Issuu

VOL .. XI.

JANUARY,

NO. 4.

1886.

EDITORS: A. N. BOWERS, Mu Sigma Rho, { GEO. H. EDWARDS, W. C. ROBINSON.

E. B. HATCHER, Philologian,{ H. w. JONES, C. D. RoY.

Business Manager-W. A. BORUM. Assistant Business Manager-J. L. B1wwN.

============= ======== =---Baby Student-very smart'l'hinks a paper he will sta;-t ; ''l' will be, under his direction, Greatest sheet iu all this §. 'T will be kept extremely quiet; No one e'er will have to buy it. 'T will be sure to n!ake folks laugh, For he'll write each ,r. He'll be caustic, sharp, severe; Hirn the students all shall fear; He will make them squirm and stagger With his inky-pointed t. Advertisements, (Money-making

too, he'll get, scheme, you bet.)

James Russell Lowell has resumed his position as Professor of Modern Languages and of Belles-Lettres at Harvard, nnd is conducting two courses-one in Italian (Dante) and the other in Spanish (Cel'vantes ). Professor Lowell, on I1is ar.: rival from i1Lrond,presented to the library a collection of 688 volumes, which he collected during his residence abroad. They

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Advertisers whom he collars Shall shell out their hard-eamed

'l'hns his plan is, in his mind; Olf he starts, intent to find Printer who will never tell Who runs the sheet sans IISo he starts it-,-rnns awhile, Causing some weak minds to smile, And he, while he tries to laugh, Sees his standing fall ½• In despair the paper strugglesIn despair his pen he juggles. But against it are the fates, So no more it m n 8s.

are mostly Spanish works; some are Italian and some English. Amoog the many valuable books is the Chronicle of Fernando Lopez, thr·ee volumes, printed m 1644.-Ex. Om· greatest glory is uot in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.Confucius.

RICHMOND

COLLEGE MESSENGER.

Tl1e , Cl1a.-acter

It has been remarked by a very celebrated author, that '' it would be well, perhaps, for all poets, if nothing were known of their characters than what they infuse in their poetry." And well"itis for the sake of this author that he inserts the "pe1'haps" in the above statement. He goes on to explain and to prove his statement by saying, " Too close a knowledge of the weaknesses and errors of the inspired children of Parnassus ·can but impair: in some degree, the delicate aroma of their songs." In studying the lives ancl characters of our many famous poets, not only of America but, of every nation on the globe which gives that resp~ct which is due to the cultivation of the fine arts, we find that those whose outward lives will bear the ·clotiest inspection are not the men whose songs have sunk deepest into the hearts of their countrymen-ar~ not the men who can sympathize the deepest with human nature.

of" Edg·ar

A. Poe.

them as best we may, but does it lessen in our eyes the quality, the beauty, the grandeur of their verses? We judge a man, it is true, by his outward life when we have no other way of judging-when all that would serve to .adorn and beautify his character, and to magnify its splendor in · the sight of the world is hidden, we are then too apt to judge of him by his outward life, but with the poet it is different. The very essence of the song which is exposed to our view shows that his inner life is as far superior to that by whicq _ we judge him as the day is to the night, and im- ' . plants within us an admiration and respect for that spring which is the secret ·of his inspiration - that mys'terious spring from which his pearls of thought are produced. Mankind has the profoundest respect for mystery.

In every-day life it iti common ro see a man who is a perfect :-ilave to his pasTake the <'haracter of Robert Burns, . sions. And, though not so common ns whose songE are as dear to eac·h one of the former, we frequently SPe a man who his countrymen as his own Bible,-whose rigidly obeys the dictates of his conevery thought and expression is an echo 8cience and adheres to its every voice as to those of his fellow-men-and examine though it were for life or death. Neither and compare his outward life with the of these .cases present to our minds a'nydelicate aroma of his songs. thing of a mystery; hut when we find a man susceptible alike both to conscience Take the ·character of Lord Byron, and passion-a man whose own weakness whose works, in themselyes, embrace makes him a slave to the hltter, yet be;, every type of poetry under the sun,neath it all has an inner life so grand and whose thoughts were as changeable, and beautiful that it can but shine through yet as grand, as though be possessed at different times the mind of every poet the blackness that surrounds . it, we can which England has ever produced-study but see that the blackness of the .outwai·d

THE CHARACTER life only makes the flame of the inner burn all the more brightly. Of all the poets whose lives have been a pnzzle and a mystery to the world, there is none more difficult to be understood than Edgar A. Poe. Truly in his picture of the Haven" Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil -Proph et still , if bird or devil!"-

•he drew th e portrait of his own characte1·. When we attempt to curry in the mind the picture of a saint and fiend combined in the same indi vidnal, we are at once embarrassed. And although a close study of his works will show that there is in them, nowhere discoverable, a consciousness of moral respon sibility, it .does not much relieve this embarrassment.

OF EDGAR A. POE. they seem, from his life, a desel't, they appear all the mo1·ebeautiful. The life of Poe, though a dark shadow is thrown over the whole, is a sad yet beautiful study. In it we see a man witb intellect as brilliant as any of his day; yet constantly at wai· with that sea of passion over which he seemed to have no control. Truly does he say of himselfI heed not that my earthly lot Hath-little of Eal'th iu itThat years of love have been forgot In the hatred of a minute:I mourn not that the desolate Arc happier, sweet, than I, But that you sorrow for my fate, Who am a passer-by.

The closer we study such a character the more mysterious it becomes, and the For wh ether a man may, or may not,, more we read his works the harder it befeel accountable to his Creatol' for the use comes for us to decide which of the two which he make s of his talents, he has im_ characters in his own Raven he most replanted within, the knowledge of th:it re- sembles, "bird or fiend." sponsibility, and the man whose real At one time we find him breathing character is adorned with the qualities forth songs foll of the subtleties of paswhich charact erized Eilgar Allan Poe can sion, of grief, of despair and longingbut stmggle between the gratification of and again he breaks forth in the most his passions aucl the dictates of his conharmonious all(} beautiful strains, as science. thong I1 l1e was perfectly at ease wit I1 I1iruBut, be what he may, shall we abandon I self, the world, and his God. or denounce his genius because of the Truly his productions "are those of immorality of his outward life'? Supone whose only religion was a worship pose he had been a saint instead of that of the beautiful-who knew no beauty curious commingling of good and evil, but that which was purely sensuous"; would his works excite the sau1e interest one who "revelled in an ideal world of in the minds of his readers? It is the perfect shows and was made wretched by very character of the nrnn that makes his any imperfections of arL." The Lenore, works all the more marvellous and inter- 1 whose loss he deplol'ed so deeply, we are esting. told was a being fair to look uponThere 1s more notice of the one lone beautiful Lothe eye-a beautiful creature, spring in the desert than of thousanrls in but, like Undine, without a soul. a fertile and well-watered country. And vVith this key to the character of the so it is with his thoughts-springing, as , poet, there i8 less difficulty in compre-

RICHMOND

QOLLEGE .MESSENGER. You are not wrong, who deem That my clays have been a dream ; Yet if hope has flown away In a night, or in a day, In· a vision, or in none, Is it therefore the less ,gone ? All that we see or seem Is but a dream within a dream.

bending the strange inconsistencies, the baseness, and nobleness which his wayward life exhibited. · Some of his biographers have been severely censured for the view given of his character. But this is unjust. A truthful delineation of his career would give a darker hue to his character than it has received from any of his biographers, and it is useless for us either to attempt to hide the dark side of his life or to look over it. We can but read the works, admire the genius, and deplore the early death of the one whose future would have seemed so bright but for that sea of passions which tossed him to and fro until, at last, ,; hen life has little, if any, hope or pleasure for him, he cries:

I stand amid the roar Of a surf-tormented shore, And I hold within my band Grains of the golden sandHow few ! yet how they creep Through my :fingers to the deep , While I weep-while I weep I 0 God ! can I not grasp Them with a tighter clasp? 0 Goel! can I not save One from the pitiless wave? ls all that we see or seem But a dream within a dream?

P. B. S.

('.l1u1·11 ~t .er.

Let us first make an important discrimination which is essential to a proper conception and satisfactory discussion of our subject. Character is not reptdation. Reputation is what we are supposed to be, character is what we are; reputation is ideal, character is real; reputation is a shadow, character is a substance. Let us pursue this last figurative contrast in order to separate these two entirely unlike ideas, which public opinion has too much confused. A shadow indicates the presen<'e of some object, but is meaningless as to its nature. We could never tell from the shadow across the pavement whether it was cast by a polished marble front or a dingy brick wall. So, while reputation does indicate the presence of some char- . ncter, it is almost as meaningless as to its

true nature. A shadow is unreliable in regard to the proportions , of its object. Its length or breadth depends far more upon where the sun is than upon the length and breadth of its object. When the sun shines obliquely an object may cast a shadow several timrs its length. And reputation is not reliable in regard to the proportions of character, whose virtues and vices it often exaggerates. The extent of one's reputation. depends far more upon where public sentiment is than upon his own character. As an object by leaning from the sun may sometimes greatly increase its own shadow, so men by deviating from what is customary, by cteparting from precedent, may by their eccentricity greatly extend their fame. The existence of a shadow depends upon sunshine. No object, how-

CHARA 011FJR. ever large, casts a shadow when the sky is dark with clouds. So reputation depends upon general prosperity and favorable surroundings. The reputation of the grandest characters is confined to a very small circle when the dark clouds of poverty or adversity hang over them. But notwithstanding this radical difference between character and reputation, yet it seems to the popular mind that the two terms are nearly synonymous. It seems there are parasites in the realm of thought as well as in the realm of nature. A vine which cannot support itself learns to twine itself around some strong tree. Little by little the suppor ,ting tree becomes obscured by the twining vine until finally there is no tree to be seen, but all seem_!,one-mass of vine. So there are thoughts which grow upon other thoughts. Little by little the stronger and supporting idea bC;come~obscured, and to a casual glance nothing is seen but the parasite, thought. So the idea of reputation, like a mental parasite, has gradually enveloped the idea of character. But let us tear away the parasite and examine the real thought in its true nature. Just a little reflection leads us to see that the true basis of character is principle; for without this as a foundation, there could ,not exist any of those tt·aits which combine to make character in its true sense. Unless principle lies behind we are merely honest from policy; we are virtuous from imitation; we are brave from cowar·dfoeor the fear of being suspected of cowardice. Unless, therefore, these traits are founded upon principle, what may seem to be an assembl?ge of virtues is nothing more thun a group of hypocricies. In the structure of character from principle as a foundation anses

three grand pillars to support the structure-viz., honesty, purity, and courage. We cannot stop to notice the adorn-· ments, - such as refinement, culture, &c. - but mnst confine ourselves to the mere outline of character. These three magnificent pillars are capped by unselfishness, the acme of human excellence, or, rather, I should say the limit, of human excellence. As every virtue must spring from principle as a foundation, so •every virtue points to unselfishness as its climax. We shall next notice briefly the formation of character: First, we will say that we form our own character. It is true that ~e are born with certain tendencies and certain original attributes; but these sustain to the fully-matured character the same relation which the acorn sustains to the full-grown oak: the acorn germinates in the soil, sends out roots to gather nourishment for the sustenance and growth of the oak, which it only puts into existence; the oak becomes a tree from the support of its roots, which it is caused to send deeper and deeper by the very winds which threaten to overthrow it. So these germs of character, becoming imbedded in the surrounding society, spring up; but the character, as the oak, must grow, or, as ·it were, make itself by an appropriation of the necessary ingredients and by resisting such opposing influences which if yielded to would destroy, but if resisted will make stronger. As the oak grows gradually, so our character is gradually formed - not in a day, or a month, or a year: not by one great act or performance, but little by little, day by day, for months and years. Every act, however trivial; every thought, however secret; helps to form it. Character is formed

