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tttOMtiAMMN
THE HESPERIAN STUIMBNT.
HESPERIAN STUDENT.
LINCOLN,
DECEMBER, 1B72.
.The HxavxniAM Student, a College orcan,
published monthly by tho students of tho Ne
braska Stato University. Tonne W) cunts pur
.year, In advance. Subscriptions will bo received
at J. F. Adams' Nows Stand, next door north of
Tout Ofllco.
- Communications aro solicited from all tho stu
dents and our friends in general. Address tho
Hesperian Student. I. O. Vox GOO Lincoln. Ne
braska. W. II. 8NELL, Kditor-lu-Chlcf.
GllACK K. llENTON, l Associates
LUTUEK KUHLMAN, f AHBOCMICB.
Valedictory.
With this i3suo we descend Loin '.ho
sanctorum tripod, lay aside thn editorial
.quill nnd content ourselves wttli more
, retired circumstances. In doing so, we
wish to thank our many friends for the
kind assistance, they have from time to
time rendered us; and express gratitude
for the general interest that has from the
first been manifested for tho welfare of
the paper.
We had hoped by the present, time to
present to our readers a more imposing
sheet; yet it was not thought advisable to
enlarge the Student at present. It has
been our aim to establish a paper that
could well bear the inscription of a col-
'lege journal. We have endeavored to
exclude from our columns much of tho
jocose matter so often found in the domain
of college journalism, and which seems
to us to be far below the standard of a
literary organ.
Almost contemporaneous with the es
tablishmcnt of the University dates the
history of the paper itself. In fact, at the
present time, a college paper is consid
ered a commodity almost indispensable
to an institution of anr renown. With
Itlodern Culture.
this impression the students organized !Urirrnd ..twill over tho whole realm of
themselves into nn-nrtocinSmi and com
uicticctf the publication of thk Student.
By many it was thought rather premature;
yet, by untiring energy, the paper has
been placed upon a permanent basis. Tho
students, by a libcrarnppropriation oi the
Board of Regents, have bei'n enabled to
purchase type and the other necessary
equipments for publishing the paper; and
at present the mechanical as well as the
literary department is executed by the
students; thus removing all enibarass
ments of a typographical nature so com
mon elsewhere.
The interests and control of the paper
for the succeeding year have been vested
in two persons fur whom we have tho
utmost respect, and to whom wowillingly
transfer our responsibilities. We have no
hesitancy in predicting for the Student
a prosperous and successful year, under
their management. If the nose saddled
with specks, or the face covered with the
marks of manhood, are indication of
more developed faculties, or sagacious
learning, the retiring corps of editors
sink into utter oblivion; greatly feeling
the need of the required talents.
We hope our successors have formed
no beau ideal of tho felicities of editorial
duties. If there is any class of persons
that justly deserves the sympathy of the
public, it undoubtedly is the editorial.
To be harassed, by day, with vain editorial
illusions, and by night v.'hilc the "devil"
interposes with cries of copy, are the com.
mon occurrences composing the life
drama of an editor. To all these scenes
we bid adieu; hoping tho literary spjirk
kindled by the ingenuity of our students,
may continue to glow and sparkle until
as a living flame its effulgence shall be
seen thoughout all literary circles, and
bhall be placed side by side with the
organs of Harvard, Anr Arbor, or Yale.
ThcroquiromcntB of this ago aro vastly
different from tho wants of tho last fov
centuries. Then it was necessary for
every aspirant to scholarship to become
steeped in the lore ot Qrccco and Rome.
So perfect was tho mastery Of these Ian
guages that the professors in the Univer
sities delivered their lectures in Latin.
This was the besj possible course under
the circumstances. Few translations ex
isted, modern literature was only partially
created, tho physical sciences were uncul
tivated and only imperfectly iknown. Tho
masses of the people in all countries were
in intellectual darkness. But there has
been prodigious progress during tho last
century, and it. has been in the direction
of theoretical and practical science. To
this above all things else is due the civili
zation, progress and greatness of this cen
tury. Modern culture, compared with tho
ancient, is marvellously broad. Il does
not confine its inquiries to any single set
of phenomena. To it all parts of the
universe aro sacred soil. It Is concerned
to know all the laws that govern matter
and mind, and .to understand them inti
mately. Hence, while the scientific spirit
aims to comprehend the universe as a
whole, and classifies all knowledge, the
very vastness 'of its survey teaches it that
tho mastery of the whole is beyond mor
tal grasp. Not even a Humboldt, with a
peerless intellect, could acquire all natural
knowledge. Though ku nving much of
all sciences, he could only master a few.
