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THE MAROON TIGER
FROM THE STUDENT VIEWPOINT
H. R. Jerkins, ’30
An effort was made to conduct a short symposium in
this issue on the subject “What makes College Life In
teresting?” A greater number of contributions was ex
pected, hut various excuses were given as the holiday
season set in and to date, only one expected article
has been received. We thank Miss Frankie Clark, of
Spelman College. We hope to receive a more general
response from the student body when contributions are
asked for the next issue. Let us combine our efforts to
make The Voice of the Students of Morehouse heard
throughout the country by making the Maroon Tiger an
interesting student publication.
WHAT MAKES COLLEGE LIFE
INTERESTING
In a brief attempt to answer this question I would say:
The rhythm of college life makes it interesting. By ryh-
thm I mean that element present in college life, in the
presence of which, monotony cannot exist. Musically,
we think of rhythm as a combination of tones harsh
and pleasing that possess soothing qualities, that have
the power to metamorphose not only human but savage
breasts as well. So in college life. The successes and
failures, gains and losses, A’s and D’s, B’s and E’s, go
to make up this combination of harsh and pleasing
tones which we call rhythm. In every phase of col
lege activity, whether social, athletic or literary, we find
its presence. Consider the player making the touch
down on the gridiron. He is hailed hero, on the next
play he fumbles, and we see the reverse side of the pic
ture.
We live in a state of continued anticipation; we are
on edge to discover what tomorrow holds for us, whether
it be a box from home, or money order. Each day we
make our choice of values that go to make us men.
In an a la carte restaurant, one’s satisfaction depends
upon one’s choice. In college life, too, there are choices
to be made. The element of rhythm in the selection of
these, the possibility of making good as well as bad
choices contributes in my opinion a large share of interest
to college life.
WHAT MAKES COLLEGE LIFE
INTERESTING?
Frankie J. Clark
It's just the little things that make life interesting to
us—the simple little courtesies paid to us by our friends
and acquaintances. These play the major part in en
couraging us to glimpse our ideals and realize our
fondest dreams—dreams which otherwise, might never
be realized.
Some mornings we awake feeling rather worn and
discouraged from the failure to master a difficult “trig”
problem, over which we have pondered the night before.
We may have spent long hours in preparing a term pape.r
Hence our day is begun with a rather morbid spirit.
The usual routine commences. To breakfast we go.
On the way we are met by a friend, a sunny smile, and
a sincere “Hello” is received. Passing the friend we
come in contact with an instructor in mathematics, who
is going in your direction. We walk the distance with
the professor and during the conversation an interest
ing word is dropped that means “you did well in that
last test.” My! What an extra palpitation for joy. The
spirit is made lighter and we have a firmer determina
tion to complete the work of the night before.
Upon entering the dining room we are attracted by
the pleasant air of one of the schoolmates whom we
have not particularly noticed. This person’s pleasing
manner of address gives another little thrill of pleasure.
With the usual anxiety we approach the mail box.
Taking a glance at the number we discover a letter.
It proves to be a letter from our high school principal
back home. What encouragement there is in these words:
“I am happy to know that you are making good in
your college life. I had faith in you and I rejoice
that you are making real some of my expectations.”
What is this? Has news reached home? Whether we
deserve this tribute or not, we are at least stimulated to
do our best.
Indeed, we witness a different outlook after the re
laxation of a social event. We return to our scholastic
routine with a rebound that makes even “trig” and “his-
tory take a new significance.
Such things as these are the essence of our college
life. They are the real making of us. But, after all,
were they little things to us? Were they not the things
that made college life interesting?
AN EXPERIENCE
Just above the entrance to the executive offices of the
main post office building of Atlanta, is the sign “Go
Through Smiling.” In line ahead of me were sixty-five
fellows, who had rushed down at 5 A. M., hoping to be
first. In all there were sixty-five minds with but a single
thought—that of getting hired. To get in at the end of
that line would be a mild form of giving up since only
a small number of those present would be selected, I
thought. I stood near the head of the line hoping to
push my way in when the gate was opened. The hour
came; the employer swung the gate back on its hinges.
As if it were the signal to action, sixty-five men charged
forward in a mad attempt to break through. I was mo
mentarily swept off my feet and caught between the
iron rails which formed the facing of the gate and the
pushing power of it seemed more than sixty-five men.
Regaining my feet I pushed back, but I was only one
against sixty-five. Thoughts of being crushed to death,
a funeral, home, mother and father, friends, and all
the bad things I had done charged my memory like
an electric current. I felt myself growing weaker under
the strain. I thought of the sign above. 1 twisted myself
around to read it and as I did so a former varsity guard
charged in from the side on which I was standing and
swept me before. I finally got up after I had served
as the stepping-stone over which the rest had entered.
1 pulled my weakened and battered self together and
got into the office. I did not get a job, but the memory
of the sign “Go Through Smiling” remained with me.
H. R. Jerkins
COMMISSION ON INTERRACIAL
CO-OPERATION
Louisville, Ky., November 17.—Many evidences of
progress were reported at the annual State Interracial
Conference in this city last week, and the director and
executive committee were instructed to continue their
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