RICHMOND

COLLEGE :fl'IESSENGER.

irre\'ocal.,ly-eYer_Y"act anrl every thought it is inevitable. It does not depend upon lea Yes an effect \\'hich can never he erased• circumstances. One does not exert it · In the formation of r!'putation we may because he tries, but hecau~e he must. do to-clny all(} undo to-morrow. Our O11e does not submit to it because he r<~putation is depreciates at one period . consents, but because ·he is obliged to and is reinstated at another. One persubmit, ancl could not rcsi8t it if he formance may cause us to lose mucli in would. It is character alone which comreputation, but another may enable us to mands respect. Other thi11gs may secure win more; but it is not true of charact<•r. admiratiou. Men are sometimes admired It is as impossil,le to d~stroy an effect for their wealt.h, for their learning, for produced upon character as to nullify a their brillinncy, &c. But none of these can (except when they are the mere aclornfact. ments of charader) - none of these, nor In concl111<io11, let us notice the power of character, whid1 is silent, but inevita- can all cornbine<l - command respect. ble a11dfrr·esistible. When brought within This explains how so many men of humble attainments have so far surpassed the influence of character a man may not others of superior gifts in influence nnd be conscious of the power it exerts over power. It is chnracter, and character him -he may pay his hom11ge unconsciously - hut whether he knows it or alone, ,yhich constitutes tnie and rear moral power. The very term by which not, he hows with greater or less sqbmisthe idea is conveyed in its original meansion to its authority, not bec:rnse of any ing expresse8 by a forcible figure the true accidental advantage or superiority, not because of any coercive measures, not nature of this power. The primary meanbecame of any spasmodic effort, but he- ing of the word character is a rnai-lc. To apply this word with this meaning to the . cause of its silent majesty. Like all the great powers in nature, the power . of true meaning of charaeter is eminently character is gentle. The sun shines appropriate. It is but naming the thing gently, but in its rays communicates by its ef1ect, for character does make ·a more power than all the spasmodic nnd mark-an incision so deep, so indelible, boisterous efforts of men combined. that time nor change can ever erase it. There is nothing gentler or more gradual It imprints itself upon imperishable mathan growth, and yet there is no physical terials. It stamps itself upon human power superior to it. · As are these phyhearts, upon human minds, upon human sical powers, so is ·the moral power of history, and upon human destiny. character. But not only is it silent, but -

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President Cleveland was recently elected an honorary member of one of the literary societies at the University of Vfrginb, but declined the honor with thanks. Each human soul is the first created inhabitant of its own E<len.-Hawthorne.

----

At a public dinner once, in honor of Edward Everett, Judge Story gave the toast, "Genius is recognizcil wliere Everett goes." Evnett responded, "Law, Equity, and Jnrisprndenee: they can never rise _higher tlian one Story."-.bx,

THE UPWARD AND DOWNWARD

'.l'he

1 Jp,;,•ard

ancl

J)o•n-11,;vard

LOOK.

I,oo]~.

•

In the \·egetahle kingdom · we uotire _altogether stop, his progress ; but, lookthat almost all~in fact we might say alling forward, he must smmount these the plants lor',k u p,vard for the most beopposing difficulties and use them as neficent influences. True, a greater por- , stepping-stones that will carry him over . tiou · of the plant's food comes directly another round on the difficult ladder of ascent. Obstacles overcome are strong from the .earth (or soil), but this s usteincentiYer;;to greater exertions. nance is obtained only through other and very important agencies. The soil in a Young men who are about to assume dry state is unprolific, holding the plant's the stern responsibilities of life's journey, subsistence in her unremitting grasp and and whose aim, guided by a noble purrefnsing to let it go. It must, there'fore, pose, ic; to make life worth Ii ving and be moistened. Anil from whence comes leave behind them lasting monuments th_is element but from above? The sun in the minds of succeeding generations, is the direct agent, drawing up sileutly, should early in life form an ideal as a but continually, the aqueous vapor into standard of perfection in human attainthe uppt·r and colder regions of the atrnoments to which they are striving. This spher-e, wliere it is c'ondensed into water, ideal should be of the most elevated charand dt•scends in so many countless myacter, since one rarely, if ever, rises higher riads of diamond drops, and penetrating -in his accomplishments than this idealthe soil, they unlock Nature's great storeit is his highest aim; his summit of suchouse, and so snpplies the demand of these cess. How very careful, then, . we should plants with nutritious sustenance. And be in forming it since it is to mold our not only this, hut many plants, and especharacters so absolutely. cially the rose, look upward for the ac. This ideal may he a personality, or a tion of the sun's light, whic·h gives them conceived imagination; it matters not their rich color and fragrant odors. So it which, so one or the other is constantly appears to be a law of Nature that all before his mind's eye, causing him to plants, instincti ye] y though it be, m nst strenuously concentrate all his energy and , look upward as the source from which his efforts to an attainment of a perfect comes most that is req nired for their consummation of his ideal conception. growth and usefulness. And must man Some young men, and especially tho 9e depart from this general principle if he •of a timid temperament, shun men of a is to attain to his highest consummation high reputation, thinking that so they are in a perfect man hood ? If man is ever on a common plane of equality with the to reach greatness he must aspire to be masses in intellectual attainments it sufgreat - he must have lofty aspirations, fices. But variety is the. principal charm strong determinations, indomitable perof Nature's beauty. What would be the severance, together with an untiring enappearance of our world without any sky . ergy. Obstacles will often beset his pathor mountains? People reared up in the way well calculated to · impede, if not variegated · scenes of mountain grandeur 3

RICHMOND

COLLEGE MESSENGER.

sometimes remove to a prairie~country, where the land rolls out in one uninterrupted, broad expanse of blooming fields. They admire this for a time, but it soon grows monotonous, and they sigh with bated breath for their former home, where mountains rear their proud peaks .high up in the atmosphere to kiss the sky. And so the man that rises no higher than the masses has 110 especial merit to recommend himself to the favor or notice of his fellow-man. But when his gigantic mind, lHrnthe towering mountains, rises high above them, then he deserves, and will receive, their appreciation-then he becomes the centre light of a bright constellation around which other lesser lights are revolving. Again: men on one level have a common horizon; but when one ascends a hill the limits of his ebservation are extended, or he can see objects clearly that are concealed from those below. So with the man who rises above others intellectually: be can see not ouly those things seen by others, but the limits or his elevated mind extends farther, and from this extended 路 v1ew he can bring before their minds, idea's previously concealed; so, youni:i: man, mingle freely with 路 men of all classes; seek and form the acquaint. ance of men of bigh~r abilities than yourself, and though they may now be the centre lights of attraction, yet you ma.y eclipse them by the gloriou,s brilliancy of your greater accomplishments, remembering that our future is molded bythe promptings of our own desires and our ideals. T,he apostle Paui' seemed to have this idea when he said he pre~sed forward to the mark of a high calling, showing that

unless he pressed forward he would not reach it. A proper ambition is one of the greatest stimulants to success in life. The desire of excellence is so universally prevalent in all people that it may be considered as a general principle. Men are not made great by any chance or haphazard arrangement, hut they are men who have aspired to be great, and this aspiration increasing their will-power and strengthening their energies for furthe1路 perseverance, makes sweet the laborious task of labor, and lends a charm to opposing difficulties as they disappear before his advancing tread. 0 man! you don't know what it is to live if you have not aspiration. Thus far we have considered only the aspirii1g, upward look, but our subject calls for another 路 view. It is a wrong :notion that one must content himself with always lo,?king up to his ideal conceptions. This is wrong, for the true man must condescend to look downward at the same time. That man is a selfish being who contents himself with seeking his own preferments, without any concern or regard forthe interest of his fellow-man. He violates the very principle of religion, which is to benefit one another. A German poet has beautifully described a Christian man as one who cared for those beneath him; and what is grander than to see a man with one hand reaching up and grasping for distinction, and honor, and fame, while the other hand is reaching down and pulling up his fellow man with him-a deed worthy the angels of heaven? Man is the only being that can look up, and while he is given the privilege of being great, he should not forget his obligation to look down. How beautifully

THE COLLEGE LOAFE,R.

is this illustrated in the character of our Saviour when he was transfigured on the mount, and Peter said, "Let us make here three tabernacles." , He said-No, no. Why ? Because a poor man was at the foot of the mountain waiting to be healed. And although he was truly great to perfection, yet he never forgot to look d9wn and help any one, no matter how poor or mean he was. Because a man is great is no reason why he should disconnect himself from his fellow-men and stand aloof, thinking he is better than they. This principle is contrary to all Nature's examples. \Ve do not see all the mountains crowded together in one place, but we see mountain and dale scattered about at different intervals, thus making a

Tlae

Colleg·e

The loafer is a necessary element of college society. Without him the college is a failure. She may dispense with a gymnasium (that is,. ours excepted), she may flourish without a library or readingroom ; literary societies and rnnseums may not be essential to her success, but if that unique and all-important feature, the loafer, is not on haud, she had as well suspend operations and wait until hearrives. No institution of learning has as yet been known to flourish independent of the loafer. There are many classes of loafers : loafers in business, street-loafers, sh oploafers, society-loafers, all kinds ofloa.fers; but the most respectable and noted character is the college loafer. He stands at the head of the line. He possesses quaH. ties and gifts unshared by any of his 0

picturesq ne appearnnce, one adding attractions to the other. Our electric light& are not made by one kind of electricity alone; bnt brin•g the two opposites together through a carbon point, and they shine. And so with man : he should uot stand alonf\ but mingle together, the small helping the great, and the great the small; in this way they will be a mutual benefit. What we have been saying is, that man should aspire to be great, and should put forth his efforts to this purpose, but in the attempt he should not ignore other men wh9 may have been less fortunate than himself. Brother man, if you would be a true man, learn to look upwards, but never forget to look downwards. REMUS.

Loaf'er.

brothe1· loafers. The fact that he is a college loafer lifts him far above the common crowd of loafers. That he carries on his operations inside of college walls instead of on the street corne1·s or in the grog-shops, entitles him to a rank among the high-toned and respectable. The · college loafer is no insignificant member of society. He has a bard name, but he carries a high head. It strikes me that if I were going into the loafing business I should certainly set up shop on college premises. The~e is something refining and uplifting about the social atmosphere. But, strange to say, the loafer is a much-abused and badly-treated member of college society. He is not the college favorite. He has been the subject of many a cruel and

RICHMOND

COLLEGE

MESSENGER. ~

sneering criticism. :Upon his head has fallen many a contempt.nous and degraing epithet. He has been the victim of many a heartless rebuff and unsympathetic glance. He has been snubbed, ridiculed, abused, and maltreated. He has had more unbrotherly hints thrown at him than he could count in a day. It is no uncommon thiug for him, on entering a room, to be brought face to face with the stern announcement, posted upon the door, informing him that his attractive qualities are not appreciated, and requ esting him to keep out. The only welcome that greets him is the notice, "No loafer s allowed," and the reception he gets resemliles in temperature an Arctic iceberg; and when to the best of his ability he 'attempts to make himself entertaining and _keep the conversation from lai[gii1g, he too often receives as his reward bitter and scornfnl frowns. By many he ii; avoided as a serpent and shunned as a pestilence, until there seems to have clustered around the name of the college loafer everything that is contaminating and disagreeable. Surely he has a hard time, and I feel a friendly sympathy for him. In fact, he excites rnv admiration and wonder. . , To me lie is fascinati11g and attrnctive. But although I am the frieml of the college loafer, yet 1 am not ignorant of those in~ignifi<ant, objectiouable points which his enemies raise against him. Some say that he is loquacious to a fault. Some say that he often eomes at the wrong time . Some, that he malm; himself unbearably disagreeable. Some, tl1at bis visits are everlasting. Some, (hat he is impervious to hints. Some, that his visits are too. plentiful. , Some, that he seems to take no uote of time, even by

its loss. Some, that he is a tenor to the bard-working student. Some, that he will enter a room . without knocking. Some, that he is not enamored of his lawful college spouse. But notwithEtanding all these and other harsh things which many say against him; although he is the victim of 1rnchepithets as an innovator, a bugbear; and a sponger, y€t. them are a multitude of things that may be said in his favor. That student who thinks that the college loafer is a bundle of faults nnd incom·eniences, ·alld int.ended for nothing . good, has been sadly deluded and is fifr behind the times. I'd advise such a misinformed y011th to rub his eyes and take :mother look at him. He ~. grows reallv. attractive and fascinating the more we iusp('ct him. No truec is it that fire has its benefits • and dyuamite its usts than that the college loafer posse8ses valuable points. I shall attempt to mention only a few. One great advantage he posse1,ses over his toiling brethren is that he is a gentleman of leisure. As for the engrossing and perplexing ca1:es of hooks and problems, he rises abo\·e them. He is not disturbed by sueh slight matters, hut lives with his spirit untrammelled and calm. But t0 those students who are shattering their constitutious by their too · continuous application to study the loafer is an invaluable deliverer. He breaks the chain of abstracted thought and sets the miud at rest . To that other class, who arP. afflicted with loneliness, the loafer is a treat. And they who revel in the delights of company find the loafer a brilliant necessity. If his old lady is a hard-working student, to her he is an untold benefit. But it is in his social qualities that the loafer shines the brightest.

