Page 34 - To Dragma November 1924

TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 29

SCHOLARSHIP THE ESSENCE

"It is not our purpose to discuss the essence of scholarship hut scholar-
ship the essence," writes Clara Raynor Rader, Second Vice-president of
Phi Mu. "The essence of scholarship might conceivably be stated in
twelve different ways by twelve different scholars, but upon scholarship
the essence there would be unanimity of opinion.

Scholarship, the essence of what ? Of a college course really complete
and of enduring satisfaction.

Activities are important in such a course, for reasons too obvious to
need statement. Friends are inevitable and even more important. Scholar-
ship, however, not so obtrusive in appeal as activities, and not so
humanly necessary and gratifying as friends is most important of all.

Scholarship is like a government bond; it is sure to pay dividends, and
to increase in value yearly. Activities with all their glamor are for-
gotten; friends, for all their love, drift away; but scholarship leaves its
solid accomplishments behind it always, good in themselves, and basis
for other constructive building, and noble living.

It is easy in these days to drift through college. The classes are so
large that the individual is almost lost sight of, until keen analysis is given
his examination "blue book"; but even at that time, two or three days
good cramming will suffice to get one by. The deceptive fallacy of the
drifting course, however, is that it rather unsuits one ever to do any-
thing else. From scholarship, however, with its attendant discipline, come
life-lasting habits of genuine thoroughness, accuracy, balance, and judg-
ment, and a mind well stored with treasures moths cannot eat or robbers
rob.

A mediocre minimum of scholarship is demanded of you by your
college, and your chapter of your fraternity, no doubt sets a standard,
and these you must maintain. If you will invest just a little more time
in scholarship the essence, you will find your interest in your work in-
creased, your status among your fellow students raised, and your welcome
in the Fraternity doubled. Your Fraternity which has given so much
to you, should be repaid by earnest effort on your part, to elevate her
scholastic standing, for that is one tangible and plainly evident standard
of fraternity comparison. What could better promote the interests, and
uphold the dignity of your Fraternity than being a vital factor in bringing
your chapter to the head of the ranks in scholarship? If you are inclined
to be doubtful of this, you have the fundamental quality of scholarship
already—curiosity. If you venture to prove it one way or the other, you
will be already started on the road, the royal road and the only road,
to success in college as well as in life, the road marked W O R K , leading
through S C H O L A R S H I P T H E E S S E N C E to the C I T Y O F S A T I S -
F A C T I O N . — Aglia, of Phi Mu.