Parts of the letters that make up this littlebook were read to my own college boys at theopening of a college year. They representsomewhat, but of course only a bit, of what Ibelieve many a father would like to say to hisown son,—as I to mine,—when he is enteringthe most important year of his college life—theFreshman. Those who first heard them,—eventhough obliged to hear,—seemed to sufferthem gladly. They are, therefore, brought together,and sent out to fathers and to sons,and with a peculiar feeling of sympathy forboth the parent and the boy at one of thecrises of the life of each.
C. F. T.
Western Reserve University,
Cleveland.
| PAGE | ||
| I | Thought | 9 |
| II | The Essential Gentleman | 22 |
| III | Health as an Asset | 25 |
| IV | Appreciation | 29 |
| V | Scholarship | 31 |
| VI | The Intellectual Life | 40 |
| VII | The Use of Time | 43 |
| VIII | Culture | 53 |
| IX | College Morals | 61 |
| X | Weakness of Character | 65 |
| XI | The Genesis of Success | 68 |
| XII | Religion | 91 |
[Pg 9]
My Dear Boy:—I am glad youwant to go to college. PossiblyI might send you even if youdid not want to go, yet I doubt it.One may send a boy through collegeand the boy is sent through. Noneof the college is sent through him.But if you go, I am sure a good dealof the college will somehow getlodged in you.
You will find a thousand and onethings in college which are worthwhile. I wish you could have eachof them, but you can not. You have[Pg 10]to use the elective system, even inthe Freshman year. The trouble isnot that so few boys do not seem tokn