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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1874)
M THE HESPERIAN STUDENT. n twccii Paradise and Tophet. Tlio busl. Hess that stimulates the Integrity and lion, or of one man, may make another of dlf crcnt temperament a polyglot liar, an ambidextrous vlllian. Some may tread on serpents and scorpions without harm. but not all. Choose a business soon and enter on it resolutely and allow no time to wasto away in aimless, nerveless inaction, and soon you will come to love what you may have chosen with reluctance. This glee, unnw. i-iii'i-L'v bespeaks a sound mind as well as a sound body, and such an one will outstrip those who trail on through life, clogged In every movement, as by some adhesive slime, and whose snail path shows at every point a wasto of their very substance. III. Of every true calling God is the Author, hence all should be dono in sub ordination to His will. If a patriot, be a Christian patriot; If a legislator, be a Christian legislator; if a lawyer, doctor or teacher, gild the service with the re splendent light of a pure Christianity. With humility and reverence bend before the secret voice of the Most High reveal ed in vour own nature, and in His word, and court the inspiration of that heroic valor that hates " the cowardice of doing wrong." Nor is this without even Its temporal rewards. Some years ago, a young man graduated from Dartmouth College, and oon found himself in "Washington, where he wished to establish a classical school. His attempts, for months, were fruitless. lie contracted a debt for board which he could not pay, but was kindly entertained by his hostess. With unfaltering trust, and dependence on the Divine direction, which his silent devotion in the presence of a stranger room mate attested, he per sisted until providentially a school in sue cessful operation was transferred entire into Ids hands. Such was the advent of the late Chief Justice Chase to the city of Washington, where as Senator, the great financial Secretary, and Chief Justice he adorned every position, in nearly all the grades of honor. With cheerful optimism, enter with clatie step the arena for the prizes of life, and look to the God of Providence so to dcrict your steps that you may each as ceiul the highest summits of human use fulness and at last tread the Mount of God. TIIK ADKUUIIAN KX1IIMTION. The entertainment of the Adclphlan Society was listened to by a full house. The exercises consisted exclusively of original productions. The programme was Introduced by nn instrumental duett by Misses Purst and Carter. The per formance elicited much applause from the audience. The Salutatory, by Clarence W. RoadB, was one of the most pleasing and enjoya ble exercises of the evening. Mr. Roads has a winning and pleasing style of de livery which is calculated to gain the fa. vor of the listener at once. The charac ter of his address on this occasion was especially appropriate, and was delivered in a manner entirely free from affectation In his nccullarlv acreeable voice. He recounted tho rlso and progress 01 tho Adclphlan from its origin ; told of its early trials; referred to Its struggle for life, during the second term of its history! when the threatening clouds of adversity seemed dark aud hopeless; recounted In glowing language, tho sudden dawn of sunshine and hope, through tho earnest efforts and unrelenting resolution of its few members; mentioned as u bright epoch, the hour when the fair daughters of Plcrla joined the Adelphiau ranks; and then described the present high, est prosperity which seems at length to have rewarded the past struggles of the society. We would state In addition that the ad dress abounded In apt hits and happy al lusions. While It was not burdened by tho evidence of labored effort, it showed that the speaker appreciated the true character of a salutatory. Two orations, upon opposite topics, were then delivered by Messrs. P.P. Hurd and U. H. Malick. Mr. Hurd spoke upon the subject of " The Past." lie showed how Invaluable and precious Is the gift of memory to man, by which we are en ablcd to store away the events aud treas ures of the past for our present and future enjoyment and benefit. The past was re ferred to as an Image of the future, thus affording us a safe guide for future ac tions, lie recalled our indebtedness to the past, by referring to the rich caskets of literary gems and exhaustless foun tains of truth, wisdom, and philosophic lore bequeathed to us by the mighty dead of ages gone Shakespeare, Socrates, Pla. to, Archimedes and hosts of others, whom modern learning and wisdom has not ex celled, but have used as models and foun tains of inspiration. The oration was short. Tho delivery was marred a little by a defect in the speaker's atitude, but It was delivered in a clear deliberate voice which more than compensated. As a literary effort it was a success, and the hearty plaudits elicited from the audience were well merited. Mr. U. II. Malick spoke upon the sub- ject of "The Future." The speaker im- periled the reception ot his excellent pro duction by his llustration and hesitancy in the outset. Nothing is more calcula ted to injure a speaker in the eyes of his audience than to let his manner excite a feeling of fear for his success, of pity for his confusion. However, Mr. Malick speedily recovered himself, and delivered his oration with self-possession. lie rcfered at length to tho unporlec tion of many of the sciences, on account of inadequate means of investigation, lie showed what vast labors and conquests still await the astronomers aud geolo gists of the future. That tho discoveries made by scientists of the past, we have reason to believe, are but a tithe of tho dis coveries yet to be made by thoso of the future. He also stated that we should profit by tho failures and successes of tho past in our futuro actions. He mention ed some of tho issues and enterprises, mnnil .uid nolltlcal. which have sprung up in the present day. Ho showed from history tho danger of Joining moral and political Issues and interests. It was his opinion that tho presont temperance war especially the Woman Crusade feature, pointed to such a coallitiou of Church and Politics, consequently tho result might bo perilous for tho future. Mr. Ma lick was warmly applauded by tho audi- once. TW oscmvH unon opposite topics con- stituted, perhaps, tho most entertaining feature of tho exhibition. Tho first was road by Miss Maud Creogan-subject, "Tho Boy of tho Period." Miss Orecgan has acquired an enviable reputation as a roador, as well as a fine writer. In tho present