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THE HESPERIAN STUDENT.
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Morgan, for tho study of3hakcspcarc.
Tlie plays of the great English poet arc
studied as to their plot and the skill in its
execution, history, .language and so on.
Sufllce it to say wo are constantly gaining
insight to new beauties. Prof. Nichols
meets the B Preparatories on Thursday
evenings and is reading with them that
interesting and instructive book, " Win,
II. Seward's Travels Hound the World."
The principal of the Model School and
assistant devote a portion of time to read
ing to the pupils from books suited to
their years. Another class hus devoted
some time to the study of Chaucer. They
read The Prologue to the Canterbury
Talcs, and The Knight's Tale. Any of
the class can now, notwithstanding the
'awful spelling," read with ease (e's) the
quaint writings of "the great father of
English literature."
The Virgil class after linishing the
iEncld read Conington's translation of
that poem, the Earl of Derby's translation
of Homer's Iliad and arc now reading
Pope's Homer's Odyssey. The most of
the advanced pupils have done a fair
amount of
MISCELLANEOUS HEADING.
Some have read all of Macaulay's es
says, a portion of Carlyle's and of Bacon's
and have tasted of Dante, Spencer and
other early poets. Another feature of our
work is
THE STUDY OF THE HII1LE Foil ITS
LITEHAltY ME1UT8.
To illustrate the method of study, the
book of Job was read in the morning de
votional exercises and attention directed
to some of the peculiar features of the
book. Essays have since been prepared
upon the following topics and read before
the school on Friday afternoons: The
Plot of the Book of Job, The Argument,
The Character of Job, The Personillca
tions, The figures, The Natural History,
The Scenery of the Country Where Writ
ten, The Manners and Customs of the
People. All this literary work is prose
culed independently of the regular work
of the school.
Many of the pupils evince a fond up.
preciation for good literature, and an un
ceasing interest in the events daily tran
spiring in the social, political and relig
ious world. By reading and criticism
many are acquiring a clearness and beau
ty of style and a command of langaugo
which is very valuable. In the study of
Shakespeare we find Hudson's edition
very useful because of its copious notes.
We have used for reference, Craik's En
glish of Shakespeare, Abbott's Shakes
pearian Grammar, Hudson's Life, Art and
Characters of Shakespeare, and Whipple's
English of the Age of Elizabeth. In the
Chaucer class we used Carpenter's En
glish of the XIV Century, and Morris's
Chaucer. W. S. Black.
(The above article was probably the
last production from the pen of Mr. W.
S. Black before his death.)
Delinquent subscribers will please
pay up arrearages immediately. A num
Lit have failed to remit. We furnish the
Sti'dknt at about half tho usual price of
Mich papers, and feol that we ought to
have our pay in advance.
DO YOU WANT A DICTIONARY? If you
do, write to Jno. M.Taggart, of Palmyra.
He will sell you Worcester's splendid un
abridged for loss than $0.00. A library
for a trifle. The retail price of such dic
tionaries is usually $12.00. See ad. on
page 8
Tho Iilfo Boat.
The following poem was read by tho
author, a student of tho High School, at
the June commencement.
Another boat launched on the heaving tide,
A tiny, frail barque In tho sea of strife,
Ono more to try for tho far-away goal,
Ono more to tight In tho bnttlo of llfo;
Ami which shall it he then to win or to lose?
I've pondered tho (mention o'er and again.
Shall hlB name ho high on tho " ltecord or good $"
Or numbered with either the "wounded" or
"slain?"
He can choose for his pilot whoever ho will,
So many apply for the station you know.
Thero Is Truth, who will lead to tho "Pastures
of Life,"
Or Pleasure whoso goalls tho "Valley of Woe;"
Hopo smiles on the path-way of life just begun,
Her laughing eyes shlno from every tlowcr,
She Is ready to cherish this fresh, new life,
And to stregthon his faith In tho darkest hour.
He passes the straits of infancy soon,
Shielded from peril by dear, loving hands,
He watches all day tho fair, far sky,
Or plays at eve'tlmo with the golden sands;
Tho Islunds of boyhood are passed swiftly by,
And scarce has he entered the rolo of his youth,
Kro ho leaves the home-nest to soil out alone,
And takes for his pilot iho foo of bravo Truth.
