The Messenger, Vol. 17, No. 7

\

VOL. XVI.

N'@. 7

APRI'L, 1890.

EDIT·ORS:

R. E. CHAMBERS, Mu Sigma Rho, { N. H. HAERIS, J. IL HARWOOD.

Philologian, { .

E. E.

E>UDLEY, GARNErr RYLAND, C. G. '!l'RUMBO.

Business Manager- w. OWEN CARVER • .

Assistant Business Manager_;_W. E. FARRAR. " A (;aaie."

' What do I mean when I say one's a case?

Will I ten you in ·meter,' you ask?

Well, I'll try; •b ut to tell you .just what l do •mean, . Is indeed quiite a difficult task.

If y<m'U find me a maiden who's faitafnl ·and tru&, But who wishes ·quite often to tease; The glance•of wh0se eyes make you feel strangely queer Whose smile never ceases to please; W·ho will ·p ucker her dear little mouth when s1he's ·mad, Ti11 her ,pouting red lips look so sweet That you'd give half the world could you steal but, one kiss, And yet dare not attempt such a feat; Who is always ,in mischief, from morning till night, Yet whom no one dares ever to chide; vVho is self-willed, yet trusting; is careless, yet kind; · Who, than all the wnole wide world beside, Can torment you most easily; who is at once The meanest of girls and the best; Who is just-well, a great many other things, too, But I scarcely need tell you the rest.

If you'll find me a maiden like this one, I say, I'll show you a case, real and true. · Yet I think, search wherever you will, there's bu tone; And that one, my darling, is you.

" Y OUTHE'UL ·J ·EEMS. 1' Richmond College, April 8, 1890.

I'

2

/

RICHMOND COLLEGE MESSENGER.

Waiiibington li.·Ting. ·

Washington Irving was born rn N:ew York city April 3, 1783.

It is worthy of notice that this, the year in which the independence of the American colonies was first acknowledged

by Great Britain, was also the year which marks the birth of the first great American man of letters.

Born amid the closing scenes of the . Revolution, and living well through the first half of the present century,· Irving forms the connecting link between the old and the new in Ame:rjcan literature. After the theological and philosophical writings of Edwards · and Franklin, he stands forth as. the :first great American exponent of polite literature.

Unlike several of his brothers, Irving did not receive a regular collegiate · education.

His indifferent ·health may have been the cause of this, but more probably it was because his naturally roving,dreamy, and imaginative nature did not take to mathematics and the classics, but rather impelled him to seek pleasure in the works of the great poets and romancers, or to roam amid the S!]-nny :fields and shady forests along his native Hudson. Of himself he says, " My holiday afternoons were spent in rambles about the surrounding country. t made myself familiar with all its places famous in history or fable. I knew every spot where a murder or robbery had been committed, or a ghost seen."

Thus was he storing his mind with a fund of local history and tradition

which was to become the basis of some of his most delightful works.

At the age of sixteen Irving determined to study law, and . for several years devoted himself with more or less enthusiasm to his work. Again forced by ill health to abandon his studies, he set ~ail for Europe in 1806, and spent the next' two years in wandering among the historic scenes of the Old World. In 1808 he returned to America and begl}£1 the practice oflaw.

This however, distasteful at first, was no less so now, and it is n'o t surprising that he did not attain any great suecess in his profession.

The first serious literary work upon which he was engaged was the production, in conjunction with two older brothers, of~ periodical of New York life called Salmagundi. His next publication, the Knickerbocker History of New York, which appeared in 1809, was one of his most successful works, winning the heartiest praise in England as well f\S in America.

In this book he has given such a picture of Dutch life and mapners in early New Y. as is not to be met with elsewhere.

Of it Sir Walter ·Scott' said, "I have never read anything so closely resembling the style of Dean Swift as the Annals of Diedrich Knickerbocker."

Irving's next work was theSketchBook, ,vhich is the most popular book of the kind ever published. It is as a writer of short essays and sketches that Irving excels. In his novels, the Alhambra, Bracebridge Hall, the Travelier,

WASHINGTON IRVING. and others, what attacts the reader is not the ingenuity and unity of the ·plot, for the novels of Irving are almost without plot, but the beautiful short tales and sketches which, expressed in_the most exquisite language, · he has woven into the semblance of a novel.

Two visits to Spain, one in 1825 _and another in 1827, and his appointment as Minister to that country in 1842, gave him the opportunity to thoroughly acquaint himself with the people, manners, and scenes of that interesting country. · How well he availed himself of his opportunities may be seen in his Life of Columbus, the Conquest of Grenada, and the At_ hambra. The last named work: is perhaps the most popular of his novels.

It is the story of a summer spent in that most beautiful · monument of ancient Moorish architecture, tbe Alhambra. .There, amid the groves and orchards of sunny Grenada in a palace of fairy_ like beauty, he gathered up all the legends connected with his historic surroundings, and in this book he has left us a delightful collection of the . tales of beauty and chivalary that · cluster around this wonderful building.

All is written in so realistic and charming a style that one almost feels himself transported to the palace where he ,listens to the sweet strains of enchanted minstrels or watches the ghostly passage of some phantom army as it glides silently up the steeps around the Al ham bra.

In the Sketch Boole the most popular ,tale is of course that of .Rip Van Winkle. This story, found in the traditions

3

(?f many lands, and therefore not original with our author, is nevertheless in a sense his own pecq.liar property, for among the many who have told it none have rendered it so popular or told it so charmingly as he. TheLegend of Sleepy Hollow is a story of Irving's own home and the scenes he describes are those among which he had . lived.

Here again we have an inimitable pictuN of the simple-minded, peaceful folk who inhabited New York before the restless spirit of commerce and the progressive enlightmentof o_u r age made their simplecontentmentridiculous and their intense supersition absurd.

The Sketch Book was written in England, and many of the sketches are of English scenes and manners. · Thousands have visited Stratford-on-Avon and many have written -about it, but who has described so well as he the home and grave of Shakespeare? As he has given the best description of Stratford, so has he also left the most beautiful picture of Westmin/ster Abbey.

Among mere rural scenes there is little finer than. The Broken Heart, The Wife, and The Pride of . the Village.

It is said that authors reflect and display their own lives arid characters in their writings, and this is especially true of Irving. In his works we everywhere see the mild, cheerful, gentle, and benevolent man. No trace of cynicism or misanthropy anywhere · appears. His modest home at Sunnyside was the resort of admiring readers from far and near, who always received a cordial welcome and were en-

4

RICHMOND COLLEGE MESSENGER.

tertained with genial hospitality.

Irving was never married. The lady to whom he.was engaged died young, and·, true to her memory, he remained to the end with "no wife 'nor child, good· or bad; to · provide for. A mere spectator of other men's fortunes and adventures, and how they play their ·parts." · · Ii.wing's last and most laborious work was the Life of Washington, fi'nished three months before his death, which occurred•in 1859. He lies buried in the peaceful little church-yard in .

Sleepy Hollow, and his grave is vhlited by thousands.

It is said that the stone marki•n g his gra.ve has had to be replaced several times, as visitors, desiring some memento of the spot, have continualiy chipped off pieces of the marble, thus •entirely removing several stones. , Irving was the first American whose wo;rks won a high reputation in England, and he holds . to-day the foremost place in Ameri'can literature.

He has been called the Goldsmith of America, and', like his illustrious . namesake, he, too, has written much on many subjects, and· has " touched nothing that he did not adorn."

K.

One C:aul!'e oC Failure.

Does. the professor ~r student deserrve er.edit for .the latter's. rapid advancement?• Unquestionably both figure very prominently. Each does much. to, contribute ·to the success or failure.of tb.e other. The one cannot possibly make the most of present opportunities without the co-operation, of the uther. · Then, should hopes be blasted, examinations prove impassable barriers, diplomas. fail to receive the requisite signature, ·w:ho should- bear the blame? Of ·cour.se the student is largely to, blame for every faHure, butJ could not the professor in many instances, by judicious counsel and encouragement, bring about the opposite.r.esult? .

Man. is:justly -cal'led. a beast. Often he i~. corn pared· to, the most obstinate of all, beasts-the, mule. ']he nature of the present mule is quite different

from, the mule , 0£ thinty. years. ago.

This has been brought about by better treatmeI).t. Now,the student, in, common with the rest of mankind', has som~ mulish t.r::i,its, and by the same treatment his nf:!,ture also ca,n be bettered. He is not beyond the influence of appr,eciation,. and just as the teacher tries h;udest to please that class which a,ppreciates his effor,ts most, so the studeI).t, though sometimes unconsciously, studies hardest for that pr.ofessor w.ho encourages him and seems to ha;ve the greatest appreciation of his efforts. This seem!:'\ to be the secret of get,ting the most w.ork from, a college boy, whose time is necessarily very much divided.

Again, a student may be deeply interested· in a difficult subject. and put forth great effort to conquer, it, but after all find it beyond his grasp.

How often has the professor come

ONE CAUSE OJ!:• FAILURE. to the rescue, and while appreciating the student's efforts, explained the subject in such a way, that the great- . est desire of the student -is to conquer the next. subject, however difficult it be. On the other hand, when a stuq.ent realizes that his efforts are not appreciated·,, that however hard . he may try, he cannot gain. the sympathy of his professors, it is next to an impossibility for him to study as hard as he would otherwise. Sympathy is nowhere more eftective than in the class room.

It may be argued• that wh_e n a young man enters college, he should· put away chi1dish things a-rid not l~t such a Httle thing have such great in:ffuence_:_that he should be master of the situation. But this is a pa·r t of. our· nature-so interwoven ih all experience that w:e can hardly think of mankind except as influenced by sympathy. Now and then we find•a patriot or philanthropist who does what he t·hinks should be done, though the recipi~nts manifest no sympathy in the movement; however, this is by far the exception rather than the rule.

How ofte~ does the most unpromising member of a family develop into the most prominent because he knows the influence of a mother's sympathy ! How many authors, sculptors, painters, must acknowledge that the potent factor in their development was the sympathy and appreciation of some frieod. It was , Mrs.

5

Unwin's and Lady Austen's confidence that spurred , Cowper on to action. To a gre1;tt extent · Moliere's unhappy life · must be explained by lack of appreciation. Even t.h e genial Schiller could never have. produced his master· piece, Wilhelm Tell, if the Germl'tn people had not shown such great appreciat1·on of hi's former dramas. · Authors · d'o . the1r best for those who appreciate' them most. Then is it strange that tb'e same principle holds true in college life?· · H'owever, appreciation has much more influence on some students than others. Occasionally we find'' a studtmt whose will and determination are so d'eveloped that they lose sight of present dilicouragement, and, like Milton, think only of the ultimate goal. Some are like the unpretentious Cowper, and will do nothing without encouragement; others, like Moliere, sad, disconsolate, but deter~ mined 'to succeed, not, as we often say, i n spite of discouragement, but because of the fa,ith, confidence, and sympathy of a few intimate friends; While others like Schiller will spend weary hours, sleepless nights, though their bodies become tired and worn out, because their efforts are appreciated by the professors.

Then let the student act so as to enlist the sympathy of his teachers, and show them that this is the most potent factor in success or failure.

E.G.T.

RICHMOND COLLEGE MES~ENGER.

6

Intellectual Education and Possession of" Property &1!1 Limitations to the Right oC Sufr1•a1fe-Should the Right •C Sn:frrage be extended re1Jardlel!I• of' these?

The framers of the Declaration of Independence asserted, as a selfevident truth, "that all men are created equal," and some have sometimes seei:ned so uncharitable, not to say stupid, as to suppose that these me.n did not know ,~hat an axiom is.

Th,e ir statement is quoted as signifying that men are all created equal in intellect, in dispositlon, in. wealth, in political advantages, and in every · other advantage and possession of man: , Surely this is a misapplication of their language. They must have meant to assert as an axiom only so much as is " self-evident." Men are born equal, in their relations to their Creator and, in a limited sense, in their relations to one another They have naturally the right to ,t hink and act as free moral agents.

