Stover at Yale | Page 9

Others will tell you about them. But here's
where your first test will come in."
Then came another lull. Stover, troubled, frowning, sat staring at the
brilliant windows across which passed, from time to time, a sudden
shadow. The groups at the fence were singing a football song, with a
marching swing to it, that had so often caught up his loyal soul as he
had sat shivering in the grand-stand for the game to begin. It was not all
so simple -- no, not at all simple. It wasn't as he had thought. It was
complex, a little disturbing.
"This college is made up of all sorts of elements," said Le Baron, at last.
"And it is not easy to run it. Now, in every class there are just a small
number of fellows who are able to do it and who will do it. They form
the real crowd. All the rest don't count. Now, Stover, you're going to
have a chance at something big on the football side; but that is not all.
You might make captain of the eleven and miss out on a senior election.
You're going to be judged by your friends, and it is just as easy to know
the right crowd as the wrong."
"What do you mean by the right crowd?" said Stover, conscious of just
a little antagonism.
"The right crowd?" said Le Baron, a little perplexed to define so simple
a thing. "Why, the crowd that is doing things, working for Yale; the
crowd --"
"That the class ahead picks out to lead us," said Stover abruptly.
"Yes," said Le Baron frankly; "and it won't be a bad judgment. Money
alone won't land a man in it, and there'll be some in it who work their
way through college. On the whole, it's about the crowd you'll want to
know all through life."
"I see," said Stover. His clasp tightened over his knees, and he was

conscious of a certain growing uncomfortable sensation. He liked Le
Baron -- he had looked up to him, in a way. Of course, it was all said in
kindness, and yet --
"I'm frankly aristocratic in my point of view" -- he heard the
well-modulated voice continue -- "and what I say others think. I'm
older than most of my class, and I've seen a good deal of the world at
home and abroad. You may think the world begins outside of college. It
begins right here. You want to make the friends that will help you
along, here and outside. Don't lose sight of your opportunities, and be
careful how you choose."
"Now, by that I mean don't make your friends too guickly. Get to know
the different crowds, but don't fasten to individuals until you see how
things work out. This rather surprises you, doesn't it? Perhaps you don't
like it."
"It does sort of surprise me," said Stover, who did not answer what he
meant.
"Stover," said Le Baron, resting a hand on his knee, "like you. I liked
you from the first time we lined up in that Andover-Lawrenceville
game. You've got the stuff in you to make the sort of leader we need at
Yale. That's why I'm trying to make you see this thing as it is. You
come from a school that doesn't send many fellows here. You haven't
the fellows ahead pulling for you, the way the other crowds have. I
don't want you to make any mistake. Remember, you're going to be
watched from now on."
"Watched?" said Stover, frowning.
"Yes; everything you do, everything you say -- that's how you'll be
judged. That's why I'm telling you these things."
"I appreciate it," said Stover, but without enthusiasm.
"Now, you've got a chance to make good on the eleven this year. If you
do, you stand in line for the captaincy senior year. It lies with you to be

one of the big men in the class. And this is the way to do it: get to know
every one in the class right off."
"What!" said Stover, genuinely surprised.
I mean, bow to every one; call them by name -- but hold yourself
apart," said Le Baron. "Make fellows come to you. Don't talk too much.
Hold yourself in. Keep out of the crowd that is out booze-fighting -- or,
when you're with them, keep your head. There are a lot of fellows here,
with friends ahead of them, who can cut loose a certain amount; but it's
dangerous. If you want to make what you ought to make of yourself
Stover, you've got to prove yourself; you've got to keep yourself well in
hand."
Stover suddenly comprehended that Le Baron was exposing his own
theory, that he, prospective captain of the crew, was imposing