Silent, hi guardian ange' stands,
With saddened brow and tear-dimmed eyes,
Sho breathes a prayer o'er tho erring boy,
Then wings her lllght to tho starlit skies;
And there Is weeping in Heaven to night,
O'er ono frail barque that Is gone astray.
Around the youth fair scenes aro portrayed,
Tho sortest winds play with wandering breath,
The flowerets blossom in shaded nooks.
Hut their subtle odors waft poison and death;
Tho shades In tho dcp fairy-haunted glen
Aro gathering since twilight's dim haziness fell,
And up from the South-land thro' tho clear space,
Floats the musical chime of a silver-voiced boll.
And there aro low banks where fringed willows
lean,
Far o'er the gliding waters so fair,
To catch If thoy can a swill fleeting glance
Of their lithe graceful lorms and loveliness rare;
Meadows sweet with the breath of new-mown
hay,
And cool, dark woods whero from tamorac trees.
Tho song of tho red-breasted robin so gay,
One long stream of melody swells on thebrcozo.
Hock of tho youth lies a sun-gilded stream,
Whose bright waters bring sorrow to nnny a
heart;
Tho green banks arc dotted with palo lily
blooms, In tho waves tho moss grows, and tho shy dol
phins dart;
While dreamy, low-toned through tho dusk
purple air,
Tho light rippling waves go hurrying by,
Fair castles loom up In the distance blue,
Their turrets stand clear gainst the palo even
ing sky.
Hut UiIb far-famed river Is treacherous and deep,
When once it Is touched by the boat of man,
And the current will bear hlin onward and o'er,
Till ho reaches a dark and gloomy laud;
Hcforo and around lies tho ocean restless,
Strewn with tho wrecks that aro hound for the
grave;
'Tls a wild place I with whirl-pools and brookors,
And mortals that writhe In tho seething waves.
In tho midst of tho scayawns a great black gulf,
"Tho gulf of temptation," tilled with despair.
His baniuo uears tho chasm, slowly, slowly,
Ho feels his faco burn with the hot, stilling air;
A moment hu stands on the dark vorgo of ruin,
A moment he pauses to note tho wild wave,
When a voice, swuet and clear, breaks tho still
ness around,
And his good angel whispers, "Como hasten
away."
Ho turns with a shuddor to mark whence It comes
Tho voice, so like music, that alls on his oar,
Ho soos not around, but a hand strong and sure,
Grasp tho helm ami loads to waves that are
clear;
Tho mad droam of passion has 'faded away.
Tho struggle was hard, but the victory gained,
Shall his name bo high on tho " Hocord of (iood,"
Or numbered with olihor the "wounded" or
"slain"
When Ills heart grows faint, and his hand grows
wo.ik.
And ho nearly succumbs to tho demon of yore.
IHb guardian angel, with hand strong and steady,
Leads him out from the shadows to sunshlno
onco more;
Now he peacefully glides down tho river of
years,
Perfect love In his soul, perfect truth on his
brow,
And his heart grows young In the lato years of
life,
Though his dark locks ore turned to the white
ness of snow.
Silent, his guoidlan angel stands,
With thoughtful brow and lustrous eyes,
Sho breathes a blessing so tender and true,
Then wings her flight to the star-lit skies;
And there Is rojolclng In Heaven to-night,
O'er a boot that has crossed tho yellow strand,
It had well-nigh sunk, but ot lost Is sofo
On the golden shore of tho Sunlit Land.
Lizzie T. Wilson.
Commencement Week.
The second commencement exercises
of our University are now past. All the
friends of the institution had looked for
ward to this event with unusual interest
perhaps, on the part of a few, with anxie
ty. But Ave are proud to say, that the re
sult has grntilied the most sanguine ex
pectations. All the exercises have met
with favor in the eyes of the citizens.
Never before have the people shown ho
lively an interest in the welfare of their
State institution of learning. Never be
fore have the entertainments been so well
putroized.
THE HACCALAUHEATE APUHESS.
On Sabbath afternoon, the occasion of
the Chancellor's address, the atmosphere
was very oppressive, yet a splendid audi-
ence, consisting of the talent and elite of
the city, tilled the chapel. Our Chancel
lor, of whom we are justly proud, was
equal to the occassion and delighted his
hearers witli far the most scholarly litera
ry least wo have lately enjoyed. The Dr.
was truly eloquent, his address abounding
in finely wrought llgures and true pathos.
