Word: thingness
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1873-1873
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...think in the street of a thing save her dress...
EACH decade of college life brings forth new words, the derivation, meaning, and correct application of which are often distorted; one year they may express one thing, and the next fall into disuse. The word which forms the caption of this article, since it is turned from its usual signification, is illustrative of what we mean. The work entitled "College Words and Customs" contains no definition of it; we infer, from the fact that this book was published some score of years ago, that the word is of comparatively recent origin. It is, however, only a name for certain customs...
Naturally, all desire in the society of their associates to appear to the best possible advantage. If one possesses any disagreeable characteristic, a gentle insinuation that the same thing in another is very objectionable often suffices to correct it in him for whom the remark was intended. But if he be slow of comprehension, or stubbornly adheres to his old ways, he is more forcibly reminded of his failing, and in such a pointed manner that, rather than endure the sarcasms and witticisms of his fellows, he corrects...
...would be presupposing a lack of common sense on the part of undergraduates to imagine that they would overstep the bounds of propriety in this line. Collegians generally have too high a regard for the feelings of others to commit themselves in that manner. Of course the thing can be carried to excess; so can everything else. It is as a means of toning down a too flashy style, or of pointing out in a pleasant way one's faults, and perhaps even of criticising in some degree his manners, that it is sanctioned...
...emulation which the Nation considers so dreadful a thing, we cannot see any harm in fair rivalry between different persons for a good object, whether it be in boat-racing, in scholarships, or in anything else. It is the unavoidable concomitant of every struggle where all cannot win, and does more good than harm. It may be said that the fame of winning this scholarship will be a partial inducement to the contesting student. Such will undoubtedly be the case until young saints come to college and human weaknesses are known only to the uneducated...