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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (June 14, 1882)
T II E I' B S P E KIAiN ST U I) E N T ti (factum cm cm c . Nebraska University's Commencement 'H2 opened last Wednesday ovenimr with the first anniversary of the College Y"Uiig Men's Christian Association. This meeting was hold in the Congiogntionnl church of l lie oily. Although hastily gotten up and imi well announced, tlio occasion was a very pleasant one. Row Louis Gregory, the- principal speaker of the evening, made a strong and earnest plea for moral and religious inlluences in the college. An address before the Y. M. C. A. is an n propriatc opening for com mencomenl week, and, we are glad to leai n, will he a regular part of our oxer, cises in die future. Thursday evening was devoted to the exhihilion of the literary society of the agricultural college. The llrst venlure of the granger hoys hardly met with the success they had anticipated. Their pro ductlons hore evidence of earnest and enthusiastic study, hut the similaiity of subjects made the whole rather monoto nous. Agriculture was ihetlte theme, and this single chord with few or no variations was sounded during the whole evening. Greater variety would doubtless be more pleasing to an audience, and If the farm boys desire to have aspopuliiriexhibitions as the other University societies they should have a varied programme. A popular programme is not necessarily a superficial one us many seem to think. That there is talent in the Agricultural society is gcneriilly conceded, and future exhibibitions promise to be as success ful as could be wished. Although to introduce in a literary entertainment the questions which under, lie the present University crisis was in bad taste, it nevertheless mude the Palla. dian programme of Friday evening one of unusual vivacity. Aside from the sub. jecls of one or two essays this elevenih annual exhibition outshines previous previous years. In her os-ay on "An us Ait" Miss Clara Pinks lofiriod to Shake, spore, Michael Aiigelo and Longfellow to show how art made many compromises with nature, and thought that an artist's true genius' is seen hi his choice of natural subjects which he does not follow too closely but depicts in bnnd and rapid sketches. Ralph Weston claimed foi the "Intellectual Integrity of the Thinker," that it was necessary for progress, especially when colleges attempt to loiee students to accept predetermined theories. Tliirkors are mado to sudor, for society resents nothing more than unlikcnoss to itself. Darwin, who considered all ques. tious iuvesligablc, almost changed llio face of science and philosophy. Loyalty to the truth is the bond that unites all thinkers, for it is the religion of their life. .John Dryden told why David Swing gave up his church and henceforth know no theology but humanity, loving (od not less hut mankind more He is now the champion of the free thoutrht of such as Longfollow, Bryant and Whitlier; he comes from the clouds of theology to teach kindly to the multitude; by making his mind national he has become the herald of a new faith, an American Christianity. Thai Cromwell did more to overthrow the divine right cf kings than Luther did to overthrow the power of the popes, was the question for debate, D. T. Smith maintaining that the popes were overthrown by the centering of power in kings. Cromwell broke chains, Luther only removed those already broken. I). L. Clark, on the other side, said that Luther founded a new religion by daring to to condemn religious abuses, while Cromwell acted merely as Hie agent of a bad parliament. Oscar Wilde was handled roughly by Miss Mary Campbell in an essay on "Modern yEsthoticlsm." She called his pootn sheerest nonsense and himself the superficial apostle of the small in art. She thought we should study the expression of the infinite to arrive at true lostheticism. R. L. Marsh took up the question of Colloge vs. Uni versity, urging the "paternal" system of Yale against that of Harvard, modelled on the Gorman idea. Ho also objected to the elective system in schools that are not true universities, and thought, also, that as our national character is controlled by Christian institutions so should be our college character. Miss Cora Doolittlc's recitation of "The Diver" closed the lit erary part of the programme. It was effectively rendered, but the translation sounds weak to those who had read the German original. The Palladlans had their usual good fortune in securing music, an instrumental duit bj Misses Richardson and Gillette, a new song by the over-obliging Apollo Club, a song by Mr-. AvV.Jansen, La Stella, and piano solos by Miss Potvin and Prof. Rohan. Mrs. Jansen is a visitor to Lincoln who kindly consented to assist the programme. Miss Potvin plays with surprising case and spiiit, and her selections arc always in good taste. The audience which attended tho Union exhibition Saturday evening was about the same ns that of tho evening before, and many and various woio the coin pari sons mado between tho two performances. The boqucts wore perhaps a littlo moio numerous at the Unions and they hud t,u benefit of an invocation. Miss Snoll, in her essay on "Hawthorne" placed the "Marble Faun" us tho best work of this natural, yet at tistic author If Hawthorne had a fault it was that ol leaving too much unfinished, permitting his readers to draw their own conclusions. A short review was given of each of his four great novels. Mr. Pierce on "Darwin" declared that fiituic generations would consider him tho central figure of the 10th century. Tluij his views lack universal acceptance dotracts nothing; theories that have made men think have been most unpopular. True religion should not bo afraid ol truth. Darwin pursued in retirement his life of research and lived to see his woik appreciated and accepted. Mr. Hotsfoul reviewed "Wordsworth" in a finished essay. In country he life formed a habit ol reflection and a love of beauty, so that his imaginative mind exalted the humblest crealures. He led a revolution against false poetry and made a wide depailuie from worldly usage by relieving poetry from arbitrary rule Miss Frost's essay "Three Iconoclasts," brought in Lutliei, Cromwell ami Rousseau, the preeminent reformers of the last four centuries. It Luther could have foreseen the result nt ills movement lie would have recoiled in liori.r; recoiled from the execution ol kings in the English and French revolu tious and the excesses of the reign ol terror; but the excellent republic of the Fieucli stands asa monument to Rousseau. The "Evils versus the Renellts of the Feudal System" were debated by Messrs Holmes and Sullivan, the tlrst showing how wars, executions and insecurity brutalized tho peasants and destroyed letters and art; the latter claiming that u elevated woman from a. slave to acompan ion, gave protection to the countiy, and instituted domestic life by means ol tli castles. Miss Codding delivered a pecu liar oration on "Why?" and showed wh that little monosyllabic has been the spur of so many wonderful discoveries and achievements. . When men began to ask questions the time of revival came, ami this worl, though so small, has opened up facts and principles of life and driven away doubt. The audience was husheu and most sharply attentive while Mis-. Nellio Lett locited "The Fall of the Pein beitou Mill." Her voice was pathetic and in full keeping witn the tragedy she related. Tho music of tliu evening was a piano duel by Misses Edith Doolittle and Cora Fisher, a very sweet song by Mis Eva Miller, an Apollo Club quartette ami piano solos by Misses Ware and Potvin. Sunday evening tho old Opera House contained tho largo crowd which alwajs comes together when Chancellor Faiiileld speaks. His Raecal inioato seimon uit on tli is occasion devoted to tho Univeisih and tho necessity of maiutaing it on a Christian basis, the Chancellor arguing that education could not, or should not, B