•

TJIE COLLEGE LOAFER.

His visits have the eharm of not being stiff and ceremonious. In his manners he is easy, frank: informal, and cordial. He possesses that rare gift of adapting himself to any circumRtances. As a conversationalist his gifts are rare and wonderful, and in this respect be does not commit the crime of burying his gifts. He does not become so absorbed in his books that he is not willing to devote some of his time to the company and entertainment of others. He keeps clear of that fatal blunder, which so many fall into, of destroying their health py incessant application to books. He does not come burdened with anxiety about his own studies, so that he can talk aboÂľt nothing else, hut he carries a cool head and unruffled spirit. But why multiply these attra9tions '? The enemies of the loaferÂˇ are ruultitudinons, and to praise , him in th~ir presenee is to meet with cool ill(lifference. Publie sentiment is against him, and he seems fated to spend his life an unappreeiated benefactor. He is doyvn, and his friends are hard to find. Why this should be so is one of those mysterious problems that stare us in the face and refuse to be solved.

yourself, and add no special graC'eto the occasion. The fact that he pays you a visit calls for your consideration and hospitality. Do not let your boasted hospitality get out of order by giving a cold greeting to the loafer. He comes with no evil intent or angry feelings. Instead of being annoyed at his coming you should consider yourself singularly honored. Remember, he has left his own old lady the idol of his heart, to come to talk to' you. That of itself is extremely flattering. He also oought yo1i out, in preference to others of your neighbors. And then he comes on such a generous mission. His object is both to entertain you and listen to you talk. Besides, you know not what he may have to tell. His information is varied and far-reaching, and to hear him talk is a treat. And, then, remember that he does not come in a hurry, make a few impatient remarks, and then suddenly disappear; but he comes quietly, talks deliberately, and withdraws himself at a moderate gait. Besides, he does not call on you once and then cut your acquaintance, as if disgusted with his visit, but he comes again and comes often.

And in closing, let me submit to those of my college friend s who shall be honored with a visit from th e college loafer a few wor,ds of friendly counsel. Treat him kindly. H e has a hard time wherever he goes ; so surpri se him by a kindly reception. Scowling looks and impati ent answers make him feel no better, give you no higher an opinion of

Consider these things, student-friends, and turn a loving side to the unfortunate loafer. He has my kindest wishes, and if he ever gets in trouble and needs a friend I am his to count on; and shotiicl he ever honor me with a call he shall receive a cordial greeting. MAL.

SCRIPT.

Fate is the Isis whose veil no mortal I Harvard has 157 teachers and 1520 can ever rail-3e. - Bulw er. pupils. 4

Jf!]

RICHMOND

COLLEGE MESSENGER.

It was early one ·rno1'.ning in Novemheard the fatal cry, '' All aboard" ! So, ber. The busy whirl of life ha<l not yet not caring to repeat -the experience of the morning, they cho~e the less of the two broken in upon the quiet -of the night, e:vils, and wen~ for their seats on the c_ar. yet, four students of Richmond College might have been seen hmiryi.ng each other · Agai 11they· spe,1-awaytowar<ls ,the Vair i11 a 'maniier ·g1\i1euni.rntt.lral,· to them·. ley of Virgin ia. Their interest in the Th _ough for ·many a dny they had not bewiudows now began to grow. For just held the beauties or' the rising sun, they here let me say they were all from the on this occasion found the lamp light plains, and had neYer enjoyed the priviquite serviceable. Boys who seldom lege of viewing aud commenting on the found themselves ready for the first beauties of mountain sccues, ·so it is not duties of the day, might have been seen strange that tl1eir eyes were turned to the hurrying down Brodd street at what to windows to note the change from the flat them was quite an unseasonable hour. to the rolling and broken regions. And Do you ask why thi s hurried move as they began to catch faint glimp ses of among boys usuall y so quiet? If you the blue mountains among which they • had seen them a few minutes later, as -soon would be, and which they longc<l to they passed Ford's Hotel, you might, if view at short range, they could bnt have you had noticed the whist]~ of a train a thrills of pleasure at the pro spect which few hundred yards distant and then nolay before them. More rolling and ticed their gait, have j udgcd very . well broken grew the country . Thr,mg h why they were so ha sty. But at all deep cnts and over high embankmeu ts events they succeeded in catching that th ey passed till they found themselves vehicle of travel, and soon found therndashing into darkness: Emergiug into selve:; whirling along towards the western the light again, after passiug through a part of Virginia. It would have been ·considerable tunnel, they seemed to shoo t quite a pleasure to them to get out into out into mid-air. Whirling along the the open air of the country if it haq not road cut in the mountain sid e, they conld been for the recollection of that huge and did look down upon the vnlley huneffort to get there. ' But aR it was, ·they . dreds of feet below, studded with farmsat exhausted as 'they sped along towards houses surrounded by fields fragrant with th e We st. After all, it was quite pleasthe perfume of freshly reaped harvests; ant to leave the low plains of R ichmond whil e on the other side , the mountain and get into the beautifully rolling region rose hundreds of feet above them, as if of Charlottesville, thus breakiug the molaughing at the sma lln ess of man and his notony of travel as well by the scenery works. around as by the dinner that was here Agai11 they dash into the hear t of a put before them. But just as they were· confronting mountain. Darkness closes getting interested in the last course, they around aud shnts out from view every-

WHERPJ WE WENT AND thing except the weird forms of the varied crowd of passengers just visible in the dim light of a soli,tary lamp. A few heavy minutes are passed in this dark cavern. Not many are the words that are spoken; But faint glimmerings of light hegin° to penetrate the thick darkness, and out they rush, . as it were, of the .v,ery bowels of the earth into the full light of day, eager for a draught of the refreshing air that seems to bring new life from somewhere among the mountains. Is it strange that in the imagin'ative past, when wondering over the mountains of the Old World, some one 'lhould have conceived the idea that somewhere the1·e was to he found a fountain of perpetual youth? As these boys drank down the resuscitating air from ti:iose auturun-ch1thed mountains of Virginia, they could almost entertain such an idea themselves. Such a life-giving breeze indeed, thought they, was almost enough to inspire in even the most practical modern the imagination of such a spring somewhere in that beautiful region. Surely the idea could but seem romantic to these enthusiastic students as for the first time in life they beheld before them nature spread out in such beauty. On the right, the mountains rise with a rapid incline, forming a hug3 trough between the two, reaching ,r.'lr away into the clouds and lined with a beautiful undergrowth in full yellow just before the winter winds rob and leave it bare. Many an eye has looked admiringly upon this vast furrow marking the loving embrace of the two mountains merged into one. Then, turning to the left, the eye sweeps down the fearful decline till it rests upon a placid brook far below, rippling along beneath the ?verhanging branches of chestnut in

WHAT WE SAW.

quiet disregard of the cares and crosses of hackneyed man, then rushing among the embedded rocks till it dashes down the C'ataract and gathers itself into a sullen current ' · flowing on to other and greater pre<·ipices. Following down the valh·y, a village is seen, far to the south, ensconced so beautifully among its mountain walls. But the view, the most beautifol one on that road, is suddenly closed by the rapid advanre of the train as it again dashes into darkness. The range of mountains is now crossed, and they toll into Stannton. Situated ris it is upon a great amphitheatre of nature's own construction, it is no mean town. It is al most an Athens, if schools and asylums will constitute such a town. And among the sights which claimed the attention ·of the students, these, of course, were very prominent, for are not seminaries of leariiing very dear to students? But don't ;i;sk _us how many of the boys visited the1;eor how long they staid, for I think the girls were not receiving on that evening,judging from the appearance of one of the boys later on. Bnt night was dra\ving on, and the distant whistle called them to haste away to the south. Soon it was dark, and scarce! y a sound was heard in the . car. Sleep claimed their attention until, at a rather late hour, they arrived at Lexington ancl soon yielded themselves again to peaceful r;lumber. The quiet of night now held sway. 'Saturday morning dawned clear and cool, but yet not so cool as might have been expected by boys from the plains. It was with interest they spent this first day among the mountains in so pleasant and interesting a place as Lexington. Many things there were to claim their at-

RICHMOND

COLLEGE MESSENGER.

tention. Having found many friends amouIJg the stu<lents of Washington and Lee University and the Virginia Military Institue, they found it quite i:oteresting to visit these institutions. Between these things and the convention wliich was then in session at that place, they found tbeir time all filled. There was one thing, however. at which they were greatly surprised. They could not understand why the last resting-place of General Jackson is so poorly marked and cared for by this proud town. Why does it care so little for the memory of its sou who did so much for Virginia and for all the South; and who was ;;uch a prodigy in military tactics ? \V ho can tell them ? They are longing to k11ow. But it was qnite a pleasure to know that General Lee did not suffer a like neglect from his country. His last resting-place in the .chapel of the university to which his name ad<ls so much, is beautifully marked by a fitting emblem of rest an<l repose. So naturally reclines the General, that one would almost mistake the marble figure for the real. The expression of quiet rest is indeed beau ti fol. But Saturday is nearly gone, an<l they are ready for a season of rest. Sunday finds them at church, after which they dine with a friend living in the house that once was General Jackson's. Is it strange that they should be proud of this di1iner taken in the house of so noted a man as ~1e who earned the name of " Stonewall " ·? Monday morning comes, and with it a cold, drizzling rain. But yet those boys, having set lheir hearts upon a visit to the Natural Bridge on this day, will not be kept from it. A closed carriage calls for them, and they are off on their journey,

for the Bridge is about fourteen miles south of Lexington. But happily it is not long before it quits raining and clears away. Ancl now, as they stop the driver and order down the top· of the vehicle, admitting a foll view of the valley as they moved along at a brisk trot, what; thrills of pleasure tingle through their- · veins ! Along their right, Htretching far away to the north and to the south, risP. the Alleghany mountains in full view, while to the left, the Blue Ridge form a beautiful boundary, seeming to vie with each other in presenting the most beautiful and grotesque appearance. And the valley between the two ranges is by no means tame. Having long desire<! to ride over a mountain road, these four enthusiastic schoolboys, just let loose from college confinement, and in the full · vigor of young manhood and full of life and imagination, find the day brimming • over with enjoyment. There, right before their eyes, rises the rugged mountain, clothed in a majestic forest or a more delicate undergrowth, with here and there a freshly 1·eapecl field, where the cows lazily hrowse and. the lambs frisk about as if they saw no danger of rolling down the steep decline. Leaving now the lower road, they are driving upon a hill wbere they can hegin to look down upon the valleys; now, t<} escnpe a deep radne, they drive far around on the hillside, turning back at an angle of about ·fifteen degrees; now they are getting higher and higher, till · they can get a view of almost the entire valley, the Peaks of Otter rising in full view in the .distance. But they at last begin to descend, and soon are fording a dear mountain brook which they see winding a~ong much lower down the yal-

