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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1876)
THE HESPERIAN STUDENT. hither from. Urn Eastern .Continent, i3 our customary views of the past would Incline us to believe, it was at ho distant a period that no tradition of it seems left to us. In connection with this is the story of the lo.st Atlantis. Whether it is a myth or not, there is notwithstanding much to bo said in its support. Accounts of a tie iniMuioiiH convulsion like this have boon handed down by nations on both sides or the Atlantic. It would be irrational to bo levc that so distinct narratives as thoso would have been given us by ho diU'cronl nml so widely separated nations, had they not had some foundation in fact. The submersion may have occurred at so re. mote a time, that under the treatment of Pluto the narrative assumed an air of fa bio If the island really existed, it would have served as a convenient stepping-stone between the Atlantic shores, and thus have rendered the settlement of America easy of explanation. Before leaving the subject we will briefly notice the probable knowl edge of America which the ancients pos sessed. There remains a clear historical record that a storm driven Tynan ship visited America, and there saw cities and stately edifices, three thousand years ago. The Tyria.is or Phoenicians, as it is well known, were the most enterprising naviga tors of antiquity. It was their custom to bo very secret In regard to their commer cial affairs, and were a full account of them given us, astounding views of the past might be the result. It is doubtful if the Romans would have spoken of "a great Saturnlan Continent" beyond the Atlantic, If no one had ever seen it. It was there as they said, and as they with out doubt knew, lint yet it does nol appear thatanythingaro.se from their knowledge of it. In conclusion wo would say, that the ex treme antiquity of our ruins, the long per iod that has elapsed since their desertion, and their buried history, all surround them with a deep and peculiar interest. AVo call our continent now, it is old; equally so, perhaps, as the other. Our usual views of antiquity, arising from the habit of following old methods of thinking, oc ensioned by a venerated but erroneous sys. tern of chronology, and by regarding ev erything found outside of the Eastern Con tinenl as derived from it, hinder us from viewing our relics in the light in which they claim our observation. They pre sent therefore to the persevering invest! gator a vast Held for his labors. Who will be the Champollio.i to unveil their mys teries ? M. Kuucution, Pruvlltiul ami Iro-i fcssionnl. We, as Americans, brag, and perhaps Justlv. of our schools and school system-, and yet no country can show more luck of education in educated mon. mouse mo contradictory appellation. I mean the lack of education in those who ela'm to be educated. Our country Is overrun with men just come from rubbing against college walls, with the dogreeof B. A., or U.S. attached to their names, and with an idea that they are ready for lifes work; ready to copo with all the problems that may come up; ready to earn their daily bread. But alas, how soon thoy find out their mistake! Thoy Unci that a college education is a pretty good thing in its place a good suit of clothes to look at, but rather poor for working in. A college ed ucation Is the mcro foundation for the more practical, a necessary groundwork for the whole structure, yet of llltlo uso of itself. It gives the student aulnslght into many professions, but a plain view of none. Yet upon tills ho expects to build his future fame and prosperity. And, Ifhoinllko the average studonl, ho has not only not gone outside of the es tablished currlculuml but gels through his course In m quick lime as possible and gets his diploma by skipping all he can. Ho claims to be educated, but if yon ask htm what lie is educated In, he can not tell you. Is ho a Botanist V Yes, no that is lie bus studied It one term, Knows a few of the terms given to parts of plants, is he a Chemist? The same stammering answer. Perhaps one In twenty studies It three terms just long enough to get a slight, glimmer of the beauties of the science, and is then as far as the college class goes, la ho a Geologist, Meteorolo gist, Astronomer, or Engineer V No! Then, what is he Y Ajumbled-togethermixed up conglomerated mass of science, art and unspeakable language, having a smaller, ing of many branches of knowledge, hut profound understanding of none. Now I have nothing to say against this, as far as it goes, not at all. Ills necessa ry, but not an education by any means. It was a gVcat honor, twenty years ago, to bo a . A. or B. S. But now ! Why the fact of it is, the degree has become so common, so easily won, that the owner of it thinks it of little consequence whether It is known that he has it or nol. But let us look at another phase of this question the literary or general educa tion of men In the professions. 1 have remarked above that the college education is the foundation for the practical, and here I would repeat it. A physician or lawyer who gets the professional educa tion without the literary, is like a me chanic who has the tools to do certain work that requires skill, but who has nev er been taught how to uso them. If a young manperhaps 1 might say hoy understands a little about the three Its reading, 'ritlng, and 'rithmotic lie can bo admitted to either a law or medical college from which he can graduate in two years study. Study of what? Of studying tlicorct ically that which can only be learned by practical observation and experience. Every year hundreds I might almost say thousands of medical schools Hood the country with an army of neophytes. And why? Simply because the standard is so low that any oiio with a little common souse yes, and a fool to can obtain the degree. To such men we confide our dearest friends in the most severe sickness. In no country is the citizen compelled to trust their lives to such ignorance. In England the candidate is llrst ex ainined in all tho English branches high and low in Greek and Latin, or some of the modern languages in place of Greek. There he has to go through four or five years of hard study; and, before getting hi degree, must undergo a severe ex amination before a commitle of the gov- eminent. In Franco tho candldato must undergo six to nine years of hard study, before he can qualify. In Germany the standard is higher still. Fully ton yours aro required to fit the candidate for the permission to prac tice. In all these countries the law con trols the practice of medicine, protecting botli physician and people. Compare th with our system Dr. Wood, of PhiladelphiaThe ordinary