The Messenger, Vol. 12, No. 4

JANUARY,

VOL. XII.

1887.

NO . 4.

EDITORS: £I. W. STRALEY, Mu Sigma Rho, { W. C. 'l'YREE, R. C. STEARNES.

0. R. CRUIKSHANKS, Philologian,{ W. A. BORUM, H. W. WILLIAMS,

Business Manager-W • .A. BORUJII. Assistant Business Manager-W. C. ROBINSON.

- -- - -------[Written for the :Mess~nger.] My Pipe. JOSH.

Old pipe, now batter'd, brnised, and brown, For many year we've been together; With hope high up and spirits down, I've pnfl'ed thee in all kind of weather; And U'-' I iill thee with the weed That steep my brain in dreamy rnpor, P<'gnssus for a time i freed, Ancl like a colt begin to caper. When we wen' young, my pipe and I, 'l'hc world looked golden to my vision ; I thought th• Vates without 1l ~igh, Woulu lap my ~oul in sweet 1':lysium; Ct'nlralia, l"a., Oct.

rn, l~SG.

But time has used us rather rough, We've drifted down the sea, still dreaming, 'Till now we'd feign sing out enough, And say farewell to idle seeming, Old pipe, had but thy smoky bowl A tongue that could to life be started, Knowing the secrets of my soul In many a midnight hour imparted, 'l'hy pleadings could perhaps renew 'l'he tics of love that time has sundered, And with an unknown softness woo, Where my rough speech has only blundered.

=---======-c==

Among note<lfontures of college commencements thii,; year is the fact of the semi-centennial of two eminent professors-Profos or J. L. Lincoln of Brown Univer ity :rnd Professor W. S. Tyle1· of Amherst 'ollegl'. An nendemic life of fifty years with one in. litution is not common, but the~c men m·c wearing theitarn1or where they put it on. Both of thc'c men cuny the spil'it of youth.

The University of Jena has received a a bequest of $75,000, to be applied to zoological research upon Darwin's theory of evolution. William and Mary College in Virginia il-ldead iu all but name. Every morning the aged President rings the college bell, and, though not one student responds, the college is open and the charter is not

re,,okctl.

2

RIOHJJ10ND COLLEGE .MESSENGER. Language-lt!ii

Ot•igiu,

What is that strange institution which we call language""? What is its origin? What are its uses ? Such questions as these present themselves to the minds of thoughtful persons, but to get a sufficient answer to them is not easy. Perhaps the best definition of language is that it is the means which beings employ in communicating their thoughts and feelings to one another. This includes both the articulate speech of men and the inarticulat~ utterancei; of brutes, for the one is as truly language as the other. Animals seem to understancl the various sounds to which they give utterance as really as men catch the import of spoken words. This definition also includes the sign language used by deaf mutes. Restricting ourselves to articulate language, we say tlmt its origin is partly divine and partly human. According to the most orthodox philosophy, man cannot create something out of nothing. Hence, the origin of language is divine in the reepect that God endowed man with the capabilities of speech, and human in so far as mankind have made use of these innate capacities, and from rude brginnings ha Yedeveloped the present beautiful and complicated fabric of language. In trying to get back to the origiu of a language it would be neceseury to trace the history of each separate word which it contaius. But an attempt of this sort, interesting as it might pro,•e to the linguistic student, would not give a full solution uf the problem, as the origin of many wor<ls is lost. The rise of many names may be explained on the onomatopoetic principle. Objects arc named from some })l'Omincut

Us<•, autl Alntse.

feature or quality which they possess. Thns the falling of a tree in the forest was called a "crash"; the ~triking of a heavy body on the ground, a "thud"; a peculiar rry suggestive of pain, a "howl,"-thc words themselves being derived from the sounds produced. Other words, chiefly interjections, came into use to express feeling, such as "Oh," " Alas," &c. Our purpose, however, is not to trace the history of one particular language, but of language in general, as the embodiment of thought and feeling, and as the means of corumunic·ation between man antl man. Each member of the human race is by nature a social being, and necd'l company. As a consequence men require some means of making themselves mutually understood. Imagine a recluse inhabitiug some lonely cave on the mountain's side: such a one would have no need to speak, and very likely never \\'Ould. But let him give up his hermit's life and mingle with society, and language becomes a necessity for hi111. The great use of language is to convey thought a11dfeeling. Thought and speech arc not identical. The former is requisite fo1· the latter; but whether language is necessary fot· thought-that is, whether we think by means of words-is a mooted point. It would seem that ideas and concepts can be formed without the help of words; for the deaf and dumb evidently think, as their actions prove. Y ct it is undeniable that words are a great aid to uccmate thinking and to the clearness of ideas. Of the adaptability of laug11agc for this use, much might be said. Tho sculptor ean take the plain and

