Page 60 - 1913 November - To Dragma

TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 65

I have in mind is a bit different. Is it loyalty to one's college i f we
cannot stay awake in our classes? Is it working to raise the standard
of the college, to say nothing of the depth to which it lowers us?
The lecture may seem stupid, but it may be because we are not ap-
preciating it.

We are now ready for our fifth lamp—let us call it the lamp of
the "pure English speech." One day, I went into a classroom and
heard the remark, "Gee Whiz, I never get a cut." Horror was ex-
pressed on our Professor's face as he said, "What is our college
coming to? That remark from a major student of English."

Emerson has said, "We are awkward for want of thought. The
inspiration is scanty, it does not arrive at the extremities." May we
not as truly say that we are awkward for want of expression so
that slang must arrive at the extremities. Isn't this lamp of "pure
English speech" sadly out of order? Doesn't it need our careful
attention that its light may help us on our way?

I wish now to use that lamp, which has been called—the lamp of
the "commendable ratio." I believe such a lamp helps both student
and teacher. By this, we mean the ratio of one's accomplishment to
what he is capable of doing.

Now, just what lesson must we draw. Perhaps, today, a decidedly
long lesson is assigned us. We feel we cannot prepare it all in the
time we have allowed. Is it following the lamp of the "commendable
ratio", i f we say, " I can't do it all so I ' l l let it go"? Not at all,
let us do what we can in our allotted time. Let us have the ratio of
our accomplishment measure up to what we are capable of doing.
This ratio will always bring success. I t may not be that our classes
will rank highest of all college classes, though they have a good
chance to do so. I t means they will stand the highest of all college
classes in a measure to their ability.

But, closely connected with this lamp, as i f they stood at opposite
corners of the market square, is a lamp I hardly know what to name.
It is the lamp that helps us to see the good in others. Ruskin has
said, "The weakest among us has a gift, however seemingly trivial,
which is peculiar to him, and which, worthily used, will be a gift,
also, to his race forever."

But, with our lamp showing us the way, and thinking all the time
of the lamp just passed, that of the "commendable ratio," and, later,
by the lamp of the "helping hand," pointing out to the owner his
gift, i f he does not see it, have we not come nearer than ever before
to our goal?

Now, our seven lamps stand before us: the lamps of the "help-