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So with the ninny qitcstiiins llml present
themselves to us, ho who relies upon his
own judgment is led to investigation.
It is a matter of economy that as sitlt
jects are presented' for consideration wo
should decide upon some course and pur
sue it. Often, lime enough is waited in
indecision as to which of many duties
shall bo performed, to have performed
them all. Alexander, when ashed hmv ho
conquered the world, replied, " Jly not de
laying." Decision is not stubbornness. It is not
necessary, because you have an opinion,
that you should seek to inllict it upon
others, or fail to sec the justice of criti
cism. Only speak boldly yonr convic
tions, and if convinced ot error show do
cision by acknowledging it and accepting
the truth. Under the cloak of stubborn
ness indecision often lurks.
An opinion prevails that upon undecid
ed questions it is safe to re main neutral.
True policy does not dictate such a
course. It is not the neutral men who ad
vanco society. Neutrality is idleness,
waiting for the issue of a struggle between
iwo principles that may increase the high
est interests of mankind. The men who
enter into the contest are borne along and
become a part of the progress of tlie
times. Those who remain outside are left
behind and when the decision is reached
they And they are not in sympathy with
the age. Neutrality is n sign of weak
ness. All admire a man who represents
not only himself but also some idea,
some principle, and arc disappointed in
the man who has no principle upon
which his feet are set.
If there is a character a Jit object of
contempt, it is one made up of doubts,
indecisions, hesitations. "Wavering, where
every true interest demands llnnness,
stubborn about trifles. No quality adds
such strength to character as decision.
It is a positive virtue, it keeps all the fac
ulties in action and makes progressive
while indecision retards. A. W. P.
ruisuxivisiisrrv.
Thnre are some people in the Mate ol
Neb. who aie continually harping upon
the inelllelency of this iiis'itutiou. Those
ai e either persons too ignorant to see any
irood in education or oNo chronic grum
bleis, two classes which may well be
placed in (lie same scab' as regards any
good which they accomplish, and concern
ing which it is unnecessary to say any
thing, as their own words and actions
condemn themselves. Hut there is another
clasr- which to some may not appear to be
working harm, though, in reality, we be
lieve, are doing more injury Minn the oth
ers. This class would make an infantile
nursery out of Nebraska's noblest instilu
lion. Their plans might be good enough
if it was the object of Mm Uuivoisily
merely to give boys and girls n smattering
of French, Italian, music, and detesta.
bio airs, or, in other words, to lit Miem to
be drones and numskullo, instead of aid
ing them to become noble men and wo
men. These have an idea that thoUnivoi-
sity should bo a grand high- or boatding
school,und that it is more of an honor to
send their children hen; than to have them
attend home high-schools, which aro the
proper places to send children until they
have learned enough, and are of a suitable
age to enter the University.
Hut probably we would better give some
specific reasons for referring to this mat
ter. Undoubtedly many of you have lead
several editoiials in one of the leading
dailies of thestale, in favor of erecting a
building (which would, really, be nothing
more or less than a boarding hall,) for
the young ladies, or rather girls, anil of
placing over them some ideal (Y) matron.
Now wo aro not discussing this with
the hope that anything we may say will
shield the girls from tlio scrutinizing eye
of this ideal matron, but, merely because
of the principle involved. Undoubtedly
Miore are many boys as woll as gills here
who would better be in a school governed
in a dillerent manner j but their presence
;i
on