They are born with equal rights to indulge all the functions .of mind and heart, but I suppose it cannot be. claimed that they are naturally equal in the possession of these attributes of mind, or heart. Foolish as it may seein to suggest that men are not all created equal in size, beauty, color, etc., it is perhaps not more foolish, on reflection, than the pretended equality in some other respects. In the two matters with which our question has to do, I shall · try to show that at least, so far as our question is affected by them, men are not created equal. ' AH are, indeed, created with. an ~L

,{•· · •',

'

equal education-or Jack of education-but surely not with equal opportunities of education.

Two things prevent this : unequal access to· the means for educ~tion and unequal power for the application of the means. · Surely, then, in educational advantages, men are not all equal. · " But," says 'oU:e, " would you make a man suffer because of the· misfortunes of his birth?" Whether right or wrong, we find that in nature, as in social life, we must endure , the consequences of our misfortunes, and in political matters we cannot change the law. Better, by all means, let the unfoi;tunate bear his misfortunes than heap them upon every one else.

It is a question whether the denial_of the franchise would. in all cases be a misfortune. , Then as to wealth, surely no one can say that I was born the equal of Jay Gould's' son. It is 3:t once evident that men are born unequal not only in the possession, but in the power of acquiring wealth.

The framers of the Declaration recognized certain " inalienable rights," among which they enumerated "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

This we most heartily accept, but we do not agree that the right of suffrage is necessary to every man's "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness."

On the contrary it is to many who hold it to-4!1y the privilege which, in

INTELLECTUAL EDUCATION AND POSSESSION OF PROPERTY.

7

. their ignorance, they exercise to rob who need help. Let us examine the others of their life, liberty, or the charge. There is a relation between pursuits in which they find pleasure. rieh and poor necessary and indisIt is claimed that any limitation to pensable to the success and happiness the right to vote is unconstitutional. of both. The rich cannot continue Suppose for the moment . that it is. prosperous without the support of Is that a sufficient reason for not the poorer classes, nor can the poor making a limitation or for not dis- grow ricl_i or even live without the cussing the propriety of such limit? resources drawn ¡ from the rich in Many seem to forget that the con- consequence of the relation existing stitution is for the people rather than between them. In order for the rich the people for the constitution. The to succeed, business must prosper, constitution itself gives me the right factories mu~t be worked, railroads to doubt and discuss its justice .or niust be operated, every class of busiits advantages. But the limitations ness must be successfully managed, proposed are not unconstitutional. and this can be do.ne only with the The constitution specifies certain aid of the workir\g class. This workthings by which suffrage is not to be ing class, to better their conditionrestricted :-viz., "race, color, or to live at all-must work; and work previous condition of servitude." In can be provided only by those who specifying these it aeknowledges the have the means to establish manuright to define some limit, and it factories, build railroads, and operate nowhere objects to education or . the industries of the country. It is possession of property as require- evident that, the business interests of ments for the right of franchise. We the country must be supported if rich are not, then, in opposition to those or poor are to succeed. The question great minds that gave us our consti-. at once arises, '>vho is to look after tution, for they recognized slavery these interests, who is best situated and prohibited slaves . from voting. and qualified to know what legislaIt was a later hand that extended tion will best subserve the common the suffrage td its present doubtful good? Surely the managers of the scope. Many of our States do make various industrial institutions, with . a certain degree of edueation and their knowledge of the outside world wealth necessary to the exercise of and their Q.ommunication with it, with the right of franchise, and this is their opport1mitieE> for seeing and proof conclusive that this is not un- comprehending the needs of their constitutional. industries, are better qualified to It is urged as a great objection to dictate legislation so vitally affecting this limitation that it makes a differ- these than are the ignorant laborers, ence against the poor and ignorant who know only their individual work and in fa~or of the rich and educated, and have no idea of the needs or the whereas it is the poor and ignorant dependencies of the whole. Again,

8

RICHMOND COLLEGE MESSENGER.

if iflhe business fails, while owner a;nd labornr ·are both losers, the loss •of the former is much greater. He has ,t he greater interest to defend, and is therefore better prepared to direct by his ballot the interests of his business, and in defending ·his own interest he nece ssrurily protects his . employee. Bnt, you say, you •place the power entirely within his ha:nd and he will become tyrnnnieal, oppressing . his dependent laborer while enriching himself.

We would not go by any means so far. We would admit to his councils, · with equal right to express and enforce their o.p inions, all his laborers who have the intelligence to know t.hei,r interest or property enough to make .them feel that they have ,an interest ,; all w,ho have something .that places ,them in so.me . sympathy with <the situation and enough e·ducation to .

•direct their sympathy in beneficial ,directions. We admit quite ,enough to afford an effectual cheek of any . ambitious or tyrarrnical schemes a wicked millionaire might entertain .,against the poorer class. An over• whelming majority of the voters ,would still be of the poorer classes, while tho1;3e who would 'be denied the ballot aTe, for the most part, such as ,are really an injury to their own . cl.ass. So far, then, from giving the rich any undue advantage, we conceive that the change would be lai:gely to the advantage of the poor.

So far as its being a discrimination in favor of the educated, it must be admitted that a man with some edu,cation is, as a rule, better qualified

1

to vote than a man whh ·none •at all.

That •the educated shou1d use ,thei:r power to hurt the ignorant is contrary to all reason and observation.

An educated man is characterized by his desire to promote 'leaming. By intellectual education is not mellln:t graduation from colleges and m1iversities. The limit may be placed within 1the reach of all, requiring on1ly the-elemeints of education, which •are already within •reach of all.

T·he principle on which the Revolutionary War was fought is that " Taxatiol'l without representation is n•njust.'' A truer principle was, tperhaps, never enunciated. To es•tablish it our fathers ,poured out theh -1,ife~blood, and ,it has become the ,fun<famen1tal principle of our govemmerJ.t. !But if " Taxation •without rep'resentation is unjust," tis . :not the ·converse equally true? . Representation w-ithout •taxation is unJust, since ,those who pay the taxes cannot direct their disposition. Som.e are taxed. to sU-pport the government; upon them it depends for its existence and :pl'osperity. Under our system the burden falls upon · property owmers, while paupers s~pported by taxation have equal powers in goverment .with those by whose taxes they are supported. To give to a man with nothing to defend, no interest at stake, no concern for the welfar~ of government, no idea .o f what is for the general gpod, an equal right in legislation ·with the man ·w.ho has all to defend, every interest at stake, the burden of government to . 9ear, anda knowledge of public needs, .is contrary to all ideas of justice, and is

INTELLECTUAL EDUCATION AND POSSESSION OF PROPERTY. nowhere else applied, in nature, in social or in private life. The affairs of a business firm are conducted only by the stockholders.

There 1s a mutual relation between all the members of a family. The beneficiaries of a socia1,or ganization are only those who contribute to its support. The earth supports its rich vegetation that having drunk richness" from out the viewless air" it may return with an increase of wealth. Everywhere else, it does seem, but in an ultra-democratic government is it true that some mutual relation exists between aU the members .9f the organization? " Self preservation is the first law of nature." Numbers of those who exercise the right of suffrage in America have nothing to defend.

Let legislation be what it may, they have no property to lose, no business to be affected, and what do they care who i1, elected? In all our States you may find at the- polls men who put themselves up to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. They sell their . vote as they irould a Christmas toyas lightly and frequently at a lower price. Nor are there wanting those who freely enter into the traffic of such contemptible merchandise. As Cicero complained 'that instead of consuls Rome had merchants in provincial aftairs and servants and administrators of sedition,' RO now it may be said that America has, in too many cases, instead of statesmen, merchants in matters of suffrage and servants and administrators of corruption; '' But," says one, "those who sell their vote are not exclusively the ignorant and the poor." Not ex-

9

elusively, but in the majori,ty of.cases those who are purchased are either the ignorant or those who have no property. In taking these away you so reduce the stock in market as to take away to a large extent the temptation to enter the traffic ; you do much to counteract the pernicious i,i- . fluences and evil tendencies of the present ballot system. As it is, the most ignorant and degraded negro can, for a few cents, be purchased and used to destroy the vote of the .most intelligent and honorable citizen.

Universal suffrage ! the glory of American liberty! 'fhe foundation and capstone of our united greatness! With the recollection .of .the recent political contest in this old commonwealth of Virginia, where so many.whose schools and even famili~s are supported by other people's money, were openly arrayed against their benefactors, with the thought of tissue ba1lots and "blocks of :five," can we still believe in universal sur- ¡ frage ? Can we take up a paper of election times and reading its accounts of fraud and ignorance still boast of America's free ballot?

Can we go through a negro ward on registration or election clay and come back believing that those who have no money and no education ought to be equal voters with others?

Can we contemplate ¡ all this and still be in favor of universal suffrage? Iu the name of justice, in the name of liberty, in the name of our homes, I say if such men must be allowed to vote, at least set a proper estimate on their votes. Do ¡ we thus make ,var

10

RICHMOND COLLEGE MESSENGER

against the negro? By no means.

Such limitations would, indeed, for a time eocclude a greater per cent. of negroes than of whites, but ou a common principle of fairness to all.

A man who caunot read caimot_know the needs of his count_ry. By . failing to learn to read · with the ad.vantages of to-day, he shows his lack of interest in everything advancing and ennobling to the race, and so r.e pudiates his right to citizenship.

The man who cannot write does not know for whom he is voting and has no right to vote so ignorantly. The· government furnishes the means for .e.ducating its citizens and has a right _to demand such _education as a prerequisite to the enjoyment of the privileges of a citizen.

It may be objected that any attempt to introduce such limitation would .excite a storm of opposition among those -w hom it would disfranchise. It need ,not, 'however, disfranchise any one. Let it apply only to those who come of age after its enactment, and so by gradually introducing it yon prevent any seeming unfairness and give all an opportunity to prepare to meet its provisions.

If a man were de'nied the right to vote, .o r h~d a lower estimate placed ,on his vote until he had learned to read and write, then all men would strive to le~rn; education would acquire a new impetus; ·we would have public more enlightened, reading more, knowing more, and taking more interest in public affairs; men would be better citizens and ours a better country. Let a certain small ;unount of property be necessary to

a

every man's voting, and SQOQ we would see more men living in · thei;r own houses instead of renting. Soon ma,ny who have nothing and strive to acquire nothing, but continually boast oftheir politicalpri vileges, would be at work and doing something to secure these coveted privileges .

Suppose by such limitation yon · induce men to educate an.d to acquire _property, you inc.rease taxable property and at the same time reduce crime, pauperism, and all other evils of ignorance and worthlessness.

By such a limitation you would keep away from the polls, until t~ey had learned something of the meaning of a vote, the millions of foreigners who, coming to this country, march proudly up to the polls and cast their ballots when they have never paid a cent of taxes, and when the only wo'rds of English they c.an speak are, poll, vote, liberty, drink, and, perhaps, the one short se.ntence of broken English, "Pay me vat yoa bromise."

This is recognized as one of the great evils of our day. But we must submit to it until some limitation is made to the right of suffrage. The easiest, most liberal, and just 1imitation seems to me to be that under consideration.

