says Wordsworth。 The college
abounds in all three。 In the college time new powers are sprouting； and
intelligence； merriment； truthfulness and generosity are more natural than
the opposite qualities often become in later years。 An exhilarating
atmosphere pervades the place。 We who are in it all the time feel that we
live at the fountain of perpetual youth； and those who take but a four years'
bath in it become more cheerful； strong； and full of promise than they are
ever likely to find themselves again； for a college is a kind of compendium
of the things that most men long for。 It is usually planted in a beautiful
spot； the charm of trees and water being added to stately buildings and
stimulating works of art。 Venerable associations of the past hallow its halls。
Leaders in the stirring world of to…day return at each commencement to
share the fresh life of the new class。 Books； pictures； music； collections；
appliances in every field； learned teachers； mirthful friends； athletics for
holidays； the best words of the best men for holy days；all are here。 No
wonder that men look back upon their college life as upon halcyon days；
the romantic period of youth。 No wonder that Dr。 Holmes's poems to his
Harvard classmates find an echo in college reunions everywhere； and
gray…haired men； who outside the narrowing circle of home have not heard
their first names for years； remain Bill and Joe and John and George to
college comrades； even if unseen for more than a generation。
Yet a girl should go to college not merely to obtain four happy years
but to make a second gain； which is often overlooked； and is little
understood even when perceived； I mean a gain in health。 The old notion
that low vitality is a matter of course with women； that to be delicate is a
mark of superior refinement； especially in well…to…do families； that
sickness is a dispensation of Providence；these notions meet with no
acceptance in college。 Years ago I saw in the mirror frame of a college
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freshman's room this little formula： 〃Sickness is carelessness； carelessness
is selfishness； and selfishness is sin。〃 And I have often noticed among
college girls an air of humiliation and shame when obliged to confess a
lack of physical vigor； as if they were convicted of managing life with bad
judgment； or of some moral delinquency。 With the spreading scientific
conviction that health is a matter largely under each person's control； that
even inherited tendencies to disease need not be allowed to run their
riotous course unchecked； there comes an earnest purpose to be strong and
free。 Fascinating fields of knowledge are waiting to be explored；
possibilities of doing； as well as of knowing； are on every side； new and
dear friendships enlarge and sweeten dreams of future study and work； and
the young student cannot afford quivering nerves or small lungs or an
aching head any more than bad taste； rough manners； or a weak will。
Handicapped by inheritance or bad training； she finds the plan of college
life itself her supporter and friend。 The steady； long…continued routine of
mental work； physical exercise； recreation； and sleep； the simple and
wholesome food； in place of irregular and unstudied diet； work out
salvation for her。 Instead of being left to go out…of…doors when she feels
like it； the regular training of the gymnasium； the boats on lake and river；
the tennis court； the golf links； the basket ball； the bicycle； the long walk
among the woods in search of botanical or geological specimens；all
these and many more call to the busy student； until she realizes that they
have their rightful place in every well…ordered day of every month。 So she
learns； little by little； that buoyant health is a precious possession to be
won and kept。
It is significant that already statistical investigation in this country and
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 intention
