THEHESPERIAN SUDENT.
K
ished n lew jcnrs I'elore, by tlic ancestors of these same
Athenians; tlio great Columbus was loft by h thoughtless
people to die in chains; and tho Savior of mankind met
the most infamous death which (Iniliah ingenuity could
devise. In tliis respect Socratos was not moro, perhaps
not less unfortunate than many others.
Patriotism having called him to tho wars of his coun
try, his services there had made him the favorite of the
people, and he was accordingly chosen one of the magis
trates ot tho city. But popular favor is a fickle thing,
an "ignis fatuus" often pursued, but seldom retained.
This is the history of public men through all ages. Yes
terday standing upon the dizzy height of popularity, to
day, crushed beneath the juggernaut car of jealousy.
An incident soon occurred in tho official career of Soc
rates, which tested his moral courage. It came his turn
to preside over the Senate, before which some general8
were being tried for misconduct in battle. In the hurry
of rctrcathey had neglected to inter the dead, thus vio
lating a well established custom. Tho noisy rabble clam
ored for their execution, but Socrotcs knew that such a
course was Illegal. Had ho been an ambitious dema
gogue, he would have acquiescod in the demands of th
mob. But, as it was, ho manfully and horoicly resisted
them. "From tho hour of that denial," says Lamartino
"his death was registered in tho hearts of his enemies. "
At last ho was brought beforo the highest tribunal of
AthonB, accused of disbolicf in tho gods and of corrupt
ing the youth. Both charges wore utterly false, but his
enoinica wore seeking not for justice, only for his distruct
Ion. In his defense to the judges ho would make no re
traction of his views, ho would not oven agreo to change
his course in tho future. lie know that acquital might
follow should ho adopt porno other plan, but he said re
peatedly,' that, having spont so much time in tho contem
plation of death, ho was not now afraid to die. The tria
ended finally with his conviction. The sentence ot death
was passed and his onomics appeared to have triumphed.
But it was only an appearance 1 The man thoy thought to
have buried, still livesl The voice which they aupposea
they hud silenced, still speaks! And while tho names of
his persecutors lie concealed in tho forgotten nibbinn of
tho past, tho sublime life, and heroic death of ' - ates(
will remain tho admiration of the world forever.
In summing up tho great Athenian's career, wo can
hardly fall to be impressed with one fact his individu
ality. In some respects he was totally unlike any of his
contemporaries. The ruling pussiou of most lives at that
day was ambition. Each man souirht in bo me way to
immortalize his uamo. Tho peculiarity of Socrates as he
appears to us, was that he dovotud himself to a lifo of use
fulness. He possessed few qualities which may bo called brill
iant or dashing. His was not that meteoric fame which
dashing forth for tho moment and then fades away
forever. Ho was not like ills great countryman, Domos
tliones, who could away the multitudes by his golden elo
quence. Ho was no Alexander, deluging tho land with
blood, conquering tho Eastern world and gathering to
himself the spoils of war. Ho did not, like Mahomct
found a great sect whioh should siug his praises to the end
of time. Ho seemed utterly to forget him6olf, in his dovo
tion to soionco aud humanity. Neglecting his own affairs,
ho labored for the u;ond ol'hii frllow-mon; ho left a world
better than he had found, and, as one great manhas said of
another; "Though he did not know it ho wrotu his name
in characters of living light, upon tho firmament, thero to
endure m radiant as if every lotttir liad been traced in
living stars."
C. S. Lobingieu, '90
DRIFT.
Some of our contemporaries arc offering prizes- for
stories. "Why not? We think of taking tho same meas
ures to draw out tho latent literary ability that is lying
around loose in the University- Therefore -we make this
offer. For the best short story handed in to us before
Juno 10th a prize of fifty cents (50 cts.) will bo freely giv.
on. The following rules must be obsorvod.
I. No sontence shall contain less than fifteen adject
ives. II. Tho plot must bo entirely original.
III. One of two twin sis'ors must fall off a bridge into
a dark and rushing river, and she must be rescued by one
of two twin brothers. Then bring on the other twins and
mix them up; get thorn inoxtricably mixed up.
IV. There must bo a missing will concoaled in asecrot
drawer. It must be discovered by accident.
Y. Thero must be an unknown oldest sou in disguise
and ho must marry tho owner of the missing will.
VI. There must bo a vidian and, at tho end of tho dtory,
he must die in awful agony.
VII. There must be a detective and ho must find a
clue.
VIII. Rejected manuscripts will be returned uuepen
ed if the requisite number of postage stamps are enclosed
My friends, come up close and hearken unto my words'
Some of you are stage-struck. I could pick out alialf-a
dozen of you tlmt confidently expect to shine as dramatic
stars of the first magnitude. To "bo sure you are quite
modest in your aims. If yon could play Hamlet a little
bettor than Booth you would bo satisfied. So far you aro
"worthy of oomincndation. But wherefore do you imag
ine that you have any talent in the direction of histrion
ics. You can bellow forth line aftor line of Shakcapearej
you can prance up aud down, wave your arms and stamp
your feet in tragic stylo; you can distort your expressive
countenance till you wouldn't bo able to pick yoursolf
out in a crowd; you oau stalk about looking as if you had
an attack of colic and quick consumption combined;
but this is not genius. Ah no l Take my advice, and don't
rival McOullough, Kneno, Mary Anderson etal. Be
warned.
Beatitudes.
Blessed aro the poor in purse: for they shall dodge th
ice-cream parlor.
Blessed aro they which flunk; for thoy shall oupwith
thoir paronts in tho country.
Blessed aro the Props: for they know not tho ways of
Calculus.
Blessed aro thoy whioh do hunger and (thirst aftor
knowledge for they Bhall get 50 :D-10 in 'final examination.
Blessed are tho studious: for thoy shall 'obtain unorcy.
Blessed ure they whioh crib: for thoy shall see a diplo-