LANGUAGE-ITS

ORIGIN, USE, AND ABUSE.

lifeless block of marble and transform it into the fine and life-lik e statue of a man. The painter can depict upon the can,·ass, scenes so true to nature that tho very birds are deceiyeg., and yrt with all theit· art, neither the sculptor nor the painter can so sti'r men to actioi1 as the writer whose logic carries conviction, or the orator whose well-turned periods move _multitudes. For the superiority of language over the fine arts in this respect, sever~l reasons may be given. First, language is much more flexiLle than either sculpture or painting; it can be used to express more delicate and various shades of meaning. The artist can present a number of exprcs!:>ions,but the material which he uses is more limited in capacity for embodying thought than that with which the linguist deals. Another advantage of language consists in the greater proficie11cy which can he attained · by the majority of mcu in its use, as compared with sculpture or painting. · True, only skilful men iu either calling ever rise to the front rank, Lut the number of good speakers and writers is greater than the number of famous artists. Amoug the orators may be me:ntioued Pericles, Demosthenes, Cicero, Burke, Chatham, Gladstone, Webster, Henry, and others. The illustrious writers in prose and verse compose a company too great for us to mention. They appear in every country and every age. The artists, however, would not include so many names. Phidias, Canova, Michael Angelo, Raphael, Reubens, Vand) kc, an<l Landseer well-nigh complete the list. Notwithstall(ling the great beauty of language as a means of intercourse between the members of the human family,

we hear frequent and violent abuses of it. Among those which need to be specially guarded against are slang and superlative expressions, and euphemistic language used to cover the most heinous sins. Slang shows intellectual weakness in the person who employs it. Many people use it-college students not ex• cepted. Slang phrases probably arise from the fact that the person using them has no clear conception of what he is about to say. He makes use _of such terms to conceal his temporary embarrassment, thereby proclaiming his ignorance or indolence. Superlati,·e language is due, most likely to the same cause. Some people declare that a very common occurrence is "the funniest thing they ever saw" ; about something, of which they have often heard, they protest that "they never did heat· of such a thing in all thefr Jives." A serious o~jection to this overcoloring in the use of language is its tendency to falsehood. Hyperbole indulged in occasionally lends force and vivacity to speech. To say that a certain man is as high as a church-steeple simply conveys the idea that he is very tall ; no one nndc1•:-;tandsthe statement literally. The frequent employment of such language has, however, a bad effect on the mind. It leadi:; to the habit of telling lies. If we use such_exaggerated tel'ms with re• gal'd to every-day events, what shall we do when we have something grand to describe? Perhaps the greatest perversion of langt1age is the use of high-sounding terms to cloak wicked acts. The newspapers of to-day are full of this error; one example will suffice. In current phrase a bank• cashict· '' appl'Opriatcs the funds for his

4

RICHMOND COLLEGE MESSENGER.

'0Wnpurposes, and absconds to Canada;" but in plain Anglo-Saxon he "stole the money and ran away." May it not be long before men cease to hide sin under bombastic phraseology,but see it in all its hideous deformity!

Let language be studied; neglect it not in order to learn science, but let both go hand-in-hand, for each disciplines the mii1d. Let language be used grammatically; let it he used simply; let it be used forcefully. ALBION.

l.Uy lUoustaclae.

I am now 21 years old, though there is nothing surprising about that, for I once knew an unmarried lady who was th'at age. Ever since I was a little boy who used to eat green apples when I did not wish to go to school-preferring colic to school-I have looked forward to this age. Ever since I used to hang my sisters' kittens, and then guess with the seriousness of a judge that I had seen the neighbor's dog prowling around that morning, I have looked fo1¡wardto this age. Yes, even from the earliest recollections of childhood, I have looked forward to this age. Why was it that I looked 'forward to my 21st birthday with such delight ? Ah I it was then that I would "tum out" my moustache and let it grow unmolested. Well, that fond dream has been realized-I mean as for al:lmy 21st birthday is concerned. The eve of my birthday was a lovely day, and I stood before the mirror to shave my moustache for the last time. The next day was just as lovely, and as it was autumn, the leaves which had clothed the trees for the fe~ preceding months in a coat of green were now fading, dying, and falling noiselessly to the earth. But I <lidnot think much of these; no, no; I was thinking of the something which was not fauing and dying, but which was springing and grow-