The following abstract of the address,
presents some of its salient points:
As the father sends from his threshold
his child, concerned for his health, for
tune and mc-al condition, so to-day, witli
a few public parting words we are almost
to dismiss with kindly concern a class
from the University to enter the arena of
citizen life. The earnest inquiry is like
that of Saul of Tarsus, " Lord, what wilt
thou have me to do?"
There is a calling to do something;
secondly What are we to do; and finally
God the Source of tho call.
The word " calling" is used in regard
to our secular and rollgsous life, and
shows a principle common to both.
Hence a man engaged in his ordinary
vocation is doing the errand of God, as
woll as lie who sings psalms. If work is
to be done at all, it should he elevated
from drudgery to a culling tho divine cal
ling to work. Every man of command
ing force has bclloved himself impelled
by an irresistible force, on unoontrolablo
destiny, and this gives rise to the popular
fascination by which the world's heroes
have boon looked up to with idolatrous
regard
It is a law of our nature that happiness
can only be found In well directed nclivi
ty; honcono ailluoncc of wealth should
give any ono exemption from a buslneab
in life. Unlike the zoophyte rooted to a
reef in the sea, swaying to and fro, twist
ing its tontacuia, couriesying to the waves
and vibrating its arms to catch an unwary
fly, or dainty medusa, without progress or
improvement, man is filled with mighty
hopes, toweting aspirations and activities
of infinite versatility With his varied
gifts he is an intelligent and divinely cal.
led worker, and subordinate a creator
of the good, the beautiful and the true.
II. What should a man's calling be?
Every one, as soon as may be, should
find his proper place and calling that
for which his education and aptitude par.
ticuliuiy fit him.
How is this to be found V In general a
man's intellectual bias, and moral wants
will guide him safely In selecting a call,
ing.
1st. Every calling is open to a man,
which will not injure his moral or relig.
ious character; but every profession or
business is not equally eligible. Thus to
one man a business might be the means
of constant elevation, while to another it
would present peculiar temptations and
moral hazards. There is danger thnt a
profession or business will become me
chanical, and so all life, freshness, and
even sincerity may be sacrificed to pro.
fosional routine.
2nd. Besides in choosing a business,
temporary advantages should not have too
much weight. No young person should
go into a business simply because it is
easy to get into it. The important ques
tion hero is, not what Is most convenient,
but in what can I get on most satisfactory
ly and honorably. Do not then drop into
the first position that oilers. Be content
to live on a little rather titan to sacrifice
your future with all Its prospects of use
fulness and happiness.
!Jd. In the selection of a calling, Intel,
lcctuul aptitude and nutura taste should
have a leading influence. It would be
Impossible to become a painter, poet or
sculptor without a bias, or genius in one
of those directions. Whenever an apti
tude for any calling is clearly pronounced
it is unwise perhaps impious to contra
vene it. This is the voice of God, speak,
ing in it man,s nature, which lie has no
right to disregard.
But in the majority of cases their is no
such decisive predilection. Here the in
dications aro more obscure, but the dan
ger of going wrong is less; for man is a
creature of adaptabilities as well as of
adaptations. There is a flexibility of av
erage manhood that enables a man to ac
quit himself creditably in nearly every
position. Like tho late Edward Everett,
the poise and versatility of faculties may
bo such as to udapt one to every career.
lie at first as a college student boro off
the highest honors; then u boy preacher
of rare and tender eloquence ; a Greek
professor of erudition ; then entering on
political life as a legislator, govenor, am
bassador, and secretary of stste, he illus
trated the wondrous capacity and versa
tility of cultured men, inspiring the hopo
of reasonable success in any department
of human industry.
Tho personal qualities of self-poise, wllli
force of character, and determination,
will do more and better for one, than a
more inclination for a profession. Incli
nation or genius is only a promise, but
tho former are guuruntys of success
4th. Besides the moral wants of the
man must be considered in tho wcU-Ltion
Of a business. While doing good to oth
ers wo mubt do ourselves no harm. It iJ
hardly to bo supposed that a liberally ed
ucated young man will dcliberatelv take
into his plan a success to be purchased at
tho price of integrity and honor. Hence
a business should bo solocted which will
help, not hurt you. Tho consequence oi
selecting one business or profession ov
another may he the difference to you be
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