“I really do. We hear a good deal of talk nowadays about the superiority of the practical over the college education. There are a number of men who, by dogged perseverance and hard labour, have managed to accumulate millions of dollars without ever having set foot in college. Some of these have a good deal to say about the uselessness of college learning. But it’s a safe bet that if those same men had gone to college they’d have piled up their millions just the same, and it’s more than probable that they’d have made the piles bigger than they are. If learning to be self-dependent, broad-minded, well poised mentally and physically, isn’t practical education, what in Heaven’s name is?”
“Well.... But broad-minded?” demurred Phillip. “That’s the very thing that lots of folks say college men are not.”
“And I say they are,” answered John warmly. “I’m not discussing the men of any special university; I mean all of them—Harvard men, Yale men, Oxford men, the whole push. They’ve got to be broad-minded if only for the reason that they have learned how broad the world is. I don’t mean to say that college men, like other men, have no hobbies or prejudices. Of course they have; they can be just as big cranks as any. But the fact that you’re brushing a fly off your nose doesn’t signify that you haven’t a long reach. Don’t be afraid that college is going to narrow your mind, Phil. You’ll find, to the contrary, that it has much the same effect upon it as chest-weights have on your lungs. And, by the way, how comes on the physical development?”
“Oh, I’m getting more like Sandow every day,” laughed Phillip. “And I’m going to take your advice and try track work. I think I could run right well if I knew more about it.”
“Good work. And how about studies? Having much trouble?”
“N—no, I’m getting along a heap better than I expected to. Government bothers me a good deal; but I reckon I’ll pass in it all right.”
Footsteps sounded outside the door and the letter-drop clicked. John dropped his feet from the window-seat and pulled himself out of his chair. Phillip followed his example.
“Don’t run off,” said John. “I’ll just light up and see what’s in the mail. I’ve been expecting a letter from my folks since Saturday.”
“I’ve got to go back to the room before dinner,” answered Phillip, as the gas flared up, “and so I reckon I’ll jog along.” He walked toward the door. John had gathered several letters from the rug and was examining them on the table. The writing on the envelope of one was wholly unfamiliar and he glanced at the postmark and with difficulty made it out: “Melville C. H., Va.” He started and glanced quickly at Phillip.
“Hold on, Phil,” he called, “here’s——” He stopped himself suddenly. “Never mind; it’s nothing. Wish you’d stay and come to dinner with me. No? Well, so long; very glad you came in, Phil. Don’t forget Sunday night if I don’t see you before.”