8
THE HESPERIAN.
EXCHANGE RRIC-A-BRA C
Prof. Brown, of the chair of Greek anil Literature at
Butler, is manager of the college base-hall nine.
Too bad, University Courier that you couldn't think of
anything original to say about u& but had to copy from the
Coup d'Etat.
The senior class of the University of Wisconsin have adop
ted a class ring. This is certainly something new for a col
lege souvenir. Argonaut. Not so new but that the class
oi '86 of the Univeisity of Nebraska adopted it.
The Hiram College Star objects to the "almost stereotyp
ed articles of the incoming and outgoing editors." No use,
Star. It is human nature to think that the advent of a new
board of editors is a sort of crisis ii the world's affairs and the
exit well, it isn't polite to march oftjwithout saying good-bye.
It seems that the Oberlin Review has taken up a charge
of plagiarism against E. C. Ritsher of Bcloit, who won the
interstate oratorical contest in 18S6. The Rcumi Table from
Beloit appears with an article on the other side of the ques
tion. It seems the charge rests on the similarity of three
sentences in Mr. Ritsher's oration to sentences in Guizot's
"History of Civilization." As the resemblance is slight and
the work menlioned was the acknowledged preparatory read
ing for the oration, it seems reasonable to suppose that the
correspondence is due to that unconscious memorizing of ex
pressions with which most writers arc familiar. The Review
is in small business.
We are always pleased to receive new western exchanges.
We realize thut most of them arc like ourselves, having some
thing of a struggle for existence and patronage. The east
ern papers, with larger constituencies and more "college spir
it," seem to have an easier time. Wc therefore welcome the
Dakota Collegian from the agricultural college at Brookings,
S. Dak. We will not pretend to pass final judgment upon
the paper for the issue at hand is full of oratorical contest and
is therefore not in its normal condition. However wc notice
the usual amount of western "push" and the paper in both
appearance and contents would put to shame some of the
homely and sleepy papers which arc issued year after from
larger and older institutions. A little more care in "making
up" would be a advisable, Collegian.
Wc are glad to be able to speak of the Western Inter-collegiate
Press Association as a living, breathing organization.
At Grinnell some twenty-five or thirty papers were represent
ed and an association started which we hope to sec grow in
size, intlucnce ami uselnlness as the years roll by. As yet
the beucfils may be confined to increase of exchange, more
brotherly love between editors, and the acquaintance afford
ed at the yearly meeting. But other results will come in due
time- The Hesperian makes its bow to its contemporaries
who have honored it by making it the official organ of the
association and hereby expresses its willingness to do any
thing in its power to further the objects of the organization.
We should like to sec the "circular letter" scheme inaugurat
ed as soon as possible. Wc call the attention of all our wes
tern exchanges to an account of the convention in another
column. Let every paper in the tes interested lend its
aid to the enterprise. Send in your dollars.
Occasionally as we plod along the weary path of life' with
downcast eyes and moody facej wc are surprised by the sudden
appearance of some former friend whom wc had almost for
gotten. What a change it makes in our feelings as the rush
of old memories floods the mind! A somewhat analogous ex
perience befell us lately. Turning over the leaves of a batch
of new exchanges, our glance rested on an article in the
Geneva Cabinet entitled "Charlotte Cushman." It seemed
familiar. We glanced at the close. Sure enough! "Hesper
ian." Then our memory traveled back through sixteen long
months. Wc had not then descended to the depths of ex
changedom. Wc were not then rudely ridiculed by half a
dozen unfeeling exchange editors. We did not have to read
over a hundred exchanges a month. No, we wrote heavy ed
itorials and abused the faculty. And one afternoon our
gloomy sanctum was lighted up by the descent of a pretty girl
editor who handed us the little biography which, being re
printed, has given rise to all these melancholy reminiscences.
Said p. g. e. now leads the tedious life of a country school
ma'am. And we well, we are what circumstances make us.
It is convenient to lay it all at the door of fate. Wc supposed
a last year's Hesperian was a last year's almanac intensified.
But the printed word never dies. This little lesson should re
mind us how careful wc should be as to what wc put in print.
In after years, like Banquo's ghost, our words may rise up
before us in the midst of the good things of life and spoil our
happiness. We would especially commend this thought to the
Aeainedian, the Sitnpsonian, and the Coup u'-litat who have
taken such fiendish delight in calling us "poor fool," "officious
caviller" etc.
We feel called upon to say a few words to the Gates Index.
It moralizes over the recent state oratorical contest to the fol
lowing effect: "It seems to us that Doanc must feel well re
paid for her modesty before the contest; while the University,
which was inclined to claim everything, will learn to be more
reserved in the future. The difference in the subjects chosen
is a matter that should attract the attention of our prospect
ive orators. The one deals with a question of the day while
the other has to do with dead issues. Wc believe that topics
of the day usually furnish subjects for the more popular ora
tions." To begin with the University did not "claim every
thing." The Hesperian backed up our orator with its en
couragement; it urged a large delegation to support him; it
urged the utmost enthusiasm among the students. It did
not give up the contest beforehand. It did not say with a
woe-begone lace, "Well, we'll go to Crete, but it's no use
anywuy." If a person or an institution goes into a contest
it is well to go in with the greatest determination and en
thusiasm possible. Wc were defeated. It was a result not
unexpected under the circumstances. But because wc lost
we arc not ashamed of what wc said before the contest nor do
wc intend to shout in a lower key next year. Now as to the
subjects of the orations. "Robert E. Lee"" is not a dead sub
ject. The character of any man who has influenced history
as he did is a live subjact for discussion so lone as any eraiu
of prejudice tends to swing the balance of popular judgment
tc the wrong side. Furthermore the subjects had nothing to
do with the result of the contest. Mr. Peterson's oration is
acknowledged to be the equal of the one which was success
fill. The delivery alone decided the contest. More than
this, the judges are not allowed to be influenced by any con.
sidcr.-.tions except those of excellence of thought, composition
and delivery. In a general and theoretic way wc agree with
the Index that a live subject is better than a dead one; but the
present instance is a poor one to "point the moral." Tnci
dentally wc might remark that the exchange editor of the
Index is somewhat old-fogyish in opposing any inter-colleg-late
athletics. Everything that tends to make the colleges
or the state better acquainted with cachother should be foster
ed. Base-ball, football, oratory, and Y. M. C. A. are all
means to this end. As for our students wc arc not afraid that
they will spend more time or money than they can afford on
such things, ' '
W