Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885, February 01, 1875, Page 4, Image 4

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    THE HESPERIAN STUDENT.
11
HESPERIAN STUDENT
I'lUIIilSHKI) MONTHLY J1YTHK
IIESPKIUAN STUDENT PUBLISH.
ING ASSOCIATION
av TUK
XSOmtASIvA UXIVKKSITY.
Ennou-i.N-citiKr, G. 13. llow.vun.
ASSOOIATK 3l)ITOH AND HtiVIKWKH,
Emma L. Wiu.i.is.
Loom.,
Amos. 13. Gantt.
Ed. P. llOKMKS, Business Manager.
TERMS FOR SUHS01UPT10N.
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1
.a.j.
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Editor IIkspkman' Studknt, Stnto University.
Lincoln Nebrnskn. All subscriptions, with the
address should bo sent to the ltusinoss Manager.
Subscriptions collected Invariably in ndvnnco.
Advertisements collected monthly.
THE DREAMS OP OUR YOUTH.
dazzling pictures in tlto empty blackness
of the night, when with Hosed eyes lie
lies upon his pillow and delights in a
world of liis own creation. Philosophers
loll us Hint this is tlto result of the too ex
ubor.nnt Imagination of childhood. Such
indeed arc dreams.
Wo have reference to those dieams
rather idoals, which seem to originate In,
a consciousness of self-power. Those as
pirations for an Intellectual life, and that
determination to obtain a power in the
world, which all, perhaps, can faintly un
derstand, and a few havo really felt.
Those visions which do not capriciously
como and go, and change shape and col
or, but which are over present, woven in
to the very libros of being, tho last
thought when the soul is folded in the
arms of slumber, often the fabric of
which sleep's dreams are made, and lite
II rat recollection when consciousness re
turns: the inspiring hope, the unshaken
conviction which can make one joyous
in sorrow, buoyant in adversity, and elas.
tic in menial toil.
Tho ideal dream of youth is the imago
feared tlio same fears, and delighted in
tho same pleasures. All their ideals are
symmetrical and harmonize each to each.
In roveulluir thoughts which they huc
raise his chosen profession to a higher
level, llcnicniiilh says, "l will win In
the bailie I have planned, but I will h0
victor at asacrlllco of no Jot of my lion.
scarce dared to think for fear a listener lor."
might hear, O, what happiness and joy The girl also resolves that she will ex.
to feel that thoy receive appreciation and ert the power she gains for good. She
sympathy! Each gains strength and
courage from the oilier.
What is genius? Genius is tho crown
which tho world pla:es upon the brow of
patient toil. Toil is performed under the
direction of tho will. But what nerves
and llros the will? Ah! hero is the se
cret of genius. It Is this noble aspira
tion to attain excellence and power.
lias a great mission to perforin. She re.
solves that while she champions tho re.
stricted rights and privileges of her sex,
that while she demands justice mid
equality from tlto watch-towers of the na.
Hon, she herself will realize a noble
womanhood. She resolves that whllo
sho leads woman to a higher conception
of her mission and possibilities in life,
True greatness is not the result of acci- j she will become victress at the sacrifice
dent. Men may stumble upon positions of no jot of her womanly grace and gen.
of temporary power. A capricious turn lioness. How necessary that these rc&olu.
of Fortune's wheel, the llcklo breeze of Itlons be realized in order to attain sue
public sentiment, or too maeiitnauons oi ,cess.
a band of schemers or political tricksters,
may lling a man unexpectedly into public
What grand possibilities are before
every young woman of aspiration ! A hat
station; but he who would leave a monu. i gigantic social errors, and false notions
ment behind him which, like the pol- I in regard to the mission and sphere of
ished marble columns rising from the site l woman must be exposed during the prcs-
of ancient Thebes upon whose siulace i out century ! The cherished fallacies anil
stamped upon the soul of its fuluio pos-1 tliiity centuries have failed to leave a , pot beliefs, the sacred axioms which
For I dipt Into tin- future funis Iniinim oc could
Haw tho lslon of the world, and till the wonders
Unit would be.