Tho real scientist masters his specialties,
and then, Huinlnildt like, mams an pleas-
knowledge, acquiring thus all iho culture
that is purest and best, wherever found.
That sorry day can never again come for
civilization when a littl Latin and less
Greek can b" nvule the all sufficiency for
scholarship and Immunity.
Hence it is a mistake to suppose that
the apostles of modern culture are hostile
to classical learning. It is too snrill a
foe. If foe at all, to test ' steel. It says
to all who have tastes in that direction,
make tlio most of your classics. Muster
them, and abstract fioin them all tuat is
good in them, and make them if possible
tho agency of your highest culture. Any.
thing that draws out mental effort tends
to strengthen the mind: and hence, science
gladly accords to tne grammatical drill of
Latin and Greek the merit of intellectual
gymnastics.
Emerson, who is quoted as saving that
.'a man is a fool who bothers himself to
study Latin and Greek, when jfo can get
hold of good translations," never used
such an expression. This is what he said :
"I do not hesitate to read all the books I
have named and all good books in trans
lations. What is really best in any book
is translatable any real insight or broad
human sentiment. Nay I observe, ,ii nil in
our Bible, and other books of lofty moral
tone, it seems easy mud inevitable to rcn
der the rythm and music of the original
Into phrases of equal melody." "I
rarely read any Latin, Greek, German,
Italian, sometimes not a French book in
the original which I can procure in a
good version." "Martial must be
read, if read at all, in his own tongue."
Thus it is seen that Emerson, who has
said fewer foolish things than most men
of his age, never uttered tho silly remark
attributed to him. xBut he does feel with
the great mas? of the noblest minds of
the age that the classical writers of an
tiquity are not the only sources of knowl
edge, and that there is a wisdom outside
of them which no one but a man born
three centuries too late can afford to do
without. I do not adopt Emerson's phil
osophical scheme, if such it can bo called.
But I am glad to regard him as a masterly
thinker, and as one whoso motives and
life are perfectly disinterested. His
intellect is wonderfully creative, and no
one with an unprejudiced mind can read
him without having his own thinking
quickened into new life.
Words aro tho thinker's tools, and the
vehicles of thought. And so far as lan
guage is required for tho intelligent ex
pression of thought, principles, and facts,
so far it occupies a necessary place in
every College curriculum. But how often
is the mere lingual student lost in mere
word studies, "and looses sight of the end
in the nanus." Like the smith who
spent all his money in buying useless
fancy tools and then had no money to buy
iron and rent a shop wherein to work.
Prof. Vaughan remarks: "There is no
study that could prove more successful in
producing, oflcn through idleness and
vacancy of mind, parrot-like repetition
and sing-song knowledge, to the abeyance
and destruction of the Intellectual powers,
as well as to the loss and paralysis of tho
outward senses, than our traditional study
and nhThmy of language." This is the
reason why so many merely classical
scholars are intellectual dulla'ds. Tho
drill is the principle advantage gained
from the study oft 'Latin and Greek.
These languages are seldom mastered,
and those who read a classical author do
it with grammar and dictionary in hand.
! IItnpi, they are rarely read after college
jTfKys'nre over. But. that iw discipline,
that acute observation, thiu sTiarp analy
sLgjJWhioh ancient languages giveL are
supplied in an equal degree if not higher
degree by the study of the sciences. For
example, let a student spend three years
in studying Latin. Let another spend an
much time and labor on Botany, Chemistry,
Mental Philosophy or Physics. Which
of tho two will have the most drill, the
i most knowledge of the world and
the universe, and will bo best
fitted for the work of tho nine
teenth century? Few would hesitate to
take the chances of the latter. For let it
ever be remembered that no science will
ever have fair phi' until at least half as
much time and labor is bestowed upon it
as either one of the dead languages re.
ceive.
