i
,
-THE-ECHO-
April
1913
THE ECHO 391
Academic Caps Correct Hoods
and for all
Gowns Degrees
Makers to Rich Gowns
the American for Pulpit
Colleges from Suse
the Atlantic to
the Pacific
COTRELL & LEONARD
472-478 Broadway 15 James Street
Hats, Furs, Coats, Suits,
Gloves, Shoes, Umbrellas,
Rubbers, Canes, Bags,
Trunks, Rugs and Carpets.
When dealing please mention ‘‘The Echo’’
392 THE ECHO
Contents
LirerARY DEPARTMENT PAGE
Size and Sighs 5 . Rachel A. Griswold, 14 393
The Forget-me-not & . Hazel Bennett, 14 399
The Last War x Francis W. Smith, 14 401
The Wind is Passing by . . Jessie E. Luck, ’14 403
A Flower Fable 2 : Doris H. Smith, 716 403
Letters Home 5 4 5 iB 5 = 406
EpiToRIAL DEPARTMENT
On the Choice of Courses 4 c : =) 411
News DEPARTMENT . : 3 : A é 415
ALUMNI DEPARTMENT 3 . & : + 422
Che Erhu
VOL. XXII APRIL, 1913 No. 8
Literary Bepariuent
Size and Sighs
“ They’ve all gone away,
The house is shut and still,—
There’s nothing more to say.”
T was certainly clear that the two families
were divided in their opinions as to the
“why” of the matter; however, every
individual member heartily agreed with every
other individual member that it ought not to
happen, but of course it did happen. That was
four years ago. Suzan and I had made up our
minds to it and nothing short of another great
flood or some like catastrophe could stop us. In
fact, the adverse criticism so plentifully bestowed by
anxious and advyice-giving relatives caused us to
make but few minor deviations from the original plan,
and Suzan and I were eventually married.
I will not go into detail concerning the families’
opinions, as only two have anything whatsoever to
do with this story. The first of these two has to deal
with size, the second with sighs.
You see, Suzan is not exactly what you would call
large, while I couldn’t be considered small unless
associating with Atlas or Colossus. On the “ gym.”
394 THE ECHO
floor at College, I measured just six feet four. Suzan
has to almost stand on her tiptoes to reach five feet
one. Little did I dream that it would prove true
when a worthy, though frivolous, member of my
family said that we would be a laughing stock, And
little did said worthy member dream just now this
was to come to pass.
Moreover, we had not been married one month
when I learned to my sorrow that Suzan’s bump of
eaution had grown to an amazing size, all out of pro-
portion to her height. I still sigh heavily whenever
I think of it. Her brother advised building a house,
fire proof, burglar proof, and sound proof. It had
been kindly meant as a sort of warning, for Suzan
could count up and down, backwards and forwards,
all the terrors of the night. She almost seemed to
live by naming them over one by one, and at each
counting the number inereased quite appreciably
until the series threatened to become infinite; but,
well, that is my story.
We had been married just a month when the fam-
ily overhead packed up and set off for the seashore.
We had been so extravagant on our honeymoon of
two weeks that we would have to economize for two
years; we could not go to the seashore. Knowing
this the Chestertons had left their flat in Suzan’s
charge for the summer, feeling reasonably sure it
would be quite safe. Moreover, Mrs. Chesterton had
deluded Suzan into thinking the imposition a rare
compliment, and poor Suzan was so flattered that she
looked upon the matter far too seriously. Thereafter
we could not even spend an evening in the park —
robbers might break into the Chesterton flat during
THE ECHO 395
our absence. ‘‘And you know,” as Suzan would say
impressively, ‘all of Mr. Chesterton’s valuable
papers are in the safe.’”’? So we would remain at home
to listen for opening windows, stealthy foot-falls, and
the possible explosion of a charge of dynamite.
One especially sultry night, when breathing was
almost impossible, we had gone to bed very early,
hoping for sleep to put an end to our suffering. As
I finally dozed off I heard Suzan muttering, ‘“‘ Some-
thing’s sure to happen.” It must have been about
three o’clock when I awoke with a sharp pain in my
side. Half rising up, I heard Suzan’s excited
whisper, “John, listen!” Then I realized that
Suzan’s good thumb nail was digging the skin off my
side just above the fourth rib. I pushed her hand
away, growled like an animal, and turned over some-
what noisily, preparing to sleep again. I was too
angry to realize that Suzan was terror stricken.
“ Sh-h-h!” came from Suzan. I knew the signal.
“ Whose cat has fallen into the coal-bin now?” I
demanded playfully.
But Suzan was in no mood for joking. She was
sitting up and in the half light of the room — it was
moonlight —T could see that her eyes were twice
their usual size and her face was white and drawn.
“ Listen,” she gasped, ‘‘Someone’s in Chester-
ton’s.”
I listened indulgently. Suddenly I sprang up
alertly. Suzan was right. From overhead there
came faint sounds, as though someone were walking
carefully in stockinged feet. The foot-falls would
advance across the floor, stop, retreat, die away in
another part of the house, and then return to repeat
396 THE ECHO
the same performance. Evidently a burglar was
packing up all the household treasures.
“Yes, Suzan,” said I, “ There’s someone up
there.”
“Oh, dear,” she quavered pitifully.
“Never mind, dear. Just lie still. IWll get my
revolver and go up.” This very bravely.
“Oh, no, no! You'll get shot!” wailed Suzan,
clinging to my arm.
