33Ua9t
i,ras. , t-toj
THE HESPERIAN
allow fraternity pooplo to become members,
so long will their societies bo troubled with
"indifference." So long as they allow their
societies to be dominated by an element
whoso tastes are social rather than literary,
so long will they find ua lack of interest'' in
literary work. Literary culture in its highest
and best sense cannot bo obtained through
banquets and balls and social functions.
And that is what is the matter with Ala
bama. The Nebraska literary societies
acted more wisely. They declared open
war on the fratornity idea and method, and
forever barred all "frats" from membership.
And the beneficial result is seen in the pros
perous and flourishing condition of our liter
ary societies at the present time. Wo arc
doing a literary work which, The Hesperian
honestly believes, is not excelled by that of
any organization in tho West. "We arc
working hard and intelligently; we are work
ing together and with a will; we are pro
moting literary tastes and inclinations, and
doing all in our power to encourage and
promote literary talent. And we arc succeed
ing. With a very few exceptions, the student
writers and speakers of tho University today
are members of one or the other literary
societies. That this is true, tho member
ship of tho "English Olub," and the literary
productions appearing from time to time in
college and local publications toil but too
well. And we are troubled with neither
"indifference" nor "lack of interest." And
so we say to our Alabama contemporary,
"Brace up; expel all fraternity members
from your literary societies, if you would do
good, honest litorary work.1' Do this, and
you will rot make such pleas us tho follow
ing in vain:
"At no institution of learning in Alabama
can a more intelligent body of students bo
found than hero, and yet they are neglecting
one of tho most important branches of their
education. Wo venture to say that at least
a third of our students hero intend to enter
into public lifo or tho practice of law some
day. But besides these, nearly every ono
hero will some time in future life have occa
sion to speak in public or in somo assembly.
As wo are in college to prepare ourselves to
meet tho responsibilities of lifo, why
shouldn't we improve oursolves along this
line. There is no more highly appreciated
accomplishment than to bo able to express
one's thoughts with grace and ease. A few
have this power as a gift of nature, others
have to cultivate it, and the literary societies
aro the places to practice one's solf in tho
art. Even if a student has no dosiro or
ambition to be an orator, tho information
and mental improvement is a sufficient in
ducement for a man who wishes to cultivnte
himsolf. Some arc doubtless lod to avoid
societies because they feel conscious of an
inability to speak in public, but this is an
absurd reason for none of us are brilliant
orators or debaters. Wo are not expected
to be, but our object is to better oursolves."
Reception to Chancellor MacLean.
"It is too bad too bad." So said a
Senior as, in the wee sma' hours after tho
street cars has stopped, he was trudging out
to No. 10000, corner of Nobody avonuo
and Nowhere street. Tho reception tendered
Chancellor MacLean by tho Seniors was
over. When a Hesikkia.n reporter asked
tho aforesaid Senior what was too bad, he
replied: "Why the unwritten law that causes
Freshmen boys to accompany Senior girls
and Senior boys to accompany Freshmen
girls. See how it was tonight. Hamlet
was in town; tho Seniors had mado arrange
ments to go and couldn't break their engage
ments. That's why there weren't more out
at the reception tonight."
We think the Senior had tho reason in a
nutshell. Those who attonded tho reception-,
howovor, had a delightful ovoning. The
conservatory hrd been mum daintily decor
ated with flowers and draperies; ices wore
sorvod throughout tho ovoning. Presidont
Almy mado a nice address in behalf of tho
class; and the chancellor mado a fitting re
sponse. After the more formal part had
been finished, which, by tho way, was most
informal, the members of tho class enjoyed
themselves in games and dancing.
Taken all-in all, tho reception tendered to
Chancellor and Mrs. MacLean was entirely
a social success.