SKEPTICIS.Jf. ley at the foot of a beantifully wootle<1 ' mountain. But so enjoyal>le is the ride that almost before they thiuk, they find themselves at _Forest . Inn. Having ordered dimwr for Z o'clock, they set out for the Bri ::lge. They follow the n:wrow foot-µath <lown to the small brook that flows under it. There, turning: uµ the brook, they soon come to a point u few yards below the great arch, and for the first time enst their eyes upon this great wonder of Virginia. For some moments they stand in mute wonder, with uplift.ell lianrls. Who can tell what thoughts thronged their minds as they thus stood looking at that vast structure of stone erected by God's O\rn hand? And who can dcscrilic that gigantic arch

spanning at a singie boimcl the d<:>ep gorge in which , they are standing? · Seek els(;where the description, for my pen fail~. Bnt after some time they proceed np tl~e wild gorg11as far as Lacu Water F:tlls. Having looked a few minnt0s at t_hat lieautifol sheet of water flowing down the ro<:ks, they, instead of turning h,1ek as th Py came, elimh the opposite monntainside hy the aid of th e hushc;.;, and follow down tliat high bank t.n the Bridge. Now they stand on it, and look down about two llllndred feet to the little b1:ook below. Their heads grnw dizzy, nll(l _ they sny good-by to the Bridge . . A hearty dinner follows, aud then an enjoyable trip back to Rid1rnoud. SPECTATOR.

Sl.:e:a_,tic i s rn.

Men of the pre~ent day, iusteacl of applying all tLeir efforts to the seareh for the truth, upon which, as a firm foundation, to build that grand strticture, l~nowledge, to be polished to magnificrncc and jeweled with the fine arts, are seeking to reduce everything to nothingness aiJCl to put everything into a convenient form for their skepticism. They are seeking to undermine the very ground-ston es of Truth by striki11g at its impervious foundation with their theories, destined to fall with them 01· to last only as memorials of their vain attempt. But nm I so presumptions as to attempt to explode theories that have np,turne<l the whole world-which will, on account of the falsity of their premi ses, rxplode sooner, if left al01w-nnd by so doing liasten the day of that grand revolution ? Or would I evcn att empt to

cast a small stone at a wall so strongly fortified by men "·ho haYe Epent their Ii ves in scnr<'hi11gfi1r the folse? Though they deny to Mind the po\Yer to know, though they deny to Soul its inimortality, though they deny to Nature her God, I have not the power to imderstand, much leEs to refute, their arguments. I would not dare to make an Cf,lternpt to deal with such a sul '.ject in its fulln ess, nncl must ask pardon for tnking it as a heading for a Ehort article. My true topic is--Th <ltenclency to skepticism as shO\rn by .an example in the literary world. In douLting the exi stence of an Omuipotent Being who rules the nniYerse in His wisdom, :mrl, according to laws which He has fixed, guides the planets in their respective journey s around the sun; who, by perfect combinations, createdthe world

RICHMOND COLLEGE MESSENGER.

and laid down exception]ess Ja,vs and principles wherein the beauty of nature consists; in doubting His existence, some are not content, but must go e¥en further, and question the life of -an unpretending man, an humble poet, who delighted in his art, never giving thought to the renown he was gaining and · much Jess to the fame to be coupled with his name as long as Jiterary genius is esteemed. The poems of Homer have Jent an invaluable influence to the enJightebment of the whole world,. and can we now say that no such man ever existed ? The legend of the life of Homer, from his birth to his death, emb1·acing his numerous travels and the hardshiris he endured, is a beautiful page in mythology. Though we cannot accept a11,fixing the exact date and place of his birth and death, believing the al1eged causes for his blindness, and putting faith in the manner of his education, yet must we reject all, and even say that there was 110 such man, and that the poems assigned to him by the ancient Greeks, whence we get our authority, were written not only by different b.irds, but bards of different times? No doubt there wer·e a great many interpolations and revisions made by men greedy for fame, who, foreseeing the influence anil re11ownof such a grand epic as the Iliad or the Odyssey, desired that their names too might "go sounding down the ages "-such an honor was it to have one's name in any way connected with Homer's great work. Wolf advanced the argument, which was folJowed by many other comme:ptators, that th& art of writing was scarcely practiced in the time when these epics were said to have been composed, and that without writing, they could neither

have been ' composed nor transmitted to posterity; he therefore argues that a number of lnys, bearing on the same subject and sung by various bards, were afterwards arranged into a complete whole by Pisistratus, and that this aggregation of lays, thus arranged, constitutes what was theretofore assigned to a single man. But this, in my opinion, is satisfactorily refuted by Smith in his History of Greece, where he shows that on account of the extraordinary memory of the ancients these could have been composed and handed down without the art of writing. The sameness of thought and the poetic unit.y very conclusively refers them to a single mind ; and furthermore, the Greeks themselves believed in Homer's existence; now, why shall we 'at this late - . day refuse to accept it? The Greeks accepted this work of art as their Bible, and referred to it on all occasions to find out the trnth aurl the right. I candidly believe that this turned the whole course of Greek history far from w.hat it would otherwise have bee11. This epic, in telling of the heroism of Achilles and others, incited men to bravery, for which the GrePks, above all others, were note<l; and its beauty of poetic thought, adorned with its beautiful expression, instilled into their veins that love for litcratme and the fine arts which made Athens the mother of civilization. ThnG, as we call Washington the father of our country, I think it wonld not be entirely inappropriate to go back to ancient times and fiucl in Homer the father of civilization. Those of us who have had the pleasure of following Hornet· in his Iliad, al1owing our imaginations to pictme Agamemnon in his disappointment at givi1ig np

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his fair Chryseis, a,nd Achille:, as in his up for the 'grati:ll.catiohof those who are anger he calls up from the deep his · inclined tu questio11 everything? We mother, Thetis, aud beseeches her to pray -joy in our belief in him, and will never Zeus to a,·euge the robbery of his fair give it up until we are forced to it by prize; and Andromache, as she returns in more conclusive arguments than have sadness to her home, after parting wjth ever yet been advanced! her beloved Hector, and seats herself at But it is urged upon us to leave our her work, in vain striving to forget her old prrjudices and open our eyes so th~t sorrow; and Hector, as he i:; dragged we may gain wisdom ; but if thjs sort of around the walls of Troy, suffering a skepticism is wisdom', I must refer to the most horrible death at the hands of familiar quotation, Achilles: those of us who have thus followed him would find it very' hard · to "Where ignorance is bliss, 'twere folly to be wise." give up our belief in him, who was rightly called "The Poet." And why give it NoN-EGo.

Evidently the life philosophic tends to walks every day from his house to his Ion gevi ty. There are at present at the laboratory, and will, if he lives, be one various German universities no fewer hundred years of age in August of next than one hundred and fifty-seven profes- year.-London Register. sors between the ages of se,,enty and ninety. Of these, one hundred and "Women arc natural born orators. twenty-two deli ,·er t heii· kctures as usual, . There have been men who could talk seven of them being more than eightywhole hours on anything, but it must be owned, to the honor of the other sex, fl ve years of age. The oldest is the veteran Von Ranke, the historian, who is that they can talk whole hours on 110now in his ninetieth year, but is not con- thiug." sidered folly ecprnl in vigor, memory, George Bancroft, the historian, is the and other faculties to Professor Elvenich, only pl'ivate citizen who has been given who is thirty-nine days hi:; junior. After all, it is not remarkable that a professor the right to the floors of Congress at all should live to a good old age. He has times. a secured income and congenial pursuits. He ought to be devoid of the unworthy Canon Farrar is of the opunon that passions that shorten existence, and to . Hawthorne's · "Scarlet Letter" is the lead ·a life as placid as that of the Gods ablest novel ever written by an American. of Epicur~1s. But Germany, in spite of the figures we have quoted, cannot show Teachers, unless you wish to be hated, a professor equal to M. Che\'reuil, of beware of sarcasm and ridicule. A cutPari~, who still lectures, still writes, still ting remark is never forgotten and selconducts expedments in chemistry, still dom fo.rgiven.-John Swett.

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RI01-IMOND COLLEGE .MESSENGER.

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EDITORIAL A~'I'I-SI-IAvnm SOCIETY.- We have heard of societies, sects, and the like, and know somethin g about them. Sometimes we think that mankin .d will be divided and snb -clivided until at last indivisibility ,rill be the result .. One is abont to come into existenr e at Richmond College, nbout IY!iich th ere is great entb usiasm. Let us notice, as far as we are nLle, the origin, plnns, and causes of this society. As for as we ::ire nh1e to learn, this society odginnted with the Riclirnoll(l Collq~e st ud !:'nts. A ny one who is willing to comply with the requirements of the society mny Lecome a member regardle~s of social, physi<'al, moral, or int elledm 1l standi11g. It is to begin active (or inactive) opemtion ,,; January 1, 1886 . Kow, we wilJ notice some of th e proLable causes of thi ,, so, icty : 1st . Perhaps these gent lemen (who constit ute this society) thi nk that one looks more lik e a man when he has what is called ''a full eoat of lienr<l." I \rnnder which 1Yil1be the more successf1rl, thcr-e g!:'ntlcmen or the goat? 2lL Prnhable, these gent lemen' s rnzors have be('ome dull sin('e th ey have been away from that father, or uncle, or friend who hept th em in order when they (the young men) were at home. 3d. Suc li a thin g is possible as this, . that thnt disease which is so common to th e hnman family kn own as laziness h:is ~cizcd them. 4th. Time, with n student as with all people, is, or at least shouhl bt', precious. We know ho,v much trouble it is to

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CHAIR.

shave-especially when there is so much to shaYe. 5th.. It is possible thnt they think that the iuclin ation to visit the ladi es will be decreased by not shaving. 6th. But the most plausible of all the reasons is probably this : there will be lese dan ger of breal<ing the hearts of the foir sex . In conclusion, let me say that these nuimals, though they may look ,·ery dangerous are perfectly harm]e,:s. PHYSICAL CuLTURE.-Now that our gymna sium has brcn greatl)• ..irnpro,·ed, . and we· can 110 longer say we have nowhere to exercise, let us show our appreciation of this improve.ment by putting the gymnasium to the best use possible wl1ile nt college. In order to do this, we must adopt some rrgular system for our !Y}rnnnsiurn work, and make it a point to t:ike a regular amount of' exercise in the _qyrnnasiwmcvtry day, for just as it is impo ssible for one to eat or sleep enough in ouc day to la, t a week, just so is it impo ssil,le for one take exercise enough in one day for six. W'e have frequently heard students say that they did not have tim e to give to exercise. Now, in our opinion, if one half the time <1eYotcdto recreation by th e averuge coll<'gc boy \\"H S spen t in a •1·cgnlctr, systematic amount of exercise, it wouhl not ·only grea tly benefit his health for the present, thu s aiding him much in his study, but would also go for towards building up a stro ng and vigorous constitn tion fit for the labors and hardships of after life.