“ There, there, dear.” Then, with successfully
concealed relief, “If you’ll feel better about it, VI
call the police station and we’ll wait for an officer to
come.” The impression I made on Suzan was evi-
dently that my foregoing of this bit of sport was a
great sacrifice for her sake.
“ T’m sorry, dear, but I just can’t let you get hurt.”
“T understand fully,” said I with the voice of a
martyr and made for the telephone.
While we were waiting at the front door for the
officer to come Suzan and I talked in whispers.
Suddenly Suzan grasped my arm, ‘ There’s the
night watchman across the street. Go out and get
him.” She opened the door and was about to push
me through.
“Tt might be well for me to put something else
on, my dear,” I gently reminded her.
“Oh!” said Suzan somewhat blankly. And then,
“Wait, I'll get something.”
In a few moments she returned.
“Here, put this on. I thought I wasn’t going to
find it. Now hurry! The steps are growing louder.
I heard them in the dining-room near the safe.”
T pulled the garment about my shoulders as I went
THE ECHO 397
down the steps. It was warm and heavy and clung
to my damp form unmercifully. Seizing it in. both
hands I held it away from my body. It was Suzan’s
searlet bath robe! Scarcely reaching my knees, it
exposed to view two lavendar “ pajamaed ” legs. Out
behind trailed a scarlet tassel on a silken cord that
started somewhere just below my shoulder bone.
But there was no time to think of clothing. I
stepped to the edge of the curbing and called in a
half whisper, “ Hello! hello!” No answer. The
policeman was deaf to such sounds. But he was by
no means blind to such sights. As I started to cross
the street he turned and beheld me! The next
moment I was firmly held by the collars of my
jacket and Suzan’s bath robe.
“JT bin on a lookout fer you,” he said, and in spite
of my rapid expostulations hurried me along to the
police station.
After four hours of untold (I think they are safer
untold, as otherwise you might doubt my veracity)
sufferings, I was brought out for judgment. Shouts
of laughter and a profane exclamation greeted my
entrance to the courtroom.
“Well, Tl be d——!” The voice was familiar
enough, but who was the owner? A man with dis-
heveled hair and wearing a dirty shirt was standing
before me open mouthed. A shabby felt hat had
fallen from his hands and lay on the floor at his feet.
Chesterton! Ye gods and little fishes!
“Did they make a raid on your place, too,” he
demanded.
Make a raid on my place? Suddenly I sat down,
I doubled up, I almost rolled on the floor. Chester-
ton was our burglar!
398 THE ECHO
“Laugh, you d idiot! I fail to see the joke.
First I get called home for some confounded lawsuit!
Then I spend three hours on my back underneath my
ear. Then these confounded rascals, that term them-
selves ministers of justice, arrest me while ’m un-
locking my own safe.”
At that moment the telephone rang. One of the
grinning officers answered it. The message com-
pletely changed the expression on his face.
“Doe. Brady says he doesn’t know who we’ve got
down here in a red bath robe, but they’ve just found
their lunatic in his red bath robe and have him back
in the sanitarium.”
All eyes were turned on me. No grins were visi-
ble. Before anyone could speak the door opened and
Suzan, red-eyed and half-crazed in appearance,
rushed in,
“T can’t find my husband,” she wailed. Then she
saw me. The situation was suddenly explained to the
wondering officers. The place rang with their laugh-
ter. Suzan’s sobs were unheard by all except myself.
Since that time Suzan has never been frightened
by nightly sounds, at least she has never awakened
me to tell me of them.
Racuer A. Griswotp, 714.
THE ECHO 399
The Forget-me-not
All the Lords and Ladies of Meadowdale Court
were in the deepest of sorrow for on the morrow their
King, the old, gnarled Oak Tree, was to be hewn
down and lost to them forever. These Lords and
Ladies were also in a state of great excitement be-
eause the old King had sent forth an edict that on
this day, his last among them, he was going to choose
from their number a King or Queen to be his suc-
cessor.
As the appointed hour for the choice drew near the
meadow folk became hushed, and each in his turn
approached the King to make his plea. First of all
eame tall and stately Dorothy Daisy, bowing her
beautiful, yellow and white head before her King,
and speaking thus:
“O King, if thou would’st but choose me for thy
successor, regally and proudly would I rule over this
kingdom. Beautiful am I, and stately, and methinks
would make a charming Queen.” But the old Oak
Tree saw the pride and conceit in her heart and shook
his head.
Next came Billy Breezes to the throne with a care-
less, shiftless gait, saying, “Ah! such a jolly, care
free life as this land shall lead if only I am made its
ruler! Naught but joy and gaiety shall be admitted
here.”
The sorrowful old King only sighed and said:
“Nay. Thou art only a lad and would bring my
people to ruin through excess and merriment.”
In the same way came the beautiful Wild Rose,
the bold Dandelion, the gracious Buttercup, the fra-
grant Clover to the King, each begging for the longed
400 THE ECHO
for honor by emphasizing his respective merits. But
the bent old Oak Tree only moaned to himself, know-
ing that he could leave to none of these his beloved
Kingdom. Suddenly, from behind him, he heard the
quiet, respectful voice of the Brook. “ Ugly am I,
my long loved King, and dirty, and desirable for
naught except to rid the village of its waste, no grace
nor beauty was given me, yet patiently and carefully
have I performed my duty all the years of thy reign,
by the same manner would I rule in thy place, if
thou should’st see fit.”
