6 THE ACORN directing, and encouraging them. "I would far rather," he said, "send a boy to Van Diemen's Land, where he must work for his bread, than send him to Oxford to live in luxury, having no desire to avail himself of his advantages." Practical success depends a great deal upon physical health more so than is generally imagined, an English officer once said, in writing home to a friend. "If I ever attain success in India, it will be owing, physically speaking, to a sound digestion." It is perhaps to the neglect of physical exercise that many of our students become discontent and unhappy, which has led Dr. Channing, of Boston, to make the remark, that "too many of our young men grow up in a school of despair." Hence the only remedy for this complaint in youth is physical exercise attained by hard work and bodily occupation. A person's future greatness also, depends, a great deal, upon his ambition in youth. Thomas A. Edison showed in youth a passionate fondness for science. He was always tampering with electricity. Had he been an indolent boy, one who cared nothing for trying experiments, the world may never have known of him. The success of every professional man depends, a great deal, upon his physical health, A prominent writer has gone so far as to say that, "The greatness of our great men is as much a bodily affair as a mental one." Sir Walter Scott, while at college, went by the name of "The Greek Blockhead," but by spending his spare moments in healthful recreation, he climbed to the top round of the ladder as a literary student. So it is with all our great literary students. Some of our greatest divines have distinquished themselves in youth by the performing of athletic feats; which were attributed to their physical energies. It is astonishing how much may be accomplished in self culture by the energetic and persevering, who avail themselves of rare opportunities, and use up the small fragments of spare time which have been allowed to run to waste by idlers. It must be remembered that the chief object of culture is, not to fill the mind with other men's thoughts, but to enlarge our own individual intelligence by practical experience. Be ourselves and we shall be more efficient and useful workers in the sphere of life to which we may be called. It is not the quantity of study that makes the wise men. Deep thinking is the element by which all our philosophers are distinquished. Want of confidence is a great obstacle to improvement. It has been said that one-half the failures in life are attributed to the want of self-reliance the want of faith in ourself, and consequently the want of promptitude in action. The reason why so little is accomplished is because so little is attempted. All progress is slow; but to him THE ACORN 7 who works faithfully and honestly, the reward will come. If there is any spirit of industry embodied in man's daily life, it will surely lead him to success. And still we must labor on, for the work of self culture is never finished. The acquisition of knowledge may protect a man against its selfish vices. Hence we find many men well informed, filled, etc. in intelect, but utterly deformed in character, filled with the learning of schools. It must be borne in mind that experience gathered from books is but of the nature of learning, while the experience gained from the practical side of life is of the nature of wisdom and a small quantity of the latter is of more importance and value than a large stack of the former. The true object of knowledge is to mature wisdom and improve character, to render us better, more useful and more energetic. We must, be and do, and not be satisfied with reading and meditating over what others have been and done. At least we ought to be able to say as Richter did, "I have made as much of myself as could be made of the stuff, and no man could require more." W. D. Clegg. '99 Help the Old Man Along His step may be slow and dragging, His voice may be harsh and weak; All interest is blunt and lagging, Youth's color has left his cheek, His eye may seem dull and heavy, His arm isn't extra strong; As you amble around the levy, Please help the old man along. We see no complexion's beauty, Perhaps it has had its day. Does boyhood surmise it duty To look for but vain display? Education may be neglected On social laws right and wrong; By you, let them be respected: Please help the old man along. His face may be pale and wrinkled, The wrinkles of age and care; Let affection's sweet dews be sprinkled And combed thro' his silv'ry hair. He's bent, and with age he totters About thro' the heedless throng, Cast your bread on the sacred waters: Please help the old man along. We're boys and we're large and healthy, And most of us have a chance; We see where the world is wealthy And where we can all advance. And while you respect your mothers And revel in friendship's song, Look out for the aged others, And help the old man along. Walter Emmett,