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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 1884)
THE HESPERIAN, STUDENT. guagcs aro spoken by the cultured, and arc aubjoct lo external changes. Dialects aro spoken by tho Ignorant and doTolnp Inlcrnally. Hcnco tho prosenco of tho Celtic iu tho dialects, provo that they aro spokon by people of that origin. Then, again tho rollglou and tho laws aro given as proof that tho Colts wore not driven out. From the condition of the Celts, under iho Saxons, it is difficult to discover, where a pooplo so crushed aud enslaved, could effect tho lawsfof their conqorors. Then, it has boon Bald, that were tho Colts preserved, tho intluonco of thoir Christianity on the pngan Baxons would have beon evident. But it is well to inquire if tho Celts woro christians. Christianity had undoubtedly been introduced into Britain, but .like all other results of Roman rule, was superficial; and in the dangerous times following the withdrawal of the) Roman legions Christianity was lost in England. That tho Celts remained in England is again proved by tho atato of society under the Anglo-Saxon. In Ger many, previous to the departure of tho Angles aud Sax ons there was no caste; all men were equal, subjcctjto an elective princo. It is impossible for a conquered people to live on an equality with the conquerors. They aro either exterminated or reduced to the condition of serfs. Under tho Saxons there were two distinct cartes of so ciety, tlio ruling and the laboring. It would have been unnatural for such a atatc ot affairs to have, developed among the free Saxons in such a short time; hence from tho nature of the case, we may reasonably infer that the lower class was made up of the conquered Cells. Tho Anglo-Saxons were undoubtedly few in number. This is evident from the fact that they were the largi at land owners the world lias ever known. Each lord had a few Saxon followers, the remainder of his relinuo con-, sisted of Celtic serfs, and a host of serfs were required to sustain his vast estate. Hence the Celtic or lower popu lation far excelled the Suxon iu number, aud to keep them in subjection it was necessary that they should be entirely unarmi'd. But in the great danger of the Dan ish invasion, many of the Celts were pressed into service. Unaccustomed as they were to battle, thev of necessity occupied inferior places, and tho Saxons, from their more prominant positions became the targets of their invaders. The majority ol the Anglo-Saxon lords were thus cither killed or banished from England, and the already scanty Saxon population was greatly re. duccd. Under tho Danes the power was still held by the Teu tons. But as I hey held the throne I'oi so short a period, aud introduced so few colonists, lhj Teutonic popula tion did not exceed the same under the Saxons. This was the last addition to the Teutonic element in England hence, what is Teutonic to-day is either Anglo-Saxon or "Danish, mid since tho majority of the Anglo-Saxons were exterminated, tho term Anglo-Saxon coiiuol apply even to the Teutonic inhabitants, mid certainly not to the pres ent English people. Thus tne history, lauguage aud state of society, provo that the Celts occupy an important position iu the found ing of the modern Euglisli race. Stubbs says that the Cells furnished the material alone, while the Saxons furnished both material and form. But if tlio Saxons, did furnish tho form, tho Colts have dono much to sustain and develop it. Thoir inlluenco in this direction is shown by comparing tho Teutonic coun ties of tho smith castjwith tho Celtic of tho west. It la a notorious'fact that tho purely Teutonic shiros, such as Sussex and Norfork aro thosoj wliero thoro is tho loast movement of tho indlglnous population, "Silly Suffolk" I Is proverbial. Ono writers says: "While tho Touton of of tho casternlcounties and southern coast stops at home on whatever wages ho can earn, tlio active, enterprising and intelligent Cell seeks in' a' uew quarter, bettor em ployment, and higher pay than ho can obtain at home among his own people." Tho Celts from tho westoru and northorn borders aro rapidly making up tho indus trial population'of the cities, tho mining and manufact uring district. Ono authority states that thirty per cout of the three million inhabitants of Loudon aro Celts. Then again tlio inlluenco of tlio Celts is shown in the Colonies. By far the majority of tho English colonists i came from tho Celtic districts, and not the Teutonic. Hence tho great Anglo-Saxon race whoso energy spreads it over every part of the world, may bo regarded as ingen ious myth. It has been said tliat to the Celts is duo tho imagina tive element in tho English people. While it is practi cally impossible to say how much of the literature or science of England belongs to tho Anglicized Celts, tho birtli places and surnames of many prominant writers prove that they aro Celts. Thus gradually, through the industries, colonies and literature, the Celts aro gradually overpowering their for mer conquerors and instead of the Britons becoming English, the English have become Britons. W This is n new department iu tho Student and i is intended to contain that kind of iitcrary debris that its name indicates. It will offer to its readers mattor not se rious aud grave enough to be embodied in an editorial, too much locil in its character to find a place tn the miscellany, and not enough so to claim space among tho localb proper, but still, it is hoped, readable enough to bo worthy of a place in the college paper. So don't expect o find any discussion ot tho p ilicy of the Rodents upon this page, aud if you wish to read anything about Carlylo .or the fearful condition of the chapel ceiling you had bet ter not stop at this station or a bittor and OTerwhulming disappointment will como to you. That will do for tho time-honored editorial bow. While wo wero writing the above a prominent, but wlid eyed and greatly excited, student shot through tho office door ami precipitated himself into the three-logged chair which we keep to amuse bores, laundrymen and others whoso room is always better than their company. He picked himself up iu a moment and favored us with a slightly incoherent yarn about some girls who knew to much concerning his private affairs to bo agreeable. He said that they knew everything about him before ho did himself, and that it was very wearing. He thought that he was in hourly daiger of au attack of bra.n-fover or insanity and begged of us, in moving toues, to ad visa these inquisitive ladies to give him u little lime in which lie might recuperate enough to start for Patagonia.