The face of the aged Tree brightened, and he
smiled. Bending his branches lovingly over the
Brook he said: ‘‘ Thy faithfulness shall be rewarded.
Thou shalt be King of Meadowdale. I shall also
make thee beautiful, rid thee of thy sluggish waters,
and give thee the color of the beautiful skies and the
musie of the forests. For thy wife I shall create a
beautiful flower, and she shall be by thy side forever.
And lest the memory of my reign be lost to these
courtiers she shall be named Forget-Me-not, meaning
fidelity. Her beauty shall be unsurpassed by any of
these proud Ladies of the court, and together you
shall reign in peace.
Hazet Benner, 14.
THE ECHO 401
The Last War
The God of War stretched himself and sniffed the
air disgustedly, but not even his acute perception
could detect any incense rising in his worship —
neither the stench of blood nor the smell of roasting
flesh and burning towns. Angrily calling the spirits
of Greed, of Hate, and of Revenge unto him, he de-
manded why his customary offerings had been
omitted.
“Sire,” they replied, “men no longer bow down
to might. They worship a new god, money, who now
sells for gold what once was obtained by force and
arms. Kings and emperors, republies and princi-
palities, honors and immunities, are bought and sold
in his marts of trade. We can do nothing for you.”
Thereupon the God of War dismissed them and
sat in deep thought for many days. At length, re-
calling them, he spake unto them thus:
“Since the times change, so must our methods
change. Greed, go forth unto the world as Com-
merce. Tell each nation that thou dwellest with it
and art menaced by foreign powers. Hate, go forth
as Patriotism. Preach the doctrine of ‘my country,
right or wrong.’ Follow swiftly in the footsteps of
Commerce. Revenge, as Religious Zeal go amongst
the border nations of different faiths. Scatter dis-
trust, recall ancient and forgotten persecutions, and
whenever possible, work hand-in-hand with Patriot-
ism.”
Soon again the incense of slaughter and rapine was
wafted to the waiting War God. Nation rose up
against nation at the behest of the false Patriotism
and in defense of the false Commerce. Long neg-
402 THE ECHO
lected religious fueds were remembered through the
insistence of the false Religious Zeal. Creed waged
bitter warfare against creed.
But the God of Things as they are quickly saw
through the deceptions and, much wroth, resolved to
lay bare the masquerade to the world. As he ap-
proached the earth, he beheld all the nations drawn
up for battle. Here, over one host, flew the Stars
and Stripes, surrounded by the flags of the lesser
American States; there floated the British battle flag
amid the vast cohorts of her colonies. Yonder, Ger-
many and France faced each other for a last life and
death struggle. The swarthy followers of the
Prophet and the eastern Christians glared hatred at
each other over gleaming gun barrels. In the dis-
tance waved the burning sun of Japan and the em-
blem of the new Chinese republic. Above all hov-
ered the forms of the false Commerce, Patriotism,
and Religious Zeal, urging the hosts on to combat.
“Be gone, impostors!” thundered the God of
Things as they are. ‘ Nations, you behold not Com-
merce, Patriotism, and Religious Zeal; but Greed,
Hate, and Revenge in disguise. The true spirit of
Cominerce needs not war to protect it. War but de-
stroys. True Patriotism urges not to fight other
nations, but to serve your own honestly and well.
True Religions Zeal does not lead to combat, but to
brotherly love. Go to your homes! TForsake these
false epirits.”
The wondering nations, beholding for the first time
things as they are, gazed stupidly at each other, and
obeyed, leaving their weapons on the deserted field.
Francis W. Suirn, ’14.
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THE ECHO 403
The Wind Is Passing By
Look! far down the street. there comes
The swirling dust, a whirling cloud!
A rider suddenly draws near
Without the sound of hoof-steps loud.
See! the dust comes nearer still!
Brown leaves hurry through the sky —
’Tis the advance guard of the King —
Lo! the Wind is passing by!
With bowed heads we stand and wait,
Daring not to watch him pass:
Flowers in the gardens near
Bow their faces to the grass.
Bushes rustle shiveringly,
And the trees with branches high
Bend them in obeisance low,
For the Wind is passing by!
Jusste E. Luck, 714.
A Flower Fable
There once lived three sisters of the Plant family,
Rose, Violet, and Thistle. They were all firm be-
lievers in the benefits derived from life in the out-of-
doors; in fact, their every moment was spent with
the sky as their only shelter, the breast of Mother
Earth their only source of nourishment, and the soft
warm rains, that had most recently fallen from the
heavens, their only beverage. These sisters were of
widely different natures. Wild Rose bloomed pro-
fusely, recklessly, casting forth her sweetness on every
breeze that would lend itself to bear it, thrusting out
her thorns to test the sincerity of every one who
404 THE ECHO
ventured near her blooms. Modest, blue-eyed, golden-
hearted Violet nodded away to herself, whispered to
every tiny breeze which was discerning enough to
discover her hiding among the mosses, and timidly
ventured to offer her bit of sweetness, if it would do
any good anywhere. Prickly, thorny Thistle stood
straight up to the very limit of her haughty height
(which wasn’t half as great as she considered it) in
bold independence of support or protection, in as con-
spicuous a position as possible. It was her boast that
no one would overstep the hounds of prudence while
she was on the other side of them; no one would ever
impose on her — at least, not a second time. She
often chaffed her sisters because of their prudence
in keeping nearer the protecting wall.
