T H E II 12 S 1' BRIAN.
not particular with whom you associate; if you wish
others to choose your friends, your bosom compan
ions; if you wish to isolate yourself from the students;
if you wish to deprive yourself of all literary advant
ages; if you wish to deny yourself of all possibility of
entering the three choice social circles of the Univer
sity, then join one of the fraternities. On the other
hand, if you wish to enjoy all these good things, re
main a barbarian and join a literary society. In the
literary society you have an opportunity to become
acquainted with the students of the University. You
cannot become acquainted with each other in the
class-room, or in the halls. Social privileges are not
all that are given you in a society. There you can
develop your skill as a debator and as an orator.
The Hesperian believes that half of a college edu
cation is lost if a student is denied the benefits de
rived from a literary society.
In years gone by the frats had a society known
as the "Philodicean." This they kept up for a num
ber of years. In '90 and '91 they held only three
or four meetings, and in '91 and '92 they did not
have a single meeting. Do not forget the fact that
during the year of '91 and '92, the University had
about three hundred more students than ever before.
Notwithstanding that fact, the frats had declined in
numbers to such a degree that they could not even
go through the form of holding society meetings.
During this same period the three literary societies
had the largest membership roll that has ever been
reached. In spite of the increase in the number of
college students last year over the year preceding,
the fraternities were the least prosperous. The only
explanation The Hesperian can give for such a con
dition, is the fact that most of the new students for
'91 and '92 were from the farms and not very well
to do.
Do the students that have just entered, wish to
give their support and encouragement to a class of
people that seek only to bring the rich and "tony"
students among them? The Hesperian thinks not.
We believe in a society that throws its doors open to
the rich and the poor alike. The only requirements
for admission into one of the open literary societies
is that the person shall have a good moral character
and stand well in his classes. Wl.en a man once be
comes a member, he is expected to be a gentleman
and perform every duty that devolves upon all the
persons in the society.
The Hesperian believes that the principle un
derlying a secret society is wrong. No organization
, of men or women uith a high, lofty purpose, was
ever known to hold its meetings behind closed doors.
If there is any good to be derived from a secret so
ciety why not permit all the students to get the
benefit ot it? Why confine it to a few? The face
of it certainly looks as though something is wrong.
We believe it would not be a bad plan to join an
open literary society something you can enter with
your eyes open.
One of the duties of every student is to take an
active interest in every college enterprise. One of
the greatest, if not the greatest, factor in a college
education is the training afforded students by par
ticipating in rollcge movements. There we learn to
use our head work, and rely upon our own judgment.
If we wish to be aggressive and take advantage of
these things we must post ourselves upon questions
that must be solved by the students. The best way
to get this information is to subscribe for The Hes
perian, the only college paper in the unireisity. By
so doing we not only learn what is going on around
us, but we help to support a college organ. The
Hesperian relies upon the students for sustenance.
Without your help it would soon cease to lire. No
student of the university would for a moment consent
to that. We would like to sec a paper published in
the university that will not merely equal, but surpass
any college paper in the west; even rival those pub
lished in the east. The chief characteristic of a west
ern man is push, enterprise, and "good, common
horse sense." We can publish a first-class paper if
we will. Let us all give our support, both financial
and mental, to The Hesperian in order that we
may raise its literary merit. Do not forget that it is
a college enterprise and dependent upon the students
for life. With our nine hundred students we should
have at least eight hundred and fifty subscribers to
The Hesperian.
Watch closely the advertisements in this paper
and then do your duty by patronizing the advertis
ers. You will save money.
LITERARY.
Extracts .From a Prep's First Letter Home.
The first thing I did when I landed here,
"Was to master the Uni. yell,
That's the first lesson in history
An lilusiun mystery,
1 know you'd adore it my dear,
It's performed by a crowd,
And is usually loud,
It takes place only three times a year.
I'd so love to tell you just how it's clone,
33ut that is a secret, I fear.
There's one thing that bothers me dreadfully though,
It's to have them all think that I'm green.
They rush up with a grin
And just gather me in:
"Oh, you're a new student, 1 see."
Now how do they know it,
I'm sure I don't show it,
I'm as stately as seniors should bo.
1 walk down the hall with my self-possessed air,
And don't look at a thing that 1 see.