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not have a dozen conversations with them outside their class
roomsgave me； each in his different way； an ideal of character；
of conduct； of the scholar； the leader； of which they and I were
totally unconscious at the time。 For many years I have known
that my study with them； no matter whether of philosophy or of
Greek； of mathematics or history or English； enlarged my notions
of life； uplifted my standards of culture； and so inspired me with
new possibilities of usefulness and of happiness。 Not the facts
and theories that I learned so much as the men who taught me； gave
this inspiration。 The community at large is right in saying that
it wants the personal influence of professors on students； but
it is wholly wrong in assuming that this precious influence comes
from frequent meetings or talks on miscellaneous subjects。 There
is quite as likely to be a quickening force in the somewhat remote
and mysterious power of the teacher who devotes himself to amassing
treasures of scholarship； or to patiently working out the best
methods of teaching； who standing somewhat apart； still remains
an ideal of the Christian scholar； the just； the courteous man or
woman。 To come under the influence of one such teacher is enough
to make college life worthwhile。 A young man who came to Harvard
with eighty cents in his pocket； and worked his way through； never
a high scholar； and now in a business which looks very commonplace；
told me the other day that he would not care to be alive if he
had not gone to college。 His face flushed as he explained how
different his days would have been if he had not known two of his
professors。 〃Do you use your college studies in your business？〃
I asked。 〃Oh； no！〃 he answered。 〃But I am another man in doing
the business； and when the day's work is done I live another life
because of my college experiences。 The business and I are both
the better for it every day。〃 How many a young girl has had her
whole horizon extended by the changed ideals she gained in college！
Yet this is largely because the associations and studies there
are likely to give her permanent intereststhe fifth and perhaps
the greatest gift of college life of which I shall speak。
The old fairy story which charmed us in childhood ended with〃And
they were married and lived happy ever after。〃 It conducted to
the altar； having brought the happy pair through innumerable
difficulties； and left us with the contented sense that all the
mistakes and problems would now vanish and life be one long day
of unclouded bliss。 I have seen devoted and intelligent mothers
arrange their young daughters' education and companionships
precisely on this basis。 They planned as if these pretty and
charming girls were going to live only twenty or twenty…five years
at the utmost； and had consequently no need of the wealthy interests
that should round out the full…grown woman's stature； making her
younger in feeling at forty than at twenty； and more lovely and
admired at eighty than at either。
Emerson in writing of beauty declares that 〃the secret of ugliness
consists not in irregular outline； but in being uninteresting。 We
love any forms； however ugly； from which great qualities shine。
If command； eloquence； art； or invention exists in the most
deformed person； all the accidents that usually displease； please；
and raise esteem and wonder higher。 Beauty without grace is the
head without the body。 Beauty without expression tires。〃 Of
course such considerations can hardly come with full force to the
young girl herself； who feels aged at eighteen； and imagines that
the troubles and problems of life and thought are hers already。
〃Oh； tell me to…night；〃 cried a college freshman once to her
President； 〃which is the right side and which is the wrong side of
this Andover question about eschatology？〃 The young girl is
impatient of open questions； and irritated at her inability to
answer them。 Neither can she believe that the first headlong zest
with which she throws herself into society； athletics； into
everything which comes in her way； can ever fail。 But her elders
know； looking on； that our American girl； the commrade of her
parents and of her brothers and their friends； brought up from
babyhood in the eager talk of politics and society； of religious
belief； of public action； of social responsibilitythat this
typical girl； with her quick sympathies； her clear head； her warm
heart； her outreaching hands； will not permanently be satisfied
or self…respecting； though she have the prettiest dresses and
hats in town； or the most charming of dinners； dances； and teas。
Unless there comes to her； and comes early； the one chief happiness
of life；a marriage of comradeship；she must face for herself
the question； 〃What shall I do with my life？〃
I recall a superb girl of twenty as I overtook her one winter
morning hurrying along Commonwealth Avenue。 She spoke of a
brilliant party at a friend's the previous evening。 〃But； oh！〃
she cried； throwing up her hands in a kind of hopeless impatience；
〃tell me what to do。 My dancing days are over！〃 I laughed at her；
〃Have you sprained your ankle？〃 But I saw I had made a mistake
when she added； 〃It is no laughing matter。 I have been out three
years。 I have not done what they expected of me；〃 with a flush
and a shrug； 〃and there is a crowd of nice girls coming on this
winter； and anyway； I am so tired of going to teas and ball…games
and assemblies！ I don't care the least in the world for foreign
missions； and；〃 with a stamp； 〃I am not going slumming among
the Italians。 I have too much respect for the Italians。 And what
shall I do with the rest of my life？〃 That was a frank statement
of what any girl of brains or conscience feels； with more or less
bitter distinctness； unless she marries early； or has some pressing
work for which she is well trained。
Yet even if that which is the profession of woman par excellence
be hers； how can she be perennially so interesting a companion
to her husband and children as if she had keen personal tastes；
long her own； and growing with her growth？ Indeed； in that respect
the condition of men is almost the same as that of women。 It would
be quite the same were it not for the fact that a man's business
or profession is generally in itself a means of growth； of education；
of dignity。 He leans his life against it。 He builds his home in
the shadow of it。 It binds his days together in a kind of natural
piety and makes him advance in strength and nobility as he 〃fulfils
the common round； the daily task。〃 And that is the reason why
men in the past； if they have been honorable men； have grown old
better than women。 Men usually retain their ability longer； their
mental alertness and hospitality。 They add fine quality to fine
quality； passing from strength to strength and preserving in old
age whatever has been best in youth。 It was a sudden recognition
of this fact which made a young friend of mine say last winter；
〃I am not going to parties any more； the men best worth talking
with are too old to dance。〃
Even with the help of a permanent business or profession； however；
the most interesting men I know are those who have an avocation
as well as a vocation。 I mean a taste or work quite apart from the
business of life。 This revives； inspires； and cultivates them
perpetually。 It matters little what it is； if only it is real and
personal； is large enough to last； and possesses the power of
growth。 。A young sea…captain from a New England village on a long
and lonely voyage falls upon a copy of Shelley。 Appeal is made
to his fine but untrained mind； and the book of the boy poet
becomes the seaman's university。 The wide world of poetry and
of the other fine arts is opened； and the Shelleyian specialist
becomes a cultivated； original； and charming man。 A busy merchant
loves flowers； and in all his free hours studies them。 Each new
spring adds knowledge to his knowledge； and his friends continually
bring him their strange discoveries。 With growing wealth he
cultivates rare and beautiful plants； and shares them with his
fortunate acquaintances。 Happy the companion invited to a walk
or a drive with such observant eyes； such vivid talk！ Because of
this cheerful interest in flowers； and this ingenious skill in
dealing with them； the man himself is interesting。 All his powers
are alert； and his judgment is valued in public life and in private
business。 Or is it more exact to say that because he is the kind
of man who would insist upon having such interests outside his
daily work； he is still fresh and young and capable of growth
at an age when many other men are dull and old and certain that
the time of decay is at hand？
There are two reasons why women need to cultivate these large
and abiding interests even more persistently than men。 In the
first place； they have more leisure。 They are indeed the only
leisure class in the country； the only large body of persons who
are not called upon to win their daily bread in direct wage…earning
ways。 As yet； fortunately； few men among us have so little
self…respect as to idle about our streets and drawing…rooms becau