...THE A. AND M. TRIUMVIRATE...
FIRST MEETING.
NE beautiful evening in the
month of March, when old Sol
had bade us adieu and everything was
hushed by the swell lullaby of Mother
Nature, announcing the coming of
Spring, when the whole world seemed
glad, three Cadets strolled away from
the Mess Hall of A. & M., with hearts
as gay as larks. Little trouble had
they .iust then. Hard lessons were to
be conquered sometime during the
next four hours, but the consciousness
of lessons were not with them as they
strolled off arm in arm to Z ’s room
for a chat. Even they had no thought
of the future “chat” that awaited them
in the cozy little room in barracks.
When all were seated Y says to
X- : “Mr. X , we will hear your
experience first,” jokingly intimating
that an experience meeting would pres
ently be in progress, one of those good
old meetings like those the sturdy Pu
ritan folk had in the early days of
America, a meeting where “good” is
the subject of discussion, talks of
schemes to do more good, and to make
those with with whom they come in
contact happier, freer and nobler, a
meeting where good is looked for and
fault is left undiscussed. For holding
people up and blaming them and dis
cussing their faults and bemeaning
them is like the seven-headed Dragon
with which Hercules battled. Every
time a cruel blow is struck to cut off
a head seven more spring up in its
place. In other words, “overcome evil
with good.” As has been mentioned,
the idea of an inspiring conversation
was not thought of when the president
called on X to give his experience.
These three had no idea of the inspi
ration that could come from a
free-for-all talk on good things. “We
are a part of all we meet,” says one.
“Correct,” says another; “when a good
man is thrown among a lot of bad ones
he must be very strong if evil doesn’t
overcome. Also, I know of an instance
where evil was overcome by good as
sociation. In the city of Austin, there
was a very insignificant wretch who it
seemed could do nothing except mean
ness. When he was lucky enough to get
money it went for sensuality and whis
ky. Well, that much-jeered-at Salva
tion Army came upon him and took
him in charge. Now he is sober and
industrious, and holds an honorable
position. That shows what good asso
ciations will do for a person.” “That’s
right,” says Mr. Q . “I was given
all of the advantage of Christian sur
roundings while young. I attended a
good Sunday-school class on Sunday
instead of being a loafer on the streets
and a nuisance to police authorities.
And I can’t help feeling its influence
and noticing that the noble Christian
character is admired by all the cadets
of the campus. Although some are so
thoughtless as to jeer at it, they se
cretly admire it ,as all true men do. Also
I’ve noticed that when I go out now
with a crowd of boys and curse and
use vulgar language I can’t help feel
ing ashamed when I duly consider
what I’ve done. When these bad
words go out they not only degrade
my higher and better thoughts, but
they sow the seeds of vice in the char
acters of those who hear me. In other
words, I am lending aid in ruining