THE HESPERIAN.
is
V
it
college training to acquaint ourselves with authori
ties and sources of information. To be able to find
for himself the literature upon a certainjsubject is an
unusual accomplishment for a new student, and ac
cess in person to the alcoves of the library is the on
ly thing that can properly train him in independent
research and investigation. But to the old student
who has partly acquired the habit of consulting au
thorities, it is really discouraging to be denied access
to the alcoves of the library. When books are hand
led at the will of the sludent,disarrangement will cer
tainly be the result. Many books of common refer
ence will often need rebinding. But such things are
to be expected; and those who labor hardest to incul
cate in their students the habit of consulting authori
ties will agree with us in sayinj; that these inconven
iences and expenses are but trifles, if possibly the stu
dent may have acquired above that the true student
habit. The professor in this or that department can
not always know just how much the library contains
that affects directly or indirectly some topic under
discussion. The student is referred to that depart
ment of the library to ascertain how many and how
valuable the authors there found may prove on that
particular topic. A new world is opened up to that
student; he may have thought himself acquainted
with books, but il the library be at all full of good
references he will be at once astonished and gratified
to search in this, to him, newly discovered sphere. A
library education Is not properly measured by the
number of books read in each department, but rather
by the knowledge of the number of authorities and
standard writers in each line of education, and their
respective and intrinsic worth. And again, if astu
dent wishes to make some investigations upon a sub
ject with which many authors deal but indirectly much
time is lost in securing books; perhaps five or ten min
utes is spent in searching for the book, and when
found as many seconds will suffice to ascertain the
opinion of the author upon that particular topic.
Such are a few of the objections one may hear
urged. All, however, sympathize with the librarian
and deem the duties of that office too arduous foronc
person to perform expeditiously and satisfactorily.
MISCELLANY.
The Augustan Age is justly famed as the golden period of
Latin Literature. What the Age of reticles was to Greece,
what the Elizalcthan Era was to England, all this was the
reign of Augustus to Rome in the development of national
life and literature. The perilous times of the civil war hail
been followed by a period of peace and security. Men of
letters had been called forth from their retirement, literary
'efforts encouraged, and the Roman mind left free to turn to
other themes than war and bloodshed. The wealth also
which had been gathered in from the conquered provinces
gave to many the means and leisure to indulge their tastes
and as a consequence of all this a school of authors arose
whose works form a valuable part of our legacy from the
Past.
Among the names of writers who have helped to make this
age memorable, that of Horace is distinguished for several
reasons. Probably no poet of his lime has more admirers
among men of our own day. lie would seem, indeed, to
have done less to secure this appreciation than many of his
contemporaries. He wrote no great epic like Virgil, no vol
uminous history like Livy. Pcrlnps none of his works can
be compared to the Metamorphoses of Ovid. His greatest
efforts often take the form of brief odes on simple, homely
themes. And yet with il all, he has contrived to win a place
in the hearts ol moderns, as few if any writers of antiquity
have done. ,
But besides his literary genius Horace will be remembered
as the author of a system ol philosophy. It has been said
that in this direction the Romans originated nothing and in
a technical sense this is true. Their philosophical schools
were of Greek origin and such of their scholars as cared to
pursue studies of this nature were generally content to reach
the level of Greek wisdom without seeking to add anything
of their own. Hut Horace is a notable exception. His phi
losophy was never so far as wc know dignified by any special
name nor even recognized as a distinct school, but its influ
ence upon the world has probably been greater and mote be
neficent than that of more pretentious rivals. It docs not
deal with abstruse metaphysical questions docs not dabble
in those fertile speculations with which the so-called sages
of ihe lime were wont to amuse themselves. Its themes arc,
for the most part, commonplace and practical. Its founder
docs not present his views through any profound philosophi
cal treatise. Hut scattered through his woiks, oJcs, satires
and epistles, sentiments arc expressed, principles laid down,
which collectively form the philosophy of Horace. In these
may be found a theory of life which is well worth our con
sideration. The social condition of Rome at the time of Horace pre
sents a picture of which our seething American life is a pain
ful reminder. The purity and simplicity which mark the
early history of the nation had departed. Men were no long,
cr content with the frugal habits and severe discipline of their
ancestors. The times had passed which produce a Cincinna
ti, a l'abius, or a Cato. Roman arms had indeed conquered
the world, but foreign ideas had conquered Rome. The Ori
ental vices of luxury, extravagance and consequent cficmina.
cy were poisoning the Roman populace. To live in lavish
profusion to satisfy sensual desires to make a gorgeous dis
play to win in some way wealth, fame and power, were the
popular aims. And to secure these every effort was made, cv.
cry nerve strained, and all Rome kept in a state of unnatural
restlessness.
As opposed to this Horace proclaimed thcjjospcl of content,
ment. Life, he maintained, should be taken more philosophi
cally and he ilcc more easily and comfortably. This feverish
race for gold in which so many were entering, this was not
the way to live. Wealth alone coultl never bring happiness. On
the contrary it was a constant source of annoyance. A strug
gle to acquire it, to retain it when acquired and to relinquish it
at last as all must do this was its history; surely such an ob
ject was not a worthy one. And all the while those who
were pursuing the popular phantoms were depriving them
selves of those commonplace-pleasures which arc so abundant
and yet so little appreciated. The happiness that springs
from a contented mind was not theirs. The enjoyment of the