If possible, we would have every stu
dent study Latin and Greek. These lan
guages are of immense advantage in ac
quiring the nomenclature of the sciences.
But it is folly to suppose that profound
and elegant culture cannot be obtained
without them. It is mental drill that
gives mental culture and power. Mental
drill in the sublime phenomena of tlio
universe the grandeur of tho skies, the
laws of light, heat, and electricity, the
wonderful adaptations of animal and
vegetable life, with their manifold forms
of beauty, which pulsate through every
susceptible soul like the music of Iljaven
such subjects taught and understood in
their conditioning laws are without peers
as educators of intellect, taste and beauty.
But let It be understood that for the pro
ductlon of such results science must not
be tagged on to tho end of a classical
course merely to round it off. It asks for
equal attention and time, Its supremo
Importance demands this, and it will be
satisfied with nothing less. Let this be
done and sublimor results will follow fei
have yet been dreamed of by our pro
foundest educators.
Tho best modern poetry has not dis
dained to invoke the aid and inspiration
of science. In Goethe poetry and sclenco
joined hands, and at their nuptials tho
world received a melody like the singing
of the morning stars. Literature, to-day,
owes its impulse and influence tho blood
warm with life coursing through Its
veins to science and tho great move
ments of which it is tho fountain head.
Science is demonstrating that the highest
tribunal is immutable law and the pro
cesses by which law and the Infinite Law
giver arc revealed. She shows that it is
infinitely right to have a firm faith in the
existence of eternal, moral and physical
laws, obedience to which produces the
highest degree of happiness.
The one-sided advocates of old systems
charge modern science with antagonism
to religion. Never was there a gacater
mistake. A great many scientists do not
believe m much that Is called Christianity.
The same can be more truthfully said of
many great names among classical au
thors. By what was the rationalism of
Wolf, De Wctte. the Tubengen School.
Strauss, Ronan, and Bishop Colense, in
spired ? Were the not all classical schol
ars of a high grade? Look at Gibbon:
one of the most accomplished classical
scholars of his age. If tho argument is
legitimate, then the classics should never
be studied, because they have been and
are being ivoked to sap the foundations of
Christianity. The history of Christianity
shows that its mosl dangerous foes, when
not of its own household, come from the
ranks of classical scholars. In this case
the result would be logical. The ancient
i fountains of thought, though beautiful
and poetical in a high degree, were emin-
, ently unclean and impure. No classical
.author can be read in our schools, not
oven to the boys, without belli: expur
I gated. Bohn has not translated entire
1 authors, but much of what he has given
j can never he read to our families, because
of their foulness.
I It is one of the glories of modern c.ul-
ture that it recognizes true scholarship
even when unaccompanied ly a knowl
cdie of Latin and Greek. Tho farmer
i and mechanic can as legitimate v be
scholars as lawyers or a Prof, of English.
It helps to refiiie a man or woman to learn
even a little German or French, though it
is for the purpose of successful trade or
politics. What is the difference in prin
ciple between the man who studies lan
guages to be able to teach them for a liv
ing, and the man who learns them to suc
ceed better at his trade. Trading in itself
is as honorable as teaching. It is not the
profession that honors the man, but the
man the profession. No high-minded
man can ever dWcourngc by word or
deed any honorable efforts for bettering
conditions in life.
Nothing but a slimy though can ever
make "dirty" a fact ab-iiil coal, iron,
earth, "and the manure that excites tho
energies of vegetation." Science is the
philosopher's stone, that, like nature,
transmutes these into purest gouty. Take
a lump of coal. It suggests everything
in geological hibtory. It is thiy remains
of an ancient flora, and has eoir.o down to
us from an age so remote that 'no arith
luetic can number its aeons.7 The tiny
pebble and grain of sand (jiave been
rounded by tlio elements and storms of
a thousand centuries. Their history Is
more wonderful than the strangest ro
mance of human biography. And that
despised manure! Even from that conies
the energy that gives bread to the Ik-girar
and the prince, and the flowers that
adorn tho head of beauty. S. A.
(to bo continued.)
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