THE HESPERIAN STUDENT
question as nl present treated applies to n society which
has no existence, so Unit embodying it in a novel, n set of
characters have to be conjured up which belong neither
to heaven or earth, wc cannot tell.
Lincoln does not seem to appreciate James Russel
Lowell's poems. They are conspicuously absent from the
City, State, and University libraries. It is strange that
tht works of one of America's greatest poets should be
overlooked in a city that pretends to literary taste. Mr.
Lowell 13 coming more and more into prominence. He
has had many honors tendeder to him from abroad in
recognition of his rank among literary men. Perhaps
in the future he will be regarded as the greatest American
poet of the present time.
The Qontcmgorary Jietivw has an article on George
Eliot which brings out many things of interest in hcr
private life. It gives a clue to her mental life and growth,
by what steps she ai rived at her final conception of life
how she came to accept materialism. However repuls
ive her belief may be, none can heip admiring the wo
man herself. Her self-sacrifice, independence, purity of
character, noble-mindedness place her high among the
benefactors of mankind.
In Literature she stands as one of the foro most writ
ers of the age. As a novelist she is outranked by none.
For depth of insight into humau character, subtle analysis
of motive she is surpassed by no masculine mind. She
rescues women from the charge of frivolity and shallowness'
The roller rink seems to be an interesting problem
just now. The whole worl ', so to speak, is absorbed in it.
Some, or rather many, in attending it, others in theorizing
about it. It is even so well worn a topic that it has been
debated in this University. Various are the opinions
expressed about it. It sccmes to have as mail' hues as
the Chameleon, Every observer calls attention to a differ.
ent one. The true solution of the question is hard to gut
at, for it embraces many oilier problems ivhic'i have to be
considered before this can be decided upon. It is intis
matcly connected with tl e Gat den of Eden, or rather
the result of this, viz, the Pall. So its causes date back
many thousand years and to understand it perfectly one
must follow the history of man down from that time
So there is no simple, easy solution. That there is de.
pravity somewhere, is evident. Where this comes from
is a matter of dispute, the majority declare it is the
rink, but we suspect they have attributed the cause to
the wring cud, that it Is man instead of the rink
that is at the bottom of the mischief. A French
r says "mankind is a rascal", vrc are inclined to
IjClieve him.
The ulitor of this department lias thought best to
change the heading "Criticism" to "Miscellany." He has
been haunted for some time with the suspicion that
Criticism was a mis-nomer. He should have act
0d upon this before, but irresolution as usual prevent
ed him. Criticism implies sufficient knowledge of
jhiugs to make intelligent suggestions about them.
Hence there is some responsibility attached to one who
professes to criticize. This wc wish to avoid. It is too
lieary a loart. Nothing iB more wearing than the con
8ciousncss that one has failed to grasp a thought though
he publicly committed himself upon it, pretending that
he did. The case is aggravated by the fact that he can
not recall what he he has said. One of our orators has
put in a plea for reticence, and wc arc inclined to think
that his advice is good. It is certainly safe, though there
arc a few cases known where it met with disapproval,
but these are exceptions.
The title, Miscellany, is more modest. It makes no pre
tences. It may mean any thing whatever. Thus it al
lows us greater scope. This is is advisable especially
during the spring term, for student's ideas, in this season,
are generally wandering, of a miscellaneous kind.
I nek not Tor those thoughts that mid
den leap,
From beings ea, like the isle seeming
Krakcn.
With whose great rise the occau all is
bhnken
And a heart-tremble quivers through
Give mo that growth which some per
chance deem sleep,
Wbcrevfith the steadfast coral stems
uprise.
Which, by the toll of gathcriug energies,
Their upward way into clear sunshine
keep,
Until, by Heaven's sweetest influences,
Slowly and slowly spreads a speck of
green
Into a pleasant Island in the teas,
Where, 'mid tall palms, the cane-roofed
home Is seen,
And wearied men shall sit at sunsets
hour
Hearing the leaves and loving God's
dear power.
-J. R. Lowell
Our local oratorical contest was not a brilliant affair
Tnere were but two contestants, one of whom spent his"
time in making the word "reticence" mean what it does
not mean and in drawing conclusions from the false as
sumption, and the other tangled himself up in "the law of
nature" and fulled even to make folks believe that he
himself had any idea of what he was trying to get at
The lateness of the time at which the local organization
was formed is a partial excuse for the small number and
poor quality of the orations given, but wc think thnt th e
orators made themselves more ridiculous than was neces
sary by taking subjects unadapted to oratorv.and subjects,
too, that were too large for the calibre of the speakers
This is hardly a fault though it may have unpleasant re".
8ults for the speaker and his friends. It is bettor to
8trivc and fail than never to etrivc at all. Rather than
give the old stock orations on Freedom, Puritanism, Home
or the Equality of men, il is better for a student to "get
downed" by a subject that is too Urge for him. The av
erage contest oration is more of a declamation than any
thing else, and it is a change for the better when colleca
orators make it their chief aim to think rather than per
orate. '
Peubonals.
Why did AmosGriswoId Warner?
How much is Will Owen Jones?
Who is A. E. Anderson of?
Is Frank Austin Manley ?
Is Henry Elton Fulraer than three times a week?
Is Roy George Codding, or in earnest?
Can a small man Cary 8igel Polk?
Has George Hearn the latest news?