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About The Hesperian / (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1899 | View Entire Issue (March 4, 1898)
Tills: : HESPERIAN cuse the useless destruction of a great navy; the skirmish in Cuba contained I:i the flaming flimbcaux of the Yellow Journals" will not justify a conflict between Uncle Sam and Young Alphonso. A little check on some fly ing tongnes,a little ice on some heated heads, a little light on some befuddled brains will do much to prevent a war with Spain. More rVoloN on ICiotic Anatomy. The JCiofp, chameleon like, has changed his color. Instead of a blue coat he now wears a soft velvety one of royal green, donned to be in accordance with the season, 1 suppose. It is a thing of beauty all right, but as to its being a joy forever that's another story. To our mind, the very last poem in this number is the only thing, which, thus far, has given us any of that much-vaunted '"'interpre tation of the West," '-The Flitting"' is a song from the heart. All of us who know how 1he blackbirds gather in the fall, circling about in vast flocks for a day or two. aud then are gone; all of us who have left country or village home for the place where " cobweb of wires and wires Will tangle the sunset high in the west"' can feel- -must feel, 1 think the beauty and truth of this picture, Aud best of all, it is thoroughly western. A "Bashan" poet could not have written it, "Faith,"" turned to prose, would make a very good tract. As it is though, we think it an extra -dry brand of didacticism. It pre sents no new thought, and if the verses were uurythmed. one would recognize no poetical qualities 5n its expression. "Faith" is simply a precept in pentameters uot a poem. There is another thing in this number which should have bean saved for a Sunday -soliool paper. We refer to "Ashley" This story is commonplace from start to finish; there is nothing of interest at any point; the charac ters are automatons; the events trivial. Why tihe story was written passes our comprehen sion. Why 41113 me ou il theme reader should have to read it is beyond our ken. "Wild while eyes and a savage whine"1 reminds us of "If the red slayer thinks he slays." The two poems 4ire about on a par 4is far 4is intelligibility is concerned, at least on first sight We fear to criticize, for, personally, we don't like this sort of thing a little bit. After one has studied the poem, however, it seems rather effective. "Undefeated" contains some good epithets and the figure is rather strong. But the en tire verse produces in some way an effect of awkwardness, which is heightened by "Gain last" in the final line. That reminds one of trade-lasts but never mind. The longer story in this number is a charm ing satire. Mr. Alexander conceals his pur pose so well that one does not catch his idea until the end is reached, and then we laugh explosively (being a man.) In fact, we ven ture the opinion that for a story as a story this is the best yet "Environment" is good, but lacks the terse forcefulness of another poem which Mr. Boomer has unconsciously paralleled. "As Ivy Clings" is a happily 'chosen figure It strikes us rather forcibh. "The Old Trail" paints 4i picture shich is vivid and jit the same time complete. There is an indefinable something about it that makes it charming. Some of the "Yelps" 4ire most amusing, and those that aren't most amusing are most interesting. This part of the Kiote bids fair to be the most readable of 41113. e llr gljul to notice that feA commas and periods are absent from ' -dress parade," and no flagrant errors reveal themselves on cursory examina tion. In the absence of internal dissensions and foreign financial complications the Kiote, is in the way of being the pride of its makeis 4ind the pleasure of Jill who read it. Long live the Kiote. Tint Fmsa. Tin Irvine: 14111. "Between You and Ma and the Gridiron,'" the Filing Pan said to the Soup Kettle, "I'm Afraid to Tackle the Ivlote. It Doesn't Seem to be "Dead yet. It Squirms: it Yelps; it HOWLS H" A:n4ilnmmis of this University has fold me some odd l4iles now and then. It seems that tins campus was one inhabited 03 some quoM' people in 30 -olden time. There wore two fel lows, once, who came down together from a little town that had a red railroad station, one store, and a poHt-oflirc with facilities at fJic