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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1887)
mrwmmmmmmm THE HESPER I A AT. eloquence, demanding justice not mercy awoke to -political life the masses; roused the long doimant energies of the peo ple and brought forward in all its lorce the Irish question of today. At this crisis came Gladstone who, with his resolu tion for the disestablishment of the Irish church proved him self a firm friend of Ireland, a position which he has main tained in the face of all opposition to the present day. When this resolution was passed it seemed that every vestige of in justice and oppression had vanished. Not so! Seeds planted in a fertile soil will sprout and grow, and the English were to reap the harvest. The former breach was widened. It was the lot of Gladstone to contend with an evil of centuries' standing. He did so; but did he use ocrcion? No; by the introduction of the Land Dill he gave them the needed secur ity against the avarice and rapacity of the landlords, laid bare their exoibitant power and elevated the condition of the peasant. In all his subsequent efforts on the Irish legislation he has shown his general policy, that in advancing Ireland's peace and prosperity he is laying a linn foundation for the fututc welfare of England. He well knew that the outrages that disgrace the Irish cause, weie not due to the arrogant diameter of the Ir. ish; tliey were but inevitable outgrowths of a policy caned for England's benefit, which had been enforced so long. He has founded a policy which aims at the future welfare and prosperity of Ireland. Perhaps we do not perceive its bene fitting effects at present, but we must remember that that which it has taken centuries to establish cannot be overthrown in a day. Is Gladstone fearful as to the lcsult? "It is said that wc have failed in Ireland. 1 do not admit failuie; I ad mit success to be incomplete; I am asked how it is to be made complete; I say, by patient persistence in well-doing; by steady adherence to the work of justice. Justice, sir, is to be our guide; walking in that path, we cannot err; guided by that light, that divine light, wc are safe." Cromwell and Gladstouc, conqueror and statesman. The two extremes of Irish policy; standing out in the plain of Ir. ish misery like two mountain penksjthc one,bleak, solitary, des olate, towering into lonely sublimity, illuminated by the red glare of lightning and girdled by the tempest; the other, rearing itself aloft in imposing grandeur, flanked by luxuriant slopes, its summit piercing the eternal blue and bathed in the sunlight of God. ARBOR DA Y. Great were the expectations, elaborate were the plans and completed were the preparations. Each class with the excep tion, of course, of the Juniors, ha.l long anticipated a day of fun and proposed to have all they could out of it. The Sen iors had called a secret meeting and had detei mined to seek some place where they could throw aside their wonted digni ty, banish all thought of envious Juniors and give themselves up to a whole day of romping, fishing, and rowing. They decided on going to Milford. This was to be kept secreti however, until the time came, for fear it would shock the stu dents too much to hear that '87 was going to do someth ng l'hey were not going to do things by halves when they had once concluded to act, and so they secured special rates and notified the Milford authorities that the Senior Class of the State University was intending to visit them Apiil 22nd. Mil. ford accordingly for a secret stipulation made airange ments to meet the class at the depot fit masse and, headed by the 'Milford brass band, conduct them to the ''island, " where they were to have in readiness a scoie of dainty row boats and where they had just launched the steamer in honor of the visit. Two days before the longed for day arrived a rain cloud was seen near Omaha, approaching this vicinity, and the Uni versity meteorological station predicted fair weather, so the chief mogul of the class called a mcctirrg and decided to indefinitely postpone the projected excursion, despite the elo quence and threats of two or three stout hearted members (who, by the way, had bought their tickets and ordered some fishing tackle). The Sophomores had passed a resolution to carry out their plans whether it stormed or not. They had determined to go to Crete and had accordingly notified '89 of Doane .that they would be there. Hcanng of the coura: geous determination of '87 to remain at home, their estimate of that class was re-affirmed, and they felt called upon to ex hibit '89 pluck and daring. So the night before they found ten who pledged themselves to go in spite of fate, although the aforesaid cloud had approached as near as Ashland and the meteorological predictions were favorable. During the night the cloud arrived. Nothing daunted, a band of twenty resolute Sophs assembled at the depot in the morning and to the music of the pattering rain drops they boarded their "special car," (caboose of a cattle train) with wavering hopes and well filled baskets. Conversation was not very varied for the first half of the journey, consisting mainly of ques tions as to opinions on the weather, but then someone discov ered that 'here was a clear spot in the south eastern part of the heavens and then followed prolonged rejoicings, vaiicd only by interjections such as "Wont the Sophs who stayed at home feel cheap!" "Wonder what those faint hearted Sen iors Ml think!" Fate seemed propitious, for the sun was shining as jhey lauded at Ciete. Doane Sophomores did not meet them, for they had imagined that th University taught common sense as well as other branches, and so did not expect them. The now happy crowd soon found their way lo the assembly grounds and deposited the baskets and wraps under the pa villion. Two or three secured boats (stole them) and plied up and down the ruffled wateis of the Blue, but were soon forced to seek shelter and listen to Uigelow's importunate de mands for something to eat. Very soon two or three stray Doane '89crs discovered the crowd and seeing that prospects were bad for outside sports, trudged back through the mud and rain to secure the opera house. As the rain seemed to increase and the dinner hour was approaching, an entrance was effected into an empty summer house and benches arrang ed for dinner. Meanwhile the shower matured into a storm, and it became so cold that resort was had to dancing and screaming to keep worm. Oh, the agonies of that hour! With chattering teeth and blue hands and lips the sky was watched for some signs of a cessation ot the storm. At last two or three plucky youths were found who braved the storm trudged up town, and sent a bus, barely large enough to ac commodate six, after the ten girls, while the ten boys discon solately followed. The opera house reached, and the acquain tance made of Doane Sophomores of both sexes, the after noon passed very pleasantly with dancing and charades, and they found their way backlto Lincoln in time for the evening exeicises. Meanwhile the '90s, having doffed their bibs of last year prepared to carry out their plans. About 10:30 a. m. the children braved the storm and, adorned by star and cane, marched out to bury their box elder. With due solemnity and ceremony the ieat was accomplished, when Master Hef fleman offered an invocation, after which Master Ilerbie Mars land delivered a very touching President's address uponVThe