THE HESPERIAN.
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rival in the same manner in which the Wesleyan ora
tor treated the representative of Gates, we believe
that .student would be hooted by every one in the
university. On the whole the Wesleyans have acted
in atvery hoggish manner and have shown a spirit of
littleness and of selfishness strangely at variance with
the teaching of Him. Who commanded: "Do unto
others as you would hiive others do unto you.."
LITERARY.
The following from a recent number ol the New York
Commercial Aiivertis r concerning a lormcr professor of the
University of Nebraska may not he devoid of interest to those
acquainted with the gentleman:
"People are asking "Who is Mr. Woodherry?" The
question was asked with emphasis at the time of the publica
tion in the Atlantic Monthly of the noble ode, "My Country"
signed by the name of George E. Woodherry. Mr. Wood
berry's ode, and several of his sonnets notably the one,
"Peace to the World from North without a Gun," had
aroused an interest in him before their publication in the
book in which the "North Shore Watch" is the leading poem.
Now that people arc cutting the leaves of the new volume,
ami reading the praise of the poet in every print in which it is
reviewed, interest in his personality is r.ost natural. "Where
docs Mr. Woodherry live??" Is he young or not young?"
"How docs he know the North Shore so well?" Ask his
readers. It has been discovered that Mr. Woodbcrry is a
quiet citizen of He very where his ancestors lived before him.
He was born in Bcvcry and is living there now. He is in his
early thirties, and has been known to many persons as a
writer and student as well as a man of practical affairs. He
graduated at Harvard in the class of 1877, and went West as
professor of English in the Univcisity of Nebraska. He
remained for two years, then was occupied with editorial
work for the Nation for two years. He returned to his Ne
braska position for two years' and for the past seven years has
lived on the shore he celebrates in his thenorody, except dur
ing absence in Europe. The "North Shore Watch" was pri
vately printed a few years ago, but it now reaches the public
for the first time. It is said that several of the strong and
well-considered articles of modern books and writers which
have appeared in the Atlantic during the last few years came
from Mr. -Woodbcrry's pen."
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The antiquarian mind of Walter Scott loved to dwell on
the feudal period of European history. For him that epoch
had more charms than contemporary life could furnish. De
lighted from his youth by mediaeval ballads and sight of
rusty armor he spent the fortune procured by his pen in erect
ing for himself a castle with all its accompaniments, in order
to live a life somewhat ' like that which he so loved to hear
and read about. His novels, too, arc replete with evidences
ol his liking for the past. He delights in describing the
'knight and his trappings and the incidents of the tournament.
But it is his fault to present only the better side of the life
he depicts. The hig sounding vows taken by the candidate
for knijihtoood and the pompous ceremonies accompanying do
please the car and dazzle the eye. Hut while the spirit of
chivalry was an agency that aided materially in the transform
ation of mediaeval society into modern, it is not always to be
assumed that beneath this pomp and parade there was not
the actual fact ol unfaithfulness to duty characteristic of many
a knight high in the esteem of his fellows because dexterous
in concealing his guilt. Furthermore, feudal govcrnhicntwas
government by a class, and the vow which bound a knight tc
deal honorably with his equal or his superior did not, in gen
eral restrain him from maltreating the one below himinranlt.
Scott, on the contrary, would leave one with the idea tha
after all the age of feudalism was not so hopelessly bad as is
usually imagined, but was, rather, an age ol romance, where
in the reign of violence, which so disturbed peaceful pursuits,
was offset by the attractions of the tournament and the chiv
alrous fulfillment of every pledge. ,
The "Talisman" illustrates the point in question. The
scene of the plot is the Holy Land at the time of the third
crusade. The chief characters are the Sultan Saladin, Rich
ard I, of England, his kinswoman,' Edith, and a Scottish
knight, Sir Kenneth. King Richard, Phillip of France, and
the various lesser leaders of the crusade had come with their
respective forces to try again to rescue the Holy Sepulchre
from the infidel. Hut while they were in camp in Palestine
Richard had fallen sick with fever, and as he was the leading
spirit of the movement the other crusaders thought it neces
sary to await his convalescence. But Richard was by nature
domineering; it was galling to his companions to endure his
reproaches and captious complaints. Accordingly, during
his sickness the other leaders determined to make a lasting
peace with Saladin and return with their armies to Europe.
Sir Kenneth was chosen to carry their proposal to the sultan.
He performed his mission and returned accompanied by n
learned Mahometan physician who came to attempt to cure
King Richard. After the physician had demonstrated his
ability to work a cure he was allowed to try the effect of his
wondrous talisman on the king, and soon Richard was well
again.
But meanwhile his enemies in the canp had not been idle.
Conradc of Montscrrat, with a determination to cause dissen
sion against Richard at any cost, induced Leopold while in
his cups to offer an affront to England's standard. The vio
lent Richard was infuriated; he hurled the flag of Austria to
the ground, and ordered Sir Kenneth to guard the English
banner the following night. During the night Richard's
queen, Bereugaria, in a jesting mood, seduced Sir Kenneth
from his post by sending word that Edith, whom the young
and obscure knight had long regarded with aflcction, desired
his presence. When Sir Kenneth returned the flag had been
made away with. Though overwhelmed by his disgrace he
spurned all thought of flight from the camp. When morning
came he went like a man to Richard's tent and made known
the results ol his withdrawal from his post. jOuly the most
persistent entreaties ot his family and attendants, and espec
ially the startling fact made known to him by the far famed
hermit of Eugaddi; restrained the king from inflicting death on
the knight. Better counsel at length prevailed, and Sir
Kenneth was r.ade the bond-slave of the physician who had
saved Richard's life. And thus the knight abandoned for
ever as he thought, the camp of the crusaders and the emolu
ments of knighthood.
But a better fate was in store for him. The good physi
cian, who was, strange to say, none other than Saladin him
self, caused Sir Kenneth to be disguised and to be returned to
serve as Richard's attendant. He gained the king's favor by
saving him from the murderous assault of a half crazed indi
vidual who was spurred on by Richard's enemies in the camp.
Finally by the aid of his intelligent hound the disguised
knight was able to single out the traitor who had stolen Eng
land's banner. Conradc of Montscrrat waa found to be the
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