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| Thomas J. McEvoy, center rear, Normal News Staff. |
"DEVELOPMENT
OF THE CITIZEN."
An
Admirable Paper from the Pen of Mr.
Thomas J. McEvoy.
The following paper from the pen of Mr.
Thomas J. McEvoy, past principal and prospective principal of the intermediate department
at the Normal, who will be graduated from Amherst college in June, was
published in the April number of the Amherst Literary Monthly magazine, and
will be read with interest by his many friends in Cortland:
The college student is a distinctive type among
American men. His characteristics may not seem unusual to the educated classes
or to those whose experience has brought them more or less into contact with
students. But it is true, nevertheless, that the great majority of people
outside the sphere of college experience regard the average undergraduate as a
creature somewhat abnormal but yet tolerable. This opinion is held irrespective
of any particular college or class. The immunities which the student enjoys
within the precincts of a college town, in the consideration of the general
public, or in the courts of law under whose jurisdiction he may unfortunately
be brought, strengthen the opinion so commonly held.
But this opinion, applied to individual cases,
changes as the student becomes an alumnus and enters the active competition of
life. Then he is distinguished from others only by greater personal power and
consequent greater general usefulness. Those characteristic traits of younger
days are merged in his personality, and those who observed him as a student are
unable to understand this sudden and valuable transformation. The appearance
has changed, and they cannot reconcile the old and the new. No wonder, for the
secret is the student's; he has simply changed his point of view, and adapted
his powers to existing needs.
The ability to make this adaptation is no
sudden acquirement. It is in fact a test of the efficiency of the studies
pursued and a result of all the critical experiences in the years of college
life. To explain the phases of development in the attainment of such power is
beyond the purpose of this article. Indeed such an explanation would require an
essay upon the specific value of college training. But there are certain
student attitudes of a two-fold nature in undergraduate experience, which make
for the ultimate good of the student and those with whom he associates. Let us
see what they are.
The view point of the freshman is above all
natural. No matter what his characteristics may be, his attitude is distinctly personal.
For the first time in his life, perhaps, he realizes his own individuality among
many strange persons and unusual external surroundings. The conflict of
subjective and objective conditions makes him early assume the functions of a critic,
and as a result the various phases of college work are often set down under the
shadow of adverse criticism. The present compares unfavorably with the past.
The personal contact of the home and school is not here; the encouraging supervision
of a watchful teacher is replaced by the stern tyranny of the freshman
professor; the required studies have little interest and not much apparent
practical value; and the whole system of instruction, unmindful of individual
effort, seems to sacrifice the personality of the student to the mechanism of the
course.
Comparisons with his future may also make
the freshman work appear in unhappy isolation. The upper classmen have among
their number athletic, social, and intellectual leaders; they all move in a
sphere of somewhat unrestricted action; their attitude indicates self-satisfaction;
in short, they seem to have a freedom which is denied to the freshmen. The
misinterpretation of these phases of advanced college life is often a source of
religious and intellectual apathy. Out of this may come, too, that common trait
of many college men and especially freshmen, namely, the affectation of a bad
character.
Of course these conditions are not applicable
to all students, but they do characterize a large number of representative men.
Pessimistic opinions are the natural results, as each student's individuality comes
into contact with the college from time to time during freshman year. The doubt
and dissatisfaction arising from the two-fold relation to self and to the
college are in reality evidence of thinking in which the first, problems of
individuality and responsibility have come up for solution.
The point of view continues to change in
sophomore year. An element of kindly consideration forms a part of the
criticism, which is no longer wholly destructive. The
faculty does not sit as a court for expulsion; the mental narrowness of the
professors, the inadequacy of the studies, the infringement upon personal liberty,
are all viewed in a better light. The student no longer feels himself an isolated
figure, for he has unconsciously become a factor in the college organism. If
his assurance of acquired power is not too great, he discovers and enjoys the
first pleasures of student life. He finds companionship in books, friendship in
professors, intimacy with classmates, and newly discovered aptitudes for
certain lines of work. In these conditions there is much satisfaction, and so the
student seldom stops to inquire what is the real difference between freshman
and sophomore years. Perhaps it is well that he does not; for in the habit of attention
to present duties and obedience to existing regulations there is much that is
analogous to the citizen's obligations to society and the state. To be ruled
without restraint and at the same time to use privileges of mutual advantages
to self and to the college, are the attributions of sophomore year.
