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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1874)
in-' THE HESPERIAN STUDENT. II'! ' . 4 I .;.:.' ,,. r L I rs ' i HESPERIAN STUDENT, i'Lnum;i monthly kytiiu HESPERIAN STUDENT FUREISH. LN(! ASSOCIATION (iK Till' NIHICAKBtV LWIVKKSITV. Editoh-inchikf, 0. E. Hmwaiu. AssorUTK. FaNNIIJ MkTCAI.F. LOCAI., W. C. SnowAirKU. J. M. Iuwin, Business Maunder. TERMS FOR SUIJSCKIL'TIOX. 1 copy mt college yv "fU.To. 1 " six nionllis .... O.iiO. Single copy 0.10. TERMS OF ADVERTISING. 1 col tun n tine insertion $A.00. : square " " 1.00. 1 .:lo. All article fur pnliHrntlon -Imiiltl licnddri'i'il KiHmr IIe-i'eihas stikiint. stntc rnlverl:y. Lincoln Noliriicku. AH tttljMTlptlunis with the iiihlre IhhiI1 tie iMit to the HiiIiioh Mnnngor. Siil)-crlitlont cullfcteil liiMirlnhly In ndvnnco. Advertlsuinent colluotud monthly. DERATING. KVII.S VKItSL'S JIli.NKFITS. ideas which lit- know to be weak, almost billy when carefully considered, asscr lions ami oplniuns that ho would have been ashamed to advance anywhere cl-c( and iu innny other ways ha.arded hi- rep utatlon, contrary to his common sense, for the sake of making n speech? Can such a course, long pursued, fail to weak en the judgement, blunt the edge of the intellectual discrimination, and vitiate the taste ? Would it not certainly be hazardous? No one has a right, for the sake of a cheap reputation for speaking, to impose upon his listeners a mess of frothy vapor ing; for, if lie is cnpublo of preparing anything better though briefer, it is an inult to proffer that of inferior quality. Among thoso typical of the class with whom this evil is common, are these: The man who can snin a half-hour speech from a half minute idea-on the same urally Hows, and the style of argument ....:. ...!..i.. .i.... . i. i. ..,.. i.i .,. u.n,r : mitl iii'iitorv in which each one is most piiiicipn: iimi uiu tiu ii v."il ""'ft " ""r of one hundred and one verges, but each skill. There seems to be a charm, an ex citement, a peculiar gratification in be ing able to wield youradvorsary's weapon better than he can himself. Such a practice is admitted to be extremely dangerous. It instated Hint (Jhillingworth, the great est theologian and controversi.malist of his day, bj frequently exercising his pow ers to overthrow all adversaries in the arena of words, from all sides of every question, at last came to doubt the validi ty of all human reasoning, lie had con quercd himself, and could believe noth ing from any demonstration. These are a few of the perils o( debat ing. Wo will now consider Till'. IIKNliFITS AFFOIIDKI). 1. It is valuable as a means of testing and developing the powers of thought, reason, and speech, and of determining the channels in which thought most iint- gives a fund of wel'.-digesled opinions on many Important subjects. Such careful preparation, if truth, can dor, and honesty, In regarded, will ubvi. ate most of the dangerous evils we have mentioned, and at the same lime confer the most valuable part of a true cdtica. Ron well formed opinions. We are therefore warmly in favor of debating societies, if properly conducted, believing that the evils which would seem naturally to attend them may bo avoided, and they be made the sources of much practical knowledge, and fountains of inspiration to attain excellence in urn tory. WHAT WE HAVE IN THE UNIVERSITY. ver.se was similar to the preceding and successful. Just as the artist learns, after long prac- just like tin- following; the well-known i tice, how to apply the colors, with his The practice of debating is recognized in nearly every college literary society; in fact, as in our own, a discussion upon some stated "question" constitutes the. important part of every evening's exer cise, upon which by far the most stress i.s laid. But that the benefits resulting to the participant are nUcmja a siiflicicnt recom pense for the time employed, is by no means certain. On the contrary there Is reason to believe that debating, as fro. qucntly conducted, may become extreme ly perilous, and the source of many evils; cnless the abuses are avoided, and the us. is and objects the true spirit of such discussions are studied and thoroughly understood by everyone engaging in them as a means of culture. Wo desire in this, article to indicate a few of the dangers of greatest magnitude, and the manner iu which we think they can bo avoided, and the debating society bo mado u'sottroo of many rich benefits. KVII.S TO JIB AVOIDUI). 