This is no new proposition . A}! the ancient philosophers were thorough oligarchs. Early republics were not so free with their ballot nor so magnaninous as to allow every . man to vote and to place upon every man's vote the same value. They were thus conservative not that they loved the individual less, but that

THE FORMATION OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

11

they loved the government more. of danger,and cries of distress, pur.sue Rome and Greece in their splendor this false idea of justice and liberty and glory warn America against her until every ignorant negrp, every course. But Rome and Greece fell: communistic German, every boycotTrue, but no man can say that this ting Irishman, every pigtail Chinee, was because they did not extend their and every _other counterfeit on1,huballots to all the citizens, free thoi r manity, has an equal right with every slaves_and place the ballots in their citizen to vote ; and that, too, without hands. England allows her subjects requiring any change at all in sentito vote, but not all. America has ment or character of these debased come more nearly than any other beings. When we raise our voices nation extending her ballot regard- against such injustice under the cloak less of education or property posses- of justice, we are not advancing some sion, and she is beginning to see the new idea, but only followiiig the evils of such a course; that .She has footsteps of such statesman as Lycurgone beyond the limits of reason and gus and Solon, Themistoeles and of justice. We have not yet, however, Demosthenes, Cicero and Cresar, universal suffrage in its most absolute Hamilton and Washington, Adams sense. Seventeen of ou,r States limit and J e-fforson. We are unwilling to their suffrage, nominally at least, in turn aside from the path of these accordance with one or the other or illustrious men to seek some new and ·both the principles of our question doubtful way. .We are unwilling to thougl:,t their standards are generally • continue longer in the divergent path very low. Yet there are those wlio into which some over-enthusiastic wou1d have us go even further than lovers of liberty have led us. we have yet gone, and, in disregard "T. 0. Z." of all the voices of warning, signals

The l•'ormatloa oC the E•a-Il•h Lansuace,

The history of a language is gen- concerning the formation of our erally closely allied to the history of native tongue . the people who epeak it. To this . When in 55 B. C. Cresar's legidns rule English is by no means ·an ex- placed foot upon England's ·soil they ception. Upon Britain's soil met the found the country inhabited by the e_lements which united to form our Cetls. These men were brave, and language. We will therefore go . Cresar's rule was merely nominal. back to the early history of our But.in 42 A. D. another attempt was · ancestors and get what facts we can made by the Romans to conquer tlie I

12

RICHMOND COLLEGE MESSENGER.

island. Colonies were established, and the language and literature of Rome was introduced amongst the higher cl~sses of Celts. In the early part of the fifth century the Komaus again withdrew,· and their language was soon almost forgotten. The names of many English towns are traceable to the Roman occupation. · The Celts had learned to look to the Roman soldiers for protection, and when left alone they were ·unable to withstand the invasions of the Picts . and Scots, · their mountain enemies. In despair they called upon ·the Angles and Saxons for assistance.

Their cry was heard, and from the bleak coast washed by the German ocean, there came , the blue-eyed Saxon. But they came to conquer.

The Celts were driven to the mountains . of Wales, and these Teuton tribes took possession of their former homes. It was by these Angles and Saxons, two members of the Teutonic fa);Ilily, that the English language was introduced into Great Britain.

Their language;was synthetic. There were two declensions, four cases, and also · a complicated syntax. The words were strong and simple. If the orator wishes to touch the hearts of the list'ner he uses the clear AngloSaxon. This is the language of everyday life. It is homely, suggestive, and ciear. From it are derived the . names of a large number of natural . objects. · It is the pure, unpretensious , language of childhood. When well ,used it lends to literature a striking charm and beauty. The Bible, it is . said, contains 93 -% of Anglo-Saxon words. ·

In the eighth century the Danes landed on the eastern shores of England and spread rapidly over the country. "For two hundred years . the raven, dark and dreaded emblem of the Danes, was the terror of AngloSaxon homes." 'rhey finally succeeded in placing a Danish king upon the English throne. Strange to say, they made comparatively few changes in the language, for when the Saxon King Edward seized the rod of empire he found the language well-nigh unchanged. Edward was the last of the Saxon kings. · We next find ourselves at the battle of Hast~ngs. Here William Duke of Normandy met the usurper Harold and demanded at the point of the sword · the crown bequeathed · to him by Edward the Confessor.

The Normans were victorious. A singular fact now occurred: two languages existed on the same soil side by side. The Anglo-Saxon was spoken by the English, who despised alike the Normans and their Norman French; wher_eas "Gentlemen's children," says a writer of. that time, "beeth taught to speke Frenche from the tym.e they beeth rokked in hire cradell."

The history of the relations which existed between these two people is easily seen by comparing a few words from their respective languages.

From the Anglo-Saxons we have the words cow, sheep, pzq, ·kitchen, spade, plough, from the N ormau French, beef, mutton, pork, peer, crown, carpet, court.

• Were all other records lost, the history of this period could be reconstructed from such · comparisons.

13

RISE AND FALL OF EMPIRES. ,

Gradually Norman

French

began

discovery,commerce,and the Rennai.ssance all joined to quicken the) pulse . , .,.

Paris became quite different from the of English life.

Norman-French of, England. · This .The vocabul!lry was . found to be breach widened with time and Saxon too sm1,ll; ar;i.d th.e Latin and i Greek began to rise to a higher dignity. The were ,largely drawn upon ·to supply chief cause of Anglo-Saxon supre- the detlciency. There are other macy was the birth of Saxon litera- minor elements which have gone to . ture. In 1391 Chaucer wrote, giving make up the co,mposite ..whole,l but t<) the language a dignity never before those that have been mentioned: are attained, and, we may safely say, a the sources of greatest influence ir,i. the dignity which is never to be lost. By° formation of the language. amalgamatior:1 with the Norman · No one could .reasonably expect a B'rench the Saxon becam.e an analytic language so ] ;;coµipounded to be langu~ge. Prepositions with their smooth-fl.owing and musical. There cases supplied the place of inflection. is in it, however, room for the expresThe Saxon vocabulary was largely eion of the.1( most diverse ] variety <if in.creased by the introduction of thong ht; and though it may not be French words. beautiful, still it is a language of Besides the military words engraft- vigorous strength. It co.mes .to . us ed by the Romans upon our language, .bearing the superscription of the rethere are many o_ther words of Latin nowned genius of by~gone centuries. origin. In the sixth century St. These men have insured for the Eng-Augustine introduced Christianity lish language an earthly immortality. among the people of England. This What its future wi11 be as compared gave rise to the Church Latin. with its past depends upon the moral Through the Norman French we and intellectual worth '.~of us of the can trace many words to the Latin present and of .those who come after us. source from which they came.

CARPE DIEM. In the fifteenth century invention, tp lose ground. French as spoken . in

;

Rise aud Fall oC EIRpirelil. ,

In studying the history of the Old World and noting the changes which time has wrought upon it, we are lost in wonder and amazement. As we look: down the tempestuous tide of time and gaze upon the wrecks of ages and of empi-r es, we realize indeed that all things are evanescent ·a nd transitory. In the dim and

'!•<I

.,,,. ; >

; •l

~

t (i

f

misty past, · we bel10ld Babylon, mighty Babylo~, ris~ to the very pinnacles of fame and glory. Of all the seats of empire either ancient or modern, Nebuchadnezzar's daring genius made ' Babylon the greatest-the name of which is, to this day, a synonym of colossal pride and power and a text on which to

14·

RIC:i:IM:'0-:ND 0OLLEHE MESSE~GER.

hang the old, old lesson of the in the drama of the Great Empire. irnftability of human things, the The kingdom was given to the Medes " vanity of vanities." She became and Peraians. A. new power had the patron of art and of architecture. . arisen _w hose energies were stii:l The fame of her learning spread freshened with the breezes of tliethroughout the land., The Hanging hi-11s, and whose natural ambition,had· Gardens•aF1d the 'Mighty Walls arose not yet been· quenched in the cupsi and excited the admiration of the oflu~u11y and l'llst. The beauty of whole world. In her haughtiness as· the " Chaldee's ex<cellenoy" -faded a, conqqeror she forced the poor li•lrn the shadow of a pageant f.rorn Hebrew captives· to construct her the great canvas of history, and the wonderful canals. No wonder· that glbry of Babylol'l began.to· hide itself they cried out of. the ang.uish of their und·er the d1:1st ai11d: ruins of the agm•. hearts; " By the ' rivers of Babylon, The glory of Babylon has· pass~d, the1.1e we sat down and wept." The away. The w,hol,e plain,is a;, wildev-" iptellectual grandeur of the Cha]deans ness- · ended with the Assyrian ascendency..

T,he sages aud' philosophers l!lf the, " With half-closed eyes, a lion there Is baskfog i'n his noontide lair, South shrank before the ·brandishing Or prowls in twilight gloom." ' sword of the North. While Helshazza1.1 sat in state in the royal palace, Let us now t'urn an·d direct' our' surrounded by his nobles, with attention to 0-reece. Lef us· stantli incense going up before him, and the amid ifs ancient, ruins and look upon sound of music filling the gorgeous the crumbling fragments -of grandeur. hall, while they were giving thems Here tlie thunders of cfoquence were selves up to the wildest' abandonment heard in the ha,Us of wi•sdom. Here of debauchery, the hardy Persia0s the rays of the sun of sciehce i fell w,ere opening the sluices above the upon the towers of A:then'S. Here city and ere the dawn of another day· the lamp of lear:ning illum.i'nates 1lhe Belshazzar was- slain and the victori- Ertibiap darkness of the nientahvol'ld. ous Persains had taken command of the It was in Greece that the human city. Babylon fell under the inevitable mind emerged from the night of law that hangs over the head of mental darkness and severed the nations. It was a fall · which re- chains of tyrannical ignorance. Sister sounded ov,er ,1~11 the .. know:n world. republics in fair procession chanted " At the noise of the taking of the praises of her liberty. She came Babylon the e.arth was· moved as by for.th in all her glory in the gardens an earthquake, and the cry was heard 0f Greece. She flourished and manamong: nations." Another. race had ldnd stood•astouished at the sublimity come into the ascendency and the of her career. But where now is the glory and greatness of the Assyrians . glory of Greece? For two thousand were shrouded in · everlasting night. years the oppressor has grourid her, ~elsha,zzar's feast was the last ·act t9, the. earth. The. last sad, relic. of

RISE AND F .ALL OF EMPIRES. her temples are but the barracks of a ruthless soldiery. The fragments of her palaces and columns are in the dust, yet beautiful in ruin. . Where now are h.e r illustrious statesmen, her brave warriors, her immortal poets?

They have gone from our view forever and exist only on the scroH of fame. The lamp of her learning has .been extinguished .. How vivid are the classic memories that cluster around thee, 0 Land of Science and of Song ! Thy stillness is rife with . tongneR, for the shadows of the mighty are ·. thy sojourners! Man converses with the genu-is of the past and ,t he Grecian stands before him.

A Homer, µ, Soerates, a Plato, are in his musing and he visits their very homes. ·Rome, republican Rome, whose eagles glanced in the rising and setting sun, now. rose on the ruins of Greece and waved her sceptre over a subjugated world. Here Virgil strung his lyre to sing .,,Eneas' fame.

Here Cicero made tqe very stones of the forum shake with the thunder of his eloquence, and struek terror into the hearts of tyrants. The cohorts of Rome were seen in every land. The mighty Hannibal s-:aled the snowcapped peaks of the Alps and hurled :his bµ,ttalions against her battlements.

But " Rome rallies, collects her strength, throws herself upon Oarthage, and sweeps her from the face of the el!llrth." Oresar then Ii ved and spread death and desolation wherever · he went. Dreadful was the fate of the warrior who dared to oppose the vengeance of his arm. But no Oresar n9w live.s to acquire kingdoms for

;15

Rome. A barbarous tonent has overrun the blooming gardens of Italy. The Goths aud Vandals have prostrated her glory ~orever. The brilliant sun of science that rose over Greece w,as destine<:l to shine on the ruins of Rome, and then go down ,i n darkness to arise in another hemisphere. In the country wµere once the Indian ruled, a great republic has ariseI.J. to illuminate the whole world.

But where are the aborigines of this western world? A pilgrim bark deeply freighted from.the East, eame darkening on the,i r shores. They yielded not their empire tamely, but they were unable to withstand t.he onward march of the Caucasian race.

