THE HESPERIAN STUDENT.
of tlio court of Charles II. Tlioy gavo tho lost blow to the
Romantlo dramn. II living borrowed soino of tlio ln
triguos from tho Spanish drama, mid exercised a dis -cased
imagination, thoy wore fit prototypes of tho dra
matists, so culled, after tho Restoration .
Soldom havo writers adopted such au uniform stand -aid
as those of that day, and unconsciously thoy wroto
truo poetry. Perhaps it was because of their oblivion to
this fact that thoy succeeded so well. The tumult and
yearnings of tlio soul wore rovoaled upon their pages. Tho
em o Mods of people had been stirred by tho translation of
tlio Bible, tholr longings increased by tho discovery of
tlio New World and tlio intellectual life q-ilckonod by the
spread of learning. Thoso were tho causes of such a won
dorful concentration of dramatic energy within so shor t
a period. From the midst of revelry, we h ivo tho m )j t
glorious results, for tho old dramatists in their doopis t
degradation caught gllmses of tho pure and good; with
the poets sccptro they swayed tho multitude.
84.
Tho joint meeting between the Palladian and Union
societies which took place in the chapel on the evening
of tho 10th was very interesting and well attended. Tho
proceeds wore donated to tho Annual through tlio kind
ness of the two societies. Tho chapel was comfortably
filled by an audience of between two and three hundred.
Most of tho hearers were studeuts, but wo noticed a good
sprinkling of town people. The orations of tho evening
were delivered by Messrs. Frankfurter and Shepherd .
The first named gentlemnn reflected credit on tho Union
by a thoughtful and well delivered speech. Tho subject
was " 1 he Result of Scientific Thought," and it was liau
dlcd in n manner that clcurly showed a deep interest on
the part of the speaker. Mr. Shepherd favored tlio au
dience with a review of tho study of art nnd especially of
dramatic art. The gentleman showed a thorough ac
quaintancewith his subject and delivered his oration in
a clear, ringing voice suplimcnleil by appropri ito ges
tures. Neither of the orators was remarkable for orig
inality so much ns for artistic composition and effective
delivery. It would be impossible to form an opinion as
to their relative merits, since both were oxcelloht and of
an entirely different character, and if one could, it would
not be in order to express tho opinion since the intention
of the two societies was to make this meeting as little of
a contest as possible. Miss Mary Jones of she Palladian
delivered au essay on Jcaun Dare. Wo have uothing but
praise to bestow upon the production aud its delivery
Miss AllieLantz recited a tale of a maiden who was drown
ed by tho incoming tide. Although tho piece was simple
in tone it presented an opportunity for variety of voice
aud intonation which was token advantage of by tlio recit
er in a neat and mssterlv manner. Tho debate, whew !
Never before was a question devised that stirred up so
warm a discussion as the one on the tapis, "Resolved
that College Fraternities are beneficial." Tho editor of
Drift is a lcd-liot, boiling-over fraternity man and doe a
not mean to "officially" express an opinion. See him
privately and hear his views. When we say that it was
nearly twelve o'clock before the general debate was closed
and that it would not have been then, unless two thirds
of tho audlcncohad departed and the rest woio fast van
ishing, words may form somo idea of the vohemenco of
tho discussion. Porrln and Mockett were tho regular do
balers and boro thomsolves credit. Both of thorn did
"official.") Messrs. Will O Jo ncs, A G. Warner, Jesso
Holmes and II. P. Barret exterminated tho fraternities
in general dobato, and Mcs3rs. J . H. Mockett P. F.Clark
and tho wioldor of this gifted pen Joined in upholding
tho banner of hrothorhood. Tho Antl-frats were unpro
riously victorious ("official.") The Frats rolled Jj their
dxpononts in the dust ("unofficial.") In short, no ono
knows which side beat. Probably both did. Tho mu
sic intorsoorsed among thomoro wclghtyjpartsof the pro
gramme was excellent and heartily applauded. Wo
hopo to see another joint incotiug boforo many years.
May wo not bo disappointed.
Commencement draws near. Tho Seniors are loafing
as hard as thoy know how and aro supposed to be think
ing over their grand culminating offoit, which will elec
tilfy tho world on tho 11th. Rovlows have commenced
in class room. The poor wretch who has dono no uxor
than he could half tho term timo is now scratching
around ns lively as ho can to make up a deficiency that
ought to nwo any sane man into unquestioning silence.
But it was always thus. Tho boys work like nailors and
then flunk. Painful isn't it.
To say that there 13 a general fluuk among our studou t
is drawing it very lightly indeed. Tho spring is nlways
productive of a group of students who are compelled to
spend the wholo time in Ichthyology, Botany, and kin
dred branches. This is hnrd an the dryer portion of th
curriculum. Tlio Profs, seem to understand the true state
of nffairs for thoy are very lenient to tho uuhappy ones
who spend more time in tho woods than in their study
rooms.
The nine is going down to Firth to bo waxed by tho
professional country nine that inhabits that locality. Tho
cadets tire going to Milford to feed mosquitos for a spell.
Tho band is going along (hope they will finish the band
and dellvor us from torment.) Tho bad man that does
the business managing for tl is paper is going off to San
Francisco for fossils. He will bo back iu time for ex's.
It looks like n goooral exodus, don't it.
Why don't more of tlio students of this respectable in
stitution take a deeper interest in the affairs of the Uuis
versity ? A lamentable want of enthusiasm is every whore
manifest. Yes, it is even conepicous. The same crowd
on an average which has to manage this and that matter
is already engaged in bringing somo other scheme to sl
happy conclusion. All rivalry seems to have died out
Wo cannot account for this. Students should remember
that they do not come to collogc to spend their whole
timo in boning away at books. A man may burn tho
midnight oil and stand at the head of his class during tho
whole four years of his courso and still, when he leavo
his Alma Mater, depart with less polish than he poscssed
at the beginning of his college life. Study is the
main tiling, but a "dig" takes nothing away from college
that will bo likely to affect his after life except myopia,
which is not by any mcanc beneficial. Either extreme is
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