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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1876)
THE HESPERIAN STUDENT. ami is of grcnt tmtlquity. Junius Purton, In lari"'r' MlOaiM of ,,,9t J'0"1"' Ml18 lomo vitj interesting articles on Cnrlcn. turc. II' V,u lluvo not ,l'ml tl,cin J'011 wl11 Hud tin in very entertaining. In Lltorn. Hire ritllfiile plays quite an Important rl jiving wroto much plousimt siUiro on tin" prUU" u folks have In the Knlek rrbnckT, or History of New York. Thoro . !.,,. ,if rich pleasure in it. Who has not lin-ii almost convulsed with laughter 1 reading tin cxperlenco of Widow Bciloii' Charles. Dickons in Pick Wick Papers lias done the world no little good in holding up such characters and cus toms .for mankind to laugh at. Ridicule ls one or the strongest toshTof character. jUnij men can face danger in ovory form mitlinching nay, glory in it, who lose their presence of mind, become angered and break down completely when the shafts f ridicule are shot at them. When Pitt eiiiered Parliament ho was only nine tccu jeurs of age, with no social fume. few friends and unknown, wnlpooic was the then reigning statesman. Pitt opposed, with me force, a measure advocated by Wnlp"ole, which drew upon him an amount of ridicule trom Walpoole such as few )ung men have to encounter, char acteii.ing him as a young man of "lofty aspirations," "theatrical emot'ons," "pom pons diction." Instead of being humili ated and silenced he replied to Walpoole with a vehemence and eloquence seldom surp wed. A young lady of culture and refinement made her debut on the stage in Chicago, giving evidence of much reserved power, tact in delineating character, ease and naturalness before an audience, talents which only needed cultivation to make her a noted actor, yet owing to the criti cism, harsh and unjust, of one of the loca1 editors of Unit city, she never appeared again on the stage. She retired, thinking his judgment was that of all others. This may be an extreme case, yet it shows how linely formed natures are the ones most injured by ridicule. The laws that have ino.t molded mankind, the greatest discovery that has been made, the men who have done most for their country's good, and human society at large, who have been m st free from taint of corrup tion, living pure and virtuous lives are the truths, the laws and men Unit have been most ridiculed. How Galllleo quailed beneath it. How we laugh at the old blue laws ,,f Massachusetts. How the puritan diameter is scoffed at to-day. Wliile this habit of ridicule is most uni-vei-al, the fear of it should never deter us from acting or doing. The best way is to pull straight alio id and in that manner we can live it down, but to halt and hesitate onh makes us more open to its shafts. G. AVliut we Need. Silence, religion and politics are the three great questions that are attracting the attention of men at the present nine. Lt us notice for a few moments the pres ent position of each, and see what is need cd to carry them forward to u higher de gree of perfection than they at present en Joy The science of to-day has become a giant, stretching out its arms and grasping our long cherished opinions and rending them asunder. Not only does It invade the realms of thought, but Us might 1b felt on every hand. The events of one part of tho world are convoyed on the wings of lightning to every other; the mighty ocean In all its majesty is con quered and made to servo man; tho prod nets of one cltmo are exchanged for those of another; and, indeed, nature in all her power and strength is made to bow to sol. once. Thus we might continue to notice the conquests of science in its application to nature and her works: but this is not so much our object to-night as to notice its present position In tho world of thought, and observe tho power science ond scion tists are oxertlnir over tho views of men. Science has done much to make things that seemed mysterious, clear. In its un- folding the laws of nature, it has raised man's thoughts to a highor and nobler plane. It has been the great inducement in bringing down tho narrowness and big. otry that had gained such complete pos session of man. it has done all this and much moro and its place nothing can deserve greater approbation. Yet are not many of our scientists pressing it into a field It should not occupy, and setting up cold, bare sci entific facts as the God before whom they bow V They claim that the discoveries ot science have done away with the history of the origin of tho world as made known in the Bible, Hence tlioy do away with religion as at present understood. This leads