O, 1 see tho crescent promise of my spirit hnth
not set:
Ancient founts of inspiration well through nil
my boinj; yet.
TfHiiyton.
The spirit of the ago is essentially prac
tical. It is a prosaic spirit. Nothing
will satisfy its desire but the tangible,
that which can be measured, or reckoned
in dollars and cents. The riches of for
eign lore are ignored for the dull recipes
and maxims of the farm book. Poetry
has been robbed of its celestial fire. The
poet is no longer a mieer rate breath.
ing tho divine inspiration of tho gods, j
but a tedious retailer of current events.
That which will return a reward today is
sought after today. That culture and those
aspirations which would lead the posses
sorto a manhood a hundred-fold more per
feet, and add a thousand-fold more to the
world's real wealth, in the future, arc de
spised as unreal. To dream is to bo ig
nored In the grasping, bustling mass. To
boa dreamer, is to be pitied as a mild
fanatic. Is nothing practical oi Usolul
which is not practical or Useful note?
Tlio world owes more of its enlighten,
ment and happiness to a certain class
whom It contemptuously stylos "dream
ers" tliun most people imagine. The cold,
cah'Ulnting man or woman witli no hope, j
nor desires beyond the pleasant and lion-'
ors which increase of riches can supply '
will sneor when we spi.ak tenderly of our J
youthful dreams. Ho will pity us as still
an line (ireamer wiioii wo bay that to the
realization of these same dreams, through
carnestollbrl, the world owes its true no
billty. It is necessary, however, to ex
plain what moaning is implied in our
subject. Wo will illustrate rather than
define.
In tlio use ol tho expression, the
dreams of youth, Ave do not mean those
wild and capricious fantasies which tna.
"ble tlio little boy or girl to see ships and
birds, beasts and giants in tho tumulous
clouds, and behold starry firmaments ami
sibilities.
It is like the lines which the artist
draws upon tlio block of marble; if every
curve and line of grace havo been skill
fully drawn and clearly discerned, by fol
lowing them carefully with his chisel, a
few weeks of patient toil will develop a
beautiful image. So If the youth sees
clearly the outline of his future career
with his soul's eye, by following these
lines rigidly with the chisel of the Will
during life, he can shape a lofty and god
like character.
But we arc told that the Instances on
record are rare, where men have ac
know lodged that'lhey havo worked to, and
grain of dust, shall defy tho dust of ages, , have governed the whole social and pollt.
or wmen, us Horace uys, omul ou muio icai worm i mm Aoranmn to the present
lasting than brass," must spend His lite
In building it. It lias not been tlio chance
conception of an hour, but rather ho has
day must be proven false. She must en.
gage in labor and undertake tasks to ac
complish all this, at the mere mention of
patiently chiseled it according to the . which society has heretofore shuddered,
and false modesty has vailed her f'ice.
She has a work as difllcull to perform as
to eradicate tho convictions and precepts
of Religion itself. Unlike the Uritish
lord, we could almost wish that we had
been born a woman.
Mammon is the mighty iconoclast
lines he has soon delineated in his youth-
fnl horoscope.
Got ius nttm'tur nonjit is a more gener
al truth than Poefa nimritur mm ft. Yet
we believe that everyone can attain what
ever ho set out to reach. Is this statement
a paradox? It Is the iMmnuuttioii to
KUiureil Unit is born Ho who feels this who destroys the bright ideals of mil.
power snuggling within him, has all that lions.
nature betows upon one man more than I Said a young man who had abandoned
realized an ideal of youth. All! yes, the another. All may not succeed alike. I his college course to engage in making
recoid is silent, but who shall say how 'pWo pons may be earnestly striving for money, upon our speaking boinewhal loft,
many of the great and truly noble whom . ,), RIUe smcrn ideal. Each may see , lly of the necessity of acquiring a thor
we delight to honor have, as nearly us I ti,0 S!UUe picture of his future possibill-jough education in order to utiuin the
possible for an imperfect being, realized (ios j llis joutliful dream. Yet, though j greatest success in life "O, urn will get
their dreams? We believe that, were tho eacli may realize his hope, one will do so j over tho wild dreams of your outli.
mini Known, u couiu ue uiiiiiiicu oi uu. ' more perfectly than the other, because .Money Is my motto get tnonev. Money
lie whose determination is onco miiy . his inotlel, his pit-turo was more porloct.
formed to attain an exalted station, does Ono possesses the power, which the other
not impudently lling his banner to the (i00s not, lo di-cein all the points of
breeze witli the words inscribed thereon: t grttCe ami beauty, all the artistic touolios
"I will be great, I will be a statesman, an , wiiiclt mint be given, in order that his
author, a poet !" No, Hue genius is mod
est and sonsitivc.
