Page 58 - 1913 November - To Dragma

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 63

SEVEN LAMPS FOR THE STUDENT'S WAY

"And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud,
to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them
light." Away back in the time of the children of Israel, we find the
search for a light, something for guidance. They knew not the way
they were traveling; they knew not what lay before them, what
would come for the morrow. Since that time, more universal has
been the idea of the necessity of a guiding light, as we strive to at-
tain some goal.

Ruskin has written that wonderful essay, "Seven Lamps in Archi-
tecture," and gives us, as lamps, truth, beauty and so on but they do
not apply to us here at college. I have selected seven lamps for the
guidance of the student's way. Considering my subject, I shall beg
permission of my audience to address my thoughts quite directly
to my college-mates.

My lamps are not all of one sort. One shines out a beacon light
from some lighthouse top ; some are the lights of the dwelling house;
some are lights for travellers.

One lamp will be of great value to you, while another may seem
to you useless. With this thought, cherish the lamp of your choice,
keep it burning.

Our first lamp is, we will say, the lamp of the "helping hand."
On my first entering college, I felt, with others, decidedly new. As
I came from class one day, quite jubilant, I was met by an upper-
classman, a girl of rosy cheeks, a pleasant smile and a look of
wonderful ease. She said to me, "And how does your work go and
are you enjoying yourself?" I answered meekly, "Yes." Then she
said with cautious air, "And what about Math?" (This being a
scene from a college where mathematics is a sad necessity for all
freshmen.) "Oh," I said, "it's just great!" I n reply, my dear
friend said, "Well, you may think so now, but wait ' t i l l the final
exam time, 'most everybody flunks. You'll find few exceptions."

Was this the helping hand thrust out in greeting? Could she not
better have encouraged, not terrorized? Are not freshmen, here,
often treated in much this same way? I fear it is not the hand that
will lead to a successful college, a college that will produce the
best results.

But let us use caution and help, not hinder someone's college
life. Let us use the powers of our lamps of the "helping hand," to
help others keep burning a second lamp, that of "ambition."

But what is this lamp of "ambition," to which I have referred?