8
THE HESPERIAN
EXCHANGE BRIC-A-BRAC.
The Occident appears on our tabic in a new dress.
The Niagara Index contains several interesting articles.
"Higher Education" and "The Doom of Tyrannical Nations"
possess the highest powers of attraction.
The Notre Dame Scholastic contains an article on the "Neb
ular Hypothesis." This is such a new and interesting sub
ject, we are pleased to gain any information.
ThcCoellge Student for July contains the Baccalaureate ser
mon, an account of the fourth annual oratorical contest of the
Junior class, as well as accounts of all the various exercises
attendant upon commencement.
The pages of the Washburn Argo arc marked by the fact
that the matter found in them is evidently the original work
of its editors. It is only by this means that we can correctly
judge of the real merits of college papers.
The University Register contams an interesting article on
"Matter and Spirit, or the Seen and the Unseen." A few
such strong and well written articles add much to the interest
of a college paper and it would be a gratification if more of
them could be lound.
Yes, Vidette-Reporter, throw out chestnut bells and "ents,"
do. But how will you go to work? That's the question.
College slang has gained a pretty strong foothold in colleges
and universities, and until some equally impressive language
is invented be patient.
The last number of the JEgis shows that the little paper is
bravely trying to keep up its claim of being a college paper.
By vote of the Zigis board an editor was chosen from the
Pharmacy school, thus forming another link in the union of
all departments of the university.
In the University Press for October are two interesting ar
ticles, one of which is unfortunately contributed. Notwith
standing the interest which a good contributed article im
parts to a paper, the only indices of its real literary character
arc the original articles contained therein.
From College Chips we find that the students of Luther col
lege are looking forward with pleasare to the 14th of October
as the twenty-fifth anniversary of the college. The day is to
be properly celebrated, and invitations to be present have
been extended to all who have been connected with the in
stitution. Unfortunately most college papers, like our own, arc late
in making their appearance. The cry, "More copy," greets
the ears of the exchange editor on all sides. We beg that
the winds of criticism will be tempered to the exchange cd.
this time. It was bad enough to be obliged to write up ex
changes two or three months old, but when it comes to writ
ing up exchanges that are not !!
The Pacific Pharos always contains some racy articles which
are very refreshing to the brain that has become wearied with
the weighty (?) literary productions of most college papers.
In the last number we find an entertaining description of
Yosemite, also an amusing account of the trials and tribula
tions of a party of "Pacific Boys" just starting to visit
eastern cities and institutions of learning and culture!
The placidity which the University Press has hitherto en
joyed seems to be considerably ruffled just at present by the
advent of the Aegis. The Press has indulged in several com
ments on matter contained in the Aegis, and now we under
stand that there arc arrangements nearly completed whereby
the Press shall become the property of the students of the
university instead of that of individual members as hereto
fore. The College Student contains a lecture delivered before
the college at the opening of the term on "The Scope of
Science," also a biography of Wayne. Both these articles arc
well worth reading and are interesting. These two articles
arc not all that the paper contains by any means. This paper
is always interesting. For some reason its exchnnge items
arc rather abbreviated, perhaps on account of the lateness of
exchanges.
And now wc come to the Richmond Messenger, that star of
the first magnitude in the brilliant galaxy of our exchanges.
The following is a part of a little note on the Hesperian.
"The Hesperian of Nebraska University has a pleasing ex
erior but its interior is marked by an absolute want of liter
ary matter, and an abundance of chit-chat." Much obliged,
Messenger. The Hesperian is always delighted to have its
faults pointed out by such towering monuments of literary(?)
fame.
"Some Popular Delusions" in the St. Charles Gazette pre
sents many of the various notions with which so many students
enter college. A short synopsis will give an idea of the arti
cle. A man's success docs not depend upon his holding the
first position in his classes. It is the average man in school
who is likely to be the most successful, because to the
average man lie open more avenues to success. One in ten
thousand is a genius who will succeed unaided by the tools of
ordinary men. Such men, the van, and notable exceptions,
may be found at the bottom, in college as well as in every
other place where their peculiar powers are not called into
action.
Surely Occident, you cannot for a moment sanction '87's
"communication?" So literary societies have out-lived their
usefulness? We arc sorry for yours. Something must be
wrong if literary societies do not thrive with you. Surely
your students must need waking up; they must have fallen
into a mental lethargy which may prove disastrous to their
intellectuality. Notwithstanding all other interestswhich
may attract the student, everything should give place to our
literary societies. They are the training schools for our ora
tors, clocutionisti and debaters. In the present regime of
school work no attention is paid to oratory or anything of the
kind. The student is, it is true, required to write a certain
number of "essays," but essay writing will never give the
drill necessary for delivering thfi production before an audi
ence. The literary society is the only place provided for such
drill. Is "student improvement thrust into the background?"
Indeed then wc do not wonder at the decay of your literary so
cieties. We cannot conceive of a literary society which has
for its aim anything but the improvement of its members, as
really growing in any respect. Suppose the majority of stu
dents in the societies do nut have the benefit of appearing on
the program more than once once or twice a term. Would
they be liable to be any more advantageously situated in any
of the other organizations of which you speak? It seems to
us you have but little regard for your alma mater if you class
it as a tenth rate college of the Pacific coast. Would not the
nobler way be to work in your society, helping it to im
prove and thus aiding the college in its aim, until by your
united efforts it may become a Johns Hopkins of the west,
capable of supplanting its literary society by a Parliament,
Congress, or anything you choose?