“You go around the campus with a test like that, Priddy, and you will find that scholarship is highly respected wherever it has resulted in accomplishment. Don’t we respect Professor Florette? I should say we did. One of the most perfect scholars in the college and yet even the grafters among the students would throw their caps in the air at any time for the Professor, and why is it? It is because his scholarship has actually made him accomplish something. He is president of the National Science Division of College Instruction and is known and quoted abroad as an authority in his line. That’s why the students like him. On the other hand you might pick out a professor here and a professor there who is very erudite--notice my vocabulary, Priddy--and who is a perfect scholar in his department, and yet who never translates his knowledge into life: never writes a useful book, or influences thought abroad, or is asked to address even a Kindergarten Teachers’ Convention. All we know of him is that ‘he is a scholar.’ You don’t catch us shouting much for that man, do you? He has not accomplished anything tangible, ergo--his scholarship is merely an esthetic satisfaction. That’s why we fellows prefer old Florette.” “But that’s a very youthful and shallow way of judging, Garvin,” I replied. “Well, whether you call it youthful, shallow, or what not, that is the way most of the students seem to regard scholarship. They are only interested in it when it means contact with life and the enlargement of the scholar’s ability for civic usefulness. That is the outcome of practical America, I suppose. But for the ‘grind’ who slaves for big marks and the sheer worship of books--and nothing else, why, I don’t have much use for him. On the other hand, if a fellow grinds out big marks to play on the football team in security: why, that’s the fellow that gets the cheer. It’s scholarship plus, with my crowd, and I think you’d better come in the band-wagon with us, Priddy, for whether the professors like it or not, and choose to cling to the seventeenth century exaltation of scholarship _per se_--note my Latin, Priddy--why, it won’t change matters any.” “That’s something to think about, Garvin, at any rate.” “If you observe the students closely, Priddy, I think you’ll find that they do respect scholarship; put it in the very highest possible place of influence--when it has led to something.” “I am glad I had this talk with you, Garvin. I think I understand the fellows a little better,--I can even forgive the unknown who wrote: Priddy Has A Grouch!” “Thank you, Al,” replied the editor. “I am the chap!”