THE HESPERIAN STUDENT. i li !i P HESPERIAN STUDENT, ITM.lSllKl) MONTHLY 1IYTIIK HESPERIAN STUDENT PUBLISH 1NG ASSOCIATION OP TltK XEKltASKA UNIVERSITY. Editoh-ix-cuikk, G. K. Ilow.uto. AssociATK, F.XNtK MktOALK. Local, W. L. Swhkt. J. M. Inwix, Business Manager. TERMS FOR SUBSCRIPTION. 1 copy pur college year - $0.75. 1 " six months .... 0.50. Single copy 0.10. TERMS OF ADVERTISING. 1 column one insertion $4.00. ; .squares " " 1.00. .:w. l All nrttalus Tor iiuhliuiitlon should liunddresHcd Editor llKsi'KMAN Stcdknt, Statu Unlvurxlty, Lincoln Xubrnskn. All etibscrlptioiiH, with thu iiddresg thould Iiimnit to thu ItitHinuHsMiumgur. Snl.e'tirlptlons volli-utod Inviiritilily In mlvniice. Advcrtliuinuntt. colli'ctud monthly. tlons;a fearless critic of their policies and operations; and furthermore, we can promise in behalf of the entire editorial corps, 1 1 1 (it the influence of Ilia Studhnt shall act as a restraint and reproof upon all narrow animosity, enmity, or bitter rivalry between the several societies; but act as mii incentive to healthy, friendly, but spirited emulation. We place the acquisition of the matter of knowledge, as sought in the ordinary routine of college studies, only equal in real benefit to the power of assimilating and wieldhg ihls knowledge, acquired through participatinn in the exercises of the lyceuin hall, and the ute of the col uniiis of the college journal. Students, shall we have your prnctt'ril' support, as well as good wishes? It" will now be entirely proper, without further comment, for us to make our bow. WHY NOT? SALUTATORY. c AVith this issue is introduced a new and, we trust, a propitious epoch in the history of the Stcdkxt. We are permitted to make our debut un der somewhat more favorable circumstan ces than our predcessors. We make our obeisance before our readers, as of course they have observed, with a slightly con scious air of self-importance. Frankly acknowledging an average share of edi torial vanity, we admit that we are entire ly conicious of the fact that our now at tire is rather becoming. Unwarranted self-praise? Nay, my dear Sir, I was about to remark, when you interrupted me, that a little parade in our new clothes might reasonably be paidoned by our fastidious and charitable friends and patrons, if our more genteel appearance shall add anything to their pleasure, and be the means of creating a wanner and more lasting friendship be iwccn us. Do not understand me to inti mate that we wish to establish the social or literary status of the Studknt from the improved out, the liner texture, or the enlarged pattern of our cloak. Not at all. But with the advantage of double our former space, and other facilities which the wisdom and generosity of the Asso elation have placed at our command, we lliink we may reasonably hope to mr.be the Studknt, in all respects, a more vain ablfl journal tp-our readers. Too higli a t.i.j.ite can not be paid to the talented gentlemen who have preced. ed us in the management of this paper. Laboring under many disadvantages lack of space, material &c the task they have accomplished in brpiging it to its present standing, has not been blight. With increased opportunities and means, and with the encouragement and support of the students of tho University, which wc not only claim, but have a right to ox pect, we shall come far short of our priv ileges if we do not improve upon the work so well founded and developed. Especially do wo wish to make the Student an impartial and candid herald of our literary societies : an advocate of every means for their improvement; a champion of their rights and just aspirn- " 1 wish we could receive sonioinstruc lion in elocution," said one of the stu dents to me to-day, speaking of the ad vantages for laying the foundation of a broad and comprehensive education our University allbrds. Said another, "I would consider the tuition of a thorough teacher of this art worth live dollars a term to me." Another, " I am convinced that a private teacher of elocution, even of ordinary ability, coining to Lincoln, would be sure of immediately securing an ample patronage." Indeed, this desire is the universal and frequently expressed wish of the majority of our students. Tnere is something signiticant in this! Does it not indicate one of the most im perative present need of the University? It leads us to this inquiry: Why 'can we not have a teacher of elocution V We do not intend to ilnd fault with the wisdom and energetic providence of our learned lathers. I he Regents have done noblv in providing facilities and annliances to secure to students, at this early day, so many of the advantages of a lirst class University. Their last stroke of policy in making provision for opening the Ag ricultural College, in reality as well aa name, by creating a model farm, placing dormitories thereon for the accomoda tion of students, and allowing them a fair compensation for labor, is u in..,, stride in the right direction to supply me wants oi me state. Is not the present need, e have indi. eated, also worthy of attention ? Has the divine art, so adored, so assidtionslv .,nt. livrtod and perfected by the ancientsto wiiosc Inlluenco much ot tho perfection of their drama, their song and their ora tory may bo directly attributed, become so trivial ami unimportant in the uvmi this utilitarian age, as to bo entirely bo neath our notice and unworthy our prec ions time? Americans are called a na tion of speakers rather "spoochillers." Wo might be denominated a nation of orators, did wo but study mu practice how to speak and read. No, the art is as nobio ami just as nee essary for an American student, as for the students of Athens, Alexandria, or Rome. Tho trouble is not hero It Is somewhere else. A reason which makes the necessity for ft teachor of elocution in our school more urgontis this; A targe number of the students aro beginners in the first w second year of the Preparatory Depart- iiim. we venture ts afllrm that not a few of thorn are not even tolerable read- RETROSPECTIVE AND PROSPECTIVE. pis when they enter. Where, then, under existing circumstances, is there a chance tor becoming any better