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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1875)
i;a - viirfflBfrn'a-i SSSaTPffSPWWreWW 6 THE HESPERIAN STUDENT. h V '! i The Iiepoi'tar, Iowa University, is much improved both in appearance and literary merit. The Tllini in a little prosy, but tilled with substantial material, all the same. The Trinity Tablet talks well about American humor Vs. English. II claims that though wo have " no great organ of fun, such as I'unrh is to England, and Oharintri to Fance," wo arc not therefore Inferior or deficient in this respect. Our whole literature, especially our period! cals, is replete with "eins of natural, fresh wit and humor. This appears to us to be according to nature. As in Hie, so In lit erature, we do not want all the fun and spice, set apart for a separate meal at a given hour, but want it to permeate and give relish to the whole at all times. A Glance at Our Country's Punt. i Moro limn ninety-nine years ago, in the continental congress at Philadelphia, the Declaration of Independence was read, and the question was, " shall it be adopted ? " and the ayes had it. That vote changed the political character of this western world; it secured for us not only the sympathy, but the admiration of the best men in all ages; it roused into action those energies that have caused the wil derness to blossom as the rose, covered our seas with commerce, tilled our land with happiness and industry; it gave to U9. freedom as well as independence, and just here is the great stronghold of her greatness, for if a man would bo great lie must be free, for he can never have in bis soul either poetry or eloquence, or patriotism, without the light and glow of liberty. God has made him so. ' 'Tie liberty ulono That gives tho flower of fleeting life UV lienor mid perfume, And we are woedn without It." Let us, then, (as we enjoy her freedom, and admire the greatness to which she lias attained) not forget the many struggles through which our country has passed. Her first conflict was with the wildness of nature. Nature clad in her wildest ar ray, sheathed in glittering snow, and gath ering up the awe of the grand mysterious solitude, she blew upon those pilgrim fathers the chill of those December winds and sought to pierce their hearts with its icy spear. Hut they were no faint hearted men, the wilderness was to bow before their strong arms and stout hearts. The conflict lias joined, it has gone on until forest and prairie, valley and hillside, have yielded before it, and in its bloodless track, shoots up the green blade of corn, rise the walls of cities and villages bloom and smile the garden of happy homos. But the conflict with wild nature was sup il.uited by the (struggle wilh savage mou For fifty years the treaty formed by our forefathers with Massusoit, the great sa chem of the Wumpunoiig, continued in violate, but at length the flames of war. fare were kindled. The "hatchet, it seems, was to be burled only by the arm that wielded it. But the white man was the victor and the red men have melted away. "Slowly anil sadly tlioy climb the mountain and read their doom in the setting sun. They aro passing bo fore the- wave of the mighty tide Unit shall wash over them forever." Let us hope that a peacoful ovonlng may close the his torical day (if close it must) of this doom ed and dying race. Then came the conflict th'o memory of which clusters closely around our hearts, and the heart of every true American. Long our fathers sought redress rather than revolution, sacred ties bound them to the land of their birth, England's soil England's fame and England's renown were theirs. It was only whenthe convic tion fastened itself upon them that there was no security but in Independence, that thoy threw to tho breeze the Hag of their solemn and daring adventure, and having taken the stop, they went forward with iron nerve and heroic valor and vie tory crowned their efforts. And wo their children, would honor them for this noble step of heroism. Had not our fathers, as it were, turned from tho parental roof, burst from the galling yoke of bondage that she would with skillful hands have fet tered them, where would we as a nation, as a people have been? Did not our fathers purchase this liberty, this independence V Did they not sacrifice their almost every comfort, laying all upon their country's altar? And she smiled as she accepted the ofVeiing and gave them in return freedom and independence. How welcome to those war-scarred veterans wore the years of peace .that followed the close of this long conflict! How sweet to thorn was the folding of the wings of Peace as she hovoied over them. Hut again did Britain deign tu insult her glorious offspring, and by numerous insults provoked into action tho feelings of revenge and defense. And again did our noble forests echo and re-echo the roar of cannon, the clash of musketry and tho groans of soldiers dying far from homo and friends. Hut I need not tell you ours was not tho defeated but the victorious; you are all conversant with tho history of our loved country. But again in forty-six came the trouble with Mexico. Tills was another victory, another triumph achieved which added another gem to tho crown, another laurol to the wreath of our nation. Sweet Peace again hovered o'er us, and resting upon the thought that, as a nation, our trials were over, no moro should she be forced to leave us. But soon we saw she was again preparing for flight and soaring away she left us amid our .foes. This may be called our sluggle, for where is the one Unit is here to-night, that had no interest in the last national contlct. Did wo not sec our loved ones leave for the hardships of soldier life? Did wo not see our fathers and brothers and friends gild on the armor and go to the front? Wo can almost feel tho pressuro of their hands as they bade us farewell and marched away. Thoy loved their home, but thoy loved their country; they were bravo in battle; true through trouble; unmurmur ing in pain; patient in sorrow, and loyal in death. Shall we forget the soldier, now we aro enjoying peace, peace that was purchased by the sufferings of all and tho life-blood of mau of our dear soldier boys? How manyof thorn have returned maimed! Hero is a brother with an armless sleeve. That little hand I held so often in child hood, strengthened with ills strength and matured with his might until it was able to strike a blow for his country; that hand and arm was, then and there, left upon tho bloody field of Spottsylvaniti, and he maimed for life. How many a lit tle foot that has run so quickly at tho mother's binding, now lies perishing far from its owner! Such men aro all among us our duty is too plain to bo mistaken. Well do wo remombor