With slow and solitary steps they took up their mournful march to the West and yielded their natives bills to another race. Ere long the lndia,ne will be swept from the earth forever., and not one trace of them will remain save the pages on which, their exploits are recorded. The last child of the forest will soon climb his native mountain to view the setting sun of Indian glory. The plowshare has passed over the bones of the Red man's ancestors.

By wisdom, industry, and valor, the republic qf the United States hasariseu.

The forest has fallen before her hardy sons. The boastful British Lion has been sent from her shores like a whipped cur.

We began under ei rcumstances of the most auspicious nature. iOur growth has not been checked by ,the oppression of tyranny. · Our physical constitutions have never been enfeebled by the voices or luxuries of

16

HIOIIMOND COLLEGE MESSENGER.

the Old World.

The Atlantic rolls between us and any formidable foe.

The government is mild. The press is free: Knowledge reaches or may reach every home. ·what fairer prospect, what mea~s more adequate to accomplish the sublime, can any land boast! What more is necessary than fo1· the people to preserve what they themselves have created'? Already hHs the age caught the spirit of liberty from onr_institutions. It has acsended the Andes and s.ni-ffed the breezes of both oceans. It has infused itself into the life blood of Europe and warmed the sunny plains of France and the lowlands of Holland. It has touched the philos_ophy of Germany, and, moving on South, has taught to Greece the lesson of her better days.

The day is rapidly approaching when the glory and . grandeur of ancient Greece will be revived in the western .

'

world. When America, thrice happy America, shall be denominated the land of science and of song. Look abroad and mark her extent, her wealth, her institutions of learning, her boundless resources, and th<:l giant energies which every aay develop.

There is a tide .in human a-ffairs and there is a tide of empires. I_t flows in rivers of prosperity, but when it ebbs, it ebbs forever. It would seem to the contemplative mind as if there is a certain ·height to which republics shall aspire and then be hurled into midnight darkness. The sun of science sets on one shore to rise in a happier clime. Can it be that our fair land of which we are so jnstly proud is to be added to the catalogue of republics, the inscription upon whose ruin is" They were, but they are not?"

Vrnco.

Living· Ll·f'e.

What is true life? Is it the life that is to benefit others; not taking in, seeks to get all out of the world it but giving out is the true principle can, and out of which the world gets ofliving."

To live for others is the best princinothing? Is it the Dead Sea, having only inlets no outlets, ever receiving, ple. By best principle, we mean that never giving, and receiving only · to principle which, if acted upon, will c;hange that which is pure and sweet be the cause of the greatest good even into that which is foul and bitter? to ones self. Man is a dependent Is this true life? Is it noble to live being. It is impossible for him to live completely isolated from all for one's self?

Ever since mon have been men, besides himself. Thus, the band of sentiments like the following have his Creator fashioned him. Since prevailed: " :Man was not created to he is a dependent being he must Hve unto himself; the true aim in life · come in contact with · his brother

LIVING LIFE.

17

dependent, man. He aids and in Truly very little above the beasts that return is aided. Find a mah that is one rises who attains to no higher happy, prosperous, and honored, and conception of Ufe than to take in, to you will have found a man that is not absorb as crcJes--a sponge. living unto himself. History and 0ur True life is a life of activity, a life own observation tell· us that this is of usefulness. True life is living life. true. The reflexive benefit resulting The idler does · not live, he merely from doing good to others is great exists. He who comes into this beyond measure. world and goes out of it without Living for others is a noble princi- leaving his impress · upon it, fails ple; noble becanse magnanimous; utterly to grasp the true idea of life. noble because of its very unselfish- The lovely flowers, the reflections of ness. Living for others is noble their Creator's purity, perfection and because in so living one rises above beauty, as they fill the earth with that which is bestial to that which thoir sweet perfumes, whisper, " 1'here is something for each one to is manly. do." The beautiful birds as they "Howe'er it be, it seems to me make "rocks, hills, and dales" resound 'Tis only noble to be good: Kind hearts are more than coronets, with their glad, sweet songs, are sayAnd simple faith than Norman ing, '' I am doing s<Jmething to make . blood." life more happy, more joyous; why What, then, is true life ? It is that not you ?" All nature seems to ·be life that seeks to make the world joining in the poet's Psalm of Life: better. It is that life that takes in only to give out. It is the reservoir "Life is real ! life is earnest! that receives, only to pour forth. It And the grave is not its goal; comes into the world as does the sun Dust thou art, to dust returnest, · into the day; dispelling the gloom, Was not spoken of the soul. clearing away the mists, giving forth "Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, strengthening influences and blessings Is our destined end or way; . · to all. It is the life that builds up, But to act, that each to-morrow not the life that pulls down. It is Find us farther than to-day. not the life that distorts b_ut the life that beautifies. Who ar·e the great * * * * * * * * men ? the honored men ? the beloved "Let us, then, be up and doing, men? Are they not the men, who With a heart for any fate, have lived for their loved ones, lived Still achieving, still pursuing, for their country, lived for their Learn to labor and to wait." fellow man? Oh, the emptiness of a "WRECK," selfish life. "Nonne bestiarum est ? "

18

RICHMOND COLLEGE MESSENGER.

Co-Education.

In the January number of the Messenger there appeared an editorial against the system of co-education whh reference to its adoption at Richmond College . . In the next issue of the paper we ventured, in ~t short article, to argue the question with this editor. 'In the March number of the paper our friend replied to us in such a way as to call for a rejoinder from us. ' The first criticism which this edi,t or passes upon our production is that we showed a lack of good taste in failing to give it a title that would indicate its general character. This, he tells us, " does an injustice to those who, attracted by the deceptive title, favor the article with perusal.'' If \ve deceived any reader into "favoring our article with perusal," we respect-. fully offer our apology for thus deluding him. · But is the charge. a just one? We entitled our piece "Coeducation." Ho himself calls it a criticism on his editorial. This editorial was on "oo education." Then, if we wrote anything at all, it must have been on this subject. Further.more, the word ,: co-education" occurs ten times in this article, which covers only a page. This would seem . to indicate that the piece was on this subject. We would hardly have had occasion to use the word s0 often if we had been writing an article on psychology, tariff, or thorough-bred horses or some such theme.

Our good friend is mistaken 1 too,

when he says, "he avowedly writes merely to criticise our editorial.'' · If we had written merely for this purpose we should have had something to say about its style and general character. Our sole object was .t o argµe with him the advisability of adopting the system of co-educatiorr at Richmond College and to bring out, if possible, wherein our institution differs from others so as to make a system from which " benefits accrue in its entirety," injurious in its application to our college we , thought it would be well for the students to discuss this question in their college organ. We had no desire merely to criticise his editorial, but only to show up both sides of the question.

It seemed to us to be nothing more than fair and proper for both sides to be discussed in ourpapor, inasmuch as both are represented among the students. This is why we wrote what we did.

He further charges us ·with having attacked a position which he " honestly disclaims to have assumed," and with intimating that he said a majority of the · students have a " decided objection to co-education." But he is laboring under a misapprehension: we simply quoted his own language, thus: "This editor further states that 'there is a strong conservative element which will be reluctantly driven away from college should the coeducational movement be successful.

This statement, we . are told, i@ baseq

CO-EDUCATION.

19

upon the declaration of several "verity of his whole argument," then, students.'" So if we mistated his against co-education at Richmond position it was because his own words College " rests " upon the decided failed to convey his idea. As to objection of several students only. , making him say that a majority of If this is the only reason to support the students are opposed to co-edu- the argument that the college will cation, the word majority, · or its lose several eccentric stndents, then · equivalent, does not occur rn ~ur its " validity" seems to be rather article. invalid, or at least very limited.

In his first editorial this author Surely the gain would exceed the urged that co-education would be loss. If " several " of our good inexpedient for Richmond College, friends, either from conscientious and gave as his reason the fact that scruples, or from a fear of being there was a decided objection to it captivated by the lovely girls,. or of by the 'M udents. In his second being surpassed by them in their editorial he labors to prove that ·h e recitations, or from a dislike for the "distinctly confined his decided objec- society of the fair · sex, or from an tion to several students." It would aversion to any restraints that might seem, then, that the aversion to co- ~e thus imposed, whatever it may education among the students does be, we will not undertake to assign not amount to much aner all. their motive; if they, from any conThis decided objection is limited to sideration deemed sufficient by them, only "several students." We fail to should be" driven" away, we · would see that this is any very strong point be very sorry indeed. We would feel a · degree eif pity for them : but ag~inst co-education.

In his first editorial our friend stated if we gain a large number of female that he did not deny that there were students our loss would be more benefits accruing from this system in_ than covered, at least it looks that its entirety, but denied that it was way to us. Perhaps our good friend, expedient for Richmond College. the wisdom of whose judgment we Upon this we ventured to ask what readily acknowledge everywhere else, was peculiar about our college which may see it differently. would require this discrimination.

This editor stated in his first ediThis seemed to be a question that torial that there was no need for cowould arise in the mind of any education in Virginia, as there were thoughtful reader with this statement so many excellent female colleges in before him. Yet our author seems the State. We replied that these were somewhat surprised at this, and goes no better in Virginia than in New back to the beginning of his editorial York and Tennessee, where this He and brings forward that objection on system had been adopted. the part of several students, as con- answers, " we persist in denying that in stituting this peculiarity, "a charac- the adoption of co-education teristic," he says,"which we distinctly . New York and. Tennessee is any noted and upon which rests the reason why it should be adopted in verity of our whole argument." The Virginia." He has misinterpreted us

20

RICHMOND COLLEGE MESSENGER.

somewhat here. We simply said that uncivilized. Nor has he shown that there was as much need for .i t in Vir- these practices are beneficial even to ginia as there was in New York and the Chine.Re and Hottentots, which i~ _Tennessee. But he does not deny, the case with co-education where . it however, that the system works well has been adopted : so the analogy in these two States, which is a point fails utterly. Beca~se we fail to in our favor. But he does deny that adopt the barbarous customs of the this is any reason for its adoption in Hottentots, is this any reason why Virginia, saying: "This [ such argu- we should not adopt the' co-educa7 ment] seems to us to be nonsense. tion method of the civilized States of The Chinese ladies black their teeth. New York -and Tennessee?. "Was The Hottentots tattoo their bodies reasoning ever more fallacious?" as ' and, most likely, they think their the gentleman says. beauty enhanced ·by this device, but So we still hold that if co-educatio~ just because such practices are pleas- is good for Vanderbilt University, ing to them is no reason why we Columbian College, and othe11 institushould adopt them." If he will sltow tions, it a stro1ig reason why it Rhould us some analogy between Chinese , be adopted at Richmond College. blacking their I t_eetb and South Sea How are we to judge of any untried Islanders puncturing .and painting system except by noting its results th~ir skin, ,a ny analogy between this elsewhere. ?· Students are the ,same all and · coseducation-"-We will concede ,over the country a_n d what works.well the validity of his argument. Sµch among them in one plac~ will s'uc<teed illustrations are no argument unless everywhere. We don't believ~ , the_ th.ere is an analogy. Of course we students will be "driven" away from wo,u ld not adopt t.hese abominable our college any more than from any customs, because they are brutal and other. barbarous, and , belong only to the H.F.W. .

''

l l

•

SCIENCE .NOTES. ' ··

2:1

SCIENCE NOTES. [Editor-N. H. HARRIS.]

' The Russian Government, it is ·stated·, has announced its intention to begin operations sooh on the great ·railway across Siberia. The total length of the line will ·b e 4,375 miles, and the estimated cost is 225,000,000 dollars. . A · new stamp--cancelling machine is being tried in the Philadelphia post-office. It is operated by electri~ city-and is said to cancel the stamps on the letters at the rate of 25,000 per hour, automatieally registering the number cancelled. ' A substance called 't urfa has bc·en lately discovered in Brazil at a place called Maratin. Turfa has been found to contain ·the main ingredient, now extractQd. from it by distillation, viz, petroleum, or, as it is locally called, "brazolina," besides paraffine; gasoline, and · lubricating oils resulttng from the process. A company has been formed and machinery imported from _Europe for distilling the turfa. If the enterprise proves a success, it win probably interfere with · the United States trade in oils with Brazil and · -the countries south of it.-Science.