Jtbi'fORtAt oliAJR. We grant that ourchiif airn while at college should be to enlarge and expand our minds and sharpen our intellects, yet we should furnish them, thus enlarged and expanded, with the most strongly-fortified dwell-irr1g-places possible, in order that they may be the better prepared ~o give honor and glory in after life to the maker of both mind and body. [The following gives rather an unusual as well as unexpected turn to this department of our paper, biit since we wi~h every student at Richmond Colll'ge to have fair play, and as it seemed to come more appropriately under this department, we decided to go a little out of the usual order and print this here.-Ens.J

was small, do you mean to say that there is "serious doubt" whether the laws should be passed? Shall the minority make the law? When the majority of the people of Atlanta said they did not wish liquor sold in their city, I confess I do not see where the '' serious d,rn bt" whether its sale should be prohibited finds force. ' The principles on which our country is founded arn that it is the majority, even though it be small, that decides questions and enact laws, and not the minority. Surely yon would not say that you had "serious doubts" whether a man should be considered governor of a State simply because he had been elected to that office by only a small majority?

You say further, that "if the people are not impressed with the horrors and the deg1·ading influence of the bar-room, aml if public sentiment be not educated THE PROHIBITION QuESTION.-Ecl-ito1·s of the Messenger: In your issue of to look upon the traffic with disgust and la'3t month tlwre appeared an editorial on loathing, there is little use of passing a law to compel these people to stop their " The Prohibition Question," which selling poison." But it would seem that seems to me to contain some very erroneous ideas, nnd which calls for a fow the people of Atlanta were impressed with words of reply. It is otrange that to the "horrors and degrading influence of this question of Prohibition, a kiud of the bat·-room," and that the public sentiment there did do that very thingreasoning; is applicable different from namely, "look down on the traffic with that which applies to other things and disgust and loathing," as is shoi 'n by the other questions, and that persons who arc sensible and extremely logical with re- great interest and determination manifeste<l by the good people of Atlanta in gard to' other matters 1,ecome so illogicnl when they come to speak or write of putting down the traffic. It is true, that the law w:1s passed by a small majority, temperance legislation. which shows that public senfonent was The artiele referred to begins with this sentence: "Whether the sale of not as wholesome on this subject as it liquor should be prohibite<l by the laws should have been, yet was sufficiently of a State, or town, where there io so elevated to pass the law prohibiting the sale of liq nor, and to have any "sel'ious small a majority as in Atlanta, is a question <•f grave impo1·t:mce, and even of doubts" abont whether its sale should be serious doubt." But I would ask, M1·. prohibited is altogether "late in the season." · Editor, when the question of license or It seems to me, Mr. Editor, that you no license was brought before the people get public sentiment and the passing ofa of Atlanta for them to decide, how could law in inverted order of precedence. You it have been known what the 1mjority say that if public sentiment be 11otecluwould Le, before the vote was taken? And after the vote was taken, and the cated, &c., there is little use of passing ma:fotity wns found to be in favor of "no the law. I go further, and say that if public sentiment he not educated in favor whiskey," even though that majority

R!O#MONbtJottJN}E MltssENGJill. of or against a certain thing, the law enforcing or prohibiting that thing wilt not be passed, for a law is the result of a public sentiment. But the editorial says, "It may even increase crime to pass such a law, for men who will not hesitate to sell liquor under the protection of thelaw, will have no scruples about breaking the law." Then, would you have no laws passetl? Surely, when any law is made, the possibility of breaking it is at the same time created. If the law against any crime is broken, the additional guilt of a broken law is added to the crime. That proposition of the editor is as applicable to one Jaw as another. Does he mean to m;sert that the fact that a law can and may be broken, is an argument against its enactment? As to the Sunday law in Richmond and its non-observance, let me say that what is needed is an interest and determination on the part of the good people to see that the law is carried out. The editor would seem to argue that the Sunday law should be repealed because it is not strictly enforced; but the very fact that side-doors are made. use of, is a sign that the law is in some degree respected. If there were no law on the su~ject, matters wou~d be far worse than they really are. If you had said, Mr. Editor, that you have "serious doubts" whether the law in Atlanta can be enforced where so small a majority voted in favor of it, then perhaps you have grounds on which to rest your serious doubts. Whether whiskey will be .entirely banished from Atlanta at once, and "at one fell swoop," I not only have "serious doubts," but I feel quite confident that such will not be the case. But the question to my mind is, Will the passage of the law materially lessen the vice of liquor selling? When a law is proposed against murder, do you refuse to give your voice in favor of the law because vou are confident it will be violated f Of course, neither you, Mr. Editor, or any one else, would be so foolish as that. Then, why doubt the expe-

d'iency of a law against 'grog-shops, simply on t.be grnund that the law will almost certainly be broken? If by the law, the traffic will be at all lessened; if by it whiskey will be made harder for men to get; if by it the temptation be removed further from the sight of our yo1tth, then I for one will hail its advent with delight, and will not stand back and waste my time with "serious doubts" about whether the law will do what no law has ever done-viz., entirely prevent the crime which it forbids. 路 Another mistake, it seems to me, the Editor makes-i. e., in supposing that all who ,路oted against Prohibition in Atlanta will use every effort in their power to see that the law is not enforced. If that were the case, the stale of affairs in Atlanta would be deplorable. But I have no doubt but that there are many people in Atlanta that voted against the law who would, after its enactment, aid 路 in its enforcement. The . editorial further says, " Teach them (the people) o@ncerning the multitude of evils 路springing from this source, then there will neeessarily follow, Local Option, Prohibition, as well without the interterence of legislation as with its interference." Then would the editor say with regard to stealing, " Teach the people concerning the multitude of evils springing from theft, then there will necessarily follow honesty as well without the interference of legislation as with its interference"? Surely not. If public sentiment is clear against anything it is surely so with regard to murder and theft, but no one would dare to give that as a reason why the legislature should not "interfere" and pass laws against murder and. theft. How would the editor have this public sentiment of which he speaks expressed, if not through a law? A law is, in fact, the embodiment, the expression, of a public sentiment. If the editor will inform us in what way public sentiment can reach the grog-shop, or any other public evil, except through a law, then there may be

EDITORIAL more in his opinion on this subject than at first sight is apparent. f

JOHN DRY.

OHAIR.

921

had toiled an for "lo! these many years," were gaining ground rapidly, and might, within a f'ewyears, have been able to hit a death-blow to the ''whiskey traffic." But is .there not don bt that they were most too anxious to strike, and overrated tl!eir strength ? May not the goorl cause receh·e a shock from which it wi1l be hard to recover, and the work retarded for many years? · But you say the election is over, and how can any of these things happen now ? The eleetion may be oter, but the re8'ultremaim to be seen, and that alone is ground for "doubt." There are thousands of men in Atlanta thrown out of employment and without means of making a living. They are, many of th~m, men of plenty and ease; for no one will deny that the "whiskey traffic" is lucrative. Will these men take kindly to work with a small pittvnce of remuneration who have spent their lives in ease and luxury, and is this no ground · for "doubt"?

Before answering the above, it may be well for us to define our position in regard to the Prohibition question. We are in favor of Prohibition most heartily, when it is practicable and can be enforced. But still, our being in favor of it, does not affect ·us to the extent that we cannot see there are two sides to the question. When we wrote the little paragraph which called forth the above communication, we simply stated our honest opinion in regard to the "Atlanta election," and, not expecting to be "taken to taw" by some one holding opposite views, we did not produce any argument at all (save one illustrati011) to substantiate our position. So it seems strange that the writer should accuse us of being so illogical, when there was no attempt at an argument. But the fact that we did not . produce any reasons for ourposition, does not prove that we Again, the mnjority of negroes in have none, although we make no pretenAtlanta voted for Prohibition, and it tions to being experts in logic. was thrnugh their vote the question was That there was, and still is, room for carried. Knowing how little stability of "doiibt" as to the expediency of such a charncter, how little permanency of opinlaw, is evident from the present state of ion, and how little ca pacity for judging as affairs in Atlanta, and has been since the compared with the whites, the negroes as election, to say nothing of the doubt a class have, do you say there is no hanging over the future. ground for doubt? The gentleman's "The good people" of Atlanta deserve position in regard to there being many and have much credit for the noble way men in Atlanta who voted against the in which they are fighting this king of law, but who would help to enforce it evils. aftel! it was passed, may be correct. Ai1d But may not there be room for doubt · yet it seems to us that will hardly be an that they are pushing the matter too far enthusiastic support given by men who before they have gained sufficient strength? are opposed to this measure, but, rather, This movement has been on foot for they will concern themselves as little as more than fifty years in Georgia, though possible with these things. And he it may sound sttange to some. They seems to forget -the fact that there may be

RICHMOND

COLLEGE ME'JSENGER.

some who voted for the law, who will not founded. If there is so mnch similarity concern themselves very mnch about · its between laws, and if atte1idant circumenforcement; just as there are many men · stances do not modify them, why have so in Richmond, whose duty and privilege many laws or so much legislation, but ., is to enforce the Sunday law, but tbey do rather one law to fit every case? not. e must confess, the gentleman's You assume, further, in this analog-y, statement that our doubts are rather that every man who is engaged in this traffic must be classed with thieves and "late in the season," surprises us. And robbers and murderers, and that no honwhy, pray, as you seem so illo_qicalas not orable, high-minded men, men worthy of to give auy reason, should we not "doubt" then, or even now, since the respect, and highly esteemed, ever go to newspaper discussions have not entirely a bar-room, but they must be classed with ceased? Should we have doubted before criminals. the sul~ect was introduced? This seems to us to be a rash assumption and a poor way to promote the cause You ask, ''How could it have been of temperance. If men are to be won known what the majority would be, before from drink they must be won by love, the vote was taken"? We grant it could sympathy, and encouragement, not by not be known, but some approximate force, harsh words, and haughty accusaestimate might have been gotten at, or the tions. mnjority might be required to be two You wish us to state how pn blic opin~ thirds. Again, you ask, "Shall the ion can reach the grog-shop, · or any other minority make the law"? Grant they public evil, except through a law. If may not, but on the other hand shall the yon read the little paragraph referred to majority oppress the minority because you will find the word teach. Teach in they have the power? And do not these the schools, in the academies, in the colmen think that their rights are being inleges, in the universities, in the Sunday fringed on? And have they no rights, schools, from the saci-ed desli. And, or are they not freemen in a so-called free pray, do you mean to say law is the only country? way of expressing public opinion? You say, "Law is the result ofpu\1lic Where are the Yarions assodatious for sentiment." The law may be, when ac·the suppression of evil, the Press, and cepted and enthusiastically maiutaiued and enforced. But the mere passage of the influence of good men and godly women? a law does not prove it to be the result Aud now, friend Dry, we have given of public opinion, or there would uot be yon '-Orne more of our opinions. Not so many laws repealed. And in this very weighty they may Le, but still we case it seems to have been due as much, claim that we have a right to them, and acor more, to excitement and enthusiasm cord you the same. ·we hope that you will than to sound judgment and practical, sober thought. excuse us for onr stupidity, but we are of And more : you seem to assume an the same opinion still, after all (1f your analogy between this aud other laws, excellent logic. We must say that yo1.1 which, it seems to us, is totally untook rather an abnormal view of what

SCIENTIFIC

--------,-----------was written, and hope that in the fotnre, yon will not think that ideas are necessa-

NOTES.

I rily

"e1-ronious"because they do nothappen to concur with yours.

SCIENTIFIC The great telescope in the obsenatory at Palkowa, Russia, is now in successful woi·king order. It is the largest refrnctor in the world, and great hopes are entei·tained of brilliant astronomical discoveries by its aid. Jt is in charge of Herr Struve, Director of the Observatory, who is enthusiastic in praise of it, as is also Professor Newcomb, of Washington, who recently speut a week studying it thoroughly. The glass was prepared by Messrs. '.Alvan Clark & Sons, of Cambridgeport, Ma~s., aud Mr. Al van Clark has received from the Czar the golden honorary medal of the empire "i11 acknow ledgm<mt of the excellent performances of the great ohject-glm,s "-a 'distinction rnrely conferrecl.

