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
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