SHORT-SIGHTEDNEss.-A new explanation of short-sightedness comes from Breslaw, Germany. Dr. Forster, the director of the Ophthalmic University there, declares that in three hundred cases that he has studied, the pressure of tight collars upon the

muscles of the neck has so disturbed the circulation of ' the blood , as to affect the eye-sight.-Harpers' Weekly.

THE RoTA'rtoN oF MERCURY.Schiaparelli, the eagle-eyed astr,onomer of Milan~ who has aroused great interest in the double canal's and changes taking place upon the · surface of Mars, annouhces something new and passing strange in regard to Mercury. He finds convincing proof that the swiftest and smallest of the planets in his revolution around the sun always presents 't he same face to the great luminary, ·e xactly as the moon · makes . her ; . ciretiit around the earth.

Schiaparelli commenced his observations. in ,1882; making them during the day, in full sunlight, and usiug'in eight inch objectiv(). He has obtained 150 drawihgs of Mereury, ,and the markings or liilear spots Oil his disk remain always the same, not having changed during the eight years of cl<?se scrutiny of one bf the most skilled and experienced astro11° omers of the world. He therefore concludes that the rotation of ~ercury · on its axis is con1pleted in 88 days . ' the time of' its revolution around ' the sun. What curious conditions, view'e.d in this new light,prevail on Mercury.

An enormous temperature reigns in the central portion of the hemisphere forever lying under the lblaz. ing light of a noon-day sun, while eternal darkness prevails on the othet

<

r

RICHMOND COLLEGE MESSENGER. side and a cold more intense than can be easily conceived.

These observations are .startling, and overturn entirely all preconceived ideas of the axial rotation of the little planet, supposed for a century to correspond nearly w~th those of the earth.-Scientific Amerfran.

AUTOMATIC ART.-A machine has been lately invented in France which takes photographic portraits automatically. The machine requires no operator, the entire process being performed by machinery.

The person who desires his photograph taken, seats himself in a chair, placed upon a platform something like those of wagon scales. He slips into a slot a coin, then the process begins. In an instant a needle brings out " Get ready ! " on a slip of paper.

Then this disappears and the word "Attention !" appears, which is followed by the word "Pose ! " After this a little bell continues to ring during the exposure of the plate, which is from three to six seconds.

When this is over, there is a little wait, and all at once the completed portrait falls out at the side of the machine.- Youths' Companion.

traction is obtained. . The sides of this polygonal wheel are one inch long, giving 210 sides for the entire circumferanoe The " Onward," an engine fitted with only a sin_gle pair of these drivers, was found capable of drawing loads usualy pulled by fourdriver engines. In a recent test upon a grade 37 feet to the mile, the weight this engine could pull was determined.

Then. the tires were turned off round and the same trials were repeated ..

The results, as reported, showed a difference in weight of 538,550 pounds in favor of the polygonal driver. As regards practical points it is found that the engine runs as quietly as any other, the departure from a circle being too slight to occasion any rattling.-Scientific American.

MUMMY CATs.-A curious COl)-signment of goods was received at London a few weeks since, consisting of no le::is than 180,000 mummy cats from Egypt. These cats have lain in their sacred burial place at ' Beni Hassan for 3000 years or more, and after having fulfilled for so many centuries the destiny intended for them,have atlast,underthe impulse of nineteenth century progress, been sacrificed upon the altar of" Utility" NEW TYPE OF LOCOMOTIVE DRIVING_ that modern all devouring ogre.

WHEEL.-Ap engine was built a few These mummies are now about to months ago to demonstrate the effi- fill their final function of fertilizing ciency of the Swinerton driving- English farm-lands. The English wheel. This wheel offers a radical ¡ farmers are indebted for this exceldeparture from theories heretofore lent lot of manure to the , lucky fall followed, it being polygonal, and it of an Egyptian into a pit, which is claimed that by substituting for the proved to be a subterranean cave, cylindrical surface of the driving- completely filled with mummy cats; wheel a many-sided prism, greater each one being seperately embalmed

â&#x20AC;˘

SCIENCE NOTES. and wrapped after the usual fashion of the Egyptians.-Scientijic American.

THE HYBERDAD CHLOROFORM CoM-

MrssrnN.-The safety of anoosthetics is a subject of the deepest personal interest to every one. l<-,or this reason, the general public has been looking with interest for the report of the chloroform commission * * * Two views regarding chloroform are commonly. held. The one, that it may kill by paralyzing the heart; the other is, that it really kills by varalyzing the respiration and only stops the heart indirectly through the asphyxia which quickly follows stoppage of the respiration. The results of' the labors of this present commission appear to be that there is some truth in both ways, but that when choloform is given in the ordinary way by inhalation, it is the respiration which stops first. When chloroform vapor . is blown down the trachea the heart may be stopped by it, but when the vapor is drawn into the lnngs in the usual way, this is not the case, for, the respiratory movements being arrested first, their stoppage prevents any more chloroform from being taken into the lungs. Embarrasment of respiration constitutes the first sign of dauger and should be at once attended to. * * * * The work of the Hyberdad commission points strongly to the conclusion that deaths from chloroform in man are due to Asphyxia, and the commission considers that by careful attention to the respiration, all deaths may and should be preventecl.-Nature.

ELEVA'.L'ION

AND

TEMPERATURE.-

The Eiffel Tower at Paris, aside from

23

being an object of wonder and a monument to the high state of architectural development, is now being used in a practical way by the scientists in observing the temperatur~ at different points above the surface-- of the earth. This h.as been done before, only at rare intervals, by means of balloon ascensions, but difficulties necessarily accompany this method. Of course we gain elevation by ascending a mountain, but this does not take. us from the earth's surface. Among the most important observations are the following: Reasoning upon general principles we should expect to find a difference of more than two degrees between the temperatures at the bottom and at the top. The reports, however, show important variations. The difference is much greater in summer during the day and less in winter during the night.

Another observation of great interest is the discovery that changes in atmospheric conditions are rnauifested earliest, at the higher station. A striking instance of this occurred in November. After a period of high pressure with calms and easterly breezes, the wind on the surface became strong and shifted to southwest and the temperature rose. But this change had been noted on the tup of the tower three days before, during which time the temperature at the top was- eighteen ¡ degrees higher than that at the base. Observation m'ade two days before these changes were noted at the bottom, showed that the lower limit of the warm current was ¡ about 500 feet ab~ve the ground,-Ex.

RICHMOND COLLEGE MESSENGER.

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT. [ Editor-E. E.

DUDLEY,]

We are glad to say that the financial Richmond College, (I dare say,) after condition of Richmond College is such having been here nine months, who that it can build houses for the ·professors hardly feels that he knows the professors ·dn the college · grounds. Already they wh'o h~ve been instrl).cting him, and has have begun to build, and by next Sep- never spoken to the others. I k~ow a teinber we hope to see four of our pro- hoy, and a good student too, who says fessors •living here with us. This is some- that he was here three sessions before he thing that, we think, will ·bring forth a ever became acquainted with all of the new era in the history of our college. pr,ofessors. fhis ought not to be the We · thi"nk it impo,;sible for the pro- case, and we feel that it will _be so ,no fessors to. take the same interest in the longer when f hey come . to live o,n the college and the · b~ys when they are so college grol,lllds. Not only will this be far away as they would if here on the a benefi.t and an inspiration to the grounds, for 'we all well know that the students, but [t great convenience to our more we are thrown in contact with professors, as some of them have q ~ite ~ ;,t nything the· more constantly it is on our distance to (;Orne to reach the college 1 minds, ' and when we have one purpose and so are compelled to eat dinner away before us day after day, success will be fro~ home, which must necessarily be ours, so we think however great has very troublesome. We rejoic,e to see been the success of our professors-and Richmond College being better equipped great it has been:_:_even greater success · and her banner· being raised h1gher and will crown their ··labo±-s then. The boys higher as the years roll by. Long may are glad that they are coming, for she live and may she continue to make then they can go to them for any advice; progress in the _grand work she is doing they will have them with them in all of for the country in training the young · their religious meetings, which will be a men upon whose shoulders are falling source of• great pleasure. They will already the ma_ntles of the departed who have leaders not only in the' class-room, have left behind them high and responbut in almost all of th eir work, and this sible positions to be filled. will doubtless make the students much The faculty have agreed upon the 18th inore zealous iri their work. We notice of this month as" Field Day,': We hope that' in those colleges where -the profess• the students will make it'a success. Some ors join 111 with the boys in all of their of them have begun to practice, but it is undertakin gs th ey move things. Young high tim~ for all who expect to enter into men need to be encouraged. The pro- . the con test to be prnctici ng, and we,hope fessors have been living so far from us to see the cainpus covered with jocund that they can be with us only during boys every evening until the 18th. Stir class hours; · nnd many a · boy leaves yourself boys, and let's hl'love a grapd clay:. .

.

,_;,

.I

. •,

•

,_ "

✓

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT.

25

··· We a:gree with the Sunday School this session. We re101ce to see our Times when it says that a word from students of '89 and '90 taking such an Mr. Gladstone, on any subject that is of active part, for it.assures us of the success interest to him, is sure of a welcome from of the Societies next session. We attriAmericans generally, and we are glad to bute much of the success of our Societies knowithat he is writing a serie'l of articles this year to the fact that besides having on the Bible for that paper, and hope our regular Annual Public Debate we that the students· of Richmond College have had several joint deb1tes with will avail themselves of the opportunity other Societies and :find that this awakens ofrea,ding them. What a glorious thing a deeper interest. When boys are apit is to have as our great leaders God- pointed for these joint discussions, of course, they do their very best, and the fearing men ! other members seeing them acquit themAs URE wAY to get an office in a literary selves with so much credit, are naturally society.-Several weeks before the election set on :fire and they resolve just there of officers comes off, set to work, bestir that they are going to work and get so yourselves, and make a thorough canvass that they can . do as well as those who among the boys, and you wi_ll be certain were on the debate, and so they go to to get the office desired. work. At this time in the session the Ah, boys! a hint to the wise is sufficient, boys begin to talk about meda.ls arid we and we hope that in the future the have some lively · and good discussions. members of the Literary Societies of So we hope our discussions will continue Richmond College will be willing to to get better and better until the Societies wait until the Society decides that it close. needs this or that member for a certain , office. · In assuming the duties of editors, we The Literary Societies nave been doing would like to say that we appreciate the some good work this session. The boyR labors of our predecessors, but no matter have taken interest, and we think there what their success has ,been, we feel that has never been more interest manifested there is such a thing as progress, and we by students who are here for the :first hope to make the Messenger even better session. Generally the students who than it has ever been. In order that we have been here for several sessions, or at may do this boys, you must do all in your 1east one session, have·to do almost all of power for the Messenger. All hands the work and debating, but we are glad join in and help to make it the very' beat to say that such has not been the case possible.

RICHMOND COLLEGE MESSENGER

26

LOCALS. [Editor-R. _E.

"Ei:)ls.'_'

CHAMBERS.]

and join in fifteen minutes of worship Some of the s»7eetest recollections we "How do y,ou · like fried egg:;; stuffed , shall ever have of college life,will be concerning theise few moments we spend towith cotton?" gether with our fellow-students every J", , "The.perambulating clouds foreshadow · morrnng.

