THE HESPERIAN.
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college politician nor by the student. There is
sontething better than success in college politics;
there is something more deserving of effort than an
entrance into a ring of college politicians Students
whose chief object is politicial scheming, are not safe
leaders. Yet too often are such schemers found to
be the all controlling power in college. There are
students whose greatest efforts are directed toward
becoming such a political power, whose chief object
is to become artful college politicans; but it is safe to
say that such students in after life do not reflect the
most credit upon their alma mater. Colleges are not
training schools for future watd politicians. Let no
student descend to such a level while in college. We
do not say that such a low level has been reached
but we do say that there is a dangerous tendency in
that direction which should be avoided by every
student.
In another column of The Hesperian an article
J is published in which a contributor gives reasons why
a certain department should be formed for the benefit
of one class of students. It is not without due con
sideration that a majority of the board of editors has
expressed an opinion. The best reason for their opin
ion is the fact that there has been but little dissatis
faction in regard to the previous policy of The Hes
perian. In the University, as well as in other col
leges, the war between "barbs" and "frats" is going
on. From this struggle The Hesperian desires to
keep aloof. It has been an unwritten law among the
students that nothing tending to aid one side or the
other, should find a place in The Hesperian; also
that the "frat" and "barb" question should i.ever
enter into a Hesperian election. At present no
distinction is made between "frat" and "barb" news.
It all finds a place in the same department. What
ever is news, is printed, whether it comes from "frat"
or "barb" sources. The request of the contributor
amounts to this: all fraternity news must be classified
and placed in a separate column. The result is that
The Hesperian is compelled to make a distinction
between "frats" and "barbs;" between fraternity
and barbarian news. The opinion of the board of
editors is that it is unwise to take any step that shall
give undue prominence to either faction, or to adver
tise any student as a "barb" or as a "frat" The
best policy will be to prevent any action that shall
draw The Hesperian into the "frat" and "baib"
i struggle, no matter hoy unimportant the first step
may seem. Matters of interest in regard to the
students will find a place in the local columns the
same as heretofore. Fraternity or barbarian news
in so far as it does not tend to influence the action of
any student, will be printed. The position of The
Hepserian is simply that of a spectator. It does
not desire lo print any thing that can be pointed out
as an inducement or an argument why a student
should become a "frat" or remain a "barb." The
greater distance kept from the "frat" and "barb"
question the better for The Hesperian.
LITERARY.
To some readers of Thk Hesperian it may seem pre
sumptuous for this department to mention the papers of
George Kennan's in the Century on "Siberia and the Exile
System." It is not to he supposed that many, and particu
larly students, have neglected to read these articles. Still
there are some, and many more than there should be.
Whether one has a taste for the wonderful, the marvelous or
the strange, one will greatly enjoy the reading of Kennan's
work. The custom of the eastern peoples among whom
Kennan's route lay, the scenery of those regions, the suffer
ings of the political exiles, and the narrow-minded policy of
the government; the story of all these is more intensely
interesting than all the novels. There arc many who plead
a lack of time as an excuse for not reading these papers. (I
say excuse, because questions like those discussed by Kennan
ought lo be familiar to all.) Some say they have no desire
to read the nrticles because the pictures there drawn are not
such as give one pleasant thoughts. How valid such a
reason is will always remain a question. While a knowledge
of evil is a bad thing, and by no menus desirable, yet it is a
doubtful morality that will shut itself up from all thoughts of
sorrow and misery, of which the papers by Keunan furnish
so many instances. What tle scenes and adventures must
have seemed to Kennan, who saw them in all their depth of
horror, we can only guess. At leatt their influence was
strong enough to change Kennan from a champion of the
Russian government to the warmest of nihilist sympathizers.
The effect of the descriptions on the reader, are much the
same as that of the scenes themselves on the writer. Still,
heartrending as some of ihe incidents are, one can find n
more fascinating reading or a style more easy and intelligible
than Kennan's.
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The last three numbers of the Century have contained
stories by a writer known as George II. Jessop. Whcthei
he is an author of much renown Thk Hesperian is not in a
position to say.. Hut be that as it may the fact remains that
these three short stories are very interesting, and in their
way, instructive.
One of these, in the December issue, is called "The Rise
and Fall of the Irish Aigle," and is the story of five Irish
men in San Krancisco, who decided to found an "nnti Saxou
Opprissor" journal, in order to promote the growth of liberty
in Ireland, and to strike a blow at England and her institu
tions. Hlood and liberty was what they wanted, and they
were prepared to obtain their aim by the most rabid and
senseless of publications. The enterprise was inaugurated in
McKeon's saloon, with five members who were to form a
"Thryumvirate" to own and govern the proposed paper.
The first issue of the Aigle was prepared by the five "Thry
umvirs" jointly, each airing his particular kind of fanaticism.
The result was a paper worthy a place among the strange
things of journalism, but a paper that struck a sort of a
dazed awe into the hearts of its editors. Hut still, satisfac
tory as the outcome was to them, the stockholders decided
to adopt a new plan. Each was to edit and control the
paper for a week at a time. So it came about that the Aiglt