“Whom do you suppose will ever see you, Rose, if
you hide away in that corner? What good does it do
you to have a lot of red posies, if you have so many
leaves as to hide them? Now, my blossom is always
on top, where it ought to be; why can’t you profit by
a sensible example?” Wild Rose’s restless spirit
often objected to this continual banter, but she grad-
ually learned to control herself; her blossoms became
sweeter and her thorns less obtrusive.
The next time, Thistle might turn to Violet.
“You poor, insignificant, little flower, it must be
great fun to stay down there beneath every thing all
the time, where nothing interesting ever happens.
To be sure, I’ve heard people call you ‘ modest, un-
assuming,’ and other pretty sounding names; but
what good does it all do for self-protection, and the
maintenance of a proper amount of dignity and self-
possession. Why, you’re in danger of your life every
THE ECHO 405
time any one approaches us; but people keep their
distance from me, you’d better believe. No imposi-
tions allowed here.”
Thus it went on from day to day all through the
springtime. Violet had begun to droop beneath the
hot summer sun; Rose’s petals were falling slowly
away; but Thistle was stronger, sturdier, bolder, and
more overbearing than ever. ‘I am so sorry for
these poor, sickly sisters of mine, who can’t stand a
little heat,” she would say sarcastically.
The very next morning, before the dew was off,
and when all green things were feeling their best,
two gentlemen, one a renowned naturalist, were walk-
ing along the road and they saw Rose.
“T do believe that is the rose I am looking for.
Ouch! Pretty thorny now, but very fragrant, and
with cultivation it will make a beauty.”
Shortly after, a little girl with her nurse came by.
“?Ook! ’ook! Pity fower!” exclaimed the child,
as her bright eyes spied Violet. Then her chubby
face, serious now with the weight of definite purpose
in her mind, bent close over the flower; her dimpled
hands, guided by the nurse’s more experienced ones,
carefully, laboriously grasped the stem, and Violet
was hers. “ Me take f’ower to gra’ma,” said the child
happily.
“ There, they’ve both gone, and here I am as safe
and as sound as ever. See what a rugged personality
does!”’? No sooner had she spoken than she heard
a heavy footfall, felt a sharp pain in her side, and
heard the “ swish, swish,” of the mower’s scythe, as
it laid low the brush and the weeds by the pathway.
Doris H. Suiru, 716.
406 THE ECHO
Letters Home
April 2, 1913.
Dear Mother,
I do believe I haven’t written to you but once since
Easter — to you, yourself, I mean. Of course, I’ve
written to Dad and all the rest, so you’ve heard from
me. But it seemed when I got up this morning that
I must have a talk with Mother. Nothing to say!
I just want to talk — like we do when we sit at the
table after the rest have all finished and gone, and
just talk for an hour or so. That is the one thing I
miss most I guess, our table talks. Mrs. Brown is
very nice to me, but she just can’t sit and fool away
an hour a day on every one of her boarders. She
does joke with me now and then, gives me motherly
advice about rubbers, umbrellas, and such things (it
sounds very familiar to hear her call to me just be-
fore school time, “ Better take your rubbers! The
paper says rain!”), and I feel that I can go to her
if I need immediate advice or assistance. That’s the
way boarding-house mothers ought to be, and I think
they would be most of the time, if the girls would let
them. But I know some of the girls who don’t even
let their landladies know when they’re going out, or
when they’re going to have gentlemen callers. I
guess those girls must all be orphans!
She fooled me yesterday morning — Mrs. Brown,
I mean. When I came down to breakfast she was
standing by the window, and she called me, “ Come
here and see what’s in the street!’ I went, of course.
That joke was never known to fail with me. And I
saw nothing in either direction, except the street.
Then I realized what day it was, and that once more
THE ECHO 407
I had been fooled by that simplest of April Fools,
which you practice on me every year, and which T
always “fall” for.
It looks as though it were going to rain this
minute! We’ve become used to the rain lately. The
floods are down though in Albany, for the present
at least. The old river has decided that he is too old
to make trips inland, and ought to stay at home by
the coast. However, he put us to a lot of inconven-
ience, and in some danger as well, while he was mak-
ing up his mind. The danger is not entirely past
yet — the water isn’t good, and we’re drinking some
kind of fancy spring water at our house.
I wish I were a poet! Yes, I know. I can see you
say, ‘“ You can’t be everything, Theresa. If you do
the best you can as you are, that is all that is neces-
sary.” But this is really necessary. Somebody has
got to turn poet and write some College songs. We
need them! We’ve simply got to have them! There’s
nothing on earth like school songs to make school
spirit. I don’t know that we lack school spirit. I
don’t think we do. But we’d have more of it, if we
had some songs — that I do know. And somebody
has got to write them! You see how desperate I feel
about it, when I even begin to contemplate writing
them myself. I have figured out that most of us are
pretty bashful to do anything for the College in pub-
lic, alone, but that every one of us would be mighty
glad to work off some of our superfluous energy and
enthusiasm in two or three good songs that we could
all sing together. Dr. Blue has mentioned this in
chapel two or three times, that is, he’s asked for
songs, but nobody steps forward with any. I’ve tried
408 THE EOHO
my best to get Editha to write one (you know she’s
so good at verses) ; but she always says, “ I couldn’t.
Just because I can write little verses about spring
and flowers and things it doesn’t follow that I can
write a big rousing song that is worth handing down
from year to year, like ‘ Fair Harvard’ and other
college songs are.” Maybe she’s right.