the joyous meet ing when this conflict ceased and wo wore folded fn the arms of a dear father, and welcomed homo our many friends. Hut there were dear faces that we bade adieu when thoy went to the front, that were not met by the "home welcome." Let us not forgot the widows and orphans who had no joyful meeting, when this war was ov or, but her;ioiiellness,one continued night. Her husband sleeps upon some far oil' battle field, or his bones lie bleaching neath the scorching sun, or not even his resting placo known. Were we now to go south, we should not hear the roar of cannon, the flash of musketry, the clash of sabers, the neigh ing of the war horse, the bugle's blast and the moans of dying soldiers, who bad fought, bled and died for our country. The dear old Hag that floats so proudly In the breeze, that under its blessed Holds we feel such safety and protection, came out of the contest, like silver from the furnace, purilied. No longer that barbarous word slucery pollutes its folds, but is inscribed instead, " A race set free, a nation redeemed, and feedoin vindicated." But the times that tried men's souls, is not merely hi torir but preneut. Grave questions of the entire pooblcm of American destiny await its solution. We aro in danger from those evils that sap the life-blood of a nation Oh God! hasten tho time when we as a nation shall be free from all the evils of political life, from intemperance, monied aristocracy and catholocism: and may peace and harmony dwell together, so that from the counting house of the milllonare watching his complicated web of enter prise, to tho hillside plowboy wliistling an echo to the lark in the clouds. To thee, Our Country, xoeing thou iirt free. Aha C. G. Williams. An oration delivered before Palladlan Society, Oct. 21), 187.". Tourmaline. The stones were smooth and oblong, of the size of a robin's egg, fifteen in number, and blrung on a thin silver cord without setting of any sort. Their color was a pale pink, but no words can describe how resplendent. No diamond, no milk-white pearl, no dew drop was ever so luminous, so clear. So intense was the light, so much did they reflect light, that away down the passage so dark I could not see Jezebel's alabaster throat, I could boo them glow rosily as though they themselves were a tiny source of light, yet, in the strong sun light, they were almost white and color less and dazzled the eyes so that on turn. Ing from them, other objects wore not vis iblo for tho glory that still lingered. Moro than one had turned to look at Jezebel that evening as we entered the thronged rooms of Madame C. " Look at Miss Lome," said Will Layard to mo as we stood watching the changing scenes which shifted through the wide halls. " Does she not make you think of Undine and Lucrezia in one? Ugh, it makes mo shiver. WhaUspol! is on lior tonight?" I turned my eyes where Jezebel stood ready to join the waltz. The small head drooped slightly as weighed down by the red-gold masses of wavy hair which crowned It. Tho long lashes wore half lowered upon tho rounded clieek leaving only a gleam of the brilliant dark eyes be neath their whito lids. Tho dead white silk of hor dress fell In clinging folds around hor swaying form as she followed unconsciously the rylhm of tho dreamy Strauss waltz music. Statuesque yet breathing life, simple yet severo, passion loss yet passionate, nowhere was an atom of color visible save in the circle of won derful gems which cast a pule pink refill, gence on her naked throat and softly moulded chin. Now and then, as the gnj light fell full upon them, dazzling jets r light seemed to dart to and fro around them. As I gazed and gazed in lWjnn. tlon, I seemed In hue consciousness of personality and everything around w to grow dim. Lights, flowers, decoration and the moving forms joined indiscrim inately in the mad whirl of the dancers and all objects were but one confused mass of indistinguishable shapes Only, everywhere distinct before my eye, gleamed that circle of pink fire swaying to the rytlim of the "Wine, Woman mid Song" measure which filled the llnwi'f. scented air. What spell was indeed upon hor? The starlight fell around us that night as I stood to hear the last rustle of hor silken gown sweeping through the door way of the old Hall. Something fell with a strange muflled sound to the marble pavement, but she did not notice NTor did I, till I turned to go. The clasp or the necklace had parted and the Moium had fallen. I held them up In the moon, light, half covered with frost, for tlicy seemed to attract everything they touched, and they looked like the glowing coals of a wood lire with the side from the lieut turning grey with ashes. I had never seen thorn so full of coloi. The waves of fiery light seemed to come and go, to burn and fade, like living coals. Was it the moonlight that made them so mar velously beautiful, or had the tilings life? A sharp pricking sensation went up through my palm to my arm and yet an other all over my frame. That was all for though I shifted them from one hand to the other and all around I could not feel the sensation again. Just then Jezo. bel came anxiously back and I handed them to her saying, "Do you feel it?" "They are electric," she eagerly said. "I never could for my nerves are too strong Sara says they affect her I believe they do." "Is it the moonlight?" she asked, presently looking up into my face inquir ingly as sho poured them into a little heap in the palm of her hand. "They're devilish, Jezebel," I suit', " throw them away," and I tossed them down the dark passage and heard thorn slide along the floor quite a distance after thoy fell, just aa though they did have life as the old Indian cror.o had said. Jezebel looked frightened. "Good God, what if you have broken tliem," she said, as she ran towards them as thoy lay in a glowing heap upon the floor. Their curious link ling sound as she gathered them tip, mingled witli the purling of the brook among the rocks below us I leaned ocr the balustrade of the bridge to listen. But I put my hands over my ears ami walked on. Everything that looked or sounded beautiful that night seemed like the fateful tourmalines. Thoy had cast u spoil over me. A. Great curiosity and excitement exist bore at present to know whether tho Chan cellor Is going to commence boarding him self n the University building. A dis tributor of merchandise was noticed in tho hall recently with a sack of flour. IIo Boomed anxious to find the Chancellor, in order to learn whether he should leavo saicUlour at tho collego building or attl.o Doctor's dwelling. Thoso students who have been rofuscd rooms in which to keep bach in tho third story are jealous, a'lid an insurrection is imminent m .-nwagumdMMMWMiBWMWMBWHilHMMMBBMBE3WWMM