Thus far, as I have said, most of the work
is prescribed. It is distinctively a time of preparation. Certain rules of conduct and habits of
mental activity have been acquired. With this foundation a broader view of the
possibilities of life begins with junior year. During this year the student has
a consciousness of power and a knowledge of how to apply it. He can now realize
the worth of the so-called mechanical processes of freshman work, and
understand the bearing of the theoretical and practical in sophomore instruction.
If time was used in proportion to studies in the first two years, the opposite
is the condition now. The acquisition of facts is no longer considered the aim
of education. To grasp general principles with all that such a mastery implies,
is the paramount aim of the junior. But in his efforts he reaches two conclusions;
one is the limitation of time; the other the limits of his own capacity for
scholarly attainments.
The senior year does not always bring a
striking change in the point of view. It is more
likely to furnish some satisfactory realization of; the broad aims of junior
year, and thus supplement the efforts to acquire power rather than mere facts.
The recognition of one's own individuality is more evident than in former
years, but it is of an entirely different kind. The tendency is to measure self
by opportunities, to contrast points of strength and weakness, and to form judgments
from the general rather than the particular. The spirit of criticism is active,
but it is largely constructive. In comparing further the two-fold relation, the
college appears the stronger force, and the part of the individual is
subordinate. In this, one's earlier opinions are reversed, and the same is
likely to be true of many other attitudes.
In looking at the course as a whole the four
years are a series of subjective changes. Strictly speaking there is no stationary
point of view but each year brings certain characteristics which indicate the
mental attitudes. In these attitudes the index of progress lies. And though the
outside world may discover no change from year to year, the student is conscious
of his own changing point of view; and in this lies his hope of the discovery of
self and the power of adaptation, which, though misunderstood by some, really
summarize the good effects of his college training.
THOMAS J. McEVOY.
THE NEW RAILROAD.
PRELIMINARY
WORK BEING CROWDED BY MR. BUNDY.
If Two
Contingencies are Met the Road is Sure—Remaining Right of Way Must be Secured and
$25,000 Worth of Bonds Must be Sold—Accomplish
These and
Work Begins Immediately.
On Thursday morning, April 22, Mr. N. A. Bundy
returned to Cortland from New York to accomplish if possible the two things
which stood in the way of the immediate building of the Erie & Central
New York R. R. from Cortland to Cincinnatus. That morning, in company with Mr.
C. H. Benson, who was in charge of the work of construction as far as it was carried
two years ago, he called at The STANDAND office
and gave us full particulars of the progress of the construction of the road,
what had been accomplished, what stood in the way of ultimate success and what
was proposed to be done. He requested that we refrain from making any statement
of particulars at that time until the time had passed when such a statement
could be made without danger of embarrassment to those interested in the road.
We gave him our pledge that we would respect his confidence and his request.
We are informed by Mr. Bundy and by Mr.
Benson that they called upon the editor of The Democrat and gave him a similar
statement of facts and that he voluntarily gave them a similar pledge, and that
they also called upon the Cortland representative of the Syracuse Herald and
the local representatives of some of the other Syracuse papers, and that they
likewise agreed to wait his release of the confidential statements.