readers, through the whole college course, after entering? Is it true that some of us have never oven heard a good rendition of a single piece of English prose or verse by any master, much less practiced ourselves, and If so, is it not equally true that we are likely to remain in ignorance, so far as the benefits of our College is concernod, unless some traveling amateur in the profession con descends to favor us with an evening's en tertainment? Is it true that some even in the higher classes, can not read a piece of simple English of a dozen lines, without stammering, reiteration and misconcop tion of the ideas presented? Much less dare they attempt to depict the passion, the force, the life of the sentences before them, by the wonderful power to paint the tntrl- cate and delicate shades of thought and feeling, possessed by the cultured voice? Let mo ask the advocates of that doc trine that discourages all effort at person ation, or dramatic display in the reading or recitation of our English literature, what would be the fate of the choicest gifts of genius in a century, if their theo ry were universally adopted. Who would expect to be able to appreciate all tho lat ent beauty and soul-stirring power in the written music of the great masters, by simply learning to name or read off the notes of the gamut, arranged with every possible combination and intricacy of symbols and nomenclature, if he himself did not try to sing, or listen to one who could? So our choicest literature be- ; comes a ileail letter to the person who simply knows the names and etymology of tho words. Thu productions of Slink peare, -Milton, Byron, Moore, Hood and miner are too lofty or pathetic for im impassioned thinking as well as uniin passioned rending. Our best literature is an arbitrary quaii thy. Its value depends entirely upon the point of sight the reader occupies. Booth's Forests, or Siddons' Slmkspoaro is entirely a different personage from the Shakspearo of ihe ordinary reader Beccher's bible Is a different book froni the ordinary homilist's. To one part Shakspcarc is the painter of natureV se cret bcautics-thc inspired oracle of ev ory pas-don or oinmotion that is holy, or 'onder, grand or sublime, wiso, weak, sil ly, or dcmoiiiiic, in human num.,. t.. the other his writings are a picture of grotesque and distorted fancy-nil array '' unintelligible phrases and oxtr.,n..,n. (.Vi.auL,nc " mi; ivuijimiHH in U Vltlll- TZ mo rrC:"rmw,,,,nl"W?pirni- '.. W. Wnuo,,, in h What w. ... . ' M.nu appropriate address, prcscnt-d st. Ill of his L , l,roU"h ""' l '"" SCkly n flMtt,3' I... volume tS?rhlOh0Ci f "' Unabridged Dictionary, puianul elocutionists, as to heenmo think- for the Critic's stand. tenn r2wTt0!r,!',,,,il '"' 'f U,C W,,twn l '"' it-uii ul allowed .to lie nlili. t nil. : .,. ... .ii.i..: .... . v t.'nnnll,. ......... ........ ' """ ""- .m- miviTHIiy JUKI OI10 )f the IllOst iuli'llt. ... .:.. " ,'"1 Pmis.ng any lHor- l mul energetic mcincbcrs of the Ad.l- pliian society. He i one of t!ioe who believe in expressing their interact in ih wollfaro of any institution tliey preteii.lto support, in a practical foim, and consider tho cause which does not merit some sol f-mttrl iflco, of very little consequent'. -Mr. Watson has until recently been en gaged as one of tho editors and proprie tors of the 2Tebmla Farmer tho Granger '"Kftii of tho state. Wo learn that he has recently roslirned this mobIiI. ...wi nninr. wl into the law and real estate business, iiiider tho firm title of Chapln & Watson. v o cun wish him no better fortune, than mul .ho may bo as successful in his new profession as he has been in the difficult position of mi editor. Another year of our paper's history is passed. Another year of our lives as students how few and how pi acinus are these years! Is numbered with "the days that are faded and gone." Time "the tomb-builder," lias seemingly Jos! tied the sands of another cycle from his retless glass, impatient at their sluggish current all too swift for most ot us. But we do not intend to lament over the march of fate. We have no metaphor! cal tears to shed over the graves time has made. Let him rear his own tombstones at their head we aro willing to phm u,c llowers. There's very little use stopping, as students, to wail and rend our "ar ments over the sopulehors of buried op. pertunities. Let time.s sands bury them deeper we'll hope to reap the fruits of good resolutions from the seed sown ovpi- their ashes. If during the past year, we have, some of us, through negligence, cheated ovrselveo out of many of the' treasures of knowledge we might have made our own by earnest ellbrt; if we have neglected to benefit ourselves, by not helping more earnestly to sustain the literary society, or our paper, why, make restitution by increased effort in flic year to come. If, perchance, in our inter course as members of the various litera ry societies, there hits been any degree of enmity or unkindness any" lack" of charity and benevolence if words have been spoken or written that have carried with them a sling cf bitterness, gladly let all this moulder beneath the dust ..f time, too deep for any resurrection; and In the future let charity, good will, kind ness and true manliness characterize all our actions. Let times tombs alone. We have enough to do to grasp the sparkling g..ld which in the present moment, glitters in the stream yet flowing from his mighty glass, ere it is borne to the fathomless sea of eternity. On the whole, in all our instituiioim connected with the University, we have made encouraging progress. To-day we stand, In these respects, "in tho light of fortune's smile." It rests itii lis, stu. dents, wether Me retain thi smile or of fend the sometime fide damo to frowning and bring adversity'H clouds upon us. A GENEROUS fTlFT. On the evening of the JJOth ult.. the Ailejphinns were the recipients of a vain aim'., ilini .... . y ' , '-"sxgc our attention. As students desiring to lay the broad ft,,,,,- 1t.1''" a University education, we have a right to demand that the basis of this most necessary and useful art and Bcionce bo not neglected "unoo 't do II wlHiom .oU "c'' '",l ,v IHB9