1. Danger of acquiring a habit of care less and desultory speaking anil thinking. While thoartof purely extemporaneous speaking is a desirable and rich poscsaion, and perhaps implies the necessity of borne practice, without previously arranged ideas in any set phraseology, yet we are seconded by good authority iu saying, that the greatest degree of excellence in this art can only be obtained by careful and systematic preparation and arrange incut of thought on every subject wo are called upon to discuss. Thus wo acquire a fund of well-arranged ideas and wcll-lbnncd opinions on many subjects icudyinado for future use; at the same lime the power to Improvise an address on the spur of the moment is strengthened. But how is it in our societies? Do not the majority of the speakers seem to think that their chief duty is to fill as much time as possible with a heterogeneous vo c.tbulary, without arrangoment, logic, or sense V Who among us, that has taken an active part in the discussions of a debating so ciety for a term, has not offtfn expressed soph who has just picked up one or two large words from his text-book, of " learn cd length and thundering sound," which he is aching to enunciate asoftenaspossi. bio in a speech of ten minutes; the senior of unlimited confidence in his ability to speak without preparation and conse quently, of course, an unconscionable bore; the fellow with voice of dolorous twang and sickly monotone, who can ar gue unceasingly though .ignominiously defeated at every attack. Like Gold, smith's village schoolmaster "For uon though vniiioilshuil, he could nrguu still;" and lastly the potty plagiarist who has just stolen some tidbit of argument which ho is anxious to "ras" upon tlio brush iu such a way as to create the most beautiful picture, from their happy blend ing; in what department of his art lie is the most powerful; what artistic, touches he can give most- skillfully: So the de bater learns by trial in what style of word-painting he can create the most ef fective pictures of thought; what kind of illustration lie uses most successfully; the way to direct his flights of oratoray, his flashes of wit, his touches of humor, his shafts of sarcasm, his irony, in order to to toll most forcibly on the minds of his listeners; how to address himself on all occasions to suit the circumstancesthe time, the place, ami the audience; and, like a youthful gladiator, in the arena of controversy, lie learns to adjust his armor innocent public, as original, before some- of defence and to wield the sword of nr i one else gets the start of him. 1 "Uiucnt with skill. He his own J. Danger of forming fatso opinions, . poWL.rs aiMj resources, and discovers also, and of becoming dogmatical. to soim. t.xtent, how they should bo culti- There is great danger that, in the strife j vatwli aml hmv ,-,. w may aSj,jlx.. 'nus for victory in college contests, the student j wllL.n lll0 R.al battle begins, the mimic may form false opinions and be urged to jtyay i,eiti ended, he can enter with some tai;o radical stands upon various issues oi assurance of success. Ho will soon not vital importance, which will work a great injury to him if persisted in during life; and, if ever abandoned, is apt to impel his intellectual sinews under perfect con trol. He will temper his blade a little more carefully so that, although his blows 2. Debating develops orlginali'y, and teaches its value. MM... flW... !.,.. .-.,.,,, ilic ... ......... 11. ..I ll... ...... son who draws from his originality, is the one who is listened to with patience and pleasure. Invention in argument is ac knowledged to bo the- great secret of sue cess. Though the speaker be Mr. Blank whose very appearance induces a smile; whoso awkward gestures, ungainly form, stam mering tongue, and unwieldy arms, swinging fearfully about, like the wind mills that excited the valor of the knight of Lit -Manclia, present a ludicrous spectacle; though iiivitriab'y, as he reaches some soaring climax of oaratory, at times oven sublime, he llounders, col lapses and falls ingloriously from his gid: dy bight back to the earth ;yet, if he prof, fer some treasure fresh from his own mine of thought, even though mingled