A cav e has been diFCOH'red m a colliery near Tyre in Phoenicia,, in which were found four sarcophngi, with relief figures of men, trees, and flowers of very fine workmamhip. By brealdng a hole in the wall of the <·ave a square yard was _reached, with t,rn similar sareoplrngi, and a number of earthen and glass veESels. It is conjectured that the cave was a burial vault. The sarcophagi will be opened in the prt-'S!nee of the Governor of Damascus. The doetors as well the creamery men are beginning . to proteot against feeding milch cows on rn',;ilage. Fed to infants, . 6 '

NOTES. milk so produced causes indigestion, resulting, if continued, in gastro-enteri tis, catarrh, or mik-sickness. · The acidulated food also impairs the quality of the flesh, producing lf'sS fatty matter in the tissues, but more water in its place, and in: place of fat. At lf'ast this is the conviction, based on their own observations, of two eminent physicians, one American, the othet· French. A composition which may be used for etching on glass with an ordinary pen is made of the following ingredients: Equal parts of the double hydrogen, ammonium · :fluoride and dried precipitated barium sulphate are ground together in a porcelain mortar. The mixture is then treated in a platinum, lend or gutta-percha dish with fuming hydrofluori0 acid nntil the ucill ceases to rract.. Snow varies greatly in weight, according to the condition of the atmosphere. When very dry and ''feather)'," scarcely anything is lighter than a handful of snow. On an average it is found that a cubic yard weighs about 187 pounds, or about 011e tlwlfth of the weight of an equal bulk of 1rnter.

It is e:-;timated by an emiiient chemist that 2,56~,584,000ths of a grain of camphor is perceptible to the sense of smell.

RICHMOND

COLLEGE MESSENGER.

LOCALS. Baug! Look out for a "ba~y-waker." El

Can you tell me who has charge of the "skating-rink" on the fourth floor ? Hurrah for the Philologians ! They have decided that ::t young lady is sweeter than a strawberry. How we wish that the city would finish paviug Grace street to the College! Prof. of Chern. : "Mr. C., what kind of a sphere do we live on?" Mr. C. (after hesitating): "I thiuk it is a round one."

for th~ sight of the old wooden pump!" is a song now favorite with the boys, for it is now like Atlanta-gone dry.

Mr. G.: "Say, B., last year about this time, rnme of the college boys went down on Main street and had a big time, giving a feast at Cafls." Prof : "Mr. D., what is meant by the Resolution of Forces?" Mr. D.: "Itis the resolvingof two forces into one." Mr. D. : ''R., why is this cliee,:e like truth '?" R.: "I don't knmv, unle~s it is because you have a special distate for it." Prof:: "A<'cordingtothe:rntbor's theory, ( viz., that the activity of the mind de-

pends to some extent upon the condition of the body,) Mr. C., how do we treat people for insanity? ,,. Mr. C. : "Put them in the m,ylurn, sir." Mr. H., while walking out in Hollywood, remarked : " ¥' ou see those little bushes there ? They have little flowers on them that look like little pansies or heart-diseases. " H. has been to the "'Stute." Two of our collegemates, Bros. Morris and Dorset, had their ankles severely sprained while playing foot-hall some days ago, hut both are now improving, · we are glad to say, and hope soon to have them among us. , Mr. P., of the Chemistry class, has become immortalized by suggesting a" technical" phrase which suited our Professo,· to a clot. Hencefoi·th it will be handed ·down to future gcm•rations. The old stone which \\'as · displaced from the wall of the upper cottages has been nicely replaced. lt bears the following inscription: " ' Erected by Judge D. B. DeLand. Fairport, N. Y.

1870." The vacancies in the chair of Euglish caused by the death of Dr. Brown !rnve been admirably filled as follows: Senior, Prof. Puryear ; Intermedia(e, Prof. Winston; Junior, Dr. Thomas. No perma-

LOCALS. Tient arrangement has yet been made, but :a professor will be employed to fill the <:hair this session. Mr. A. and H., Jr., discussing the matf'rialistic theory of the soul: Mr. H.: "Well, H., how will _you f€el when you drop out of exi strnce?" Mr. H., Jr.: "It depends on what place I drop into. "

they stopped at the window of a clothingstore to examine the goods. While gazing, Mr. H., Jr., stepped back, unperceived, from the window, and in a moment after, Mr. B. turned, when he came into collision with a "dummy." He was greatly astonished, and thinking he had appeared very rough on the street, he immediately took off his hat and begged its pardon. When he recognized his friend, he smiled feebly and walked on.

The Junior Physics class, which meets <laily, were studying about machines : The following sweet little ode, writM1 Prof. : '' Mr. X., gh ·e me the name of · by a student on his'' recl-hai1·edbeauty," :Some simple h1achi11e." was found on his table : Mr. X. : "--" I hav e a little girl, Prof. : "That's right, sir, ten." Mem hers of Senior Latin class discussing ·the propriety of going down to the Legislature : "Pmfessor, do you think we would get an entrance into the Lrgislature to-day?" Prof.: "I think not. The whole gal!ery is engrigerl hy the In stitute . It will ,t.rnly be a _r;al-lery affair. " How cruel, Professor! The Mu Sigma Rl10 Society has -changed the time of its public debatr, having deferred it until the second Friday 11ight in ,Tan1rnry. We hope that the weather ,may be good and the boys honored with a large audience, ancl especially . by some of the "inspirators." the de- · bate will be held in tlie chapel, \Y hich will be comfortably ananged, thereby making it pleasant fo1· all. The Philogian debate will occur the second Friday 11ight in March.

Mr. H., Jr., and }3. w~re walking down the street a few evenings ago, when

She ha s a little curl, A pretty little curl Has my sweet little girl. She promised me a curl , A pretty auburn cnrl, Oh , I love my little girl , A nd am waiting for my cml.

By a large fire with a box from home is a boy's ideal of a Chri stmas when he bas to spend it at college, and and the like of invitations we ha\ ;e never witnessed befon-•. Well, the boys-that is, the Cottage boys-neYer refuse an "invite," a)l(l with bouyant and joyful faces they are a hrnys present at the appointed timt:'. Mr. T. startt:'d the '' ball rolling," and one night during the week i1witations were received by nearly all the Cottage boys to come up and partake of a box. But ""l'is ever thus from childhood's hour, I have seen my fouclest hopes decay;" I nev r loved a Christmas box Bnt what 'twas fii:st to fade away.

And so all found it thus when they arrived at Mr. T's. room and were invited to par'take of the coal-box. Well, it is

RICHMOND

enough to say all looked blank and . went aw~y with a disgusted air. · 'fhe cottage had led off with this str;tegy, which was soon followed by the college with more serious results. Mr. E., _according to custom, sent out his invitations--verbal, not lithographed--to come up and help him devour a large, tempting box from home. Well, it is needless to say that all went, and when they were invited to partake of the coal-box, one of th~ visitors quietly held Mr. E. while the rest; helped themseh•es to coal, I will not say liberally hut bouutifully. \Ve have heard of no invitations to a box lately, and don't think the boys will again be troubled with "cold" invitations. \Ve thought Mr. P. was a "Killer," but now we know it. A day or . so ago he was the happy recipient of the followmg: My darling . Mr. P.,-You will be exceedingly surprised to know that three of the belles of Ri<'hmond have become victims to your charms. We have fallen so despt 'rately in love with yon that we cannot rest unless we have an introduction. \Ye have seen you only three times, but each time we were struck with your beauty. Of all the students, you are by far the prettiest. We want to meet you. Where shall it be? Suppose you meet us Sunday eve 011 Franklin street, at coruer of the railroad? Be sme to c:ome. Oh, that you were onrs. Lovingly, ,, THE

•

COLLEGE MESSENGER.

BIG THREE."

How mpch plrai'anter it is to Ii\'e in tl1e cottages than in the eollegP ! You cannot imagine what glorious times we ha \'e at the l'Ottagt's. How joyful and

bright everything appears, and even thebirds have beguu to sing. Oh, we havethree of the loveliest warblers that ear hath ever heard-so generous and kind. They <lo not hnve to be asked to sing. but fro~ morn 'till night their sweet strains arc wafte<l upon the daily zephyrs. They sing in such harmonious tones, and when the poor student is bnsy with Greek roots or with some math. original,. 'tis then, above all others, that the musicof our birds is sent forth in louder strains,. showing their liberality and kinduess by permitting all in college, I mean cottage,. to enjoy the strains of the '' teoor,'' "falsetto," and '' basso." "0 tell me, ye winged ·winds, Who round my pathway fly·, Do mortal men forever have Such strains of music nigh?" '

' ·,

,Methinks, a8 I lay my weary head at night upon my <lowuy pillow, listening tothe newr restful strains of the "cottagebnr<ls," that the seraphs 'themselves look: with envy upon their harmonious melodies, which are destined to flow with un• dimished sweetness (?) through the session of '85-6. There is a certain celebrated " Institute " on the continent of America, wherethe principal of this sc:hool is very careful about the young men even visiting theyoung ladies, and certainly one would not expect a young man at such a place as permanent boarder. But Mr. H. being there when the supper-bell rung, of course the accomplisbed and polite principal invited him to take tea. Mr. H. being very considerate, accepted the im·itation, ft:>aring if he did not he would wound the delicate f\-'elingRof the principnl. And tht\S he. went into snppe ·r. \Vhcn the young laclics snw this strnnge

PERSONALS. honor conferred upon the memory of Mr. Thomns in having the splendid Art and Museum-Hall named after him. The money is to be invested and the interest used to secure famous lecturers from this or foreign countries on art, science, or philosophy for the benefit of the college. The trustees have also decided to make extensive improvements on the campus during the next spring .and summer. Two professors' residences will be erected, and a large boarding-house. These buildings will be erected in the rear of the college building on that portion of the campus now occupied by the cottages, Prof. Puryear's residence, and the Mess Hall, stables, etc. The boarding-house will contain both dormitories fill' students and the dining-halls, and will furnish as many and perhaps more The college received dndng the late rooms than the cottages contain, with all session of tlie Tn1steea' semi-anu ua 1 the appli:rnces for first-class boarding. meeting, a gift of $10,000 from the , The professors' houses will be handsome, fami ly of the late ,James Thomas, Jr., and all designed not only to increase the p resident for several years of the Board social att.ractious of the college but to Trustee;;. The donation came throilgh give stndents the advantage of the proxithe hands of Prof. William D. Thomas, mity of their teachers. The trustees of tlie School of Philm;ophy, nnd is de- cletermi1wd to elect a professor of English signed to show the appreciatin1i of the in place of Dl'. Brown next June. and mnjestic hero '' with laughing eyes" enteri11g the dining-room, tliey \H\re so panic-str11ek (with love, of course,) that the result was the overtu~·ning of several cups of coffee, and there was a gt•1wral molasses c:,tnstrophe. Howe\'('r, a frw words \\' t!re passed, a sufficient numl,er to fu lly ,rntisfy the young latlies thatthey were ineapable to entertain the " hero." J rn,t at thnt critieal moment the pri1wipnl, being fully equal to the emerge1wy, began to d1:rnge the topic of conversation by mentioning some of the rules of the school, hoping, of course, to get some new id Pas ai, regar<ls school govern m,·nt. The highly cultured principal mcntionc<l one rule to which, doubtless, she hol'<'<lthere wo11kl be given a kind and eloquent sanction. B~1t behold the reply: ,r Hee! Hee! Hee ! Skuse me."

