THE HESPERIAN STUDENT.
"cipher." As each succeeding generation under
takes the task of learning that which it needs, or
desires to know, every step on the way of learning
will be marked by the passive form of some one who
can go no farther. So, somewhere between the
knowledge of the fact that "A" is "A," and a
scholarship like Mill's or Gladstone's, each one of
us will find the place where he must stop. If some
find this place in the Higher Algebra or the History
of the Middle Ages, it is simply our duty to go as far
as possible and then try with all our might to go far
ther. By such efforts has mankind progressed, and
it is our duty to see that progress does not stop be
cause of our laziness, since nature's odd arrangement
is, that each man shall pay to posterity the debt that
he owes to his ancestors.
The critic in our literary- societies occupies no sin
ecure office. He is expected to know how every thing
should be said and done; to please both the criticised
and the audience, and to have at all times a supply of
advice on hand for gratuiluous distribution. Al
though faultfinding is a critic's prerogative, he should
not exercise it without regard to the age, sex, or pre
vious condition of servitude of his subject, butshould
remember that he has several classes of students to
deal with, and should feather his shafts accordingly.
There are some people who never seem to believe
themselves capable of any thing. This excessive self
depreciation will not allow them to undertake what
otherwise would be entirely within their power. A
severe criticism to such as these would instead of ben
efiting only discourage them and throw back into in
activity germs of talents that only need a degree of
self confidence to become great. Many students un
derstand themselves thoroughly, and have full reliance
on their ability to perform what they uudertake, but
yet are affected with a nervousness when on the stage
that only long and persistent practice will overcome.
The class of students that we wish especially to
commend to the tender mercies of the critic is com
posed of those in whom the bump of self-esteem is
abnormally developed, whose chief aim in life seems
to be to impress others with an exalted opinion of
self. There are no characteristics at once so dis
agreeable and transparent as vanity and affectation,
and none more frequently accompany a low degree
of knowledge and power. In King David's time wise
men sometimes feigned themselves fools, but in mod
ern times fools try to feign themselves wise, and if
one of these Sir Oracles favors us with an oration on
ambition he describes every ambitious man that ever
lived since Cain wanted to exchange places with his
brother Abel, he finishes his peroration with all the
pretty things in Burns, Byron and Shakespeare, about
"Auld lang syne" or "The dim vistas ofthe future."
If we are favored with a review the subject will be
nothing less than the works of "St. Augustine," Web
ster's Unabrigcd, or the Encyclopedia Brittanica,
and he discusses the whole work, line upon line, pre
cept upon precept, not forgetting to inform us ol the
exact volume, page and line quoted. Of course both
societies are proud to have members who can deliver
essays or orations an hour and sixty five minutes
long, but it is rather hard to be compelled to swallow
the whole at one close, therefore it has been suggested
that those long articles be delivered by installments,
and interspersed with music.
We doubt very much if the severest criticism can
do those persons any good, who have such an over
whelming self-esteem. It is impossible to convince
them of any fault, and no one who is not conscious of
his own defects can improve. Seest thou a man
wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a
fool than of him.
At the last meeting ofthe Board of Regents Prof.
Aughey, on account of his failing health, resigned
his position as professor of Natural Sciences in the
University of Nebraska. Prof. Aughey joined his
fortunes with the University at the very beginning,
and we cannot but regret that the position he so long
and so ably filled now becomes vacant.
Any person with ordinary talent and the genius of
labor may become distinguished as a specialist, but
it requires great genius as well as indefatigable labor
and patience to become distinguished in many fields
of labor at the same time, and those who succeed in
doing this are few and far between. Prof. Aughey
and his achievements in whatever he has undertaken
will acknowledge that he is one of these few. As a
Botanist, Chemist and Naturalist, he takes rank with
the best in the land, and is well and favorably known
among scientific men at home and abroad. His
many publications connected with the Geology, Geo
graphy and Natural History of Nebraska have done
much toward clearing away the mistaken opinions
held about our state, and have been highly spoken of
every where. His attainments as a linguist are sec
ond only to his attainments as a scientist. He has
at different times taught Latin, Greek, German and
French with a success that many a specialist in these
departments might envy.
To the prestige of his name the University owes a
great share of its success and popularity, and to his
indefatigable labor and zeal we mainly owe the mu
seum of which we may well be proud. As a teacher
he had marked success. He knew how to impart his
own enthusiasm to the student, and he always had
the good will and esteem of the members of his
classes without which no teacher can be succesful.
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