I do believe I’m losing my memory. I forgot to
go to History class. I did really forget. I’ve noticed
some of the girls forget whenever they want to, but
this was pure absent-mindedness on my part. The
bells weren’t ringing (that’s a habit they’ve had
lately since the electricity has been taking occasional
vacations) and I sat in the library working away and
never looking at the time (I didn’t have my watch
anyway), and not hearing the bell, I never noticed
that the period had begun. There were five minutes
left of the class time when I finally recollected that
there was such a thing as class. I don’t want the
Professor to think I cut, but I know he’ll laugh if
T go and tell him about it. I wonder if he’d excuse
me if he knew I was studying history all the while
I was forgetting that class!
And, oh, I forgot to tell you about the new sing-
ing books! You see I try not to leave out anything.
There hasn’t been anything but just work since
Easter, so even new singing books are a break in the
cloud of monotony. I thought the old books were
nice, but these new books have a lot more songs —
the kind that we all know, or can learn. Id like to
bring one home — Oh! I almost let the kitty out!
Well, anyway, I’d like to buy a copy for myself. I
suppose I could afford one if I hadn’t gone to see
THE ECHO 409
Mr. Mantell in three plays just before Easter. I
only spent seventy-five cents on all three — but
seventy-five cents is seventy-five cents. I’ve seen
more plays this winter than I’ve ever seen in my
life before. They don’t even come to town out home,
do they? All the élite go in the gallery — even to
a stray faculty, or minister, or something like that.
What would grandfather say, I wonder, if he were
asked to attend a theatre? And yet he likes Shake-
speare. What difference does it make whether you
form your pictures of the story for yourself, or watch
somebody else do it for you? It just saves your im-
agination a little wear and tear. And, land knows,
we need that, after all the descriptions we’ve im-
agined and written out in English I. My imagina-
tion always was good till lately, but now it’s getting
kind of “ frizzled ” at its edges.
And now I’m going to tell you the secret. I stopped
myself from telling back there. I’m coming home
Saturday! I wrote that we didn’t have any vacation
at Easter — but I didn’t say that it was coming later!
Wasn’t that clever of me! How did I ever manage
to “keep it dark?” But I’m coming — to tell you all
about everything that I can’t settle for myself, now.
I’m coming to take a vacation! Not a book will I
bring!
Good-bye for now. Meet me at the station Satur-
day. Love to all,
THERESA.
P. S.— Editha sends her love. I’m going to bring
her home with me. That “ Boy from Home,” who
was here once, has been here again. Came for Easter
Sunday and took Us to church. Nice of him, wasn’t
410 THE ECHO
it? (That’s sareasm). He’s all right, but I just
won’t have him around! I want Editha to room
with me for three more years, and I’m afraid she’s
going to stay home next year on his account. Oh
dear! What is this world coming to? dbs
P. S.— I’m glad I’m not jealous of Dick and Bess.
i
Che Erha
VOL. XXII APRIL, 1913 No. 8
Board of Editors
J. Harry Warp . . . . . ° 5 Editor-in-Chief
GertrupE WELLS . . é . « * “ Assistant Editor
Grace M. Youne + . . . . . . Literary Editor
Karuarine Kinng . . . . . . Alumni Editor
EpituH Carr . . . . . . . . News Editor
Amy Woop . . . . . . . . Business Manager
De NaN DSC NU) 7) | Advertising’ Department
Cee Sass ‘ + + + « Subscription Managers
Orris EMERY i . . . - . . Circulating Manager
Subscription, $1.00 per annum, payable in advance; $1.25 when not
paid before October 15th; single copies, 15 cents.
Contributions and expressions of opinions are solicited from the stu-
dent body and interested alumni.
Address all business communications to the business manager, 82 N.
Allen street.
“Tum Ecno”’ is published (monthly except July and August) and owned
by the students of the New York State Normal College, and is entered in
the Albany Post Office as second-class matter.
Editorial Depariment
On the Choice of Courses
Introduction
A. It will soon be necessary for most of the stu-
dents of this institution to select their courses for
next year.
DISCUSSION
A. How students choose courses may be indicated
as follows:
I. From the point of view of selecting courses
students may be separated into three classes.
a. Some try to arrange for a broad college
course.
b. Others emphasize strongly one subject.
412 THE ECHO
c. Still others aim to get through as easily as
possible.
B. Objections to the ways in which students select
courses may be stated thus:
I. The dangers in the method of class a are;
a. That one may acquire a smattering of many
subjects and an understanding of none.
1. As a preparation for teaching this con-
dition is particularly undesirable.
6. That the student may lack interest in any
one field.
1. This will cause him to be indifferent
about specializing later.
c. That the student may fail to do good work
in any subject, for
1. A broad course is usually a hard one.
II. The weaknesses in the method of class b
are;
a. It tends to give one a narrow point of view.
6. The student may be mistaken as to the sub-
ject he really wishes to investigate, because
1. He may not know much of other sub-
jects.
2. He may have become prejudiced in high
school because of (1) his own im-
maturity, and (2) the light in which
subjects were presented there.
3. He may unconsciously like a subject be-
cause it is easy for him.
c. One is apt not to perceive the relation of one
branch of knowledge to others.
III. The faults in the method of class ¢ are of
two sorts;
THE ECHO 413
a. The first is closely connected with the method
of class b.