mode of manufacturing M. D.a is 'no pro limiiiary examination.' Jinny persons graduate wiio have not received a gram mar school education." Although three years arc reqiilred, nominally foi'aoourso yet a year and a half of these slipshod ox erclsos usually an dices. It is said six per cent, of the M. I)j., who wcro examined by the U. 9. Army Commission, stoutly maintained that "an eclipse of the sun was caused by tho earth coming between the earth and the huh." 1 pvesumo it is. And in the profession of law It Is the saniM. "No preliminary examination" Is tho rule, and the candidate reads Hlackstono, or Kent for two years, Is ad mitted to the bar and is a humbug. Sharswood, in one of his notes to Blackstones Commentaries says, "There is a groat perhaps an overdue haste in American youth to enter upon the active and stirring scenes of life. Hence it is true that many men aro found in the pro fession without adequate preperation. This prevents permanent success, and con lines the unlottorcd advocate to the lower walks of the profession, which promises neither profit nor honor." Tho Regents have under consideration the establishment of a medical and law college in connection with tho university, both of which I hope to see accomplished. But if thoy should bo established fully half the students will leave their scientif ic and classical studies, and rush into ono of these new colleges, and graduate, call ing themselves educated men. Heaven save the mark! Aksoulai'iub Is the Love of one's Country an Opinion? S Says " IheathuH tlioro a man, with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath mild, 'This la my own, my native land?' What mortal hand Can ore untie tho filial baud That knltH mo to thy rugged straud Caledonia?" Such was the novel idea advanced by a gentleman sometime ago. lie scorned to carry the Impression that all ideas on tho subject of patriotism were merely selfish. If ho was not a gentleman of general and liboral culture, ono might pass such a statement as paradoxical, when the histories of most countries teem with such exalted examples of patriotism. Re call the noble one of a Regulus, of a Toll, of an Emmett. Nay, where is there not a country In which men of pure, honest, earnest lives have not freely rendered up all for their country's grod? How can such a love, (for love it. is), bo called an opinion? To arguo from such a stand point, to many, will seem idle. An opinion is merolj an idea, nothing substantial. We form opinions o.i every subj.-cl and change them as readily. AVo do not form them after considering a question candidly, but from reports, hear say; it simply means to think. Do wo always stop for reasons why wo think so audso? 1 cannot believe one's love to his country is based on so weak a founda tion. Again will anyone sudor martyrdom for a mere opinion in distinction from I know, I bollovo? -After wo have thought, reasoned, judged and accepted conclu sions, then an opinion becomes a belief, and what ono honestly believes to bo right, no amount of physical torture will compel him to retract. To love one's country is ono of tho strongest, noblest instincts of the soul. TIs not education, 'tis not sentiment, 'tis not like lovo between the soxes; for that may contain nothing hut selfishness a desire to gratify passion, to gain worldly means. Wo do not lovo our country bo cause its laws are just and good, its Instl tullons broad and free. Not because wo wore born hero, reared from infancy to manhood's prime, where the friends of childhood with tholr pleasures and joys, where homo with all its tender memories and associations aro found, where fathers, brothers and loved ones lie sleeping on many a sunny hillside. Not because Liberty witli her broad pinions broods over it. 13ac.li and every ono of these may bo strands in the cord which binds us so strongly to her, so that persecution and exile cannot destroy it. Again, you cannotexplain on the ground of an opinion, that foolingof intense long ing homesickness of tlio.se away from their nativo land. There are other coun tries just as free. Tho sun shines just the same, more beautiful plants and flowers may deck its landscape, birds may sing sweeter songs, fairer vales and loftier mountains it may possess, yet amid all theso conditions the heart turns with longing for its native shore. Whither arc wo tending ? We must give up our bibles, give the Sabbath to amuse ments and debauchery, believe man an improved apo. Dismiss a first cause from creation. Accept communism in order that wo may have a survival of tho fittest. Honesty and virtue aro at a discount. Sinco man is nothing but matter, why trouble ourselves nbout what wo aro and how wo livo. Sinco there is no immortal ity, no hereafter, why need we struggle so hard here. " Come let us eat, drink and bo merry, for to-morrow we die." Ruthless hands aro tearing every concep tion of what Is ennobling, every longing for bettor lives, all that makes life worth living for from us. I believe wo shall soon sec a breaking of the dark, humiliat ing cloud hanging over humnnily a breaking in a bright, fairer day. G. --Afowdays ago, it happened that a number of students had collected in tho janitor's room in the basement. Tlioro was popcorn, popper and stove, but no Are. A dignified Senior, Mr. M , proposed to the boys to draw lots, who should build the fire, stating that in his wanderings ho had observed a fine lot of kindling in tho other end of the building. The lot fell on Mr. M , and ho proceeded in search of the kindling. In the meantime, the other boys had drawn to determine who should shell and pop the corn, which re sulted in Mr. W's undertaking this task. Just as Mr. M had loaded himself with shavings and wood for the fire, busi ness or something else compelled tho Chancellor to go in search of the janitor, and ho of coiiise started for his room. As the Chancellor was wending his way A moug the halls of the basement, whom should ho meet, in turning a corner, but tho Senior with his load of kindling. ."All all Mr. M , material for some ex periment, I suppose." Tho Senior did not venture to reply, but throwing his bundle at the Chancellor's feat for a peace-offering, made u most precipitate retreat. Tho Chancellor proceeded on his way, and as lie noarcd tho room, the boys supposing it was their comrade returning, greeted him with such cries as "Well, Boss, what luck?" "Conic, hurry up tho Arc." etc. But tho Chancellor, not embarasscd in the least, entered, and simply inquired if any ono had seen George lately. A modest Junior replied he had nol been in, "but if you wish, to leave " Tho Chancollor, talking in tho situation, concluded that ho did. But there lias beon no more corn popping in tho janitor's room, since. . . . ,.,
