150
EDITORIALS.
VOL. VIII,
sulta from thu rehearsal of u declamation
in the class-room. It insures that conli.
dence in the speaker which alone pro.
duces the sell-possession of the true ora
tor. That the readings from English
classics, to be highly beneficial, demand
considerable time, should not discourage
the instructor, for the stylo of writing
that is here formed, repays doubly the
care and time devoted to them.
With such valuable- training omitted
in the Senior year, the student in his ap
pcarance upon the rostrum can neither do
justice to himself nor to instructors. If
rhetorical culture is to be encouraged in
the University, the old announcement
when complied with, cannot be made
more etlicieut, and we hope to see the day
when the former exercises will be de
manded of every student, who completes
a course in the University.
TUB SOCIETIES.
For some reason, the work of the so'cie
tics was not as cilicient the past year as
during some preceding years. Some
have tri;d to account for it on the ground
that the lessons were harder and hence re
quired more lime. This is undoubtedly
one cause, since, never in the history of
the University'has so much and so thor
ough work been done as in the past year.
The Faculty have spared no pains to
make the class-room work as careful and
profitable as the time and opportunity
would permit, And, without doubt, the
Faculty will give the students as a class,
the credit of faithful labor, lint the ques
tion is whether the class-room work can
not be made, too severe, taxing the stu
dent's time so fully that lie can do no
outside labor at all. The societies give
some of the most valuable assistance that
a student gets during his whole course
provided he has time to prepare his work
carefully and thoroughly. In no other
way can he gain, in the University, any
practice in extempore speaking neither is
there anv opportunity offered for appear.
ing betore the public in order to wear oil'
the bashfulness Hint most students arc
troubled with. Tno most successful of our
own graduates are those that were leaders
in the societies while they were connected
with thu University. The same is true
of most successful man; while they were
in college they took nn active part in so
cioty work of all kinds.
An old saying, "A house divided against
itself cannot stand," will probably furnish
another reason for the societies languish
ing somewhat; but this year there will be
no trouble of this kind: hence, since the
school will be unusually full, the coming
year should be one of great prosperity
Every new student will llud it to his in
terest to join one or other of the societies;
and then he should take hold and do faith
ful work. If the societies become too
large, another might bo organized.
THAT LECTURE ASSOCIATION.
It will perhaps not be forgotten that
during the last year an organization
known as the "Students Lecture Associa
lion" was formed by the students of the
University. Under Ibis Association four
instructive lectures were given by mem
bers of the Faculty. It was the intention
of the charter members that the Associa
tion should become a permanent institu
tion under the control of the students of
the University, and by another year to en
gage the services of sullicient lecturers to
constitute a lecture course for the season.
If such remains the intention of the Asso
ciation, timely action is to be suggested
in securing suitable lecturers and accom
modations. With its available means, the
Association can now afford to take upon
itself some risk in procuring such men,
as will insure by their reputation, under
ordinary circumstances, an audience suf.
llcient to meet all obligations. We believe
under judicious management, ihc Associa
tion can be made to prosper, and at the
same time provide valuable lectures for
students at a nominal price. If the latter