The STANDARD and the representatives of the
Syracuse papers kept their pledges, and were naturally somewhat surprised at
seeing in the Cortland Democrat of Friday morning an article upon this subject in
which most of the confidential statements of Messrs. Bundy and Benson were made
public. We make this statement simply in justice to ourselves and in
explanation of the fact that The STANDARD, which is always first in announcing
important news when it can do so honorably and without injury to the interests
of Cortland, has not sooner laid the railroad matter before its readers. We do
it now by consent of Mr. Bundy, who states that he has never given such
permission to The Democrat. Whatever injury to the road or to Cortland could be
done by a premature announcement is already accomplished, and the fault is not
ours.
Mr. Bundy has interested in the building of
the railroad a strong construction company of New York. This company has sent
its expert to Cortland and he has walked over the entire line of the road from
Cortland to Cincinnatus. He has noted the work already accomplished in the way
of grading, bridges, laying of ties and rails. He has estimated the cost of
what remains to be accomplished. He has carried on a quiet investigation on his
own account at all of the places touched by the railroad and at all the places
which might become feeders to the road either in the line of passengers or freights
to see what might be expected or hoped from them in those respective lines. In
short, he has made a personal investigation of everything and has reported to
his company. The company seems perfectly satisfied that all the representations
which Mr. Bundy has made to them are amply sustained and has expressed its
willingness to accept and undertake a contract from the Otselic Construction Co.,
of which Mr. Bundy is president, to build the road, provided two things are
accomplished by the latter company. The Otselic Construction Co. must obtain
and turn over to its subcontracting company, a complete and undisputed right of
way and must also sell $25,000 of bonds in the road. This latter feature is not
merely to secure the money, for the contracting company has money enough of its
own to finish the work at once, but it is to show the faith of residents of
this section in the road. The contracting company assumes that if the people up
here who know the location and the circumstances best have no faith in the road
there is no need for it to come up here to sink any money. But it believes that
if the people here have faith in the road they will put up that money.
$25,000 is not a large sum to raise in the whole
of this county. It only means a few bonds to each individual. The business men
In Cortland who will be benefitted by the large influx of trade from that rich
and fertile farming district should take this into consideration and lend a hand.
As to the right of way only a few sections remain
to be arranged for and it is to be hoped that these can soon be secured.
The company which will take the subcontract
has made a written agreement with the Otselic Construction Co. so that if the
latter performs its part, the former is bound to go ahead. It now rests largely
with the people. What will they do?
A PARLOR
MEETING.
Very
Pleasant Affair at Mrs. Dye's on Union-st. Last Evening.
A parlor meeting of the W. C. T. U. was held
at the home of Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Dye, 24
Union-st., last evening, and was largely attended, over eighty being present.
The literary program which was in charge of the gentlemen, who are honorary
members of the union, was preceded from 7:30 to 8 o'clock by piano duets by
Misses Lillian Bays and Grace Pearson. America was sung, and prayer was offered
by Lewis Bouton.
J. W. Keese gave an interesting paper on
"The Need of Constant Agitation in the Temperance Cause," and H. B.
Greenman read an extract from a speech by Judge Reading of Chicago when
sentencing a liquor dealer for selling to a minor. Then Mr.
Greenman made excellent remarks on the license question. J. O. Hill gave an
extract from a speech by Robert G. Ingersoll on "What Intemperance Does."
Mrs. Hulbert sang "The Ribbon White," Fred D. L. Squires spoke of the
work of the I. T. L., and the program closed with appropriate remarks by Dr. E.
B. Nash. After these exercises light refreshments consisting of cocoa and
wafers were served.
Some
Ethnological Figures.
Seventy-two races inhabit the world and use
3,004 different tongues. There are about 3,000 religions. The number of men and
women is very nearly equal, the average longevity of both sexes being only 38
years. About one-third of the population dies before the age of 17. According
to the most careful computation, only one person in 100,000 of both sexes
attains the age of 100 years, and six to seven in 100 the age of 60. The total
population of the earth is estimated at about 1,200,000,000 souls, of whom 35,214,000
die annually—an average of 98,848 a day, 4,020 an hour and sixty-seven a
minute. The total number of births is estimated at 36,792,000—an average of
100,800 a day, 4,200 an hour and seventy a minute.—The North American Medical
Review.