PERSONALS. B. S. Redd, of '83-5, is now · attending the School of Teehnology at Boston. \V. C. Se,,tt, of session '83-5, who was George W. Quick, of sessions '8 2--1, . ver_\' sick all the suminer, is now recuis now attending Crozier Seminary. How perating at home. are the girls, "Swift"? .W. L. Lemon, of '~4-5, is now preachW. \V. Bir<l, of '84-fi, is now at the ing in Lunenburg connty. Uuiversity. "By gosh, Bird, how is Alfred Bagby, Jr., is now teaching Math."? school at Mechum's river, Albermale 7 \V. B. Thornhill, of sesi:;ion '83-4, is now attending the Louisvi 'lle Hospital College of Medicine. ·

RICHJ,JOND

COLLEGE

county. Write us a description of your visit to Southwest Virginia, Alfred. S. V. Fiery, of '84-5, is now reading medicine at his home,Martiusburg, W .Va. R. C. Stearnes, of '83-5, is now teaching at home, Dublin, Pulaski county. L. L. Pritchard, of last session, is now teaching school in Wilmington, N. C. D. ,H. Kerfoot, of '83-5, is uow farming at his home, iu Clark county. How are things,'' Slugger"? Among the many old Richmond" College boys, we note some who have lately come before the public. In the present Senate : .T.T. Ellyson,

MESSENGER.

Richmond city, of '66-7; A. P Staples, Patric~ county, B. L. of '79-80. In the House: C. T. Smith, Caroline county, '58-9; L. M. Nance, Charles · city, B. L. '78-9; Ashton Starke, Richmon<l t·ity, '67-8. Among the newly appointe<ljudges we have: 0. 0. Gwathmey, 69-70, King William ccnmt.y; F. M. McMullen, B. A. '53-4, Madison and Greene counties; Timothy Reeves, B. L. '78-9, Prince George and Surry counties ; A. R. Heflin, '78-9, Bland and Giles counties ; J. H. Ingram, B. L. '80-1, Manchester Hustings Court .

IEXCHANGES. The number of our Exchanges this month is even greater than ever before, and this together with the visions of Christmas turkey, and New-Year parties which rise up before us, utterly pt·ecludes the possibility of reading thoroughly and criticising all. Few of our Exchanges visit us without saying something nice about us, and we hope it will not seem v_ain in us to quotejust a few.

usually very dry, is quite interesting. ·Pu,rcltie. Thanks. The" Messenger," Richmond, Va., is, perlwps, tlie solidest and most substantial of our exchanges. This makes it of . considerable interest outside the college, and should give it a wide circnlation.-

St-udent( Vt).

The "Messenger," from Richmond College, has made its first appearance for this year. Attractive and foll of interesting matter, it deserves a high place in college journalism. We hope to see it The "Richmond College Messenger '' . often, aud always as good as its Novemis among our exchanges this year, and i:; ber issue.- -Mfrr-or (Pa). a valuable addition to the list.-Blaclc-• . We are in receipt of a copy of the bitr-nian. "Messenger," published by the literary The " Messenger," from Richmond, societies of Richmond College, RichVa., is on our table. Its make-up is mond, Va. It is a large paper, gotten up iu neat and handsome form, au<l is excellent, ai1d the Exchange ~:.column, We welcome a .new exchange in the " Messenger," the bright: newsy publication of Richmond College.-Swarthmore Phcenix.

:EXC1IANG ES. full of college and other i~teresting news. All the ' articles show careful preparation and earnest study.-Spemdum.

delivered by Hon. Howell E. Jackson, on "National Aid to Education." By sensible reasoniug and by an array -of facts and figures which cannot be disThe " Richmond College Messenger " puted, Mr. Jackson shows what glorious is a welcome addition to our list of ex- results would inevitably result from the changes. The '' Messenger" is neat and passage of the bill now. before Congress to grant national aid to education. We tasteful in every respect.-Ham,pden-are surprised that our so-called "statesSydney Magaz -ine. men" should allow their " States-rights" baughtines~ and prejudices to so blind The following is from the South Carothem to the best interests of their own lina ''Collegian" : States as to hesitate about the passage of "The following we clip from the such a bill. The December number of 'Richmond College Messenger': 'Presidents Barnard of Columbia, and Mc- the "Observer" is dressed in mourning Cosh of Princeton, and Prof. Wiison, of as an expression of its sorrow for the Cornell are the only three men in the United States who have received the ·death of Wm. H. Vanderbilt, the great three degre~s of Doctor : D. D., LL. D., benefactor of Vanderbilt University. aud Ph·. D.' We must infer that our friend, in making this statement, has The "Polytechnic," from Troy, N. Y., been sadly deceived. If in looking up is a new exchange, and one wl1ich, if fnthe matter he had examined the Catature nnmbers prove as pleasing as the logue of the South Carolina Collegr. he would have seen that Prof. Woodrow, of first one, we shall be ever glad to receive. that institut~on, has not only the titles It is a large and excellent magazine, and D. D., LL. D., Ph. D., but he also bears is not afraid to tackle such subjects as the tit.le M. D. This is indeed a good " The United States Signal Service," show out. "We would like to hear again "A Modern Una," "Civil Engineers in from our friend upon the subject." the Navy," "Cosmic Comics," etc. We beg the pardon of the South Carolina University and of Dr. Woodrow Luther College, Iowa, has a chair of for our misake, for inDeeD it was a misshort-hand. The Chips from that institake, a DreaDful mistake, that we MaDe . ' ' tution tells us that the ·stndy fiuds very in that we luLLeD ourselves into an favorable acceptance among the students. unconscious incorrectness, and PHooleD ourselves into such an error. Drs. Barnard, McCosh, and WilIn the great field of colkge journalism, son will please deliver the palm to Dr. the papers edited by the ladies of female Woodrow. colleges occupy no unworthy position. Indeed, they often put to shame more preSince our last issue we have recci verl tentious publications under male managetwo numbers of the Vanderbilt "Obment. Of these, the "Hagerstown Semiserver." With characteristic enterprise nary Monthly" is quite a prominent the first number is accompanied hy a representative. Its literary is fair, but supplement, tl~e same being an address its editorial is its best department. We

1Uo1JM6N.boottltGE

MEssltNGEi?,.

----------- - - - ----- ---------~~, "· eleventh volume, and are therefore m do not agree with everything the editress has to say about exchauge8. For inthe ele\'enth year of our exisienrc, and stance: "To read them all [the exchanges], not the second. however, and fairly criticise them, is Verily is the •' Cadet,," from Orono," beyond our ability. vVe have neither Mainr, a valuablr acquisition to our Exthe time nor dispositiou to do this, nor change )i;;t. Though it ha~ only reached would it enlighten and benefit the exits fourth number, its arrangement aml changes themsel ~es in the least." We typographical appearance are admirable. do not understand wby a "fair criticism" · Its departments are numerous and well "would not enlighten or benefit the exordered. It:-; editorials are rather short. changes themselves." Again ·: " Our We pndict for the paper a high pla!'e in monthly is largely for our own pupils and college journalism, to which 'it bids foir . alumnae. Others can, indeed, hardly apto attaiu. preciate what we say, because they do not know our appointments and designs.'' \Ve have 1'eceived the "Uuiversity," You should "say" in such a manner from Texas State University. Considthat "A wayfaring ·man, though," ering the fact that the paper is still in its etc., might appreciate. We most thornascent state, it is a really cr<;ditable puboughly accord with the following : "A lication. We gladly place you upon otfr_ criticism worth reading should be studied exchange list, and hope to see you often. and true, stating facts as they are and We miss the "Virginia University withogt flattery, a thing we contemn." Magazine" . for this month. Stir up, friend, fllld he as punctual as yon are The Hamilton College '' Monthly" (female) contains the following item. If powE'rful. the .· first part is true, we do indeed A paper which cornl'Sto us from Louis"hanker" to carry out the last part: ville gives the picture of a young lady "The beauty of the average Hamilton who was kissed by a tramp. If the picgirl is without II; her eyes are like * * *; her ~ ~ are small and shapely ; ture is a cc>rrectone, the trnmp deseryes her manner is ---ing; and when we sympathy. see her we banker to em,-A--, her." We await an invitation to call. Au cx<.:hange tells us that Chicngo girls have comnwuced to walk on stilts. The" Alamo and San Jacinto MonthThis i;; the only way they can keep off ly" speaks of the "Messen _ger" as in each other's feet. the "vigor of youth " and "entl'ring · upon its second year's labor," et<•. \Vm. L. Howard, who was recently The "vigor," etc., is all right, and elected judge of Floyd county, is a gradwe are much obliged to the "Monthly" uate of the law-school of Richmond Co1for its compliments ; bnt if it will go legc.- Di8patch, 20th itlt. back to the halcyon days of puerility and learn its Roman Numbers over again, it Three more ex-students of Richmond will find that we are now issuing our College have been elected· to judges~1ips r

fJbttEGE NEWSAN!J ll'tJN. beside~ those already reported. They are Messrs. :F. M. McMnllan, of Madison ; 0. 0. Gwathmey, of King William, and L. Jeffress, B. L., of Culpeper.-Dispatch., 292dult. Richmond-College stock seems to be on a boom. • I

",v

An exchange in an article on oman" says : "Some women can't pass a millinery store without looking in." Some men can't pass a saloon without going in. An exchange from "down East"

COLLEGE

be-

wails the to.ughness of college beef. Pshaw, chile, you ain' no whar. The beef here is sometimes so tough as to render it almost impossible even to stick a fork in the gravy. We return thanks to Messrs. Cussons, May & Sheppard, Glenn Allen, Va., for the prettiest lot of calendars we have ever seen. This is perhaps one of the largest calendar-nrnnufaeturing establishments in the country, and their work shows the highest degree of artistic elegance and convenience.

NEWS

In the United States 14,000 degrees were conferred last year. Wisconsin University has a : choi·al club of two hundrnd . voices, two glee clubs and a brass band. Pity the cats. Williams College raised $1,200 to support its base-ball nine last session.-E :v. Harvard has a brass band of one hnndred and eighty pieccs.-Ex. That's brassy. Vassar girls are said to be so, modest that they will not work on improper fractions.-Syracusan. Trinity College requires of each Senior, before graduation, a poem of 1,000 lines. During the past year five universities have been established in Dakota. Vassar College is going to introduce a semi-military drill for the benefit of girls. The chief command will be : "Attention ! Remove your gum ! " President Porter, of Yale, is engaged in supervising a revision of Webster's

fjj

AND FUN.

Dictionary. The work is conducted in his New Haven residence. The present indications are that the study of Greek will never again receive the attention which it has in the past. The interesting fact has just leaked out that Georgia chartered, built and cond uctecl the first female college in the world. Yale has thirty-one colored students in the freshman class. A college is to be established by the Mormons at Salt Lake city. A prize of $50 is offered at Union College for the best extemporaneous speech delivered by any of the students, except Seniors, during commencement week, on sul~jects of American History, Literary, Political, and Social Life. A question for the anxious: How it happened that Parks broke a watch crystal in a young lady's waist pocket. Rev. Dr. G. · C. Lorimer has beem elected President of the CbiGUgoUniver-

fHJ

llIGHMbNI> COLLEGE MESSENGER.

Sity, but he has not yet decided to accept the position.

been published in some of the newspapers in regard to the" Vassar girl."-Ex.

Professor of Logic, to Junior : '' Mr. K., will ·you give an example of universal negative?" J tmior: "Unprepared."-

"Nervous girl" wants to know bow to cure a tickling sensation about the face. Get him to shave off his moustache.

Ex.