1. One may pursue some one subject and
fail to appreciate others because he
likes that subject and it is therefore
easy for him.
2. This procedure has all the dangers char-
acteristic of the method of class 6 and
may deprive one of the pleasure of
earnest work.
b. The second kind of fault in the method of
class c is found in the selecting of a
“ snap ” course for its own sake.
1. One adopting such a plan of action is
likely to ramble from one field to an-
other and at the end be prepared for
nothing.
2. The general principle that we get out of
a thing what we put in it applies well
here.
B. How students should choose courses may be
stated thus:
I. The methods used by the three classes of stu-
dents should be harmonized to form one model
method; for
a. A fairly broad course helps to avoid the
weaknesses found in the method in which
one subject is strongly emphasized.
b. A course with one subject of major interest
and one, or perhaps two, of auxiliary in-
terest avoids the dangers of a broad course.
c. A course with about three “snap courses ”’ is
expedient, for
414 THE ECHO
1. Then one has plenty of time to devote
to the important subjects.
2. It insures against the danger of over-
work.
3. The easy subjects often have a decided
value in themselves.
II. There are conditions perculiar to this insti-
tution which affect the choice of courses here.
a. The required professional work — method
courses, the teaching course, etc., must be
considered.
1. One should plan to arrange this work
in a proper manner.
(a) The advice of instructors and
upper classmen is very useful here.
CONCLUSION
A. The best course is a fairly broad one, which
has one subject of great interest to the student and
one or two others of minor interest, and in which
there are some “ snaps,” but not too many.
B. One should consider the professional work
when planning a course.
OC. Don’t try to carry too many subjects; for
J. It is against the advice of your instructors.
II. The experiences of those who have done so
argue against it.
TIT. Your own better judgment tells you not to.
IV. It is really foolish after all to work one’s
self to death for three years and then be all out of
condition to play the fourth.
THE ECHO 415
News Department
The Econo borrows from The Syracuse Daily
Orange the following article which was written by a
professor of that institution, upon the occasion of a
vote being taken, by the students to decide whether
or not the University should adopt the honor
system :
“During the last two years I have been making
some careful investigations along this line and have
reached pretty definite conclusions. In the first
place, no one who has really looked into the matter
can deny that the present system is far from satis-
factory. Let me cite just a few instances of which
Iknow: Not many years ago a man graduated from
the University taking a Phi Beta Kappa key. Stu-
dents who were in classes with him all during his
course have told me that this man never went through
a single examination honestly, he was what might be
termed a “ professional cribber.”? Yet not once was
he found out by his instructors and so far as I have
learned, not even suspected by them. In another
instance, two men went into an examination together,
one having prepared on the first half of the text book,
the other on the last half, and they afterward boasted
of how successfully they made the “ co-operative
system ” work. One of the best known seniors of
last year explained to me with considerable pride,
how he managed to “ crib” with a professor standing
only a few feet away, and he evidently felt that he
had mastered quite an accomplishment. Even in our
recent mid-year examinations, in a certain class where
four faculty members patrolled the room while the
students were writing, I am told that there was a
416 THE ECHO
great deal of copying. To quote one of the members
of that class: ‘ When a fellow knows that he is being
watched, it just somehow stirs up every mean, thing
in him and if he can outwit the professor and ‘ crib’
without getting caught, he feels that he is clever,
that’s all; he doesn’t look upon it as being dishonest.’
“Tf things were even approximately satisfactory
now, we might with reason hesitate to change, but
with such conditions as some of us know exist here,
I feel like imploring that both faculty and students
decide to give the honor system a trial. And may I
be personal enough to tell of my own experience ?
“Tn every examination and quiz that I have given
for the two full years, I have used this honor system.
First of all, in each one of my classes I talked about
it, told how the system works in other places where
it is used, and said that I wanted them to demonstrate
that the students in Syracuse University could be
trusted as fully as those in Princeton, Williams, and
Union. I put the matter to a vote and every class
voted to try it. When it comes to examination, after
writing the questions on the board, I ask the students
to read them over, so that if any explanations are
needed they may be made then and after a few
minutes I leave the room, putting the students upon
their honor. No one is asked to tell on any one else,
but each student is expected to make the statement at
the close of his paper, ‘I declare on my honor as a
gentleman (or as a lady) that I have neither given
nor received aid during this examination,’ and sign
his name to it. The students are free to leave the
room if they desire, and last spring I even told them
that if any of them wanted to go out doors to write,
THE ECHO 417
they were at liberty to do so, adding, however, re-
member wherever you go that I am trusting you and
that you are on your honor.
“T would be glad to have any one quiz any of my
students as to how the system has worked during
these two years. I do not claim that there hasn’t
been a case of cheating during that time. In a popu-
lation of four thousand people there are bound to be
a few villains and any student who would copy when
so fully trusted surely belongs to that class. Of one
thing, however, we may be tolerably certain, namely,
the man who would cheat under the honor system is
cheating under the present plan. But what ’m
thinking of is the vast body of students who, I fully
believe, if thrown on their honor, would respond to
the confidence placed in them. One of the best
known girls on the hill said to me: ‘I frankly admit
that I’ve cribbed repeatedly since I’ve been in Col-
lege, but when you put me on my honor, I couldn’t
think of doing such a thing.’ And I could quote
many instances which convince me that the system
does work.