with much dross, it will be accepted and tllo .p aker's ell'ort honored. r :j. As we have already intimated, the practice of discussing topics of living in terest, if euro be tuken in preparation him to the opposite extreme, equally may not fall as fiercely, as wildly and fast, dangerous, from tho reaction. As, for in- ! a, j i,js youthful contests, yet his weapon stance, it lie is nn extreme Mbcralist in will flash no less briglitly, and his strokes politics and religion, against his con vie wju bo .stronger and Keener. Rons, while in college, he may become an extreme partisan or sectarian in after life. This appears to be tho reason: the opinions of students are in process of formation; hence when some important subject is presented for dicussion, a cer tain amount of thought, of greater or less degree, is directed to one side or tho other of the question, with tho hope of con quest. h tho event of success, elated by victory, he is apt to persuade himself that the side of the question ho has advocated is the correct one, and, likely, will stub bornly adhere thereto against all reason. Who that has often debuted, has not some times almost persuaded himself to believe a sophistry which in tho outset he fell to be false? is not tho advocacy of a false doctrino for nrguoment's sake equally dangorous to the hearer and the reasoncr? !l. Danger of disregarding truth in din. cushions. Closely connected with tho laut objec tion is tho frequent disregard of known truth in debate. The debater is often in duced to take positions which he sincerely believes to be false, in order to sho", his A correspondent of the Ouwha Jim hi, under the signature of " Iowa" rcu-mlv makes a bitter and malicious attack mi the State University. Tho article, besides containing a mess of weak and inconsist ent attempts at arguments, barefaced falsehoods, and silly complaints, convejs a cowardly and venomous thrust at the Chancellor. The writer says that the University is only such in name; that the laboratory, the apparatus, appliances, and furniture for use iu tho various depart ments, are mere shains,and in no way ad equate for the needs of the school ; in short, that everything is " cheap." Final ly he says that the Chancellor is the cause of all deficiencies and failures. "We do not reply to these charges because they ought to deserve notice. Like many similar attacks at the life and welfare of the University that have been made through tho columns of that scavenger among the press of Noinasku The Omit hit llmdd which greedily seizes and gulps down every piece of enrion that comes within its reach, no matter how putrid, this slander will not be noticed by intelligent people, who have taken the pains to visit tho University, to see for themselves. Hut it is a fact that the people of the state generally, even of Lincoln, know nothing about the University and what it contains; hence are liable to be deceived by such articles as tho one in question. Said one of our most prominent eiti'iis and a popular State olllcer, the other dav in our presence, after paying a visit to the laboratory, library, and museum, "why, tho University is quite an extensive affair, isn't it? 1 had no idea that so great pro gress had been made that so much h.al been accumulated in so short a time." THE l.initAHY AM) ML'SKUM. Tho Herald says: "The library and mu seum are wonderful exhibitions of that disposition which some men exhibit in always buying their clothing at a cheap Jew store the clothes hide their naked ness, and aro cheap." He has ccrlainh contrived a very labored and awkward sentence to express a falsehood that might have been stated iu three words. Tno library now contains about tirdf hundred calumet. Instead of beimg "cheap," it is a matter of frequent wonder and re mark by every visitor inspecting the li brary, that so much wisdom lias been ex orcised tn the selections made. Though the number of volumes is quite li'nittd. the shelves contain tho choicest selections of standard works of tho best authors, noatly and elegantly bound, representing almost every department of literature- and science. The student is never at a loss for books of reference, or the bestinstruc tlve literature for his leisure hours, cither ffffTl?iffirynilf1iftt!lftxLri W9Wd'H&"&C'Bi9inKTWTto BE3!Ktg IWJWfe&PIIL WtMBr5' "fo WR&tiiM'X&Zifi JEHWBPRiWBWMHiMRMMiM