to the question, are the theories upon which these claims are made, known, or the merely assumed ? This ls a question we do not fool able to answer fully; yet wo believe every one ahould think of it, hence wo have asked it here. Wo lepoat it; are these theories proved or assumed? When we read tho writings, or hear those speak who claim to set forth the proofs that the origin of tho world and man Is not so generally believed, wo find that much which they claim is only probable. Instead of their saying we know this fact is so, they only say, "This Is probably true," or "Tho presumption seems reason able," or some similar phrase. Indeed, so much is mere guess-work, that, though we do not wish to oppose any new truth, or hold to something old, situ ply because it is old, we believe great euro should be exercised in receiving the many now theories that are being promulgated, based upon science or scientific theories. With this short notice of tho position sci ence occupies, we will proceed to the con sideration of what wo conceive to bo most needed to carry it forward to its true' and noble work. We answer men. Not mere surface- skimmers, not men of probabilitiees, not theorists; but men whose lives are conso crated to its service, who study until thoy know that what they say is true, or say it not: men who are striving after truth for truth's sake. The same can be said of religion, Men are what are needed to carry religion for ward to its proper position. lt has already made much advance, ment. Insload of tho stake and tho faggot for those who may hold and express uiHor cut opinions from the ones commonly re coived, the rostrum nnd pulpit arc now open to them. Tho question Is not so much whether they believe certain dog mas, as whether thoy aro real, true men. Yet there is an clement of intolerance, a feeling of I am right and you are wrong, left whicn needs to bo overcoma; and with this fooling conquered and men uni ,i on Hm common Ground of right Is right, tho present conflict between science and religion must languish and die; for thero Is no real conflict. It exists only in tho ovoivoulous oxpo nonts of each. The one should teach us God's laws as made known in nature, tho other as ox pressed by revelation. And .uen whose alms aro high, and whoso characters are as unspotted as the newly fallen snow, are wanted and must be hud.if religion is over to gain that em inence that it will fill the souls of men with those noble attributes truth, temper, unco and love. Such men are needed if it is ever to ful fil its part in banishing sin and lionce sorrow and woe from tho face of our earth, and thus muko it what wo all pic turc It to ourselves as an Uloal heaven, the abode of happiness and joy. In turning to politics, we enter a field In which it is not so dangerous to express our views as It Is in that we have boon considering. And while many hold aloof from noli- lies because they think thoy can not en gago in it without becoming contamina ted by its corrupting iniluoncos, we thimi it is every man's duty to come forward and lend a helping hand in choosing men to represent us and make our laws, who can not be bought and sold, who cannot bo turned hero and there at ovory change of the wind. And not only aro men wanted who are upright, but also men who are cultivated and fitted for tho duties they aro called upon to perform. From these re marks you will probably see that wo do not believe in tho old cry, "Give us prln cipals, not men!" On tho contrary wo say give us men and we will show you principles. The old opinion that you must support a man If ho only professes your views must be overcome Itsooinsliko supposing that a bad man would bo a good christian, and perforin tho acts of an honorable, upright man, to suppose that a base, unprincipled man Avould be tho man in whoso bauds to place tho direction of state and national a Hairs, the one in whom to trust our property and our lives, our prosperity and our happi- 11083. Again the professions of such men can not be trusted. When they say to you wo believe so and so, you do not know wheth er they do or not. But if you are support ing men (by men hero wo mean the noble and the true) you know that what thoy profess is so. We admit that it is baroly possible for a man whose private life Is detestable, to support good, sound public measures. But when there are so many noble men it is far better not to trust them. It seems to mo that when we come to sunnort men and principles, not principles alone, that we shall hear less of bribery, whiskey rings, Credit Mobllior, trauds, and tho many other sores that fester the body politic. Then such