THE HESPERIAN STUDENT.
by going to tho telephone, but tlio lightning kept things
in such a danco that no reply could bo obtained. Tho
class this Juuo consisted of six members inatoiul of tho
usual eight, nnd with the music it was abundantly long.
Tho University orchestra did well (so nnisicianj tell us)
in the overture and closing piece, l)Ut they were a lilllo
too long. Vocnl solos by Misses Leonard and Dillon and
a piano solo by Miss Doolittle also added much to tho
evening's entertainment. The first of the literary exer
cises was mi essay on Thomas Carlylc by Chas. S. Allon.
Mr. A Ihn has long boon recognized as careful reader
and llilnlvi r, hut his delivery on this occasion was a surs
prise k) all and left little to bo desired In that particular.
Th'j Journal criticises him, and perhaps justly, for too
mnny quo ations 0. S. Polk's oration on "Religion
among the Greeks and Romans" was also well delivered,
but possibly tho connection between tho different points
of tho production were not so welt brought out as they
should have been. Miss Talbot's recltotlon, "Tho Bridge
of Tay," was rendered in a manner somowhat too studied,
but yet effective. The debate by J. J. Ilalllgan and Paul
F. Clark on tho question, "Is Private Property in Land
Unjust?" was well sustained on both sides, though the
first speaker hesitated at times and made those who were
listening forgot tho lino of argument while fearing that
ho would breakdown. Miss Fisher's oration on "Our
Indebtedness to Stoic Philosophy" began with the hoiri
ble announcement that this was an age of progress. Af
ter the audience had recovered from this announcement
they waked up to the fact that this oration was the most
striking and interesting performance of tho evening.
During tho first two nights of commencement wcolc
Providence did not seem to bo doing the fair thing by the
University of Nebraska. She sent a dust storm for those
attending tho Palladian exhibition to go in, and then
tried to strike an average by sending floods of rain to
cheer them while on thoir way home. To prove that she
had no special arudge against this society she filled up
Sunday afternoon and the foro part of tho evening with a
melancholy, dejected kind of a drizzle that kept all
but some two hundred heroic souls away from tho
Chancellor's baccalaureate address. This was given in
tho University chapel and tho Rev. Lowis Gregory pastor
ol the Congregational church of this city assisted in tho
services. We have not space to give a synopsis of tho ad
dress nor would it be satisfactory to do so; it appears
in the State Journal in a form which will bo of vast
ly more interest to any who desire to peruse it, than in
any synopsis wo could give.
Tho number attending the Union cxhibtion was n o
reduced by bad weather and the ten hundred cliuirs were
nenrly filled. It was apparent however, that the non
cantral position of the capitol had its effect in keeping
people away and wo aro glad to know that a belter place
will hereafter bo available. What wo really need and
must have before many years is a chapel that will meet
all of our requirements. Tho U of N orchestra performed
as It did for tho Palladians. The first of tho 1 Horary ex
orcises was an essay by Miss Kathleen II earn entitled
"AuldLang Syne." A somewhat scared appearance
which hurt Miss Ream's delivery at first, wore off beforo
the end, and si u was able to give full effect to an essay
that was rather powerful, although slmplo in its style,
and bcarly escaping common-place In its thought. Next
came an .ration "Tho Crusades," by Miss Soplm Myers.
It was short, but compact, pointed, and avoided exaggora
ton which is a very comm on vice in treating such a sub
ject. Tho debate was on the question "Aro the Aims and
Methods of tho Russian Nihilists .Justifiable." Mr. J II.
Holmes maintained the affirmative in an animated manner
by saying Unit the Rnsian Government did not contain tho
priuciplo of reform, and something were best done be
foro the lives of oven another generation had been was
ted. A. A. Munro in replying said that tho government wns
wil-ing to reform and thai sudden and volcanic changes
do more harm than good. (It ically seems to us that
both of our societies ought to bo able to train debaters
who could spuak off hand, enven on the June class, and
so break up too monotony of committed debates.) E.J
Churchill noxl gave an oration entitled "A Mexican
Prince." The career of Montezuma was rapidly and
strongly sketched. Mr. Churchill has a peculiar
habit of giving his many emphasized words
in a key Iiihger than tho others, which
mars an otherwise fairly good delivery. Tho essay on
'Henry David Thoreau" by Miss Nora Gago clearly
written and clearly rendered, Iroaied of a man who is not
as well known as ho should be to American students.
Tho last performance was the recitation of "Torqucmada,
by LiskaSlillmaii. This recitation, excellently given,
mndc a most pleasing close to the literary exercises. The
audience was favored during tho evening by a vocal duett
by Misses Hattio and Fannio Patmore, and by piano
olos by Miss Zado Rector and Mr. Frank J. Benedict
(We almost forgot to mention that all the class got lots
of posies.)
The ddrebs of Prof. B. B. Andrews was attended by a
highly appreciative and cultured audience. It was
scholarly, showed depth of thought and careful preparation.
Hiamyuti Hifitrds.
E. O.Letvls, of our graduating class c,mo in from tho
south on Saturday.
Now is the time of dissipation. Collossal fortunes are
spent upon soda-water and ice-cream.
Tho Sigma Chi fraternity has just issued a song book.
It is neatly got up aud Is a credit to Its publishers.
The cadets arc all enthusiastic about tho way in which
Lieutenant Townloy mauaged tho oncampmont at Mil
ford. Many of tho students will travel for pleasure this sum
mer, taking a book or a picture to amuso themselves
with.
Two more circuses are coining tu Lincoln but.so late
in the season that there will be no students to molest them
or make them afraid.
Tliero have boon many strange events this year and not
the Ici'St of these is tho fact that the High School gradu
ates did not attack tho subject of procrastination.
Surely theso aro times of prodigies.
