THE HESPERIAN.
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to their houses, and yet eveiything is in ordcrj one
cannot find a squeaky hinge about the house. What
the cause of this difference is we shall not attempt to
state, though it is not difficult to explain. Lincoln
reminds us of a man of the first-mentioned kind. It
seems that enough effort is put forth here to accomp
lish excellent results, but everything goes wrong. It
was the general impression that we were to have an
electric motor; we got a miniature railway train. We
became very much excited over the prospect of pave
ments. Well, we have them, but it is rather disap
pointing that, in muddy times, we cannot distinguish
between the streets that are paved and those that are
not. Lincoln is young, and possibly it cannot learn
unless by painful experience.
Some one has sent usan anonymous communication
in reply to our editorial comment on the woman suf
frage question. The article is signed "A Crank,"
and the general tone seems to justify the term. We
arc sorry that its style is such that we cannot give it
a place in these columns, but we wish to say to tne
author that if she will write again and confine her
attention to the subject we shall be truly pleased to
resign our space to her. She says that "we but ex
pose ourutter ignorance," that we "prate," and then,
in conclusion, that she has 'merely tried to show u
and those who may have agreed with us what a flimsy
foundation our objections possess,' and hopes that we
"may live to outgrow such foolishness." Now, in
our note we made pretentions neither to discussing
the question nor to voicing the general opinion of
the students. We merely gave the conclusion we had
arrived at, and requested that it be given the same
consideration that our opinion on any other subject
would receive, and no more. In a humbled and
subdued way we would like to remark that everyone
ought to be permitted to think on a subject of as great
moment as this, and, moreover, without being exposed
to the ungentlemanly and unladylike attacks of the
'Cranks' who take pleasure in that name. What
they wish is freedom, the very thing they would
deny to those who do notsiand with them. "Crank"
is not a title of honor. It signifies a person whose
intellect is so morbidly developed as to prevent
thought on more than one phase of a subject. It is
not the ideas of cranks that we want, but the solid rea
soning of those who are capable of looking at the
matter from every point of view. Then the existing
circumstances may be radically wrong, but, as mat
ters are, if the women ever receive this privilege of
voting it will come through the consent of the men,
and we would suggest that such consent is not likely
to be won at all the sooner by calling men "brutes"
and the like.
LITERARY.
A writer should consider hour far the art of writing consists
in knowing what to leave in the inkstand. partus Russell
Lowell.
The February Century contains an article on "Astrology
Divination and Coincidence," which is well worth reading.
Superstition seems to be the most difiiicult of public feel
ings to overcome. The number of people who still believe
that
"Signs, omens, dreams, predictions
Surely are not fictions;
And many facts docs history cite
To prove that we are right,"
is more marvelous than any of their alleged prodigies. So
many wonderful things are done in the name of science that
the people are totally unable to distinguish the difference
existing between a scientific prediction of a cold wave and of
the end of the world, if indeed there is a difference in value.
Probably the most wide spread superstition at present, to
again quote our friend Prince Lorenzo, is that: Thirteen
at table's bad sure," than which a more senseless belief was
nevsr entertained. From years before the time when the
Romans wouldn't fight because the chickens refused to give
their approbation, there have been constant attempts to pre
dict future events. The inspired men of the Bible gave this
profession a certain amount of prestige. Later people got
the idea that the sayings of madmen had some peculiar sig
nificance, and since then every inspired lunatic, who wanted
to specially distinguish himself, has attempted to foretell
future events. The article in question gives numerous exam
ples from Zadkie's almanac, (a publication pretending even
now to foretell the events of each year), which have at first
glance a strong appearance of probability, but on examina
tion show the absurdity of the whole thing. Undei "Coinci
dences" there arc several points worth remembering.
Carter. Have you read Anna Karenina?
Nelson. No, I understand the plot is of the Fiench
order and I have about made up my mind that reading such
novels is detrimental rather than beneficial.
C Well, you can't claim that Anna Karenina is over
drawn or not true to life.
N. Perhaps not, but that there are a great many things in
in real life that is not best to dwell upon. I like to read a
novel which inspires me to do or be something better.
C But cannot the same lesson be taught by showing the
faults of an evil character or the inevitable result of evil
actions?
N. -No, not so well, I think, for while we may feel the
full force of an evil character, and on the whole detest the
life which it represents, it will, to some extent, shatter our
ideal of honest living, and leave us in doubt as to the balance
of good and evil in the world. I don't know that I can
clearly express what I feel on this matter, but when I read of
an evil character, and then reflect that among all my acquaint
ances there is not one in whom I cannot detect some imper
fection, it unconsciously gives me what I must, in more
cheerful moments, believe is an exaggerated idea of the evil
among mankind.
C But when you read one of your ideal novels and then
fail to meet anyone as good as your hero or heroine, do you
not feel as if the novel had painted too rosy a picture and
was likely to delude somebody into thinking the world better
than it really is?
N. No, not exactly, for I still cherish the belief perhaps