Page:The Fraternity and the College (1915).pdf/189



A neighbor of mine is a man who has moved into town from a farm because, tired of certain deprivations of the country, he wishes to enjoy the conveniences of urban life. He is finically careful and thoughtful for the comfort of every member of his family. The smooth cement walk leading by his house to town, the paved street for his automobile, the city water system, and electric lights all contribute to his pleasure and the pleasure of his family. He does not object to paying for these because they touch his own life directly. General city improvements he opposes. He does not want a respectable city building, he voted against the new high school, he rails against improving the park system. He has family spirit but no city spirit.

When I first began teaching in the University I had an experience with a young fellow in one of my classes whom I detected helping another man short on facts through a final examination. When I demurred at the proceeding and asked for an explanation he informed me that the needy student was a fraternity brother of his in intellectual distress, and that loyalty to his fraternity required that he help out this mentally indigent man. I tried to explain to him that he owed certain obligations to the college to which he was