THE : HESPERIAN : $
eeive that either literary soeioties or frntenii- our colleges and Universities to affairs of stale
ties stand for a principle. The average new and church. Religious conferences and peri
student is inclined to treat the question as to odicals denounce the college fraternity as not
wjiuuicr nis win umuate wnn a society or a
fraternity, as a trilling matter, and too often
is content to allow the con se of events to
determine the answer.
The student who does this makes a mistake.
New Student, the question whether your lot
is to he cast with a society or a fraternity is
not a trilling one. Lt is not something which
will work out its own solution as a matter of
course. Upon your determination of this will
depend your associates for four years, as well
as the character of your college life. Your
deeision in this may In potent in d-v-iding
your future. The matter deserves conscien
tious consideration.
Duty impells the ITi-him-iimax to trill the
attention of new students to the difference in
what the societies stand for, from what the
fraternities stand for. The literary societies
stand for student equality; for the largest oncar politico, bat if thovara to h n hnnifwumf.
social growth and the highest literary (level- power in affairs of state, they would do well
' opment; in short for "the greatest good to the to rid and deliver themselves of the fraternity
greatest number." On the other hand the spirit before they attempt to promote the pub
fraternities pride thems"lves on their oxclus- lie welfare."
iveness. Their acknowledged aim is to pro- The Uksi-kuian does not wish to say what
mote the interests of iltljr few. In the astudent should do in this matter. That is
university the sphere of the fraternities seem for the individual student to say. However
to be small, for they makeabHolutsly no effort the IEimpkuian does not hesitate to say that
to win college honors. They do not enter every student, to whom life means somothiug
literary or forensic contests. Their whole serious, whether imbued with ambition or
energy is devoted to cotillions, promenades altruism, will fin 1 that the opjn literary so
und football. cioty can do for him what no other organiza
Clearly, whether astudent should join a t ion can.
only opposed to purity in politic but as dan"-
erous to our political freedom. The Advance,
a leading Congregational organ, says in a
recent issue, under the caption, "Why Cor
rupt?:" "Taki the political boss, the man
who believes in nmehino methods more than
merit; if he is a college trailed mv.i and waj
a member of a 'frnfc,' he left tin halls of learn
ing and oimud the threshold of politic
imbued with tin idea of combination and
organization for the purpose of promoting the
interests of a sjljct few. That lu should
develop this idea into largo and alarming pro
portions only m ans that mustard seeds grow.
AVc shall not iinisl on tin immediate connec
tion of the two, but the machine method was
never before so rank as it now is right along
with the multiplication of college graduates.
I here is a loud call for these college men to
society or fraternity will depend along what
line he desires to develope. If the student
wishes to fit himself to meet people in all
walks of life, to improve as a public speaker
and writer; in a word, if he w.ri's to make
the most of himself, to p.v;.uvJo.' th largest
fluid of usefulness, he will find a congenial
atmosphere in the open literary sooioty. The
student who desires to bo a "fop" or society
"butterfly" will not find an agreeable hnnu
in a society hall.
Never has there been such an awakening
to the serious effect of college fraternity in
fluence as in the past year. Hossisin and cor-
j. V. Patch spent vacation travelling with
a magniseopo. Messrs. Matson and 'Uumlll
assisted him.
Mr. JIartigan of Hastings will not bo in
school this year. He is working for an insur
suranco company in Chicago.
.Jim JJurks has boon buying up old wagons
this summer to speculate on during corn husk
ing time. Jim will not bo in school but takes
charge of his father's implement store at
Heatrice.
ruplion have bc'on traced from influence.' in" in hair cuts.
AVestorllold has not moved. Ho is still-a't
117 N 13th St. and is giving the latest style