Page:Discipline and the Derelict (1921).pdf/157

 tion, what does he expect to do after he leaves college when the questions which involve such mathematical computations are before him for solution? There very likely will be no one to work them out for him and no friendly neighbor engaged with the same difficulties from whom he may crib. He has followed a practice in college which has left him helpless after he is out.

A young chemist whom I once knew, whose college work required the analysis of a rather large number of unknowns, by chance happened upon the table of results which had been worked out by the instructor and by skillfully changing his own results slightly so that they might be within the percentage of variation and error allowed, was able to meet the requirements of the course without really going through any of the work. He was detected and dismissed, but even if he had been clever enough to carry out his intentions he would ultimately have been the loser, because he would have lacked the training and the experience to pursue the calling for which he was preparing. The cribber does not think of the future; he is concerned wholly with the present safety of his skin.

"But one has to get through some way," a cribber said to me by way of excuse for the dereliction in which he had been detected.

"How about the influence of this upon your general character?" I asked.

"You don't think that because I wasn't square on this measley little examination I would lie or steal or cheat my employer, do you?"

"Why, yes," I replied; "I think you are much