'

ing. Of course the things which were springing were small in comparison with the things which were falling; but my father has always¡told me to '' take care of the little things,'' and I was obeying him on this special occasion. Well, a week passed, in which time my moustache progressed finely. I watched them daily-I could almost see them grow. Two, three weeks passed, and as my moustache was quite long au<l even had some color, I ventured to call to $ee a fair damsel. We chatted for several hours, but she never once alluded to the change in me since last she saw me. I was expecting her to say that a moustache was or was not becoming to me; but she did not meution the subject. I was disappointed, to say at least about it. Upon my return that night, after having looked in the mirror about six times, I folt sure that my moustache was not iu fault, but attributed it all to the lady's eyesight. About a week later (my moustache had grown wonderfully in that time) I called to see another lady, a sweet girl, a blushing maiden of-ofwell, of course, they arc neYer over "l!!Weetsixteen." W c got quite familiar with each other before the evening was over; so much so that-well, in the course of conven:ation

HORSEBACI< RIDE TIIROUGH JJfOTTNTAINS OF VIRGINIA. she alluded to my hair. Then I knew that she would say something about my moustache, and I felt glad. She would tell me that. there was a beautiful contrast between my hair and moustache, or something of that kind, I felt sure. Well, she didn't, but somehow OLU' talk 1lrifted from that line of thought, and we began speaking of our ages. "\Veil," I said, '' how old do you think I am?" She guessed I was 19. I said, "Most of my friends think I am about that age, but I am 21." "Indeed," she exclaimed, "You look younger than that, though I guess the reason is because you are clean shaved." Holy Mose8! ! I turned blue. I turned purple. I thought Wiggin's prophecy had been fulfilled. I looked up to see if the gas was

A. Dorscltucl,

Uide

5

burning, and having satisfied myself that it was, I began to wonder why she was so nearsighted. I don't lrnow how long I paused, bnt I remember say"ing,"Yes, yes-my father wears no beard, and he lookE,younger than he really is." I left in about ten minutes; did not wait for the '' sweet good Lye," but hastened home. I rushed in my room, and again stood before the mirror; this time with the instrnment of destruction in my hand-a razor. With this I cruelly robbed my upper lip of its moustache-I call it this through respect for the dead. Now I am looking forward to my next 21st birthday. Then, and not till then, will I try to grow a moustache. HOPEFUL.

TJuouG·h

the lUountnius

of' Vh·g·iuiu.

FRO){ STAUNTON TO RICHMOND VIA LURAY CAVE.

On Monday moming, August 16th, we did a big lot of handshaking among our kinfolks and friends, took a lingering look at Staunton, and turned ou1· faces toward the Blue Ridge mountains. At 1 o'clock we halted at the little village of Waynesboro and feel om h<Jrses. At 3 p. M. WC began Olll' second ascent of the Blue Ridge. The view fro·m the Mountain Top Hotel was magnificcut. Seldom have I eujoyed a ride as much as I did this tl'ip across the mountains. During our ascent we had a sweeping.view of the country west of the Blue Ridge; the country east of us, towards Charlottesville, broke upon our view as we reached the summit. Directly unde1· us luy the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad tunnel.

1

About three fourths of the way down the mountain-side we came upon the pretty snmmer resort known as Afton. As we were saunteriug up and down the platform, feeling strangers in a strange couutry, our gaze fell upon the form of E. P. Lipscombe, an A. M. of last session of Richmond College. The sight was refreshing. He laid violent hands upon us, and demanded that we make his home our stopping-place for the night, My fellow-tramp finally yielded an affirmative nod. This scribe wended his weary way to the residence of M1·. vVm. Grayeon. He had tried the hospitality of this Albemarle farmer before, and knew what to expect. M1·. Grayson has an elegant home, and seems to be smTounded by '

6

llICHMOND COLLE'GE MESSENGEll.