Instance she did not fall bolow her own excellent standard with distinctness The character of entirely satirical. but recited her essay and lino expression. her production was She portrayed this peculiar spec' men of the genus homo, in startling colors. She painted him in words of scathing sar casm, gently touching upon his well- known penchant for his indispensable companion the narcotic weed, and his little weakness for the social glass, in dulged in just for " health," or " gcnerosl ty's sake" you know. In conclusion she stated that from her utter inability to con ccive of all the beatitudes of the delecta ble youth in question, she would there fore retire to further contemplate his na lure. On the other hand Mr. W. C. Showalter related what he knew about The Girl of the Period" and some tilings that lie sur. mised. Mr. S. is one of the most tal ented writers of tho Adclphlan, and is the humorist of the society. An irrepressi ble vein of rich humor invariably per- vades his productions. On the present occasion he surpassed himself. We feel that we arc simply doing him justice, when we say that his essay was consider ed by all as a first class literary produc tion. We will not attempt a synopsis of the essay; but simply state that it showed the evidences of much care and thought in the preparation, and was quite free from labored attempts at wit and humor. Mr. S. has made himself many friends among the people and has well merited his success. No exercise of the evening showed more scholarly ability and depth of thought than tho short debate upon the subject, " Phrenology ns a Science," by Messrs. F. iM. Lamberton and 11. II. Wil son. The debaters were a little unfortu nate in the selection of a question which lacked the general interest which a live question of the day would have poscssed, yet they succeeded well in interesting the audience. Want of space forbids us to glvo a length synopsis of this debate, we shall content ourselves by noticing the style and quality. Mr. Lamberton, who supported Phron ology aa a Science, presented a general argument, based principally upon nnalo- ;y, without taking up in order the special and peculiar principles upon which phronology is founded. As is character istic of Mr. L. he delivered a philosophic logical, and original address. His dcliv- cry was deliberate and dignified, ills ar gument showed an extended power of abstract thought. Mr. Wilson handled tho subject, in op position, In a logical and systematic manner. Taking up each fundamental principle of tho scieuco, one by one, and refuting it by scientific facts and by refer ence to eminent authority. Ho made no bald statements without furnishing abun dance of proof. Ho showed that ho had iriven tho subiect careful attention and in- vestlgation. Mr. "W. frequently lays him self open to criticism from tho assurance in his stylo of delivery, but wo Wee it. He has tho snap and vim which ultimate ly brings success. W. is sometimes truly oloquont In his delivery. Tho exercises of tho evening wore con cluded by a short and appropriate vale dictory by tho president, W. M. Steven- son. Tho entertainment was greatly enhanc ed by tho music furnished by the young - rn t - J 1 1 xAAnl fill The Instrumental solos were excellent ns artistic performances, but were not so well appreciated by the audience on account of their length and the number of them In troduccd. GEN. MANDKltSON'S ADDRESS. The annual University address, deliver ed on Tuesday evening, was listened to by a largo and attentive audience. We have space only for a brief reference to one or two main features of tho address. Ho first congratulated the State and es pecially the citizens of Lincoln on tho posession of so noble an Institution of learning In their midst, and indicated that It should bo iostercd by them with tender and zealous care. He said the dissatisfied ones among tho people and the press would exert little in fluence for evil if the friends of tho Uni versity were faithful to its interests Americans arc a nation of grumblers, lie spoke of the advantages and superi ority of the peculiar principles engrafted in the foundation of our University co education of tho sexes, its unscctarian character, and its agricultural depart- . incnt. But an idea which seems to us worthy of special notice and.careful study was this: Students should be educated in liolitios; not simpry in the elements of gov ernment and political economy, but in every tiling which an honest politician is called upon to perforin in tho caucus, tho convention, and the legislative halls. Tho Gen. discussed and elaborated this idea in such a manner a to' show its reasona bleness and practacabllity. We think our educators would do well to consider this matter with a view of making a prac tical trial of it, and, perhaps, of adding a branch of this character to tho collcgo course. The speaker then, at considerable length, replied to the argument of Judge Crounso who delivered tho University address in 1870, against obligatory education. Tho General took strong ground in favor of obligatory education, citing the usual ar ray of statistics founded upon the reports of the German schools. We regret that necessity seemed to demand this exten sive argument from the speaker. Wo would have preferred to listen to him on topics of more interest, if not of mora importance. Tho argument, however, as very able. The address was eloquent and very in structivc an honor to the University. GRADUATING EXERCISES. On Wednesday morning at an early hour the chapel was filled with a largo audience to listou to the orations ot tho graduates, and witness tho conferring of degrees and other ceremonies. Tho stago was filled with official dignitaries, con sisting of His Excellency, tho Governor, tho Board of Regents, tho Faculty etc. Tho scone was quite imposing and wo have no doubt that tho young gontlomoa In whose honor this pageantry had aasom- bled, fully realized tho Improsslvonoss and gravity of tho occasion. Mr. Hurd first delivered his oration on tho subject of "Ambition." Tho oration was an honor to the speaker, abounding In pleasing and elegant passages. Mr. Mallck.s oration on " Natural Tal ent," was a sound production, In which ho showed that genius is only a synonym for earnest effort and application. Mr. Stevenson, In a stylo more oloquont than his wont, delineated tho life and O music iuruisuuu uy mu jyuw .,i p t,i- ladles. Tho Instrumental and vocal du- cnaracier ui mu t"" " ivs? etta woro excellent ana ingmy apprcciuiuu. v-""" " '-av v i I'M M I'. I in i in m III! jilij ill:!! W i .1 hi t N i :'! lit M in w . f ' k 1 H .. . 1 i 0$ 'SglJg RHIH