Wednesday, Sept., 26, 1917
CAUSES OF REJECTION
AT TRAINING CAMPS
Slouchiness, Inability to Speak Orders Clearly, Lack of Prompt
Decisions and Tendency to "Throw Up the Sponge"
The following letter, which was ro•
calved by President Sparks a few
weeks ago, from Adjutant General Mc.
Cain, will explain why so many of the
candidates for the Officers' Reserve
were rejected.
War Department.
The Adjutant General% omen.
Washington, Aug 28, 1917
The President,
Penn State College,
• State College, Pa.
',Dear Sir: Believing it might be in•
teresting and helpful to schools and
colleges in the present emergency,
your. attention is invited to the follow-
Ing'observations of a candidate at one
of the reserve officers' (ruining camps,
aa to the probable causes of the con
siderable number of rejections of can
didates for reserve officers at the
training camps
Perhaps the moat glaring fault noted
in aspirants to the officers' reserve
corps, and one that might be corrected
by proper attention In our high
schools, preparatory schools and col
leges, might be characterized by the
general word "slouchiness " 1 refer
to what might be termed a mental and
physical indifference. I have observed
at camp many otherwise excellent
men who have failed because in our
school system sufficient emphasis is
not placed upon the avoidance of this
mental and physical handicap. In the
work of the better Government mili
tary school° of the world this Black
mess in thought, presentation and
bearing is not tolerated because the
aim of all military tralning•ls occur
any. At military camps throughout
the country mental alertness, accuracy
in thinking and acting, cleerness in
enunciation, sureness and She of car
riage and bearing must be insisted up•
on, for two reasons: that success may
be assured as nearly an human effort
can guarantee It with the material and
means at hand, and that priceless ha'
man lives may not be criminally snarl.
need Only by Gib possession of the
qualities referred to does ono became
a natural leader.
A great number of men have failed
at camp because of inability to articu.
late clearly A man who cannot im
part his ideq to his command in clear,
distinct language and with sufficient
volume of voice to be heard reasonably
far is not qualified to give commands
upon which human life will depend.
Many men disqualified by thin handi
cap might have become officers under
their country's flag bad they been
properly trained In school and college.
It is to be hoped, therefore, that more
emphasis will be placed upon the basic
principles of elocution in the training
of our youth. Even without prescrib
ed training In elocution a great Im
provement could be wrought by the
instructors in our schools and col
leges, regardless of the subject, insist
ing that all answers be given in a
loud, clear, well-rounded voice; which,
of course necessitates the opening of
the mouth and free movement of the
lips. It is remarimble how many ex
cellent men suffer from this handicap
and how almost impossible it is to,
correct this after the formative years
of life
In addition to this physical disabil
ity and slouchiness is what might be
termed the slouchiness of mental at
titude. Many men fail to measure up
to the requirements set for our offi
cers' reserve because they have not
been trained to appreciate the import
ance of thinking Too many schools
are satisfied with an approximate an
swer to a question. Little or no
incentive is given increased mental
effort to co-ordinate one's ideas and
present them clearly and unequivo.
catty. Insistence upon decision in
thought and expression must never he
lost sight of. This requires eternal
vigilance on the part of every teacher
It is next to impossible for military
instructors to do much to counteract
the negligence of schools in this re
gard. This again has cost many men
Is this YOUR Pa per?
Make Checks Payable to Penn State Collegian.
their commissions at camp Three
months is too short a time in which
to teach an incorrigible."beater about
the-bush" that there Is only one way
to answer a question, oral or written,
and that is positively, clearly and ac
curately. The form of the oral an
swer in our schools should be made
an important consideration of instruc
tion.
I have further noted at camp that
even some of our • batter military
schools have turned out products that
while many of them have tile bearing
of a soldier in ranks, yet their carri
age is totally different as soon as they
"fall out" Schools, military and non
military, should place more Insistence
upon the bearing of pupils all the
time. It should become a second na
ture with them to walk and carry
themselves with the bearing of an 0111-
I cer and a gentleman. This again Is
I a characteristic that cannot be ac
quired in a short time and, when cou
pled with other disqualifying elements,
has mitigated against the success of
men in training camps.
As a last important element that
seems to me has been lacking in the
I moral and mental make-up of some of
our students hero is the characteristic
of grit. Not that they would have
proved sowardly in battle, necessarily,
but some have exhibited a tendency
to throw up the sponge upon the ad
ministration of a severe rebuke or
criticism Their "feelings have been
hurt' . and they resign. They have
never been taught the true spirit of
subordination. They are not ready for
the rough edges of life The true
training school should endeavor to In
culcate that indominatable spirit that
enables one to get out of self, to keep
one's eyes axed upon the goal rather
than upon the roughness of the palls,
to realize that one unable to rise
above the hard knocks of discipline
cannot hope to face with equanimity
the tremendous responsibilities of the
officer under modern conditions of war
fare This idea of grit belongs in the
school room as well as upon the
campus _
_Ver. - 3 7 respectfully.
