TItE HESPERIAN.
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satisfaction. In this respect he is superior to Hamlet, for he
has at least the virtue of promptness. This uaturally .grows
out of his habits. But his character is not symmetrically de
veloped. For he is the extreme of his class; his lack of men
tal perception and reflection makes his action always rash,
hasty, and inconsiderate. Out of this come as serious faults
as the irresolution of Hamlet. Both by this want of bal
ance arc mere instruments in the hands of fate. Of them
selves, they accomplish nothing. The decrees of fortune are
not established by them, but in spite of them.
Laertes type makes up a large part of the world. The av
erage man knows nothing of the "open secrets;" of the signifi
cance of that principle of Stoic philosophy "know thyself"
he has not the slightest comprehension. The mysteries of
being, are no mysteries to him. His view of life does not
extend higher than the roof ofhis house. What is beyond is
a matter of indifference to him. Such an existence has its ad
vantage, it is free from the doubts, the restless, never sat
isfied seeking of the ovcr-inlcllectual. It allows one to pur
sue theercn tenor of his way in peace, "black Care" has not
so potent an influence as ocr the thinker.
As compared with the speculati'e Hamlet, Lacres may
well put to him the question of Montaigne m hat if "knowledge,
tning to aim us with new defences against natural inconven
iences has more imprinted in our fancies their weight and great
ness than her reasons and subtleties to secure us from them?"
The difference between them is that of mental impression
ability. The mind of Hamlet is of so sensitive a texture that
all things that come in contact with it stamp themselves indel
ibly upon it. Xo thought, no feeling passes without making
its impress. The intellect of I-aertes on the other hand is
impervious, the same thing hkh appear su Uidlj lo Ham
let, are not even sten by him. His eye is closed to al
things, he follows blin dry wherever instinct or desire leads
but lakes no note of the way. And yet the Laertes makeup
the substantial portion of humanity. The are the ones who
attend to the necessary common things of life. They sec
that the wants of man here below are supplied. They main
tain onr existence, although they do not lheorixeupon it. They
aie far safer than your sceptical Hamlets- For Hamlet is on
ly a half man. It is true he has the power of vision. Dut
he who sees must be able lo do, or evil and ruin will conjinu
ally follow him. If knowledge only enable us lo realize tu ore
keenly-our defects, without giving anyj assistance to remedy
ihem, but simply increasing the dissatisfaction and unrest,
surely il were better, as George Eliot says, y go about "well
wadded with stupidity-" Laertes life it, preferable, who ex
ist, without knowing lhal he exists, lor he is in harmony
with himself, and fulfils, although in a limited way, his func
tion. !'
Eastern professors fcave some difficulty in learning how to
treat western students. Very often there is a slight unpleas
antness socially between ihem. Whose fault it is we shall
net attempt lo decide. We nly wish to say what the stud
ent as ose party feel. A strong democratic spirit has been
Infused into the western mind. The idea that "all men were
ciealed free and equal' is thoroughly assimilated. The poor
est dav-laborer reverences his individuality and cringes lo no
man however rich and influential The millionaire on the
street is compelled lo respect the rights of lhe humblest citi
zen. No man lakes from another haughty, insulting language.
The aristocrat and plebean are treated with equal deference.
Such ib the west
If eastern teachers wish to get along smoothly we would say
that while we respect their learning and accomplishments and
do not underrate their value, still we prefer to have ihem
I treat us as gentlemen in class. We regard this as our right
( Wc do not care to be ordered too imperiously. The most of
us arc of age and understand that there is need of earnest, hard
work on our part, hence can dispense with some of the re
minders which professors occasionally use. These may le
necessary for children, but we are old enough to discern a few
simple things for ourselves. As students we have due re
spect for their abilities, as scholars wc gladly recognize them,
but as citizens wc a ant the rights of citizens. Here wc and
they arc equal. If those coming from the cast will remember
this they will avoid trouble, and make it plcasanter for them
selves and students.
The Hesperian now begins its work again ofchronicling
the events o! that active, busy world called a college. Could
it throw light on all the acts, thoughts, aspirations, intrigues,
romances, disappointments, comprehended in this microcosm,
its pages would be more interesting and attractive than now.
But unfortunately much of college history is secret. The gi
ant struggles of those bearing the herculean load of societies
on their shoulders, would be a tragedy complete, could they
be told fittingly tn words. But as these labors arc carried on
in silence, wc, as well as the rest of the world, arc in a state
of painful ignorance.
Doubtless this devotion to cosmopolitan ends is not in vain.
David Swing told us last winter that great subjects produce
great works, as Christianity in the mind of Michael Angelo,
those masterpieces of art.
We wish success and prosperity to each faction. Although
i stiirtlv neutral, wc will descend from our coldness and auster
ity far enough to feel an interest in all, rejoicing in their good
fortune, sympathizing with thcaiin trobl
liny lmluWiter
Ou a 3lulf c--d,
Heii ihr jullr undent
AneverqucMiong bard.
So tbe little pouie.
Glaumed t on the ly
Make tiie naughty Frcsbmeu
Sopbomorrn by and by. Eva
Dkhdemona.
I told iiwof mr four year court-ell
bap mid luUhapt. and wleu 1
Had fJuUbed, iu bur eutet repoiimt
Sbe murmured Tbrr&tblestljr Ob ray!
A)i(Tw"ien I lold my Journeys oer
From torrid zone lo land of enow
?sbr paut-ed Ju wonderment , before
Sbe oftly cried, You dont ay k1
And bun I told of dangers, fearo,
Ourfblp wreck wbeuwe suffered so,
' Half frigbiened mid almost in tear,
Bhv faltered forth. 4I want to kuowj"
Kansas has a new $ioco microscope
Nebraska students are able to do their star gazing without
any telescope.
Eastern colleges are trying lo see how -near they can come
lo being coeducational without an actual admission of the su
periority of the coeducational plan.
V511 Carlelon's Giy Ballads are all the rage- To be up
with the limes every paper must hasten to quote something.
j there is much in a name.
To lhe Freshman classes of our sister colleges who have
difficulty in wearing plug hats and carrying canes, we recom
mend lhe brilliant example of our last years Freshiex
Some difficulty might be found in gettinga barb-wire plug
hat, but otherwise we think the scheme would work well.
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