mon as Butler, Morrlssoy, and scores of others, who have been called to fill positions among the highest in the gift of the people, will have to step down nnd out. And it is only by some such ron- ovuting process ns this that wo can retain tho exalted position in which wo ns a na tion have stood. Then, to conclude, wo say that what wo need in science, religion and politics alike, aro men. Mon whoso aims aro lofty, and whoso purposes and intentions aro pure, nnd who aro constantly aspiring toward tho highest, grandest conceptions of tho human Intellect; men whoso lives shine with tho brightness of tho mid day sun, and to whom the multitude may turn and tool that thoy may have for leaders the noblest, the brightest and the best. ItOWAIll) CaIiDWKI.Ij. Palhulian Hall, , Ian. 14th 187(1. Tho Atlclpliiuit Society. Tho first meeting of tho Adolphian Soci ety of tho present term was hold on Friday evening, January 7th. At a very early hour wo repaired to tho Adolphian hall, whore a sumptuous literary feast would bo furnished by the retiring and incoming olllcers. Tho first exercise was delivered by Miss Frost (president-elect), which was a pro duction worthy of emulation b all those who desire to become forcible writers and deep tn inkers. Miss Frost appears very gracefully upon the rostrum and oho knows exactly how to deliver her produc tions so that every auditor in the hall will drink in their contents voraciously, and are only too sorry when the last sentence is closed. She was followed by Mr. Wel lington P. Rhodes, who rendered a very choice nnd appropriate select reading. Mr, R. is an excellent reader; he has the happy faculty of entering into the spirit of his selection and admirably representing every phase of its contents with perfect ease and simplicity. Miss Cora Thomas now ndmirably graces the rostrum and renders a sprGndlu production on 'Education." Miss Thomas is ii liulv wlm isi nnssi'ssnri of mnnv nnd rare accomplishments; one whoso unex ampled grace on the stage is equaled only by her mighty thoughts and perfect deliv ery. The next on the programme was Mr. F. M. Lamberton (icliring president), who delivered a very beautiful and finely writ ten poem entitled "Adolla Farr." Mr. L. is noted for the beauty of his metrical pro duelions, and in this his imagery scorned to 1)0 as beautiful and perfect as nature would permit. Tn connection with Adelia Mr. L. described an imaginary lake - which tho lav ftmmenalc daily visited "To watch tho wnvon como in mill bunt. And break and roll nnd thou ftn-nt." ills poem was richly cinbollisbed with a soft, melodious movement, that reminds us of tho musical writings of Sir Walter Scott.or the dulcifying melodies of Thomas Moore. We think, however, there Is an opulent future awaiting Mr. L. in the poet ical field. Tho next performer was Clarence W. I?lwlf whnen p.iiltnrcil mind 1111(1 pontic- manly grace permitted him to render suc cessfully a choice declamation that had a d.izling eflecl on the audience, that wns equaled' only by the splendor of the do cluimer's genius. Mr. Simmons recited the rich and racy poom entitled, "Tho Typo's Expostula tion," whigh had a very exhilarating eliect upon mo uiiouuy utgniy uungiuuu audience. Mr. S. understands how to ren der such pieces to bring out their full lorco. The music for theevening was furnished by Misses Cora Thomas, Phoebe Carter and Cora Holt, assisted by Messrs. Rhodes, Jr. and Sr. They furnished some of the most delightful symphonious strains that we have ever had the transporting pleas ure of absorbing. We sat supremely happy upon aback scat with ears extended and there Imbibed the duleorating mclo rlii Mint nniiinntcil from the penile and silvery voices and floated forth upon the transparentcd ethcr.and made the spacious A A ..1..1.!.. .. TT..11 Hnn.tn.ifl ...S.I. I 1 1 fl 1 t 111 t ( iVlIUI)UIllll llllli 1U3UUUU llll UlVill '"" dious echoes. The Adolphian society seems to bo pro grossing quite favorably this term. With their large number of members of both sexes thoy aro able to get up entertain- monts wortny the attendance 01 our cm zons, and wo' wore really delighted to see such a largo number out at tho first meet ing. It shows that our citizens nro bo coming greatly interested In the grand and glorious work identified with the TTnivnrattv filiri'lv it UlUSt bo cnCOUrUlI- ing to the Society to have a largo and ap preciating audlonco to attend their exer cises. Tliero aro many things wiucn we would like to say but our limited space forbids. With our best wishcs for tho success of your active organization, we remain, with accustomed amity, Don Sancho. iMiiMfiS !FW5q,-"ffr, .