H. P. McCAIN,
The Adjutant General
II .1' Talley, of Baltimore, Md , has
been obtained no an ineitructor in Me
chanical Engineering to 111 l the vacancy
created by tho resigruttion of A. T
Drown. Mr. Talley Is a giadunto of
Drexel He was recently employed on
conduit construction for the 13011 Tele
phone Co. Ile trill report Oct. hit.
Whitman's
Chocolates
With the Penn State Seal
Are Best for All
Occasions
Ray D. Gilliland
DRUGGIST
1J
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REORGANIZATION OF AG.
SOCIETY TAKES PLACE
The reorganization of the Agricul
tarot Society took place on Thursday
evening, when the various emcee were
ililed that were located by the officers
elect being called into military serv
ice. C E. Barrow was elected presi
dent; R. S Harman, vice-president;
P. 11 Broyhill,- treasurer, foul P. 11.
Sprenkle, secretary.
Plane for the annual reception to
the Freshman students in the Agri
cultural School were discussed, and
the committee to carry on the ar
rangements is composed of. J. L.
Way, chairman, B. F. Rifler, CI H. 1301-
lock. The Stock Judging Pavilion has
been secured, and although the corn
mitteo has no definite information as
yet, It is expected that tile reception
wil be held tomorrow evening•at 7
o'cloCk.
The Agricultui al Society, in_ con
Junction with the "Penn State Farmer"
Is offering membership in the society
and a subscription to the magazine
for $l.OO. The idea of this offer is to
get all *agricultural men in college in
, Wrested In tine sock the society Is
doing. The regular membership fee IS
grey cents The work of the society
will ,be the same as in the past years,
and it will be the endeavor of those
In charge to secure noted speakers on
agricultural subjects to address the
body throughout the year.
MORE FACULTY MEMBERS
HAND IN RESIGINATIONS
Since the opening of college, five
resignations of-members of the faculty
have been received and acted upon by
the Executive Committee, and live
more have been granted leaves of ab
sence. Those who hate resigned
al e .
W. C. Gillespie, instructor In experi
mental pomology
.1 D Churchill, professor of Indus
trial chemistry
H. II Kraybill, instructor In agri
cultural chemistry.
G. D Robinson, instructor In elec.
tricot engineering.
R. E. Shumaker. Instructor in engi
neering drawing.
The following leaves of absence have
been granted•—
J. P. Adams, assistant professor of
botany.
T. S. Sligh. 7r, assistant professor
of physics
H C Allen, Instructor in military
science
W. It Ham, professor of physics
P. H. Struthers. Instructor gn zoo
logy
SE=
Quality Stock of
Groceries
Dry Goods
Meats
{ ,
, c
Wm.McEachren
, 1
, 115 Frazier St. 1
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IF NOT, WHY NOT?
Help Us Put Some "PEP" Into the
(Every Subscription Counts)
t , i
1
PENN STATE 'COLLEGIAN
DR. RITENOIJR GIVES
ADVICE ON COLDS
Dr J. P 'Memel . , the college physi
cian, recently gave the following advice
to students wtlt leggin] to "colds" At
present there hi an epidemic of "colds"
among the students It may not be
1111111.1 to Inform the atudents that
"colds" are contagious and every pre
should be taken to avoid their
tuneful Ur the appearance of the
lirmt symptoms, much to a feeling of
fullness In the head, headache. since,
Mg. mole lino:It, genetal aching . In the
Joints. soreness of the mumetem, cough
and Indisposition, consult the Health
Service It you are already mneeg
no, or coughing, protect your fellow
student bye
oveting your mouth or
none with I dkerchief dun ing the
net, and thus prey eat Ito mpread, tut
tine getout producing the disease are
demseminated by not dollar no
"It you would protect YoOrself nom
the annoyance of a "cold" ttgald those
who are softening front one Rotondo
awns from public gannet Ines, dulling
the epidemic, as muchas possible
Mold Improperly ventilated and over
] heated rooms, protect the body from
draughtm and sudden changes of tem
peratuie, and do not over eat or un
der :deep."
.
NEW COURSE OFFERED
IN FORESTRY SCHOOL
PI ofemor G R Green, of the School
In the Schools of Forestry and Ungl
ington, D C., In consultation with Major
Gray, U S A, 00 alumnus of Penn
State, clam of Ilk who NM In charge
the consts ution of material for aero
planes. The purpose of Mr GI eon's
Ii IP was to among° for the establish
ment of a COM'. In nood technology,
at Penn State, In order that this college
0111 be able to furnish men ton Incline
torshipm In thin branch of the service
Although thin course Is not established
by the United States Gmen nment, It In
sanctioned by them The course will be
open to nil Junior end Senion students
In elle Schools of I'd ens y and I:lign
ite. Mg. nod to such When students an
lons e tile necessary qualilleations. A
meeting was held last morning, In the
I•'nl estil Building to (1114.... mottos I
and to net the hour for classes.
