TUB &SPXtAjV.
1
III
II '
when the University seemed divided against itself, has
lately written from Johns Hopkins that adverse criti
cisms are perhaps as frequent and as violent there as
here. He had thought that the U. of N. was unfortu
nate in that it was a state institution, and there was
consequently greater opportunity for criticism, but a
wider knowledge pjoved to him that criticism is not
worse here, and perhaps not so. utterly groundless asl
elsewhere. We too have been convinced that such
uncalled for criticisms belong to the community of
colleges and all similar .well-meaning institutions
Groundless criticisms can indeed work to our disad
vantage. Friends of the school will therefore be ex
tremely careful lest in writing up the news for our stale
paper, they should 'carelessly misrepresent us. We have
no sympathy however for those who call themselves
studentsand who profess friendship, and a common in
terest while in reality they avail themselves of our
confidences only to lay bare our shortcomings, and
make sport oi out accomplishments. Such students,
students in name only, wall sooner or later be discov
ered, and when known cannot be treated as other than
their actions -stamp them.
us, since we must ask others to contribute to our pub
lication. Again, we would find it hard to discriminate
between the articles handed in for publication, and
would too often be accused of asking or accepting
such aid from a certain class or clique. No, Sans De
tour, we prefer a college paper with a foil local col
umn, a few editorial notices, and short, spicy contri
butions, such as yours are, to any miniature North
American Review, or similarly dry and weighty publication.
MISCELLANY.
REVIEWS.
Wa certainly agTce with nr contributor in hi
"opinions" concerning the work of the college cdi-
tor. We acknowledge the ground for complaint and
we appropriate the excuses made for mi. The fact
that instructors and students do not support a 'college
paper so liberally as they should is patent. And yet
we of lie XL of N. have little ground for complaint
on that score, but could of course reconcile ourselves
to any improvement in that line. Whether or moj
instructors and students should feel themselves bound
to aid ms by literary contributions, however, as quite
another question. It as true that many college pa-l
iDers arc thus supported. It 5s also true that The'
Hesperian Ihas been criticised timeand again because
its management preferred a paper published for the
students, subject to their control, but the work of
composing and (editing delegated to a board of edi
tors, rather than a paper made up of literary contri
butions. That as, since the paper could at anost con
tain but .a Emired portion of tihe articles written by
the students, and since those articles arc of little val-
aie or interest to others tl an students, we have thought
at best to publish very Few such contributions. In the
last number we asked for contributions from jiZumat,
but you understand that such articles must of necess
ity arouse a snore general interest, and in general be
of a snudh snore creditable style than those of the (un
dergraduates. But as an editor we could suggest oth
er reasons why the publishing of promiscuous articles
should be discouraged. In the first place we should I
be charged with inability to do the work sequired of
While Oliver Wendell Holmes ha attained eminence in
snany lines of thought. The always sms to rem ember that Ibe
is a (doctor, and me never allows his readers to forget that fact.
Moreover, he is somewhat given to theorizing, and he often
carries his theories to cnnclusiDns that appear rather startling
to timid minded people. " His object in writing Elsie Vennor
is to Illustrate his ideas on the subject of heredity .and its in
fluence on tie vexed (question of moral responsibility.
Some of these ideas are elucidated at the very beginning
of the book. As each character is introduced he is ticketed
off as belonging to a certain class, produced by a given com
bination of circumstances, much as as a naturalist might label
a collection of insects and -urate out the characteristics of the
species to which each belongs. The result of this is to give
the reader an uncomfortable feeling that he is looking at the
movements of a collecrjim of automatons instead of real men
aDd women. But as Ir. Holmes'' theory, carried to its logi
cal conclusion, would reduce us all to so noany machines, we
cannot complain of this feature of the book. This theory is
put into language by Bernard LangdDn as follows: '"Each of
tub is only the footing tup oi a (double column of figures that
goes back to the ifirstpair. Every unit tells; and some of than
are plus and some minus. If the columns don't add tup right
it is commonly because we can't snake out all the figures. I
(don't mean to say that something may mot be added by Na
ture to make -up for Dosses and keep the race up to its aver
age, but we are anainly nothing but the answer to a long sum
dn addition and ubtraction.',''
Elsie Vennor is introduced as a strange and incomprehensi
ble being. Self-willed, violent, and capricions, she will sub
unit to no authority. Neither her father nor her teachers con
control her. Her anost prominent feature seems tto be her
piercing black eyes, which have the power of fascinating and
drawing to her any whom she may fix her gare upon. The
secret of her existence is not explained unto near the end of
the story, but hints are so frequently thrown out that we soon
understand the case; and any resentment we might feel at her
conduct ai changed to pity for her misfortune. '"As ante-natal
dmpreBsion has mingled an alien element in her mature,'"
and has poisoned her whole (existence. This is the reason
that she takes her solitary rambles on the mountain, seeking
the fatal jrattlrsnake ledge. The serpents themselves seem to
feel her affinity, and cower before the glitter of hec eyes .
The two natures struggle within her, resulting in constantly
varying moods. At length love comes to t!he aid of the wom
anly element, and ttrom that time a change is apparent. 3
appears possible that had this Reeling been reciprocated she
nmgct nave ibecome nnmanizea ana, areea trom me curse
her birth, lived a happy life. But Bernard ILangdon, the
DRESS PARADE GLOVES 2 R 25 AT MAYER BROS, noth ST. CLOTHIERS."
