THE HESPERIAN.
3
The Hesperian contains charges that the prize or
ation at the inter-state contest last spring, was crib-j -
Dea. joritfwcstern. it is easier to make charges
than to prove them. That is a charge that cannot
be proved. Jealousy is an element of a small mind.
It is certain no one would charge the Nebraska reper
sentative with the same offence, since he came out
last in the contest. De Paw Nonthly.
Unfortunately for the remarks of the Monthly the
Northwcsterrts statement is a venerable chestnut.
The Hesperian never seriously charged the success
ful orator with cribbing. We have ample proofs
that the prize oration was his own. A few jocular re
marks at the expense of one of our own students
was the cause of the misunderstanding. Less than a
year ago a young man matriculated here with a flour
ish of trumpets, loudly announcing himself as from
De Pauw University, andjasa member of the D. K. E.
before the close of the term; failing in this he was ex
pelled. For weeks he had been ostensibly laboring
on an oration for the spring contest of the oratorical
association
the young man insisted on reading it to his acquain
tances, to the professors and to all the clergmen and selves to any of his plans were struck down as ruthlessly as
MISCELLANY.
Richard ill and The Tempest, though the work of the same
hand, arc singularly unlike in conception and execution. The
characteristics of these plays indicate that they were written
in different periods of the author's life. The first is evidently
the work of a powerful intellect in its early stages. An un
natural tension is kept up throughout. Passion and ieeling
are pushed beyond their limits.
The interest hinges on the leading character. He is poss
essed by an ambition, ruthless in acquiring what it desires.
Love, friendship, sympathy have no place in his heart. Hc
stands alone, apart from all men, as much so as if he dwelt
on another planet. He regards no tie, admits no claim of
right or justice, all are sacrificed to his insatiate desire for
power. His will must be law. This is his one thought. His
character is developed only in the line of the intellect. The
other attributes of human nature seem to be dormant in him.
He is not sensual. Such a lifehespurns, not because he cares
niAM A n 4 n nt a -- ixf1 la 4 a vt a t Iia v !
fraternity. Although not quite up to the standard , X . rf - , , ..
J ft -i r Dieasure. Conscience has no nart in his counsels. The one
even for admission into the Latin School he was ad- idca hc -1S to enforce his will and crash that of others,
mitted on condition that the deficiencj' be made up This is his resolution. He will admit none to share power
with him. He will have no claimants about him. He does
not want the inconvenience of having any one, man or woman,
too near him.
the degree others stand is M -ray. Even those who had ser
ved and aided him all his life,as soon as they opposed them-
his bitterest enemies. He is incapable of gratitude. No de
votion, however faithful, weighs with him. Hc regards all
mankind as his slaves, his tools, to be tolerated only as they
snbserve his interests, to be exterminated when they arc a
barrier to them. Such a character is Richard, wonderful for
his giant energy and resolution, a resolution which
he asked to be allowed to speak and was per- nom,nB uul ucaui "" "lc? uh-u: m mon-
a -. AHiaHdnnri rallirhnArr alfti KltnnTmi1 lil'A f1nM
AUua U UCUJ UJU 9( itiiuua uiwu -.auwtu uiv. - uuo v. -
prominent lawers in the city, announcing that he was
satisfied that the oration was scholarly and deep and
destined to rank high in the coming contest. His
expulsion from the Uuiversity made him ineligible
to act as competitor for honors on that occasion,
but
mitted to do so, receiving no grade.
By this time the oration had become so well
known and so thoroughly discussed that many stu
dents could almost repeat it from memory. When
the prize oration at the Inter-State contest was pub
lished it was recognized as the identical production
that had created such a sensation here, and, followed
by a shout of derision, the young De Pauw D. K. E.
student left the city. The Hesperian's funny man
alluded to the incident in his most pleasant vein,
and the matter was dropped as far as we were con-
cerned. Unfortunately the humor was not under
stood, and the result is the rakinj; up of the matter
by our exchanges at this late day. We trust that
this explanation will result in the immediate with
drawel of the above charge of jealously; otherwise
our exchange editor will be unchained. We cheer
fully admit that the Nebraska man was at the foot
of the list, but remind our De Pauw friend that the
University of Nebraska was not responsible for that
condition ol things. This institution is in no way
connected with either State or Inter-State Associa
tions, and had absolutely no interest at stake when
the Nebraska man was so hopelessly beaten.
cry thing, and on account of its immensity inspires awe and
wonder. A monument to the fearful power of the human will
and also oi its inefficacy when pitted against the laws of na
ture and the universe. For he fell a victim to his own policy.
A man, hating all but himself, had tried to stem the tide of
humanity by sheer force of his wilL For a while it succeed
ed. But finally nature asserted herself and crushed under
foot the man who so contemptuously defied her laws. Such
was the inevitable result of his course. "For every selfish
enterprise, whether individual or national, will fail, mast fail.
The play itself has embodied the spirit of its leading char.
acter. The language is sometimes inflated. The style has the
character of the "Storm and Stress" period that once prevail
ed in Germany, to which The Robbers belongs. It is full of
power, but it too frequently compounds vehemence with
strength a mistake quite frequently made. How different
is The Tempest. An air of calmness and restraint is diffused
through it. Its beia, Prospero, whether you regard his mag
ic as subjective or objective, owes his power to. his sympathy
and harmony with man-kind an( nature. He fits his strength
not against, but with the eleni its. Self, he has repressed.
He has come to regard the interests of humanity as his inter
ests. Even against those who had so foully wronged him, he
harbors no revenge, but contents himself with their repent
ance. To quote his language.
"Tboujh with tbolr high wrongaam I etrock to the quick.
"Yet with my noWer reason 'gainst my farr,
"Do I take part: the rarer action I