“The main reason why the plan failed to go
through two years ago was, I believe, because each
student was expected to promise to report to the
Senior Council anyone whom he saw cheating. A
professor said to me the other day: ‘I am decidedly
opposed to the honor system, because I don’t believe
it would work in fraternities. No man would report
a fraternity brother.’ Well, personally I should never
ask any student to promise to report another, nor do
I think it necessary to the success of the plan. As
far as the fraternities are concerned, I have consider-
418 THE ECHO
able confidence in the vigorous treatment a man
would get at the hands of his own officers if found
cheating under the honor system. But surely if fra-
ternity men will go to the Administration and ask
to have a member dismissed from College after they
have found him incorrigible, they wouldn’t hesitate
to report to the Senior Council a repeated offender.
“ This isn’t all theory. I was brought up under
the honor system and watched its successful opera-
tions for years. From the time I was seven years
old until I entered College, I attended the Geneseo
Normal School, the Principal of which during all
that time was Dr. William J. Milne, now President
of the Albany Normal College, and one of the greatest
educators I have ever known. Six hundred students
were repeatedly left in a chapel alone when on exam-
ination and we simply signed our papers with the
statement indicated above. There were occasional
eases of cheating but such a high sense of honor
existed in the institution that any culprit felt himself
under a ban, despised by his fellow students, and that
very sentiment proved a powerful factor in keeping
matters straight.
“Finally, my great reason for wanting the honor
system is that we have here nearly four thousand
students, young men and women in the formative
period of life and upon whom we are exerting an
influence either for good or evil. I come into pretty
close contact with a number of them and feel certain
that if we trust them, we can help develop in them
the highest ideals of the truest manhood and woman-
hood. Surely if John Howard could follow that
principle in reforming the prison system of England,
THE ECHO 419
we are not running any great risk in trusting the
students of Syracuse University.”
Miyyizn Mason Besse.
College Club Notes
Dr. Henry Warren, Principal of the Boys’ Acad-
emy, addressed the Club on current events on March
14. Dr. Warren spoke of political affairs in Eng-
land, of the relations between France and Germany,
of the Balkan peninsula, and discussed other topics of
current interest.
On March 25, Prof. H. B. Smith of this institu-
tion, spoke on current events. Following are some
of the topics which he discussed: Conditions in Al-
bany, tariff revision, minimum wage for women,
Latin-America, Europe and the Far East.
Chemical Club
The regular meeting of the Chemical Club was
held Tuesday, March the fourth, at 3:45 p. m., in
the chemistry lecture room. After reports from the
various committees, Miss Wheeler read a paper on
“The Manufacture of Artificial Gems.” Prof. Ken-
nedy also read a very instructive paper on “ The
Manufacture of Paper.” The semi-monthly meeting
of the Chemical Club was held Tuesday, March 18,
at 3:45 p.m. Mr. Ellner read a paper, after which
Prof. Bronson talked on ‘‘ Immunity.”
Delta Omega Notes
Literary evening at the Flat this month was espec-
ially interesting. The program contained a debate
on, ‘‘ Should the Women of this State Vote?”
420 THE ECHO
Miss Adele Le Compte was entertained at supper
by the girls on her return to Albany.
The Deltas have been pleasantly surprised several
times this month by the visits of alumnae. Miss
Wood, who is now teaching in Springfield, Miss Ethel
Everingham, Miss Florence Woodworth, and Miss
Marjorie Bennet, all paid their respects to the College
on their recent trips to the City.
Miss Agnes Futterer entertained the sorority at
her home Saturday afternoon, March 29th.
The Delta Omega “ Week-end ” will begin May
9th.
Psi Gamma Notes
Mrs. Frear and Miss Morton entertained the
sorority and faculty members at cards Saturday
evening, March twenty-second.
The annual sorority dance was held in the College
gymnasium Friday evening, March twenty-eighth.
Our faculty members and many of our alumnae were
with us.
After May first Psi Gamma will be “at home”
at 431 Clinton avenue.
Omicron Nu Notes
Professor Smith, Director of Industrial. Educa-
tion, and Mrs. Van Horne, formerly a teacher in the
Household Economies department, have succeeded in
securing the Beta Chapter of the new honorary so-
ciety, Omicron Nu, for our College.
THE ECHO 421
The need for an organization of this nature has
been felt among workers in the cause of Home Eco-
nomics for some time, with the result that last year
the Alpha Chapter was organized at the Michigan
Agricultural College.
We are indeed proud that S. N. C. has been
granted the Beta Chapter of a society whose stand-
ards are character and high scholarship.
Omicron Nu is open to juniors and seniors pursu-
ing work in Home Economies. Its aim is to further
the cause of and awaken interest in Home Economics,
the value of which is coming to be recognized more
and more throughout the country.
The social life of the members is satisfied by vari-
ous other organizations. This society will place
emphasis upon the attainment of real scholarly re-
sults. Through it we wish to broaden our apprecia-
tion of the importance of science in the management
of the home.
Miss Hunt, who came from the Alpha chapter to
install Beta here, was tendered a reception by the
faculty of the Domestic Science department Friday
afternoon. She read a very able paper on the work
of the Department. Both Dr. Milne and Dr. Blue
were present to welcome her.
The students and faculty who have been awarded
the privilege of wearing Omicron Nu keys are the
following: Jessie Cole, Ethel Ziegler, Marjory
James, Katherine Kinne, Laura Bristol, Ora King,
Miss Van Liew, and Mrs. Frear.
