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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1878)
r .4 01 r, THE HESPERIAN STUDENT -VT.0X7- Qul non rrnflclt, Deficit. ' McOw VOL. VII. JANUARY, 1878. NO. 1. For tho Stuuknt. INQUIRY. Sny friend! do you know where is aught or per fection 'Mid the gardens of earth or her billowy strand? Pray tull, if there's aught thai knows no defec tion; In vain havo I sought it o'er sea and o'er land. O Nature! is there, in thy beauty supremo Not one perfect flower; no roho without thorn, Whoso beauty no'or fu'lef "Uo tho lines of a dream, Nor whose freshness departs with the dew of the morn? O Sun ! haH never tho light of thine eye, lu its search throughout tho vast concourse of worlds. Found wunc perfect haven, where never a sigh Hreathes a tale of regret where pain ne'er dis turbs! E'en thy rays, as they dart through infinite space, Are not perfect, but broken by stray worms found! Though they klndlo a smile in Diaii's fair face, And with gold tint the clouds: they shadow ilio ground. Tho roses may bloom, but their beauty must fado; And the proud forest king Ills leaves mut let fall. Tho zephyr one moment with sweetness is lade, Hut anon with tho carrion's breath profanes all. Then is there no spot where beauty ne'er fades, Where clouds never darken, and shadows ne'er come, And lifo ne'er a wearisome burden is made? Pray tell! for there would 1 make me n home. And where is tho joy 6o perfect and pure That it brings not one moment of sadness? Or who has known sorrow so deep and endure That it left not some moment of gladness? O searcher for happiness, lover of truth! Seek not for such goal in this life, For In thy soul's darkness, unbrightcned by youth Thou shalt.find thyself with thee at strife. S. S. OUR NATIONAL TENDENCIES. An oration delivered in the Opera House, June 26, 1877. Every American feels more secure when lie reflects that one hundred years have passed away since we took a position among the independent nations. To Americans it is a just cause of congratu lation that our example, as a self-governing people, is exerting a vast influence on the civilized world. The commons of all Europe arc watching with intense interest our every movement The critical eye of the world is upon us. We arc as yet but an experiment. Centuries arc hut days in the life of a nation. Shall wc succeed, is the one great question with every true American. If, as centuries roll on, we continue true to the principles of our organization, if we preserve inviolate those rights we pro fess, then all Europe must follow in our wake, If on the other hand we fail, if wo uhff ff I, i j