THE HESPERIAN,
s
p-
to the organization of eastern institutions, are slowly
assimilating, or being assimilated, to eastern customs.
Recent occurrences on Arbor Day make it appro
priate to notice a class spirit which is not entirely for
eign to us, but which has never heretofore shown it
self among us with much vigor. Like all other
things, the class spirit has its pleasant, as well as its
disagreeable, features and its danger lies in its abuse,
but the abuse is so often the rule and the use the ex
ception that we are led to question the wisdom of en
couraging the growth of class distinctions in our col
lege at all. In other colleges class antagonisms are
found to be at the bottom of most hazing scrapes
and similar occurrences and it bids fair to have simi
lar results here.
But aside from this brutalizing tendency, there are
other important reasons why the growth of class feel
ing should be resisted. If the work of the curricu
lum is thoroughly done the students have small mar
gin of time to spend in other matters. We have lit
erary organizations which are of incalculable benefit
to their members. These can only be properly sup
ported by making them the prime objects of our ex
tra work. The students of Nebraska University can
not afford to allow their energies to be turned from
their literary societies to other things because no other
thing can claim to yield an equal good for the time
and labor and interest given. In other colleges
where strong class distinctions exist there is continual
complaint that the interest in literary work is feeble,
and wherever a similar spirit prevails like results may
be expected. Rather than that any injury should be
done to the enthusiasm which we bear towards our
own literary societies The Hesperian would prefer
that no class trees be planted. Individual students
might plant and the University might dig to its
heart's content or The Hesperian might take the
job of planting half a dozen trees, one for each class,
but if the classes cannot plant trees in peace we
should prefer to forego the pleasure of class trees.
MISCELLANY.
KKVIEWS.
Salammbo ol Gustave Flaubert, Englished by M. French
Sheldon : London and New York ; Saxon and Company.
"Salammbp," the heroine of this wild, wierd story, is no
less or other than the daughter of Hamilcar Barca, and sister of
Hannibal the Great. The scene is laid in the midst of the
"truceless war between the Carthaginians and those barba
rian mercenaries whom they could not or would not pay for
their long services in the Sicilian campaign." Matho, chief
of the Libyans, is enamored of Hamilcar's daughter, and
effects entrance into Carthage by night during the siege, and
steals from the temple of Tanit the mysterious veil of the
goddess. Clad in this, which 1)9 one on pain of death was
permitted to look upon, Matho makes his way into the
private apartments of Salammbo, and avows his passion.
He is refused: Salammbo arouses her attendants, and Matho
makes his escape protected by the veil. Later Salammbo is
commanded by the priest to go to the camp of the Barbarians
and bring back the veil. She finds Matho, receives the veil,
but first accepts him as her lover and future husband.
"Thenceforward the story moves nobly through a succession
of grand military scenes, interspersed with delightful pictures
of the intimate and familiar life within Carthage until it
arrives at its tragic close. Salammbo dies after she has
seen the captured Matho slain at her feet while she stands on
the throne beside the bridegroom to whom her father has
given her."
This novel is remarkable, and in a certain sense historic, as
being the first product of tire "life1' or 'realistic" school in
France. M. Flaubert had published a novel previously which
was but an indifferent success. He was a brilliant, or as his
admirers say a "ferocious," scholar and archaeologist, and
sketched the plan of the present novel when in pursuit of
his favorite investigation. In 1858 he made a journey to
Tunis and searched and excavated industriously in the ruins
of the proud city which Scipio destroyed. So minute was his
knowledge of what) remains of the old Phoenician civilization
that it is said none of the savants who ventured to criticize
him in this romance but were silenced and put to shame by
his defense. The author was also interested injothcr archreolog
ic fields and deserves the credit of making excavations at My
kenai long before Schlieman undertook the task.
As to literary merit, M. Flaubert stands perhaps foremost
in contemporary French literature for marvelous energy and
facility of expression. "The Sentimental Education and
other books of lesser importance from his pen were written
with all his determined straining after effect of words. These
efforts cost him infinite anguish: the word is not too strong,
for he struggled with his phrases as with a nervous malady.
He even graduated his sentences to musical notes. In fact
Flaubert was like a painter trying to cover a canvass worthy
of Ruben's with the excessively minute and perfect finish of
Mcssonier. What wonder that his life was filled with unre
mitting study and toil, and that the practice of his art almost
broke his spirit?" Even in translation the present work
reveals everywhere the author's frantic fervor and vast re
sources of expression. Salammbo is a brilliant book, not
according to the present realistic standard, for of course no
historical novel can be realistic, but as the resurrection of a
mighty civilization and high wrought, though corrupt, social
life. On the whole this translation is well worth making,
though the result is far from being the sort of book that our
young America need or ought to read.
V
The New England Magazine puts out an unusually interest
ing number for April. This magazine which we have not be
fore mentioned is unique in its tone and aims not so much at
the extremes of lightness or heaviness as to furnish reading en
tertaining but not light. It runs largely to the descriptive and
biographical and is well illustrated. The April number con
tains "An Illustrious Town Andover,Vv'Jarnes Otis Jr.,"
"Webster Historical Society Papers" and other articles equal
ly interesting. The editorial department and "Historical
Record" are valuable. The illustrations of the present num
ber include a steel engraving of James Otis, scones in Ando
ver and sketches illustrating the Webster papers. Terms, $3.
per year, Published by Bay State Monthly Company No 43
Mijjj St Boston, Mass.