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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 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 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。
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 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