COLLEGE LIFE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 July 1911, Page 3

COLLEGE LIFE.

- FROM THE INSIDE. wiurriON for. thb orißONiri/i; By "Juvenis." I. THIS ORDINARY ROUTINE.' Clang, clang, clatter, .bang, clang, clang, clang. - ~,.,, "Oh'! Good gracious," J sighed as I burrowed still further into the. cosy blankets, "there's the wretched risinu-gong again. I suppose, 1 must get up. 1 suppose 1 mn-s-t get ii-p. I s-u-p-p-o- -s- ■» .... I m— Iks-- t go- tn- --." Clang, clang, bajig, bang, ora^i. I started suddenly and looked at mv watoh. "(loudness! I've been •asleep again and now the breakfast gong is ringing!' . In a flash 1 was out of lied, and sped down the corridor to the bathroom. It was .lvall'full of men at various stages of Mieir toilet. Hut whilst I had my tub, one liy one they vauMnvl, and I knew l-bat I was late and would I'liprefnre have to ru nthe gauntlet of tho master's eve. With the speed of a quick change artist I did my dressing and quickly made my way to the dining hall. T slipped in quietly and with as little noise as possible, made my way to my seat. Rut my late entrance had been noted, and as I saw tbe master's eye fall upon me. I knew he would not immediately forget the fact. On all sides the clatter of forks and knives and tongues rang in my ears. At one table a gioup of "divinities,, earnestly argued some point in theology. At anotiher the "meds" wwe telling bloodcurdling tales of operations and yiostmortems, of things that made my back feel creepy, and a sickly fear grip my heart. At yet another table the men were eagerly discussing sport. The relative merits of tho tennis who fought the latest football match 1 were analysed wiMi much perspicacity, and keenness of insight. Whilst quickly between the tables quiie.tly slipped the waiting maids. Cool and fresh they looked in rustling prints and spotless raps and aprons. Whatever they may be at Cambridge, these _ certainly were not '"antiqua ct horrida." Breakfast proceeds apace. But ifow the Master vacates hiu seat and makes towards the door, when from all tbe neai'ovt tables there is -i scamper. A rush is made upon the remains of marmalade and toast which still decorate that august table. A slight scramble ensues. and then, behold some student triumphantly waves a'oft a hall-filled toast rack, or displays with equal gusto a dish of marmalade. The spoils are awarded, to the victors. and breakfast proceeds peacefully to its close.

One l\v one. as they fame, so they left tlie dining hall. When T too had finished and sirnllrd a.loii rr ilie corridor T found a large niiinber congregated in the comiiioii room. A dozen or so wore poring over tin* morning's new-paper. Still others were imnalieiitly awaiting the arrival of the post, whilsf- oth.-.rs struggled in goi:d liii.moiiro'l fashion f-n , the Softool' places on tho loungrs. I?ut <j;ra' , 'unllv. orc-i from tbN u-'iieral reiif'oz\-oiM. they meli aw-iy. Some to their stulio-; for :i liii'd uiorniii'i -1 *; wc-lc: ctillein to ih(ir c'a-scs at the Univeisitv. Therp is a. pattering of footsteps on the main staircn.se. a .sundry liancrinq: of doors, a clatter of voice-;, a wild yell or two; and then the College settles down to its ordinarv morning's work. The " mrdV 1 liav-' fone 'f\ their ixnifsrino. !)ut t-isks, the ■'"arts" a-'-e wnrrvinr Caesar oi , I-fiirav? it Caesar is w'-:. , rviii'C tht'iii. S:>mo j?nor unfort'linte wre-tc-'n struggle:-; hard Avidh Kiiclid and his nrohleins. and sighs ii syiupatViV with him who sing:— •' Devoid of niathe-inatic brain, I puzzle over X and Y. Dull propositions arc a pain : I never yet digested Pi; T'were hard to give the rcavnn why, lint maths, have always be;?n my thorn ; And thus I never ceaso to cry— 'Ah! why was Kuclid ever born?' '' The theological students, too. ai'e at their lectures, and the spirit of peace descends upon ho College. It is thus that the day's work bogins; a work which is hard and strenuous, and into which the student must throw himself with all his hicart and mind and soul. There is no royal road to learning: and the real student knows it. There is a serious aspc.-t to College life which the outsid; , public are only too apt to forget. They kcp tho student in hi.s moments of idleness. They enjoy his toiu-focilcries on Capping Day, and applaud to the. echo his public appearances. But they must not forget that after all, these things are lmt thi> froth and bubble, and that underneath runs a string day's tide, a tide which every student hopes, if taken at tho flood, will hear him on to victory.

In his ear the world may whisper tlnat it does not pay. But iliigher motives and better principles are prompting him than the more desire of temporal wealth. Hβ searches for t'lie Truth, and where-so-e'er it may be found, the candles will 'burn low, and nigjhts wax pale, ijis he .seeks for some sure and lasting foundation. Tn his ear may ring the voice of a. Mammon ag:?, l)iit in his heart lie knows that Mammon's voice rings falsely, for truth and truth alone will Inst for ever. "In his ear is the voice of a Mammon Age, In his heart is a tale that's old, The tale of his garnered heritage, The wisdom that's more- than gold."