all that can make life comfortable ancl happy. On Tuesday morning the Albem:nle Association convened with the HillsLoro Baptist church, five miles distant, nnd there the tramps spent three days. It was at this meeting that I took the ffrst look nt my paternal relative since leaving home. On Thursday evening my brother tramp turned his ba<:kupon me and set out for Free Union, the land of his kin. I determined to rest my weary bones under the shade-trees at Mr. Wm. Grayson's for a few days. I spent four days in that bm,iness. Mrs. Grayson seems to have graduated in the art of making things pleasant for the visitor. I imposed upon hC'r kindly hospitality until 1 o'clock on Tuesday, when I jumped astride my beast and started in quest of that other tramp. The sun was viciously hot, and the roads d nsty, mountainous, and lonely. Darkness had bee1ion hand for half an hour when I drew rein at the gate of Dr. Wm. Bibb, of Free Union, where I found tramp No. 2 in the height of his glory. Here I spent a most delightful and restful night. It was with unfeigned regret to both of 11sthat we could not prolong om· visit, Lut we had to my the parting word next morning and continue on our pilgrimage. At 1 o'clock we were feeding our horses at Greene Courthouse, and as the shades of night were beginning to have things their own way, we C'amcin sight of the lights of l\ladison Courthouse, having come during the day thirty miles. This village consists· of one long street a mile in length, and when you have travelled that, you have travelled the whole village. The place fot· which we

were aiming was Capt . .F. M. McMnllan's. The Captain lives at the old home of ex-Go\·erno1·Kemper, and it is surely a superb place to visit. They took us in and seemed to forget entirely that we were nothing more than two woe-be-gone tramps. Their welcome and treatment was refreshing, and it was one of the ha°rdest tugs of our life next morning when we had to resist their invitation to stay longer. At half-paet 4 on Thursday evening we bid them adieu with a promise that wc would pay them a return call, and rode twelve miles up a mosl charming valley to the residence of Mr. Mat. Grav(;s, who resides at the foot of the Blue Ridge. We rode up to his gate about dark, and he looked upon our innocent faces for the first time in his existence. e told our melting story, and paused to hear whether wc should find P>helterbeneath his roof or be compelled to pass the night on the mountains, with rattlesnakes as our bed-fellows. Om· case seemed to touch a sympathetic chord in his heart. He took ue in and tendered us most generous and hospitable entertainment. vVe have a high regard for that old Baptist brother, and it will be many a day Lefore wc forget him. Wc left him next morning at half-past 5 o'clock, with the Blue Ridge towering before us. We soon b<'ganthe ascent. VIe ,vound our way slowly up the "mountains in a zi~zag course, the road:somctimes nearly coming back npou itself. As we were moving along, our eye fell upon a rattlesnake. Weled our horses a little distance up the road an<l came back, armed ourselves, t\lld prepared fo1· war. The enemy acted solely on the defensi vc and we on the aggressi vc. Ile stood his ground

,v

HORSEBACK RIDE THROUGH 111OUNTAINS OF VIRGINIA. bravely until he was desperately wounded, when he beat a hasty retreat under a huge rock, arnl thus ended the battle. This was our third trip across the Blue Ridge. The distance from the foot on one side to the foot on the other is thirteen and a half miles. As we reached the top we came in view of the beautiful Valley of Virginia. It spread out before us in all its loveliness, and ,re would fain have spent the whole morning in feasting upon the scene, but many miles of our day's journey still lay before us, and our time for viewing was hurried and brief. · After a six miles' ride in a perpendicular direction tu the mountain, we turned om· horses' heads to the right and started up the Valley. We had not proceeded far before the pretty tower of Luray Inn began to loom up in the distnnce, six miles ahend.

7

looking travellers. \Ye descended a long flight of stairs and crept through a small opening in the earth, when we found ourselvcs in the Grand Entrance Hall, a i·oom about fifty by thirty feet. Leaving this, we visited in regular order the other rooms and ohjects of interest throughout the cave. I shall not attempt a deseription of it in detail. In fact, I could not if I would. I spent most of the hour and a quartet· in which I was in the cave in attempting to recover from a feeling of wonder and awe. I moved from point to point dazed and bewildered, and ~pent little time in examining the different objects of interest. What I sigh for, is a second vi:;it to the ca,·e. No one can fully appreciate the ca,·e unless he spends several hours in it. Our guide was a charming youth, and possessed a lovely Yoice, but he seemThe atmosphere was uufrienctly, but ed as anxious to see the oubide as we Wffe the eouutry was magnificent. Splendid to see the inside. farms and beautiful residences were scntWe left the cave at half-past 4 o'clock, tered on both sides as far ns the eye con'lmitted our hungry horses to the could reaeh. We felt that we had reach- care of a liveryman, and. went, by ined the garden spot at last. At 2 o'clock vitation, to the house of Col. Spitler. He we arrived at the little town of Lmny. and his family gave the youths such a After prowling about the plaqe for a kirnlly welcome and treated them so roywhile, we rode a quarter of a mile out. of ally that eYCnnow it makes tlrnir hearts town, to visit that wondet· of the nine- jump with grateful pleasure to think of teenth century, Llll'ay cave. The hill it. \Ve foll in love with the Colonel, O\·er the cave is one of the most unpre- and if he shall ever show his face within tending hills that I ever met, and the the corporate limits of Richmond we will last thing any one wbuld accuse it of hav- prove it. ..We hatl to end out· pleasaJ1t ing under it would be a cave. We tied visit next morning at half-past 10 o'clock our horses, entered a small house neat· and start out for our fourth ascent of the the foot of the hill, handed over some of Blue Ridge mountains. e crossrd at a our fost-crnmbling loose change, procured grip, and cousequcntly our journey was the services of a guide, aud with can- 11otso long as that of the preceding clay. dles in hand began out· journey lo the Ou the top of the mountain we passed cave. Our party consisted of six besides the old nnd now clilnpidattd home of the youthful g1,ijdcp11d tll'O clilnpidated Barbee, the sculptor.