The breakfast bell is rung at eight a downfall of condensed aqueous vap_o r.'' o'clock, and pretty soon most of the stu-.F_ourth floor orator. dents are breaking their fast,and alas! in "Mess Hall Hash is 'the substance of most cases they are breaking it too fast. , thinge hoped for, the evidence of things Between twenty mimites before nine and ten mil;)utes pastthree, is the time no t ,seen. , "- A n ex-governer. for recitation. This time is divided into · Mr: W. (just returned from a call upon seven periods varying from fifty minone of Richmonq's fairest) to his "old utes to an hour. The average student lady:" "Truly when Cupid fires her is in class fonr of these periods. silver-tipped darts man must yield." .

At ten minutes past three dinner is ready, and the ringing of the bell inWe try to give below how the students forms us of that fact. of this institution spend a day: Permitus tosayjustherethatthestuAt half past seven the rising bell is dents of Richmond College get better rung; but by this time, the majority of board than those of any institution withthe students are up. Some rise between in our knowledge. The fare is nothing five and six, others between six and fine, but is good and wholesome. seven, others between seven and eight, The time after dinner ·until about and we may say some between eight and six o'clock is spent by quite a large nine; but there are only a few of the last \ number of students in. physical exercise. named. · S()me do a great deal of study- There are two regular classes in the ing in the early morning hours, others \ gymnasium, one from four to half past devote a little time to exercise, both in four, the other from half past four to five, and out of doors.

If the weather permits, out door sports.

At fifteen minutes of eight the bell such as lawn-tennis, croquet, running, is rung calling the students to prayers, walking, jumping, base-ball and foot-ball !J,lld those who feel so inclined may go are indulged in,

LOCALS. Supper is served at seven. Pretty soon after, all is quiet arognd college and the students are at ·work. Of course, there is studying done at all hours of the day, but the greater amount of it is done at night. About 10 o'clock the college begins to grow dark, and by 12 most of the lights are out, though some burn much later. So much we have said in general. Now let. us mention some particulars.

On Tuesday evenings, between the hours of 6 and 7 Prof. Hitrris delivers a Bible lecture to '" as many students as may of their own accord be present, and usually there is quite a large number. Every Thursday immediately after supper, a prayer meeting is held, conducted by one of the students. It is generally very well attended, and no doub't is of great benefit to all . who are present.

On Friday. afternoons, Prof. Pollard, of the School of English, meets quite a number in a reading class, and gives instruction in the art of reading.

On Friday evenings, beginning at 8 o'clock, the two literary societies hold meetings. They are generally interesting and instructive.

Prof. to Mr. H.: "What is the difference between a sentence and a cat?"

Mr. H.: "I do not know, sir."

Prof. : "A cat . has clawses at the ends of its pawses; but a sentence has pauses at the ends of its clauses."

Our Physics Professor is quite a rhetorician. Here is an alliteration used in the study of sound :

27

" Long, large, loose strings give low notes.

Short, small, stre.tched strings give sharp notes."

The Phililogian Society held its a1inual public debate Friday evening, March 21st. Soon after the doors were opened, the college chapel was crowded by an audience of Richmond's best people. Sweet l;:i:ssies and happy ]ads were out in large numbers. There was a kind of joy in the atmosphere; we could not have been unhappy if we had tried.

Dr. Geo. Cooper opened the exercises of the evening with prayer; The President, C. · T. Taylor, then · welcomed the audience. He did it well, and we are sure that every one in the large audience felt truly welcome when he had concluded his address. This was to be seen in the happy smiles that his words made come over each face. C. T. Kincannon was introduced as the declaimer of the evening. He did his part in a most acceptable manner, as was proven by the round of hearty applause that greeted his rendition of "The Marble Heart." It was a most adm.i rable selection. E. E. Dudley read "The Model Love Letter." His selection captured the audienc'e from the beginning, and he held their attention by the pleasing manner in which he read it. The sparkling hqmor and bright wit in it elecited frequent applause.

Then followed the debate upon the question: Resolved, That present indicaions point to the downfall of the Republic."

,,

28

RICHMOND COLI,EGE MESSENGER. _______-_ .. _.

W. E. Farrar opened the discussion on the affirmative. This gentleman ' spoke in an easy, graceful manner.

He said, "We live in a world of change.

Around us daily we see in every sphere of life convincing proofs of the vicissitudes of l'iarthly existences.

The :flowered pictures of the most beautiful landscape are paling with the -lapse of time. Towering mountains, that have for centuries stood as mighty 'pillars in the temple of nature, have been forced to yield to earth's fiery upheavals. and to hurl their noble summits in fragments to the clouds. Islands set with · nature's jewels of rich vegetation, and affording beautiful homes for men, by a strange freak of nature have sunk forever into the ocean's depths. So political institutions decline and fall.

Rome bowed her majestic head to the ruthless_ power of destiny, and lay in ruins . . Athens, the ancient fountain from which flowed the in tellectual stream :that sustained · the world, was not immortal. And however_odious the thought may be, our own fair country must be landed· in utter confusion and ruin unless the corroding inftu<':nces now playing upon her are ·speedily and effectually removed.'; He spoke of the evil tendences of immigration, and showed that the system of land ownership, the offers of cheap and valuable homes, the system of free schools in this country, were all tending to rriake this evil · increase. He also discussed the" _Race Problem, _". in its relation to the question:. Of 'course we can give but· a · scant · idea · what his speech was.

or

It was much enjoyed by all. He was frequently interrupted by applause.

Mr. D.' H. Rucker followed him as first on the negative. This gentleman delivered a well rounded, forcible, argnme~tative speech in a forcible manner. We give some of his argument. He said that in order to form a correct idea of a country's prospects you must not only look at the superficial indications, but · alio at the nature of its government and institutions, upon which the perpetuity of the government depe'nds. The in~ stitutions which our government rests are indestructible and so long as liberty is held dear by her citizens, America will continue in the course her prosperity. Several favorable indications were presented; the characteristic energy of the American citizen ; the moral healthfulness existing; ·the marked progress in the elevavation of woman. The audience did not hesitate to frequently demonstrate their hearty . appreciation of this gentleman's speech. He acquited himself well.

Mr. W. B. McGarity was the second debater on the affaimative.

This gentlemen spoke in a very · pleasing and attractive manner. We can only give a _crude idea of what his speech was, but present some of his thoughts. He said: " The foundation of a republic i& political !equality and the preservation or the personal rights of its citizens. The national government exists for the people, and should be simply an agent for the impartial distribution of justiee and the improvement of all'. Whatever tends to transfer the power of control

on

.,

.

,..

LOCALS.

29

from th,e hands of the masses to those cious manner. We give a few of his of the few, or to drown the voice of thoughts. " All this talk about the the people, points to confusion, impending downfall of our republic cen~~alization, downfall. Republics is very largely _due to the pessimistic : can exist only when the people are tendency of hurµan nature. We exalt , united ' in · interest and ideas. We the past and magnify its virtues, have a mingled mass, an·d therafore despair of the ,present and magnify varied interests and ideas, and a dark its ill~. Our government has stood the cloud 'is hanging over our c'ountry. test of a hundred years, and has suffer~ . In the 'political world _ everything eel some as severe·strains as it will ever tendr, to centralization. The country's be called upon to bear and it still , , ,i~tei-ests I are sacrificed to party in- stands. It is the strongest governterests :and persoaal preferments, can- ment the world ever knew. It unites didates are selec't ed because of' :finan- the elements of strength that Greece . cial irrflu~nce rather than worthiness and Rome had-the separ·a te States ?r fitness. The action of the present ·of the one .and the centralized power · Speaker of the House paves the way of the other. These · two make a for a dictator. The voice of the complete aystein, and one that is people is· no longer suflieierit fo place strong enough to stand against the a man ih 'the United States Congress: . dangers that threaten it. The masses Wealth is exercising a tremendous of the p~ople in America are in a influence .on our country. The · ten- better condition than in any other dency is to separate our people into country. Socialistic and labor troubles two cla3ses,the enormously rich and the have largely subsided. The franchise extremely poor. Should this continue in the hands of the poor, who are'in for thirty years,, as it has for the last the majority, enables them to defond thir'ty '• years, twenty-five thousand themselves and put an effectual check men will virtually o"'.'n the United upon the • power of the rich. The States. This tranfers the power 'o f North and the South will uni'te' in control to a most powerfol oli.garchy. solving the great Race Problem.

In ~very election, in all legislation, With, these two sections united, the they are using their power. The negroes can ne,ver cause the overthrow middle claeses are being broken down. of the republic. Wait until the hour Shall we have an enslaved peasantry, or of danger comes; from whateve,r shall the people rise en 1nasse and thro' source it may, then patriotic sons will off this yoke of capital oppression ? rally from all parts of our country to These are some of the tendencies, all save the nation. The downfall of the pointing to centralization, and tuned republic would mean the establishto the same air-the death-knell of our me11t of a monarchy in America.

Repu,blic."

This· will never be allowed in our , Mr. H. If. Williams land of the free aud the home of the closed the discussion with a quick, lively speech upon the ,negative, brave." delivered in hia1 own peculiar viva- · The President then announced the

80

RICHMOND COLLEGE MESSENGER.

exercises of the evening as over and bade the audience good-night.

The sweet music made by two of Richmond's charming singers, Mr. Douglass Leftwich and Mr. Haddon W a.tkins, added much to the enjoyment of the evening.

'rhe committee think themselves very fortunate in securing the services of this truly great man. Dr. Harris is a man of extensive learning and one 路 who, to intellectual powers of vast, reach and manifold direction, unites genial and universal sympathies. His manner of speaking is said to be A young man whom we know very pleasing and intensely interestwent into a barber-shop to be shaved. ing. The Home Magazine, speaking He told the barber not to shave off of him says : "Dr. Harris' inimitable his mustache. After the barber had and indescribable method of impartperformed the operation as requested ing ideas is happily illustrated in a the following was spoken : series of nine essays on Christianity -Y. M.: "What.do you think ,o f my zn Art." We feel sure that there is a mustache?" feast of good things in store for the Barber: "Well, Ijes tell yo路u, boss, people of Richmond. deys plenty long but ders a mighty LECTURE I few ob dem."

April 17th. Subject: "The Sistine Now that young man has a clean Madqnna and the St. Cecilia ,of upper'lip. 路 Raphael. The Madonnas of Dresden and Darmstadt, of Holbein."

LECTURE II Mr. T. to "L9cal Editor:" " Say, Eels, I want to laugh at that joke April , 22d. Subject: "Michael you told me at the Mess HaU the. Angelo's sculptures, including the other day."

Moses and the Tombs of the Medecii.

L. E. "All right, laugh."

Greek sculpture, including the Apollo Belvidere, the Venus of Melos and Mr. T. " Ha ! Ha ! ! Ha ! ! ! ".

The L. E. 路is glad that his jokes the Laockoon Group." cause laughter even if it does require LECTU:J:tE III a week for them to do so.

April 24th. Subject : " The Last Supper, by Leonado De Vinci, and No man can live unto himself and otp.ers."

Each one of these lectures will be :find satisfaction.-Dr. Thomas. illustrated by a large nnmber of THE THOMAS ENDOWED LECTURES.- pictures shown by a powerful calcium The third eourse of these lectures light. will be delivered this month in the Thomas Memorial Hall. The subject INTHE ENGLISH CLAss.-Prof. to Mr. is, " Studies of Some Great Works W. : " What is the difference in use of Art." The leeturer is the Hon. between 'hanged' and 'hung?'"

Wm. T. Harris, L.L. D., United "You use hanged when you wish to States Commissioner of Education. say a man is hung."

LOCALS. Mr. Y. to Mr. L.: "Why is a hog the most wonderful animal upon a farm?"

Mr L.: "I do not know. Why ?"'

Mr. Y.: "Because it can be killed and then cured."

Not self-seeking but self-sacrificing is true life.-Rev. R. M. Wharton.