The youth who has said in his heart-
gives honor mid power." Yts, lucre is
tlio touchstone which changes the noble
resolves of Ihotisauds into sordid avarice,
and burning lust for the base power
which excess of bonds and dollars can
"I will realize a perfect manhood, I will
be a leader in tills or that sphere" so-
work may stand out in bold and beautiful bestow! This is tho great peril to the intel
relief: consequently the character which , loctual life. We have no desire to emu
lie forms is stronger and more beautiful. , Into the ill-natured fanaticism of Diogenes,
The great secret of tho success of him . the Cynic. The soul is not rendered no
who faithfully strives to realize the ideal bier and stroucur bv dolmsin' the bmlv or
cretes and jealously guards his resolve of liU youth, without which lie would , despising tho good things of Uiis life,
deep i.iliis heart. It is suciod to liim. i fuil, is this: He carries the natural imod-! Let the world nacttiniiltiic riilus ml
If perchance some friend gibes him as to ' nosS ,h(. ,)UrHy nd freshness of ingenu- keep on adding to its, luxun boutih ami
his future career, saying "doubtless wo mis ymUh illl0 tll0 ,,,. hour8 ()f u,,c ; s,,iondor. Every labor-saving invo'ntioii.
Ho who hopes to realize u dream con. every discovery in mechanics, or in tlio
coivod i'i tho pir.iiy and freshness of his juris 'and sciences which adds to our oni
youth must preserve his purity and fresh- fort, eue or pleasure,' really -'he the
.... .i -
iiess. lie must nuiKo lits conceptions ol
honor, and justice n part of-his dream. If
shall see you a great judge, statesman, or
poet" ho blushes In confusion, tits if
some guiltv secret htd boon discovered.
Even, in many cases, his sister, It is broth
er, his parents must not share his secret.
Occasionally, such an one will find a
friend of kindred experience to whom he
willingly delivers the key to his ironsuic. ; 0f ig picture. All wild and exuberant
O, how delightful the hours thoy spend
together, hand in hand, looking out over
the rolling billows of the ocean, which
they are about to cross. It Is a joy to
each that ho shall be permitted to temper
tlio storm and point out the breakers to
tho other. Each finds himself in the oth
er, and the other In himself; anil a sweet
voice within
"Which whispers friendship w'll ho doubly dunr,
To one who thus for kindred hcLrta must roam,
And ucck abroad the loo denied at homo."
They havo thought tho same thoughts,
world mure time fur thought and culture.
But tho gii'iit danger is that men live
heal.andonstheso with tho approach of age in and for their wealth. It is made the
he has effaced all the glory and oeauty lend not thu moans of life. They do not
possess their gold, thoy are possessed by
it.
oxcresconces, I mm tho imperfect judg.
ment of youth, might bo cut off, but this
would only add beauty and strength to
his ideal.
Tho young man of aspiration resolves
that, when ho arrives at this or that sta
tion, or obtains this or that dogrco of
power, his actions shall be governed by
principles of integrity. He will bo gon
emus, manly and humnno. If ho ontor
the profession of tho law or politics, he
will avoid Its vices and perils, and try to
"If wealth had only pleasure to offer as
a temptation from intellectual labor, its
inllucnco would bo oassor to ixist.
Wealth bears pleasure in her left hand,
but in her right hand she bears honor
and poter. Tho rich man feels that he
can do so much by the mere exorcise of
his command over the labor of others,
and so little by any unaided labor of his
own, that ho is always strongly tempted
to become, not only physlcully but Intel-