"Don't trouble yourself to open your mouth any wider," said the dentist to W. M. M., '' I intend to stand on the outside when I pull your tooth." It is reported that Benjamin F. Butler has expressed the intentjon of giving his whole private library to Colby University_ "Sister told me to come in and talk to you till she found her hair," said a sixyear-old girl to her big sister's beau• "Do you like to have me talk to yon? Sister says you sing like a screech owl. ·won't you sing for me? Sister sayswhy, you ain't going, are you? Oh, my, won't sister be mad, though !". Sixty Harvard freshmen have dropped their Latin, eighty their Greek, one hun_ dred their mathematics. None of them have dropped their base-ball or their boating, however, arnl college cultur e is still safe. At Yale a building is on foot for baseball practice during the winter. It is to be seventy feet long, with a glas:;, roof prntected by a wire roof. Professor of Latin ' (to stndents at' table): "Will you have some jam ? " Student boarder-" Not any, thanks; jam satis ! " Professor (turning pale): '' Are you ill, sir?" Student boarder (heartlessly) : "Sic sum." The Professor is expected to recover-damages.-

Ex. It is said that the decline in attendance at Vassar is being attributed to some exaggerated statements that have

The average age of young ladies at Vassar is twenty-one. Bowdoin's "Boy President" is a Harvard graduate of the class of 1879. Professor Seelye, of Amherst, is writing a "Short Life of Napoleon Bonaparte." The song " The Song of a Gamboliet· " originated at Princeton, " Bingo," at Yale. The last official act of 1885, Amherst, was to abolish compul8ory church attendance. 'There is a freshman at Brown who is thirty-two years old, married, and has two children. The whole number of men iu the lawschol)l at Harvard this year is 151, over 153 last year. Cornell has enrolled the greatest number of students in her history. The offices of vice-president and secretary of the Freshman class at Cornell, are filled by' lady students. The qnestion whether Monday is preferable to Saturday as a holiday is agitating a number of the college papers at present.

If a lady friend asks you what size of shoe you wear be sure ~1d tell her right, lest you should receive a pair of slippers on New-Year about three sizes too small. 'Tis said that "Fools rush in where angels fear · to tread." This accounts for

COLLEGE NEWS AND FUN. the boisterous way that some have of entering chapel. Du Sh. wears high collar-: that might be te1路med. nose ticklers. He sent his picture to a friend not long since, and she wrote back acknowledging the receipt of his laundry advertieement. A school of medicine will soon be established at Johns Hopkins University. Williams College has already raised $1,200 to support the base-ball nine next year. In all probability Princeton

College

-will have become a university within the next five years. LaCrosse is being introduced in many universities, and will probably take the place of foot-ball at Harvard. Sixty students of the Ohio Wesleyan 路 University were suspended recently for attending a theatrical performance. It is stated that Miss Cleveland's profits from her book thus far amount to $7,250, and that she expects to rnake $25,000 out of it. She is now engaged in writing a n~vel, according to reports. The most southerly town in the world inhabited by civilized man is Punta Arenas, Patagonia. It has about six hundred inhabitants. It is winter there all the year _round. Two burglars had ransacked the house and secured every portable thing of any value. While passing through the pantry one of them picked up a piece of cold meat and was about to eat it . ''Whist, Pat !" said the other warningly; "av y1Jzforgot what day it is?" "Be jabhers," said Pat, dropping the meat, "Oi had. Its Friday morning !"-.Ex.

A Vassai路 damsel has been doing Switzerland. Genius soars triumphant

in her last letter to papa : I tried to climb the Matterhorn to~day ; didn't reach the top ; it is absurdly high; everything is high in this country. Please send me some mouey.--Ex. Heidelberg University celebrates its 500th anniversary this year.-Ex. It is now the rule at the University of Pennsylvania to compel the students to take gymnastic exercises.路 Mr. Lowell said in his address at Bryn Mawr College that applau-;e in behalf of retaining the Greek language in a college curriculum always comes from men who "are old enough to have forgotten their Greek, and too old to find any uecessity for beginning its study." Scene in the mathematical room. Irate professor: '' Did you study this lesson, sir?" Meek pupil: '' Yes, sir." "How long?" "About three hours, sir." "Three hours! then it must have all gone into your stomach ; there's none in your head." Meek pupil : 11 Well, sir, shall I go after a stomach pump?"Transcript. '.rhe University of Pennsylvania has made gymnastic exercises obligatory. The gymnasium has recently been refitted at an expense of $2,500. The " Yale News " mentions Timothy Dwight, Professpr of Sacred Theology in the Theological School, as the possible successor of President Porter. At , Cornell they have a permanent "mock congress," which is thought to be superior to the ordinary literary society ; at least, the students seem to..take a more lively interes _t in it. The Columbia Freshmen have issued the following challenge to the Harvard Freshmen : " The Freshmen class of Co-

RICHMOND

COLLEGE ~MESSENGER.

lumbia College hereby challenges the Freshman class of Harvard College to an eight-oared shell race with coxswains, two milPs straightaway, to take place at New London; time and minor details to be arranged hereafter.'' ,o Hon. James G. Blaine is to deliver the commencement oration at Dartmouth College. Professor in English liternture: "That finishes the discussion of Bacon ; Miss Ham you may recite." The Cooper Institute, of New York, had 4,000 applicants for admission this year, being able to accommodate only about 1,500. It is stated by an Egyptian tra,路eller that there is a Mohammedan University 900 years older than Oxford, situated at Cairo, and still flourishing as in the days of Arabian conquests. It contains but one room; the floor is paved, and the roof is supported by 400 columns. GRAMMARCLASs.-Prof. Y.: "What is the plural of man?" "Mr. D. : "Men." "And what i~ the plural of child?" Mr. D. : "Tw -ins.1' He didn't get "8 " that q m1rter.-Ex. The class rolls in the several departments of Michigan University show a total of 1,400 in attendance this year. The Harvard library oontains 184,000 volumes; Yale, -115,000; Dartmouth, 62,000; Cornell, ,53,000; Brown, 52,000; Columbia, 51,000; Williams, 19,000; Iowa, 18,000; Michigan Univer,;ity, 45,000. Professor to witty aspirant for Freshman honors: "Do you know where the North Pole is?" "No, sir." "Ain't you ashamed not to be able to answer such a question as that?" '' No,路 sir. If Sir

John Franklin; Dr. Ivine, Captain Nares and Markand couldn't find it, how 路ao you expect me to know where it is?" --

Ex. The Japanese Government has recently ' sent pair of broi1se vases, handsomely ornamented with inlaid decorations in gold and silver, to Vassar College in appreciation of the education furnished to two students.

The Russian Government is about to establish a polyglot college, in which will be taught all the modern langu:iges of any importance, and the tongues of all . the nationalities under the Czar's scepter, about seventy in numbei-. Personal : "John, come back ; all is forgiven. Pa kicked the wrong man. He did not kuow it was you, Nellie.''_ 路 We will not mention the paper from which this is clipped. An idler is twil'e a thief: he not only steals his own time, but hangs around and tries to steals yours. When a Boston girl is kissed, she frowns and says, "Put that article right back, sir, where you took it from." The young Japanese noble who graduated at Rutger's Oolleg(: :_Iast ~June, carried otf two prizes-one for the best oration and another for the best work in history. "Have you any copies of' Prometheus Unbound?"' "No," replied the proprietor, "but I will order you a copy of Prometheus and have it bound as cheaply as possible." Among great Americans who have expended thei:i: youthful talents in editing college papers, are the poets Holmes and Willis, the statesmen Everett and

SELECTIONS. Evarts, the eloquent divine Philip Brooks, and the pleasing author Donald J. Mitchell. At a college examination a professor asked : "Does my question embarrass you?" "Not at all, sir," replied the

student. · " Not at all.

It is quite -clear.

It is the answer that bothers me." · , . Prof. in Physic : '' What do you attach to a windlass to gain power?" Student replies; ''A crank." ·The class smiled audibly.-lfx.

SELECTIONS. Senator Vorhees; of Indiana, is said to have in course of preparation the greatest speech of his life. It will be on the civil-service question, and its announce1l purpose will be to prove the policy of the Presideut unsound. The Senator is expected to deliver it earl~, in the ?oming :'>ession of Congress. A man who has kept au account of the number of kisses exchanged with hi,; wife since their union, 'consents to its publication as follows: First year, 36,500; second year, 16,000; third year, 3,650; fourth year, 120; fifth year, 2. He then left off keeping the record.Fort Worth Ga.zelte. 'rhe internal heat of the earth is being investigated by the German Governmeut. A shaft sunk at Schladebach has penetrated about 4,566 feet under ground, believed to be the greatest depth yet reached by boring. At this point the earth's temperature is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The last will of the distinguished statesman and orator Patrick Henry, as recorded in the clerk's office of Charlotte county, Virginia, after disposing of his property as he <leemell best, cone] udC's witb. these words : " This is all the inheritance I can give to n1y dear family ;

the religion of Jesus Christ c'an give them one which. will make them rich indeed.'' .

David Pryde gives the following rules for beneficial reading: ( 1) Before you begin to peruse a book, know something about the author. (2) Read the pref~ce carefully. · (3) Take a cornpreh~nsive survey of the table of contents. (4) GiYe your whole attention to what you reacl. (5) Be sure t9 note the most valuable passages as you read. (6) Write out in j·our own language a summary of the facts you have noted . . (7) Apply the resulte of your reading to your every-day duties. "Greek and Latin are among the nolrlest instruments of thought ever elabo.rated by the human race, and we cannot pussihlj ,, without great damage to ourselves, neglect any system of education so fraught with the best possessions providence has presenred to mankind from the wrenks of barlxirisrn and decay."-Cannon FaiTar at Johns Hopkins, Oct. ·1, 1885. The details of · Senator Stanford's scheme for the establishment, in Califoruia, of a great. university have bee~1made .

RICHJIIIOND COLLEGE

public. His ranch at Palo Alto, near Menlo Park, about thjrty miles from San Francisco, bas been selected as the site· The . several ., buildings comprising the university will . be on the ge;neral plan -of a parallelogram, and . will be , constructed so as to permit additions to be made as the necessities of the institution · may require. Senator Stanford will make the total endowment of the university $20,000,000. . STRANGEFRIENDSHIPs.-The p~inter Razzi formed friendships with all sorts of animals, and he filled his . house ·with squirrels, monkeys, . Angora ·cats, dwarf asses, he-goats, and Elba ponies. Besides these, he had an enormous raven, who gravely strod~ about among the other animals as if it were the exhibiter of this Noah's ark. When any one knocke,d at the outer door, the raven called, "Come in !" in a loud voice. The Marquis <le Montespan, in perfect freedom of choice, had the extraordinary taste to amuse himself ·with mice, when occupying the gilded apartments of Versailles. True, the mice were white, and had been brought . to him all tbe way from Siberia; but the taste was a most odd one, nevertheless. Cardinal Mazarin, the .French Minister, employed his leisure in playing with an ape; and Cardinal Richelieu amused himself with his collection of cats. Pelisson, confit:1edin the Bastile, made a friend of a spider, which he tamed. Thejailer one . day seeing Pelisson take

MESSENGER.

plea:sure in contemplating the insect, · crushed it under his foot, and left ~he prisoner distressed and melancholy' at the loss of his friend. Lat!1de, in the same prison, made companions of some six and twenty rats, who inhabited his cell. He gave each of them a name ; and they learned to come to him at his call. He fed them, played with them, and they thus greatly relieved the ennui of his captivity. But Latude made friends of rats only from necessity. President Adams, the new president of Cornell, delivered a brief address on the opening of that college two weeks ago. He said that a university must be governed with principles of liberty, and this course ,vould be followed ' at Cornell. There would be as few rules as possible laid down. He thought that secret societies do mor~ harm than good, and their lnxnrious chapter club-houses enervate the students ; whereas development of character was the foundation of all education . . A few studies mastered was better than many skimmed. He urged the students to learn, also, the best habits of , life, and, if invited into society, to go. He included religious duty among the others, and enjoined upon all those who had led, or meant ,to lead a religious life, to avail themselves of the opportunity offered for that purpose at the university and in the town. He announced that he would ad1lress the students annually, and this time he has certainly given them enough to think of for a year.- Illini.

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