RELIGIONS OF INDIA-Tuesday ,March 25th, a lecture on the Religions of India was delivered in the Oo11ege chapel by Henry Stanley Youmans, of England. Mr. Yon mans is a man of extensive learniug, and has spent several years in India for the purpose of studying the religions of .that country. His lecture was very interesting and he held the attention of the large audience from beginning to end. · The following is only a short part of his lecture. He first spoke of the Hill tribes. " These tribes," said he,, "now inhabit the hill country and are the aborigines of India, descended from the great Indo-European family from which the Anglo-Saxon sprang. These men have a · fine physique and are very intellectual learning rapidly at their colleges; bU:t they do not knov,T how to utilize the knowledge they acquire. They readily accept the position of servant to some of the higher classes. Their religion consists in the worship of demons.

The mosques are situated upon some elevated position and are generally magnificent.

In the center of their towns and villages one may see a vacant house, and in one of the rooms of that house is &- bowl of rice ~nd mill~. These

31

provisions are made for the comfort o'f the departed spirits when they return on a visit to their old homes. " The next oldest religon is Hindoo1sm. Their sacred book is the Vedas.

The early hymns of their religion are purer than those written later. This is only an example illusfrating the f~ct that the worship of idols tends downward.

The next later religions are those of the dissenters; their faiths are the Buddhist and Sikh. Their doetrine of Buddisrn is practica11y a doctrine of nothings. They think nothing, believe nothing, know nothing, and do nothing. The Jaius are the only Buddhists in India. They have some peculiar customs, among them these: sweep}ng the ground before setting down and straining the water before drinking, and their reason for so doing is that they fear they may destroy life. They think it a sin for' man to destroy that which man cannot create."

Mr. Youmans then spoke of Sikh faith, another of the religions of the dissenters. Next be spoke of two imported religions-the Mohamedan and Parsa faiths. One of the striking facts in regard to th e Moharnedans is that many of them know the Koran, which is their sacred book, by heart, and thus they are very strong in argument. The Howling Dervishes belong to this class, and ' so also the Rufais, or Dancing Dervishes. The believers in the Parsi faith are very wealthy. These are dissenters from idolatry, and worship the fire and the sun as the emblems of the divine spirit. The next and latest faith is thE.l Bram o~Somaj. · T~e followers of

32

RICHMOND COLLEGE MESSENGER.

, this faith believe in God and brother- liams; Censor, J. J. Wicker; Re_ hood among men. Their sacred ,book cording Secretary~ R. H. Rudd; ,Cor1s a colleption of one thousand responding Secretary, W. H. Ryland; hymns." Mr. Youmans next spoke Oi;itic, E. E. Dudley; Chaplain; E. B. of the work done by missiona_ries. Winfrey; Sergeant-at-Arms, · c.· T. He concluded .by sayingthat in 1881, . Taylor; Hall Mangers, M. J. Hoover when he was there, after he had and H. W. Province; Monthly preached to a large congregation, the . Orator, E. M. Whitlock. people went away shouting, " Our Mu SIGMA Rno.~]'inal President, gods will win the victory;" but that F. C. Johnson; Term President, W. n.ow they turn away after hearing B. Loving; Vice President, . F. W. the missionarieh preach, murmuring Kir1g; Censor, R. W. Martin; Treas"Jesus, the Mesiah 1s wipning' the urer,W. Mc. S. Buchanan; Recording vietory."

Secretary, E. M. Pilcher; CorreThe following officers, for the en- spon<1ing Secretary, . T. H. Athey; ' suing term of, the Societies, were Critic, P. M. E3tes; Sergeant-atelected at their last regular meeting: Arms, J. H. Whitel-iead; Chaplain, Wm. A. Goodman; Hall Manager, PHILOL0<.HAN.'- Final President; W. R. E. Chambers; Monthly Oritor, B. McGarity; Term Presidffnt, J. R. S. M. Hearou. · ·-• Brown; Vice Pre8ident, Frank Wil-

. Y. .M. C. ' A. NOTES, .

The Y. M. 0. :A., and many of the impressive. The public, who attended, professors and students of the college expressed themseves as pleased with the individually, have long been anxious to movement. Such was the satisfaction institute a Sunday evening service in . _with this beginning, that the services the college chapel. will be . continued irregularly for this The question has been agitated anew session, but with th_e hope of finally this session, and as a result the first institnting a Sunday evening service. service was held ,on the evening of The committee has arranged with March 23d. T.he devotional committee Dr. M. D. Hoge to preach one evening had requested Dr. W. D. Thomas to during this month, and it is hoped that preach. A large congregation, inclu- others will follow. ding many from the city, attended this initial service and all felt fully assured Read the following entertaining acthat the movement was a wise one. Dr. count of the first Y. M. C. A. Deputai.t Thomas preached an excellent sennon, tion Conference, written by F. · G; and the services were in every way Johnson, one of the four dele~ates frq:rn

Y. M. 0. A. NOTES.

83

the State of Virginia to the mee-ting these fifteen were present, and it 1s which was recently held at Ashe- , gratifying to 11ay that they were at ville, N. 0.: every session on time. In addition to . "FIRST COLLEGE Y. M. 0. ,A. DEPU- these there were two prominent visitors,, TATION CONFERENCE.-Ever since the Prof. H. L. Smith, of D·avidson College, notable visit of Prof. Drummond and N. 0., and Dr. John T. Crowell, Prez_ his Scotch Deputation in 1887 to the ident of Trinity College, N. C. The Conference was conducted by principal colleges and µniversities of the Messrs.

Ober and Mott and was closed North and West, there have been many discussions in the State 0onven- . to the public.

Every detail of the work had been tions and College Conferences on the subject of having a regular plan for so thoroughly systematized that no time · systematic visitation by college men was lost.

The students sat around a long table, among college men, for the purpose of presided over by the two college secrestimulating Christians and reaching the unconverted. Indeed, some of the lead- taries, who sat one at each end. Each ing institutions of learning in the North student had his Bible, Singing Book have sent out a few of their men at and Note Book, just before him.

Mr. Ober led off with a lecture upon different times ,for work along the line the work of the College Young Men's above mentioned. But it remained for the two college se0retaries of the Inter- Christian Association, its history, national Committee, Mr. 0. K. Ober, a principles, · and methods. We were graduate of "Williams College, and Mr. given time to take full notes on every J.'R. Mott., a graduate of Cornell Uni- subject handled. One would lecture for versity, to devise and mature a plan an hour; then he would ,be followed .by that promises to prove quite a factor in · the other, and in this manner the whole the grand work for the young men· of work was delivered, to us.

Taking notes for so many hours a our educational institutions.

It was determined between them to day was quite fatiguing; but · the make a practical application of this magnitude of the work and the responscheme first in the colleges of the South. sibility it brought to us was quite Accordingly they req nested the executive enough to prevent any complaining.

Two Bible readings were delivered committees of the Southern States, that are regularly organized in Y. M. 0. A. to us by the Rev. Mr. Erdman, a work, to send from two to four delegates promi'~ent and eminently successful to Asheville, N. 0,, April 3-6, in order evangelist of the Presbyterian Church. that the plan of work might be com- These were very helpful in many ways .

The only public service held by the . mitted to them. Sixteen college students were appointed by their several young men was a m~eting for men only States, as follows: Tennessee 4, Vir~ on Sunday afternoon. This was in ginia 4, North Carolina 2, South Caro- charge of the students exclusively, and lina 2, Georgia 2, Kentucky 2. Of the power of the spirit was manifest.

34

RICHMOND COLLEGE MESSENGER.

Nearly a score of young men rose for President of the Y. M. C. A. Such an prayer at the close. Fourteen of the · evening will not soon be forgotten. number were sought out and conversed Much more could be said about this with by the boys, and :five of them came Conference, but space will not permit. out boldly for the Lord Jesus, while the The delegates go back to their names and addresses of the others, so respective colleges, and the result of deeply cortcerned, were handed to Mr. the Conference will be seen only when H. P. Andersen, the general secretary they start out upon their work of visitof the Asheville Association. ing the colleges and universities of The farewell service was an unusual- their several States. ly interesting and profitable meeting.

"May their' work not be in vain."

It contined up to 11:50, on SunA VISIT FROM THE AFRICAN Pmday night and even then the fellows did not seem willing to NEERS.-The missionary spirit among leave. The last feature was to join the students of our college was greatly hands around the table and sing that stimulated by a visit recently paid us song now so dear to those that have by Messrs. Helmick, Jaderquist, and attended conventions of the Y. M. C. A., Codding, of Kansas, Minnesota, and Nebraska.

"Blest be the tie,'' &c.

These young men are members of the On Saturday night it was suggested that this :first Deputation Conference Kansas Missionary Band, whose purought to be photographed. The photog- pose is to labor among the 90,000,000 rapher was sent for and came prepared heathen in the Soudan district, of which to take a flash-light picture of our immense number 13,000,000 live crowd. So after grouping us, he turned almost exclusively on human flesh.

Our three visitors, together with four down the lights in the room and sud_ denly a flash came forth. All of us others of the band, are soon to leave for shut our eyes immediately, and at :first the African coast and, as pioneers, will feared that the picture was ruined, but penetrate into the heart of the country the negative proved that the picture to open up the way for the rest of the was taken before we winked. party, numbering about forty. During , I shall not attempt a description of the weeks that in~ervene before they the scenery in and around Asheville. Its set out in their pioneer work, they grandeur could be seen and felt, but are visiting the principal colleges and not described. ' towns of the United States, trying to ·Old Virginia could not have sur- arouse the young men of our land to passed the Asheville people in the take a part in the great work of conhospitality shown to us. Each delegate verting the heathen. Their plea is was in his own mind firmly convinced not for Africa alone, but for all that that his was the best home in the city. • sit in darkness.

A parlor conference and bounteous They do not take up collections to supper drew the delegates on Saturd~y defray the expenses attending their evening to the home of Mr. Collins, the travels, neither do they a~k anything

Y. M. C. A. NOTES. of men, but with childlike faith they look to the Lord to supply all their· needs.

Their first meeting was on W ednesday night and was led by Helmick.

He read the first few verses of the 33rd chapter of Ezekiel, emphasizing strongly the personal nature of the call to Christian work.

Codding spoke first, giving two reasons for the lethargy of Christian people in the great matter of the world's conversion-namely, the lack of information and of conse·cration. · Helmick followed, and his words were full of power and of earnestness.

One very forcible argument was that, if we were as easily placed about on this earth as a figure on a chessboard in the hands of a skilful player, would the Lord leave us here in Christian America, or would he set us down in some of the dark places , of the world ?

Their visit made a great impression upon our men, and in the after meeting, held in the room of one of the students, not less than eight men signified their purpose of going to the foreign field, unless the Lord should direct them otherwise.

One very striking feature, prominent in all three of these young men, was the fact that they were much in prayer.

We regretted very much that J ~derquist did not reach Richmond in time for the meeting. He was with us, however, in a room-prayer-meeting the following afternoon, and his power was felt by all present. , The number of our volunteers for the foreign field now stands over twenty.

These young men carry with them the prayers of our boys as th~y go forthin the Lord's work.

Only a few weeks ago, the Y. M. C. A. determined to make efforts to raise means for the furnishing of a room •given by the college especially for their use. Since then, a committee has been appointed for raising subscriptions and, as we go to press, upwards of two hundred dollars has been subscribed.

About one hundred has been given by the .students, the other hundred comes though the generous hand of Dr. Ryland, Secretary and Treasurer of the College, who has ever been willing and ready to give time, labor a'nd money, in assisting · whatever worthy object the boys have undertaken, and it is unnecessary to say that we appreciate with all our heart this liberal gift. Our Y. M. G. A. is composed of nearly seventy members I and besides this large body which meets weekly, there are as many more who are not members, but attend often.

