SO. 4.
KDIT01UA.1.S.
85
wide by the press and bring needless dis
quietude to the man) persons who arc
credulous enough lo believe them.
Some Ion years ago, it was said that a
V-shapcd concern had left the sun and
was about to knock out of shape the plan
ct with which we are so closely associat
ed, lint instea.i of a crash in real estate,
no more was said about the ugly, but
mythical, customer.
And now, according to those pscudo.
scientists, all sorts of dircafllictions arc to
beset our earth in consequence of the
simultaneous conjunction of four planets.
It is claimed that history justifies this
prediction, and the plagues which it tells
of, until now attributed lo filth, are said
to be caused l3' these troublesome plan
ets. Then, by all means, lot the astro I o
gcr bo galvanized to life, and let all sani
tary measures be determined by his prog
uostications. These prophecies, analogous to the by
gienic nonsense which is so liberally
dealt out by learned (?) doctors, have
failed in instances too numerous to men
tion. Now, if these other erudite frauds
must amuse thomselves in this way, let
them not be hindered in their innocent
recreation, but they would do well to cul
tivate enough of the virtue of modesty
not to claim infallibility for their sham
predictions.
SOCIAMiES AND IlEOEl'TIOXS
We have noticed through the columns
f our exchanges, east and west, that
sociables given by the students and recep
tions by members of the faculty are a fre
quont occurence. Thore was a time when
sociables wore a sui in the University,
when the societies vied each other in
making them joyous occasions.
But during the present year only one
sociable has been given by the studonts.
and not a reception has broken themonot.
ony of solid study. Students enter the
class-room, recite their lessons and dupart,
day after day and term after term. So
long has this course of action been pur
sued that an isolated fooling lias gradually
sprung up between Professors and stu.
dents. Through negligence of social in
tercourse, that mote intimate friendship
which pervades some institutions, has
never been cultivated in the University
AVc think we speak the truth when we
say that thr present loyalty and patriotism
of the students for the University as an
institution, is the secret of prosont order
and regards.
We should like to see the social relations
bctweon Faculty and studonts greatly
changed. AVe should like to have a Prof
essor able to sa', when asked b a father
concerning his son, something more than
" Yes, his name is in my class-books."
Hut never, under the present regime can
the state of affairs be otherwise.
Professor and students must meet in
some other capacity, where the dignity
of the. Professors and the timid obedience
of the studonts are laid aside for the
occasion.
If the Univorsit- should act with a pa
ternal care over students, as is argued by
some, we desire to hear the first, the most
sacred and essential principle of the house
hold a paternal voice: not alone from
the chapel rostrum, where, clothed in dig
nit and authority.it demands obedience,
but in the social gatherings of students
and Professors, whore the ensigns and dis
tinctions of ofllce are for once obliterated.
Our literary societies have failed to
attract the attention of the Professors.
Sociables and receptions seem to be the
only gatherings where Faculty and stu
t'onts can meet in social onjoj'inont.
For this reason alone, if no other, they
are to be encouraged in college circles.
The students of the University are pat
riotic for their Alma Mator, as they have
repeatedly shown; consequently the feel
ing between Professors and students is
cordial. But, outside of the class-room
and the University, Professors and stu
dents are almost strangers.
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