An
Interesting Lecture.
Mr. W. R. George, manager of the George
Junior Republic at Freeville, entertained a good sized audience last evening at
the Congregational
church with an interesting lecture on "Mission Work in New York
City." He also spoke of the Republic at Freeville, explaining the methods
of conducting it. The Republic has a government like that of the United States
and Mr. George's remarks concerning it were received with marked interest.
BREVITIES.
—There are two new moons this month.
—This promises to be a bad night for the
little people who want to hang May baskets.
—The Normal and McLean teams are contesting
for honors in baseball at the fair grounds this afternoon.
—A regular meeting of the hospital board will
be held at the hospital Monday next, May 3, at 3 P. M.
—Prof. J. Rittenhouse has set up some very
tasty bicycle stands about town. The STANDARD is under obligations for one in
front of the office.
—New display advertisements to-day are—Bacon,
Chappell & Co., Silk Section, page 8; C. Hansen, Awnings, page 5; Baker
& Angell, Shoes, page 6.
—The proprietor of The Kremlin has received
word that twenty-five wheelmen from Ithaca may be expected to take dinner at
that hotel to-morrow.
—Mr. W. T. Yale of Cortland yesterday at the
spring meeting of the Cornell University Athletic club at Ithaca won the 120-yard
hurdle race in 16 4-5 seconds.
—The services at the hospital at 4 o'clock
to-morrow afternoon will be conducted by Rev. J. A. Robinson and the Grace
church choir will furnish music.
—The wedding of Prof. J. Rittenhouse of
Cortland and Miss Ada Twining of Binghamton,
which was to have occurred to-day, has been postponed until December.
—The fastest time for a freight train on
record is claimed to have been made Thursday over the Lehigh Valley system between
New York and Buffalo, viz., eleven hours.
—If to-morrow be fair and warm a [trolley]
car will run to the park in the afternoon. It will leave the Messenger House at
2 o'clock and every forty minutes after that hour till evening.
—Proprietor A. D. Wallace of The Brunswick
is erecting a three story addition at the rear of the hotel diningroom, 18 by
24 feet in size, which will add to the size of the hotel. Contractor D. G. Corwin
is doing the work.
—Coon Bros. put on the road to-day a very
attractive delivery wagon, the product of the Ellis Omnibus & Cab company. The
gear work was made by Dell O. King of
Port Watson-st. The body was made by the Ellis Omnibus & Cab Co.
—Syracusians complain that many of their
robberies are committed by crooks who call in the daytime with books under their
arm and ask to read the gas or water meters, The housewife, supposing them to be
genuine, admits them and they take the lay of the land while reading the meters
and return in the night for the purpose of burglary. Cortland people
will do well to know who they admit to their homes for this alleged purpose.
HOMER.
Gleanings
of News From Our Twin Village.
HOMER, May 1.—Mr. Wheeler Smith of the
Albany Business college is spending his vacation at the home of his parents on
the West Hill.
Although there were but a comparatively
small number present at the dancing party given by the Assassination club [local
theater troupe] in Brockway hall last evening a delightful time was enjoyed by
those who were there. The music, which was furnished by Babcock's orchestra,
was an attractive feature of the evening.
Mr. Joseph J. Reider, who was present at the
Grant Memorial last week, has returned to his home.
Mr. Chas. Barber of New York City is a guest
at the home of his sister Mrs. E. B. Hinton on Clinton-st.
Mr. F. X. Litz has returned from a week's
business trip to New York.
A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur
Dunbar, Thursday evening.
The Co-workers met this afternoon at the
home of Mrs. Anna Stone on North Main-st.
Mr. Horam Andrews, who has been visiting
relatives in Syracuse this week, returned home this morning accompanied by
Martin Knapp of that place.
Frank Hazard of Scott is in town to-day.
Mr. John L. Sullivan of Little York is in
town on business to-day.
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