This body has been the instrument of much good in past years and well deserves this new room, so kindly given by the college, which the Y. M. C. A. may call its own, and which the members can use as a reading room, There are many reasons why all shottld help in the furnishing of this room, which has been undertaken by a deserving body of students. Open your pockets, fellow-students, and . assist the Y. M. C. A. in the furnishing of this new room; and here we would add that if any of the old student wish to aid us in our undertaking, their donations however small, will be gladly received.

36

RICHMOND COLLEGE MESSENGER.

PERSONALS. [ Editor-N. H.

·~

~,.

· ... G. G. Abbitt, M. A. of '82, who is a ·· s~ccessful pastor at Liberty, Va., paid . us a short visit lately. .· . M.' A. Coles, '88 is a member of the United States coast surveying corps, now stationed at Josephine, Ala. ' H. H. Harris Jr., '86-'87, formerly in busi_ness in this city, is in the brokerage bu_siness at Lynchburg.

A. P. Spotts, who left school a short time ago; is in business with his father on Broad street. · We understand that J. H. Willis, .

'87, who is now a prospQrous merchant at Brandy, Va., expcts to be with us at the commencement. Come, we will · be . glad to see you, "Old Boy." J. E. Hutchison left college the last week in March for his home at Forest Hill, Summers county, W. Va., where he will take charge of a school.

We congratulate the academy that secured ·the services of our old friend.

We hear with joy that A. M. Carroll, M.A. of '87, iiow attending Johns Hopkins University, will pay us a visit at the unveiling of the Lee monument.

C. M. Waite, who on account of sickness was compelled to leave college, is ·recruiting at his home in Culpeper.

W. T. Creath, '89, teacher in the acade,rny at Winsdor, paid us a hurried visit the second week in March.

We regret to state that W. C. Foster, '8!) 1 has been obliged> on account of ill-

HARRIS.]

health, to give up his studies at the S. B. T. Seminary .

The Senior Englis~ class was honored at the lecture recently by the presence of Misses Kate and Lula Harrison and Misses Shields and Mayo. . Jos. H. Whitehead, B. A. of '89, is reading law at Chatham.

Messrs Abbitt, Porter and Hobson, '89, who attended · the Medical College of this city the past session (whose commencement took place on the 9th inst.) came up and bid us farewell.

Again the hymeneal bells are ringing· This time James T. Noell, B: A. of '87-88, has entered the blissful state anp has also lately hung out his "shingle" at Winston, Ala. E. C. J a.mes, '89, is principal of a flourshing school at his home, Paxson, Loudoun county, Va. 0. H. White, '87, is with the Western Union Telegraph, Co., in this city.

· It is with exceeding sadness that we turn from noting the success of our fellow-students and the honors conferred upon them, to announce the dea,th of two in the prime of life and when their efforts were being crowned wir.h success: James Cabell Smith (sessions 1875-9) died at the residence of his father, Prof. _E. B. Smith, March 13th, 1890, aged thirty, From childhood, his health was very frail. His three sessions at college

EXCHANGES. were intterrupted by repeated, we might almost say, continuoL'is sickness An active oat-door life, first as membe~ of a railway engineer corps, then on · his farm m ·Albema'l'le ' county, delayed but could not avert the ravages of disease. Through such a life of a:ffiiction the Captain of his salvation led; the discipline we may be s11re was loving as well as wise; it has ended in rest for the wor~ and wasted frame, eternal bliss, we trust, for the immortal spirit.

To the stricken father, the crushed, mother, the devoted elder brother, whose constant attention and med.ical

37

skill kept the feeble flame of life burning so long; · we tender . our heartfelt sympathy.

Fel.ix A. Bettelheim, M. D., (s~ssion 1874-5) a son of Rabbi Bettelheim, then of Richmond, died in Baltimore, Md., April 4th, 1890, aged twenty-nine.

His robust health was wrecked by hard work in his profession in the unwholesome climate of Pan~ma, Central America, and last May he was compelled to give up bright 'prospects of eminent success. His body was laid beside his mother's in the Hebrew cemetery on Shockoe Hill.

EXCHANGES. [ Editor-GARNE'rT RYLAND.] The Southern Coll~gian, of Washington and Lee University, is out in a new dress, which places it among the neatest of our exchanges,in eize and press work, · as it is one of the beet in conten~s.

"Lights and Shades of College Life'' is a well-written and faithful picture of the student's pleasures and troubles · although we cannot agree with the author in 11,ll he says, as in this extract.

"The real trouble · has grown out of the system of grading which carries so many evils. Originally meant for a means it has now become a end.

Men have lost sight of its purpose. As now in vogue it encourages the cramming process and increases flimsy scholarship. Men cram for recitation, cheat before the professor's eyee, run late at class or absent themseh·es altogether merelf to appear well on the monthly record.

As long as we have marks men will ~tudy for them and ~o elimim1.te .t4e per-

nicious effects . we must eradicate the cause.''

In our experience, monthly marks have served to give the good sLudent some idea of what progress he is making a,nd to call his attention to his weak poil).ts; while to the indolent, they supply a needed and healthy stimulus.

The exchange department of the Marietta (0.) College, Olio i8 decidedly its besL feature;. giving instead of dry criticisms of papers which its rea,dern never see, the views of its exchanges on topics of common interest to all college men. This is, in our opinion the right principle on which to conduct an exchange department, for in this way alone can our .readers know what is taking place in the college world outiside of their own walls.

T4~ Olio se~ms to have no special

/

38

RICHMOND COLLEGE MES~ENGER.

literary department, a strange omission in what is presumably a literary magazine which should be the exponent of the facility in English composition of the students of that institution which it represents.

The Cadet He-rald, of the Florida Agricultural College, is not yet a year old,but gives promise of being a sprightly·paper.

Better printing and paper and more orderly arrangement of its contents will enhance its attractiveness.

There is nothing especially striking in the February number of the Hamilton College Monthly, (Ky.,) but on the whole it reflects credit on the young ladies who edit it. In making the literary department its most prominent feature it is a pleasing exception to many of our exchanges Many of our Western · exchanges are full of the contest held under the auspices of their inter-collegiate oratorical and athletic association. Why shouldn't we have ·such organization among our Virginia and Southern colleges? We very much need to become better acquainted with each other and to know what progress our sister institutions are ma.king.

The Normal News (N. Y.) pronouncee the article on Mammoth Cave in our February number "well written and instructive."

The Speculum (N. Y.) commends "Co-education,'' in the same issue.

Many thanks.

Our best exchanies will be found here-

after on one of the tables in the Library We hope our fellow-students will use them to :find out what other colleges are doing, and esvecially with an eye to the improvement of our own magazine.

In a well written editorial The Tujtonian asks : '' Is the college press free? One of the principal objects of the press at large, •in distinction from the college press, is to instigate and inaugurate reforms by revealing and decrying the evil there is in the world. Not so with the college press. The faculty and trustee skeletons are locked up in a dark closet,,and now it is only the m,y side of life that is portrayed. Every college paper is full of the improvements that hav-e been made at our · college and the great things that we have done, but never a word by way of criticism or disclosure of abuses. The student knows better. Why then does not the college press openly and fearlessly point out the weak places in the management of oux coileges? In the first place the students feels a strong aversion to revealing the mismanagement in the college where he is receiving his education. But the moment he does say anything he is called an ungrateful upstart. And if after waiting in vain for some crying abuse to be corrected, he is 1nan enough to denounce it, · he is immediately pounced upon by the faculty and warned not to repeat such indiscretion, not because his criticism is untrue, but because, forsooth, it sounds bad outside, and might keep some student away who might otherwise come.'' Such a strong statement as this must be taken "cum grano . salis," :but like most strong statements contains a truth. True criticism we be-

COLLEGE NEWS AND NOTES. lieve would be received, but a careful distinction must be drawn between petty fault-finding and true criticism.-Olio.

ABOVE MY DOOR,

I have no bust of Pallas above my chamber door, To guard with awful eyebrows these tomes of ancient lore ; And ifin vain I struggle with the mighty thoughts of yore,

89

There is not, perching there, a mven of despair To croak in hollow accents, " :- evermore."

I have a gilded horseshoe above my chamber dopr, ¡ And there it hangs and glistens, while o'er my books I pore.

I am not certain that th111gs go better than before; But bad luck does not stay, and no witches come this way, So let the horseshoe hang there ~vermore.

Bowdoin Orient.

COLLEGE NEWS AND NOTES. [Editor

GARNETT RYLAND.]

The Richmond State is anxious for the University of Virginia to incorporate the '' Confederate Yell" in its school ¡ yell.

Washington and Lee has a new gymnasium, said to be one of the best in the State.

Th~ Y. M. 0. A. at the University of Virginia, is making an effort to erect an association building, including a thoroughly equipped gymnasium, to cost $60,000. Over $4,000 has been already subscribed at the University itself.

Secretary Blaine, Chief-Justice Fuller and Speaker, Reed are all college graduates. Of the eighty-two United States Senators, forty-one are college men; of the Representatives,- one hundred and sixty-four, slightly more than ha~f. This is encouraging. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina, U niver-

sityofVirginia, andJCumberland Univer_ sity of Tennessee are among the universities that furnish the greater number of graduates.

Deleware is represented entirely by college men.

There are fifty-five State institutions of learning in the United States; the Methodists have sixty-one colleges, Baptists forty-seven, Roman Catholics fortyseven, the Presbyterians forty, and the .

Congregationalists twenty-six.

Brazil, with a population of fourteen millions, has no college worthy the name, Graduates fail to pass higher than a Prep. class here.

Of Cornell's ninety graduates, ten per cent. were ladies, yet they won sixty per cent. of the honors.

Michigan University has done entirely away with honors, prizes and examinations.

RICHMOND COLLEGE · MESSENGER.

40

There are 190 college papers i n the United States.

' The Mohammedan College at Cairo, Egypt, is the oldes t the world. It was founded eight hundred_ years befo re Oxforcl .

in

One man in five thousand takes a college course in E ngland, one to six hundred and fifteen in Scotland, one in \ ever y two hundred and thirteen in Five hundred students of Yale study Germany,- and one in t wo thousand in _ the Bible under Prof. Harper. th e U nited S t.ates.

RICHMOND STRAIGHT CUT No.1 CIGARETTES. ---o---

CIG -1\..RE"rTE SMOKERS, who are willing to pay a little more than the price . ch arged for the ordi_n ary trade Cigarette, will find THIS BRAND superior to all others.

---o~

THE RICHMOND STRAIGHT CUT NO. 1 CIGARETTES

.

are made from the brightest, most delicately flavored and highest cost GOLD LEAF grown in Virginia. · 'fhis is the OLJ) AND ORIGINAL BRAND OF STRAIGHT CUT Cigar. ettes, anu was brought out by us in the y ear 1875. . · · BEW ARE OF IMITATIONS, and observe that the firm name as below is on every package-

AL LEN & GINTER, Manufacturers, RICE:~OND, VA_ A LSO MANUFACTURERS OJ!'

V.(RGINIA BRIGHTS and DIXIE CIGARETTES, OLD RIP, IMPERIAL MIXTURE, .

- .

RICHMOND GEM CURLY CUT,

And other high grade SMOKING TOBACCOS.

:::S:. '_07 ~ - ~OEST.~ "S BAKERYANDOONFEO~ONER~ No. 111 E. MAIN STREET, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

ORGANIZED

1832.-VIRGINIA. FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY RlCRl\IOND, .

Issnli's a short. comprehensive policy, fr ee of petty restrictions, and liberal in its terms and con cl i t io 11 s. J\ g'P, 11 ts in everv town and couuty. Correspondence solicited . .

W. FI P AL:\rn R, P resident.

WM. H. McCAR'fHY, Secr(ltary.

----------- - -

BRYANT &STRATTON BUSINESS COLLEGE Lou IS v I LL E Ky ?uu Boole K cepiny, Shor t Hand Tefoo••aphy, <l':c.

Write for Catalogue and info••mation.

·

9

•