,v

8

RIOIIJJIOND COLLEGE .MESSENGER.

At half-past 3 o'clock we rode through the little town of Spenyville, and two hours later we were on tho streets of Little Washington, the connty-seat of Rappahannock county. As we were walking up Main street we came upon Geo. '\V. Kinsey, one of Olli' college-mates of '83 and '84. After reco\'Ct'ing from his surprise at seeing us, he informed us that we were to go to his house. As ho seemed det<'rmined to haYe his ,ray, we decided not to make ourselves disagreeable about the matter. Ho li,·cs , ta beautiful pince on one of the Rappahannock hilh,, commanding a lovely Yiew of many miles of rich, pretty country, anrl of the Blnc Ridge stretching out as for as the eye can reach. We spent a quiet Sabbath <lay at Mrs. Kinsey's, and oh, how elegantly she did minister to Olli' e1tjoyment ! vYe will remember her when our hairs are gray. We left Monday moruing nnd rode fomteen miles to the little village of Jeffersontown, where resides Dr. Alex. Ila1'ris. He and his family treated "us twins" with unbounded hospitality. On Tuesday morning two buggies ,rere placed at om disposal, and each of uR,with a blushing damsel at his sick, whirled away o,·cr the hills of Fauquier ten miles to tho town of Wanenton. I had heard that \Varrenlon was a beautiful town, aJHl I could but feel as I traYelled through its streets that the m:rn who made that remark knew what he was talking about. The delight of om· trip was heightened by the fact that we were envl,l1:dto make a visit to tho home of Rev. II. II. Wyer. It is not often that one comes across a Baptist pastor who is as comfortably and elegantly housc<las is Dr. Wyer. ·what a charming place he l1n1:; l I managed to

slip o\·er to tho Baptist parsonage, and have a very pleasant chat with Rev. Mr. Boston. At half-past 4 we cracked our whips a11d were soon taking our last look at ' ,vanenton. As we were nearing the suburbs we caught a glimpse of ex-Govemor Smith seated on his porch. Though nearly eighty years of age, his form is erect, his step elastic, and his strong mental powers nntouchcd uythe palsying hand of age. Jeffersontown appcare<l in sight at half-past 6 o'clock, and this put an end to one of the most delightful tri1)s of our summer's ramble. Thia was the night of the earthquake, and be it said to its crcclit that it touched Jeffersontown with a gentle hand. 1\Iy stay at Dr. Harl'is's was filled with pleas.mos, and it was only when I came to say good-bye and was compelled to scparnte from my fellowtraveller that a feeling of real sadness came o,·er me. At 2 o'clock on Wednesday I made my parting bow, cast lingering glances at tho othrr trnmp, and moved on in tho direction of Culpeper Courthouse. It was my p.urpose to accept Dr. James' invitation, extended me at the Valley Association, to make his home one of om· halting places. Tho first ten miles of my trip were lonely and gloomy, but I soon li<'ganto travel through a country abounding in such magnificent views that I became so enraptured as even to forget that my follow-equestrian was not along. Dr. ,Tames was away, attending his Associati~n, but 1\Irs. James received au<l treated thiti straggle1·with grca.t kindness. l\1y visit here was one of continued pleasure. I had visited Culpeper before, and tbc rcnc\\'al of acquaintanceships 1