A. DEAL
Sanitary Plumbing,.Steam,
Hot Water Vapor and
Vacuum Heating '
State College, Pennsylvania
r.-rr.-Fr.✓.^.^.^h.-r'.-.-r.^r.-.^.-rrrr
ENGINEERS AGAIN
CONSIDER MAGAZINE
The in oJect of rt technical magazine
to ho published by the ongineming stu
dents wan again brought up at a. corn
bned meeting Of nll Senior and Junior
engineers slid 0 great majority of the
engineering faculty on Septembel 19 In
the Ellectrlcal Engine°!log laboratot ten
Although nothing definite wan decided
upon at that time. the vellumn depart
mental nuciMies wet e author iced to elect
tau manias. to a committee to at range
far the formation of a combined engi
neeringsociety and for the tejuvena-
Wm of the "Penn State Engineer
Float:yet, each departmental society In
to retain its autonomy.
The ponxibility %UM also connidered of
admitting Sophomores to membership
at the beginning of the necond semester.
A luncheon wan provided by Dean It
L. Sackett and members of the faculty
gave short addtettnes President Sparlot
dropped in dating the course of the
menlng and gave quite to lengthy talk.
The geneml trend of the speech., vats
optimintic regarding the future of the
engineer The opinion of all seemed to
Indicate that the engineer in coming
Into his own again
WEEKLY MEETINGS RESUMED
The Cercie Francais resumed its
2eekly meetings last evening-in Room
26, Old Main. The plogwans ‘9,111 tort
but slightly from the past learn, and nil
who hat. completed beginners French
ale asked to Join Tuesday evening has
been selected tentatively and it may be
netessaly to change the meeting night
at a Wei date Tile meetings begin at
7 30
eau lou Replace a Ittoken 1,110 Wilk
out no Prevcriptloul
I am often naked. "Can you replace,
a broken len.; without I tho mem.rla
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Yes, no matter how complicated the
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from one of the broken Wee.,.
With the Instruments and iostem I
LIMO thole Is no possibilit3 of rt mistake
being . made
Como In and Nee Mc When In It ottble
ulth gininien.
DR. El A 11. BOA
5.12. E. College km, Slate College, Po
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Thursday Saturday
MARY PICKFORD GEORGE BEBAN
IN IN
"The Little American" "A Roadside Impresario"
A stirring photoplay of great pat- A COMEDY DRAMA
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of Uncle Sam.
MATINEE and EVENING Pastime Theatre
Admission 15 cents
-
Saturday
Friday WILLIAM DESMOND
SEENA OWEN IN
"Madam 1 80 Peep" N
"Blood •Will Tell"
From the Novel by 0. HENRY COMING
A story of an original coquette—full
of action. Goldwyn Pictures
Office Open 6:30 to 7:30 Every Ev.ening
BAND AND ORCHESTRA
HAVE BRIGHT OUTLOOK
The first call for candidates for va
cant positions in the band brought
out n wealth of material that promises
much for the future of that organize.
lion Tine new candidates met with
the old members of the °renal/talon
In tine band room in Old ➢fain last
Thursday evening, and Bandmaster
W. 0. Thompson estimates that there
were at least fifty candidates from
the Freshman class and Two-your Ag
ricultural course. It is the opinion of
Bandmaster Thompson that the band
will he as good, if not better, than at
any time in past years.
Immediate preparation will he made
for a benefit concert for the Penn
State Band, which will be held during
the. Pennsylvania Day celebration. The
bandmaster Is already at morli with
the arrangements and a part of the
evenings none devoted to band Mee.
lice will henceforth ho devoted to re
hearsals for the concert. The band
Best Quality
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Special rates to
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FYE'S
200-202 W. College Ave.
'Phofoplajs o f Qualifif
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Page Three
Bill meet for practice on Tuesday and
Thmsday moiling , ' In the band 100111
In Old Main, ItH stns the 01140 In the
past eat
Tile 11181 call for the Intatt null
Bugle Corps ens held last 3londa)
evening in the band room, and stun
answered by a large nundan of
rnnAl
dates The call rot candidates rot tlio
College Orche , ,tla in eel nu this et VI.
Mg In the band room The band and
orchestra into lost none or their oat
ems, as fel as Ilandmastm Thome.
son Is able to ascertain at the i1e ,, 0111
time.
Advertise in the Collegian
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