THE HESPERIAN,
3
o
had a very wavering policy. To be sure its cry was always
"Organize," but the many ways of organizing that were
suggested by its editors, gave to the paper anything but the
lirm immovable stand tuat a chnmpion of fallen liberty
should take. At the end of each week the company met at
McKcon's (that is as a company) and resolved itself into an
admiration society. Surely the world of newspapcis was
iccciving some brilliant examples of radical journalism.
Finally, however, it was thought best to have one man con
trol the nnncr. and accordingly a man was looked for. He
must be an Irishman, patriotic, and cheap. All these
requirements were fulfilled in the person of Gerald Ffrench,
a young Irishman, seeking his fortune in a freer land than
Ireland. He professed to be an experienced newspaper man,
when in reality he was absolutely ignorant of the most trivial
details of a printing house. Consequently it was a risky
piece of business for him to assume the management of so
important a publication as the Eagle. Hut he had tact and
a ready pen, and the weeks passed by without' revealing to
the company that the Aigle w.is making an editor instead of
the editor making the Eagle. The inevitable fate of such a
paper was not long deferred. The "Thryumvirate" was out
of fund and with no sources of revenue. Suspension was
unavoidable. The Eagle ceased to soar and Gerald Ffrench
was left to seek a new situation. He went carrying with
him the esteem and admiration of his employers, but
whether, from their point of view, he deserved theii regard,
let the sequel show. The paper had done a great deal of
good, even if it was good to Ffrench alone. It had showed
him the insane depths of frenzy to which hot headed fanati
cism can sink. The necessity forced upon htm of writing
editorials calling for the slaughter of parliament, the queen
and all state officers, had jouscd all the true patriotism there
wnc in liim s w1ifn n shnrt time after the fall of the
...... ... ....... ...w, .......
hagle, Gerald wrote a scathing denunciation or the minder
ot a wealthy Irish proprietor, he fell into deep disgrace with
the Thryumvirate," which met, as of old, at McKeon's.
'What should be done wid him?" It was proposed that the
company waylay Ffrench some night and administer a sound
thrashing to him. This proposal was rejected by the self
appointed chairman, because, as he said, "A digineratc
Irishman like him wud think nothin' of appalin' to the police
for protection."
Another in the Tanuary Century is called "An Old Man
From the Old Country," and like the first, is a story of Irish
life, as it exists in San Francisco. '1 he "old man" was
Ouinn. and the "old country" was, of couyse, Ireland.
Quinn, though unable to read and write, had contrived to
amass quite a fortune by speculation in California real estate.
Gerald Ffrench is the only character of any prominence
beside Quinn. Like the story ol the Aigle this begins in a
saloon, where Gerald and Mr. Quinn are introduced. On
the ground of the common nationality and Quinn's evident
admiration of Gerald as one of the "rale ould shtock," a
close acquaintance grows up between the two.ill-assorted as
they arc. The story deals at some length with the incidents
attendant on that acquaintance, and draws to an end by
telling of the death of Mr. Quinn. It seems that he felt him
self sinking and sent for a lawyer to draw up his will. The
lawyer came, prepared the will, and presented it. to the old
man for his signature. Mr. Quinn, having a natural delicacy
about displaying his inability to write, put off the affair till
the next day. When that day came Mr. Quinn was not in a
position to even make his mark. He died, leaving an
unsigned will which bequeathed to Gerald Ffrench nearly
three hundred thousand dollais worth of property.
One who has read the stories or sketches, whichever they
may be called, would naturally think the writer was an Irish
man. I am not so sure of that, but he must be that or an
American. At least this much is certain, he is one who
appreciates Jhc humor there is in the Irishman, as well as
the depths of emotion. He is surely very familiar with life
on the Pacific coast, and particularly with the phase of life
shown in the stories. There is no plot, no complicated
machinery of construction, only a simple talc of Irish life,
somewhat modified by the influence of an adopted country.
As far as the stories arc a history of Gerald Ffrench, one can
with reason fancy that the author is describing personal
adventures of his own. In all, Ffrench takes a part suffi
ciently in the background to give the impression that he is
writing his own experience.
In the "Rise and Fall of the Irish Aigle," Jessop shows
the more passionate side of an Irishman's mature. Not
indeed, illustrated by deeds, but by words. Still the story
is very humorous. It could not be otherwise and be a story
with an Irishman in it. The second story deals at more
length with the lighter part of human character. There is
none of the extremes of patriotism or of sorrow that are
shown in the other two. If we are to consider that anything
written of men is a study of them and of their characters,
then we might call these stories a study of the Irish char
acter toned down by American ideas and American experi
ence. As I said before, they were no doubt written by one who
is enough of an Irishman to understand an Irishman's
pathos, passion or humor. When you have an idle hour
borrow someone's Century and enjoy the reading of these
stories. For they arc very enjoyable and amusing, and if
one reads them rightly, very instructive.
Mr
Mr.
OPEN LETTERS.
Judging from the remarks made concerning the suggestion
offered in the editorial columns of the last issue of this paper
many, if not a majority, of the students will be glad to see
Thk IIesvkrian transformed into a copious monthly. If
the necessary money can be secured the support which will
be given by the students generally in the way of literary con
tributions will surely prevent Thk Hesverian from being a
discredit to the institution which publishes it. Probably a
meeting of the association will be called soon to consider
the proposition. In the mean time students will please give
the matter their careful attention.
Pining the rental Wednesday evening the usual critic
present at such entertainments was heard to remark that he
wondered why people who are fond of piano duets always
insist upon inflicting them upon an audience. Of course a
duet played well shows a greater or less degree of skill on the
part of the performers able to play well together, but why
can't they get off alone somewhere if they insist upon play
ing a duet ami if they really enjoy it themselves why is it
necessary to bore the long-suffering and much abused public
that attend for the sake of other features of the program.
This same music-ciitic was also heard to ask if some one
would timidly explain why there existed such a wide discrep
ancy between the charge for drawing lessons and for music
lessons in this institution. The instructor in art is not allowed
to charge over fifty cents a lesson, while the instructor of
music charges seventy-five cents per lesson. As the instructor
receives a large salary for keeping up the department, it is
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