Page:Lynch Williams--The girl and the game.djvu/302

 all the same from my observation the modern young man is not so often hampered by conceit as by the lack of it. Of course, we all know exceptions—and exceptions are always more obtrusive, or else they wouldn't be exceptions. But, at any rate, there has been quite enough said already about the assurance of youth; and so, though it always goes, I don't intend to join in. Youth and conceit are supposed to dash blindly forward, hand in hand; that is proverbial, but if proverbs are sound they must teach something—that is the object of proverbs, isn't it? Well, by this time I believe youth has learned a little from this one. If not, then it isn't worth teaching: Q. E. D. either way. Most of you overwork the modest act. "Oh, my, no! really I am of no account—I can't do anything—please let me crawl into my hole and hide," seems to be your attitude.

Sometimes it takes several years out of college to get over it; more than once I've seen a young man sort of wake up suddenly, when he has found himself, rub his eyes and