I-IORSEBAOK RIDE TI-IROUGH MOUNTAINS formed then was one of the chief dcligh ts of this my second visit. I spent many pleasant hours with the ·waites, Chelfs, Bells, and Allans. In the list of my stopping places Culpeper stands at the head. Dr. ,James returned on Friday, and added still more to the pleasure of my visit. Beneath his roof I enjoyed most hmipitable attention, and it was with a mournful feeling that I had to pack up my traps on Saturday and say forewell to Culpeper. The -~time of :iny departure ll"as 12 o'dock, and _at half-past_5 _I had gotten on the other si~e of twenty disagreeable miles and was riding up the pretty la,vn to Judge McMullan's, at Madison Courthouse. Theit· treatment was a continuation of their former kindness and hos-pitality . In their home and undet· their shade-trees my weary carcass found much needed and refreshing rest. On Sunday I had an i11terestingvisit to a Lutheran chlll'ch three miles. from the Courthouse. This chnrch has u remarkable history. It is 150 years old, and has a pipe-orgnn which was presented to them by the King of Sweden. They also have a solid silver communion service which was a gift to them from one hundred citizens _of London. They have a stl'ong membership and a pastor full of sense and religion. On Wednesday, at 12 o'clock, I disturbed the blissful rest and happiness of my faithful beast, said farewell to the friends who had so lavishly entertained me, nnd was once more on the nrnrch. I was directed by Judge l\Icl\Iu llan to the home of l\Ir. Fray, a good ol<l Baptist, who Ii,·cs twenty miles from Madison Courthouse. I wcude<l my way steadily along, aml ns the sun was making its re-

OF VIRGINIA.

9

tiring Low, I passed a brother on the road and inquired of him the distance to Mr. Fray's. He gently informed me that Mr. Fray and he were one and the same. Notwithstanding the fact that he took me to be a travelling dentist, I managed to onrlook the matter on account of the generous entertainment which he extended me. He cared for me so superhly that I came near congratnl,iting myself on being such au attracti\'e youth, hut I soon concluded that it was his nature to treat e\'e1·ybody kindly, be he no mo1·et\1an a poor tramp. I shook hands with him next morning and set out for Charlottesvi lle, fifteen miles distant. The tl'ip was made in four hours, and at 12 o'clock I was knocking at the door of l\fr. Luther Snead. Here the appetite of this weary traYeller enjoyed the most complete satisfaction in the shape of a dinner. \Ve f'pent a few hours in social chat, aml at half-past 3 o'clock I was on my ,vay ngain. I enjoyed a hurried ride through the classic grounds of the University, saw several of the "Hebrew" children loitering about, and started on a parallel course with the Chesapeake aud Ohio railroad. The m·ening was delicious and the scenery of the highest order. About dusk I tied my horse at the gate of Mr. Wm. White, and walked in upon him. He grasped my hand with a cordial gl'ip, und made me feel that he was glu<lto sec me. On Saturday I mounted my burdenbearer and rode oYer to Bellevue, the home of l\Irs. Grayson, and there I spent a <lelightfolly qniet u1Hl restful time, iuterspcrsecl with visiting in the neighborhood, until Thursday morning. At 1 o'clock on Thursday I was baek again at 1\1r. Wl1ite'R, nnd nt 5 P. M. I was

10

RIOHJfOND

COLLEGE MESSENGER.

riding past the University grounds into Charlottesville. I passed a pleasant night in the home of Mr. L. R. Snead, and at 9 o'clock next morning I was crossing the mountain on which stands Monticello--the home of Thomas Jeffrrson. Ah, me! what a melancholy ride I h~d that day! For about ten miles of my journey I hardly saw a sign of humanity. But !jogged along and tried to think of everything except the dismalness of my situation, and at the shady hour of 6 P. M. I disembarked at the residence of Capt. Charles G. Snead, of Fluvanna, haYing left this place on my outward-bound trip about nine weeks previons. I found here a kindly welcomeand a refreshing night's rest. At half-past 5 o'clock next morning I was on the road again. By 8 o'clock I had reached Columbia, a little village on the James, and from there I pushed on twenty-two miles to Goochland Courthouse. It was after dark when I found my way through the village of Manakin to the house of Mr. Duval, having covered during the day the neat little distance of forty-five miles. I was plea«antly surprised to find here my old teacher, Professor . Hal'l'ison. He is the Baptist bishop in the village of Manakin. At the barbaric hou1· of half-past 5 o'clock the next morning, and with feelings of gratitude towards Mr. Duval and his family, I shook hands with my host and set out for Richmond, eighteen miles distant. At half-past 9 o'clock the Richmond College tower loomed in sight, and gradually there began to steal over me the mournful consciousness that the most novel, delightful, remarkable, instructive and lengthy trip of my life was about to breathe its last, and yet I folt glad to get back to Richmond. Let a

