Jesse Lynch Williams

“ The upper-classman looked modest, yet did not say no.
"That's fine," said the old graduate enthusiastically, "much better than being a mere specialist, isn't it? Well up in your class, I presume, though not a poler; an original thinker along certain lines, an editor of something or other, well known and well liked by ever so many different sorts of fellows—sing on the glee club too, very likely—a steady rooter at all the games and a good all-round Hall man—one of the men who count." ”

“ Yet I have a suspicion that the college, both in and out of the clubs, has you pretty well sized up; I have a notion that among those outside of the clubs to whom this amusing little story of your 'success' is quite well known, there are plenty of real men who would scorn your so-called success—at such a price. I have an idea that your own club-mates would resent your claiming to be a representative club-man as much as non-club-men would object to your calling yourself a representative Princetonian. ”

“ Now, old graduates are notoriously inclined to resent change in the looks or character of their Alma Mater, One reason is that it somehow reminds them that they, too, are changing and growing old—though that is not what they generally say about it—but this old graduate considered himself quite open minded. "There can not be growth," said he to himself sententiously, "without change. I will not condemn; I shall inquire." He prided himself on his open mind, this old graduate. ”

“ I admire your sort most of all, the independent sort who 'don't give a damn'—who try to live up to their own ideals, and not down to those of the sheep-like multitude, the sort every one respects and a good many fear, the sort whom fellows go to when in trouble, the sort who don't parade their principles but try to follow them, the sort who have a sense of humor and get a lot of fun out of life, and yet see fit, for instance, to go to Murray Hall and—what's the matter, have I hurt you? ”

“ If it is comforting to you to know it, I will tell you, candidly, my boy, that even if I had meant the sanctimonious sort, who dissipate in religion so immoderately that they seem offensive to you, almost as offensive as you seem to them when you abuse conviviality—even if I had meant that earnest sort, you need not worry; nobody would ever make the mistake of thinking you too much in earnest about anything—religion least of all. ”

“ Much better not only on account of the privileges of a club house and all that, but because it speaks well for a fellow. It shows he is somebody. It shows he has done something to deserve this honor. By the way, what did you do?"
"Do? I didn't do much of anything. But—er—ah, well I'm considered a mighty nice fellow—you know you said we were too modest."
"Of course you must have been 'a mighty nice fellow,' to receive this honor. I take that for granted. That ought to be a sine qua non. But surely they can't elect all the mighty nice fellows. There aren't enough clubs for that. ”

“ I presume that you do not appreciate this, because you are surrounded on one side by your own crowd who tolerate you because they have to, and on the other side by those who boot-lick you because they want to get in your crowd—and so you see no other kind of Princeton men, not being keen-sighted enough to see through these. ”

“ Mostly polers that do the writing."
"I see," said the old graduate, "then how did you earn the honor of club election? I perceive that I have much to learn."
"Well, naturally, the first thing I did was to identify myself with the right crowd early in my college course."
"The right crowd? You were from a large prep, school; your friends naturally would be your old classmates." ”

“ To be still more candid, you do not look as though you had ginger enough in you for anything very positive. What sort of a prominent man are you any way?" The old graduate thought himself sarcastic, but he was very green. ”

“ I congratulate you heartily and sincerely. While there are some disadvantages, it's much pleasanter to belong to one of the big clubs (though they aren't half so impressive as an under-classman fancies from a distance, are they?) ”