422 THE ECHO
Alunnit Department
A meeting of the Executive Committee of the
Alumni Association was held at the College on Tues-
day afternoon, April first. Dr. Milne, Miss Mary
A. McClelland, Miss Kate Stoneman, Prin. James
J. Welch, Prof. Woodard, Prof. Sayles, and Miss
Pierce were present. The President of the Associa-
tion, Supt. Wilbur B. Sprague, of Utica, was unable
to meet with the committee, and a letter of regret
was also received from Dr. David Austin of New
York. Mr. Arthur Z. Boothby, 1900, Miss Anne
Louise Cushing, ’99, Mr. James J. Welch, ’05, and
Mrs. Ida Babeock Cameron, 784, were elected as new
members of the committee. Prof. Harry Birch-
enough, ’06, was elected to fill the position of secre-
tary, which office was left vacant by the resignation
of Dr. Aspinwall. Plans were made for meetings
of the Alumni Association in June. Memorial ser-
vices will be held for Dr. Husted on Monday after-
noon, June 16th. On the evening of this same day,
Dr. and Mrs. Milne will give a reception to the
graduates and alumni. There will be a business
meeting of the Association and also a luncheon on
Tuesday afternoon, June 17th.
We were glad to welcome the following alumni
who visited College during their Easter vacations:
Mr. Howard Dabney, 712, and wife of Otego; Miss
Florence Wittermier, ’11, of Millbrook; Miss Flor-
ence Woolworth, ’12, of Schenectady ; Miss Adele Le
Compte, 712, of Medina; Miss Florence Chase, ’12,
of Louville; Miss Lilian Houbertz, H. E., 712, of
Bristol, Conn.; Miss Fannie Goldsmith, H. E., 712,
Fan
THE ECHO 423
of Middletown; Miss Anna Lanahan, H. E., ’12, of
Albany; Miss Nina Robie, H. E., ’12, of Eaton.
Miss Emily Hoag, 710, spent her Easter vacation
with Prof. and Mrs. Kirtland.
Miss May Chant, ’11, is teaching in the Tlion High
School. Miss Chant visited College on April 4th.
Miss Agnes Stuart, a former student, writes from
Mountmorres, Westgate, California: ‘‘ This is a
little Eden; a lovely bungalow in the midst of a
garden, overlooking miles of hill and canyon and
mesa, with the great blue Pacific in the distance and
range after range of mountains behind and about.
My favorite spot is a cleared space up the first trail,
where one is in a high basin surrounded by purple
hills, with a view of Los Angeles, eighteen miles
away, and of the misty Sierra Madre, with Old Baldy
of the Cuyamungas raising his snowy head high above
them. We can see Catalina Island, forty miles off,
and on very clear days San Clements, eighty miles
away, appears as a haze against the horizon.
“We have cold days and hot days, cool days and
warm days, but most of the time the weather is de-
lightfully balmy. I sit out and bask, lazily watching
the lizards, which are very tame, and enjoying the
mad eestasy of the birds. Linnets take the place of
eastern sparrows and flickers or our robins. There
are many mocking birds and innumerable larks. The
sea gulls sometimes come into the canyon below and
great turkey buzzards fly about these hills all day.
We are in the Santa Monica foot hills. A shadow
fell over me on the mountain one day and I looked
up to see a buzzard hovering above me. It was about
424 THE ECHO
four feet from tip to tip of its wings and I felt rather
uneasy. They eat the rabbits and the gophers that
abound here.
“JT have just come in from watching a three-set
game of tennis, during which I cuddled in my hand
a cunning little horned toad that I picked up near the
courts. The coyotes serenade us sometimes and there
are many wild cats and deer in the hills.”
The readers of Tur Econo are requested to help
correct the records of the Alumni Association by
sending the assistant secretary, Miss Anna E. Pierce,
State Normal College, Albany, N. Y., information
concerning the present whereabouts of the following
graduates whose letters were returned last fall:
YEAR NAME BEFORE MARRIAGE
TBAT? S. Andrew via. Martinis hice elsls leva oho aac ne
NHOE. io Miatbhiiasy Oa /iViiO DEVON: scetsisls) ocqeysyer edops insets
18492....Mrs. Wm. H. Robinson......
18512....Horace W. Hovey, A. M
18531....Mrs. Wm. K. Niver....
18541....Mr. George A. Kelly... Pi Gey as
185422. .Major Jared) G: Wood: 2522222. 3.3.5
18552. ... Mrs. Selden C, Allis........
18601....Mrs. Nathan Groves....Adaline L. Crawford
PS CO2 a). ERGY MAORI a Bitola acai siuistercualatacas sents ster ens
18611....Mrs. John Jorolomon....Anna M. Courtney
1861!....Mrs. George Stanton...Maria H. Thompson
SCS vou Mirsia Wiebe seb alley isc ear Josephine Howard
US64h\ 3. Mis. Wate W. sorter. 7 leis. Kate Whitlock
18642....Mrs. Susan J. Hannahs...... Susan Jackson
TSCG22) ere Mires Waite ROT ver: celle ser N. Flotilla Watson
18682....Mrs. Kate HE. Baker. . Kate Emigh
UUSGISE a eM bash Be (Ch Teteaieies a Ge A aa e Susan Anthony
1870222), Miss) Wlorence A. “Mackeyoc 250 sie ne
18722....Mrs. George Albright. ..Josephine R. Hardy
132i Ona Carlton WE webyibhere asain cites solaris lvelee