I

Richmond youth go where be will; let him become absorbed in the beauties and attractions of other places, yet whe~ it_is all over, and the feeling=creeps over him that he is on his way back to Richmond, there comes to him a secret joy which the thought of no other place can awaken. The town clock was striking 10 when I rode np to the same spot which I had left 011 a balmy Momlay morning ten weeks before, and my horseback trip suddenly became a thing of the past. And'now, kind reader, if you ba,·e followed me to the end of my long and tedious journey, your feeling of Weariness will enable you to appreciate the feeling with which I alighted from my faithful and tried animal. I will impose no longer upon your good ~ature, but will relieve you, with one word of advice. It is this: Do as I have done. If yot(are fond of mountain breezes; if you ha,·e no objection to seeing some magnificentscenery; if you desire to get better acquainted with country people, their habits, etc. ; if you would like to take a many-sided view of human nature; if you wouldn't mind learning something about the size and condition of yom- State ; if you wish to take a peep at all sorts and conditions of people; if you wouldn't object to occasionally taking the wrong road and getting ignominiously lost; if you· would like to learn the real definition of "Old Virginia hospitalit.y" ; if you think_you could stand being called a book ugent, travclli11g dentist, fruit agent, sewingmachine agent, etc., and at the same time hold on to your religion ; if you can get a horse, and especially if you can:induce one like-minded to go with you, then my parting ad vice to you is, make a horseback tour next summer through the mountuins of Old Virginia.

THE G1lEAT WEST. '.l'ltc

G1•cat

Surely there is no American reader whose heart is not filled with enthusiasm at the sound of these words. No section of this country has been more grandly enclowed with nature's richness than~the West. Though her early history be not characterized by such beautiful legends and tales of fiction as that of early Greece or Rome, yet this is a subject highly interesting to us, as pertaining to the history of our own country. What youth has not dreamed of the _Great West with he1· magnificent mountains and picturesque scenery indescribable? Indeed the lofty crests of her towering mountains would be a fit resting place for the King of day, as he moves slowly through heaven's arched vault, and gradually sinks out of view beyond the Golden Gate. But these dreams haYe been long since turned into realizationi.. Not many years h:we passed away since this region was looked upon as a fit abode for naught except here and there u lurking grizzley or a wandering Indian ; but note the change. We find her interlined with the nry best systems of railway; we hear the rumbling noise of vast machinery used in the various factories and flouring mills ; in a \,·ord, everything bespeakRfor her a bright and prosperous future. Her great grain and pork markets alone haYe a world-wide influence. vVhy was it that old Horace Greely gave utte1·anceto the wordsJ " Young man, go '\,Vest"? Did he not realize the fact that every young man of energy and determination had before him there, treasures of imtold wealth? As a result of youthful ndventures, not only yonng men, but men .of capital

11

~Vest.

and enterprise have cast thei1· lots with the West. Their investments~_have by no means been fruitless. Cities have sprung up us if by magic, and:vnrious enterprises of no·small value ha,·e been the results. Endowed as she is with a pure atmosphere and a healthy and invigorating climate, she is destined to be the leading scctiou of the Uni.on. In this respect, (influences of climate) does she not present a striking contrast to the South? While on the one hand, we find the people of the West characterized with that degree of energy and determination which insures success, on the other we find this thorough-going spirit wanting, even to an alarming extent, throughout the South. In some portions the farmers are to-day in a worse condition than they were ten years:ngo. Why is this? Becausethey have not that energy nnd spirit of rivalry which shoulrl possess every true southerner. Indeed, under the existing credit systcll'l, the negro has become a worthless and almost an oppressing element to the farmer. Yet from the very nature of her "delightful" climate, he is indispensable. In some of tl1e States, however, cultirnt_ors and furtilizers are taking his place. If this ex::implebe followed by the other States in no distant day I ween, this glorious South will again occupy her aspiring position in the Unio11. But this, by the way.. The West offers superior ad vantages and inducements to men of every profession. The school teacher might possibly

12

RIOH]'JOND COLLEGE 111ESSENGER.

