80
GDITOU'S TAMiE.
VOL. YITt,
QUOTATIONS.
Thi) pago3 of a book, or tho columns of
a newspaper, can hardly ho disfigured In
u nunc needless and pedantic way, than
'iy the use of direct quotations from for.
oign languages. These quotations are not
always from the Latin or French, although
such are the most common, hut some wri
ters do not hesitate to cite from far more
unfamiliar sources.
The use of quotations savors of pedantry.
It could he excused only on the suppo
sition that they are generally understood.
But to the larger share of gneral readers,
they are not readily iutelligihle. Such
persons are therefore at a loss when a for
eign citation occurs, and to them the
force of many a passage is lost.
There is a parallelism between the wri
ter who sprinkles his pages with foreign
quotations, and the novelist who puts
slang phrases into the mouths of his
characters, and thus lowers his own dig-11113-
by presupposing a familiarity, on the
part of his readers, with impolite conver
sation. If the latter practice is grots, the
former is equally an offence to the reader.
The custom is seldom necessary. Clear
ness and vigor in language require, as a
rule, that only common and idiomatic
words be used. If, then, words of "learn
ed length and thui.dcriug sound," as Gold
smith calls them, should be used as sel
doin as possible, it is still more indefen
sible to use words that are not naturalized
in our language. Hooks on travel, and
kindred work, often contain unfamiliar
words, but the judicious author will so
introduce these that the context contains
their explanation.
Latin mottoes are frequently used, and
thej !iro "Hun found to be both excellent
and appropriate; but why they should
not be rendered into terse and clear En
, is far from self-evident
The notion that a mere dress of Latin
words lends now charms to u phrasu, is,
it would seem, a rolic of the decaying
worship of the classical languages.
We understand that the Legislature, so
august and wise, abolished, by special act,
the incidental fee of $2,00 per cupiUt, on
the grounds of its being unconstitutional.
If so, where now is the student, whose
greatest admiration has been the Presi
dential chair, or a seat in Congress, that
will strike Tor Duck pay ? If he be among
us, let him come forth. His claim is no
doubt good before the law; and his cllbrt
to regain his money, as patriotic as the
"Salary grab and grabers."
EDITOR'S TABLE.
Wo were surprised and disappointed
that the last number of the Hates Student
should contain an editori 1 eulogistic of
college- matrimony! The absurd argu
ments and faUe logic advanced by the ed
itor were enough to make the gray-h aired
reverend founders of old Bates turn over
in their giaves. We are ashamed of our
brothei associate. He seems to have
forgotten that colleges are established to
promote culture in all possible perfection
and not an infirmary for lovelorn lads
and lassies. Shame on you, Mr. Editor!
Freshmen should be ambitious, earnest
students, Sophomores constant and severe
in their applications to hooks, Juniors
dignified and scholarly, and Seniors state
ly and wise. Colleges are to educate
men and women grand and true, brave
for life and its trials, strong for its work
and patient for its suffering, with ability
to mine the treasures of earth, to o!ve
the grand problems of living and dying,
to touch the great nerve of humanity
making it thrill and tremble beneath the
magnetism of eloquent, powerful truth.
Pale moons, winged cupids with arrows
and hearts have no husiuesi in college
halls and quoting poetry by starlight, in
college curricula.
Tho lierkdeyan has one of the best ex
change editors we know of, and the last
number he made as piquant and recherche
hf- ana! , li tli n Hiii l1if4 b.. .?--- -
I us ii.Mi.ii, wiuuii ia iiiu manual praise we
can bestow. The Jierkeleyan'' locals arc