have a little tl'ouble should lie undel'- tl'y, and the scenery which surrounds it take to prove to the aspiring youth that is grand beyond description. lie was mastel' of the locality. This is accessible by a carriage road which leads to the crest of the Rockiee But they soon learn to Joye ea<:hother, through Al'gentine Pass, the highest caras teacher and pupil generally do. The young physician mar not get a riage road in the world. The lakes of Miun, where rests the very extensive practice, bnt he will cerhead of the Father of Waters with thei1· tainly recciYepay for what he docs. Even the poet_can fiml uo betttr place sih'ery surfaces and c1·ystalline dcptlis, in the world to develop the powers of al'e beautiful in the extreme. his imagination. The invalid whose lifeWho has not heard of the Y ellowstonc tide is fast ebbing away, turns with sn- · National Park? premc delight to the mountains of ColoThis is indeed the· land of wonders, rado, there to be reinvigorated and made set here antl there with <lc<>p grnttoes and anew. Every trickling rill bids the ncw- foaming geysers. come1· v.:elcorne,and Rpceds him on lo The fountains of all the palace gar8tlCCC88. dens of Europe would not compare \\'ith the '!Cencsof this fable land. "Each mountain gives an nfter-1.,irth, Again, there is the Valley of the YoseAnd ha s n shrin e to wor ship given; Each bre eze that ri ses from the earth, mite with its ever-increasing beauty and Is loadecl with a so11gor hcaycn ." emerald-like scenery. Hcl' mining interests snrpnRs those of But, lo ! behold the grand canon of any other country in the world. the Colorado! New discoveries in this respect nl'CconAs we stand on some tall cliff and fix stantly being made, and capital aml labor om· gaze on the awe-inspiring scenery are by uo means sparccl to m:1ke this one below, beholding mountains carved of of her leading pur suits. rock anrl rivers of the purest crystal, the Tlic growth. of the ,·ine and cultirntion contemplation is beyond the power of om· of rnriou s fruits has been made a success frail nature. c can only turn ourselves beyond human comprchl'nsion. At the from the magnificcut scene and say, alas! orl<l':,Exposition held ill 1 C\\' Orleans, what is man when compnre<l with Him the ,Yest made a finer displny thn1: any who made and fashioned these l This other section of the Union, and ,·ir,;itol's will afford one only an irnpc1,£ectidea of from the Enst were especially attrncted the trno granducr of westcm scenery. by the cal'c bestowed upon her sclcetionr,;. She too has Leen awakened to the ncWhy i-honld people visit Europe to fix ceRsity of higher educati0n. In many of their nmcmitting gaze 11ponthe snow- the States we find c,·cn now fine graded clad peaks of the Alps, 01·bathe their irn- schools, and a few vc1·ygood unh·ersities. magiuation in the silvcl'y lakes of Switzcl'- In no distant day California, tho "Emland, when they have not seen the uenn- pire State " of the ·we st, will be able to tics of their own country? boast of one or' the finest universities in Gray's Peak, Colorado, affords 0110 of the land. the finest views in tlris 01· any othc1'connAlready has she begun to exe1·tan en~

,v

,v

THE PRESS VS. PUBLIC SPEAJ(JNG. viable iufluence over the gubernatorial affairs of this nation, and we fiud her gradually coming into the folds of the old Democrntic party. It will be a grnncl day for the " old party" whjn the South and West shall have united their interests and formed a union worthy the title South-West. The commercial interests of the ·west are being rupidly united with those of the

1&

South >nd East, ..ancfwe can · but predict for~her a brigh(future. Onr thoughts ~of her are not'associated with any feelings of i,aduess, as is the case with n'lspect to other sections of our beloved Union. Yet how much happiet· will be our thoughts when this grand and beautiful ontline shall have attained that glorious development ioward aiding i11the foundation of the greatest nation of modern times. ORESTES.

'.l'he P.l'CSS ,·s, Public

· ~JJeal.:iug.

[ As we were not able to publish all four of the excellent speeches delivered at the Public Debate of the Philologian Society, on Friday night, December 17th, we content ourselves with publishing the speech of l\Ir. T. R. CORR, first speaker on the affirmative.-EDs.J

to define the question and exam me its merits.

Mr. President,Fellow-Soc·ietymcn, Ladies ctnclGentlemen:

as the present, that we arc luid bare to the criticism of Emerson addressed to Lincoln dming the war: "Hitch your wagon to a star." Should yum· youthful aspirant foll in the attempt, it is hoped that the criticisms which strike may not be mortul.

An opinion is based on knowledge, and is the " result of reading, experience, or reflection." It is a product of the intellect, and as snch is distinguished from sentiment, which is chiefly a product of the heart. Public Opinion is not different in nature from the opinion of an individual. Both alike are based on knowledge (or facts), but the knowledge may be adequate or iuadeq uate, and hence the opinion inferred may be true or false. This truthfulness or falsity does not affect th(qucstion at issue. Therefore Public Opinion may be defined as that which the majority of the commiinity thin!:,. Community is coextensive in time, space, and nnmbers, : with the interests that are common to the people. If a limited area in time and space be taken, the interesti;i

With such a hope we proceed at once

which constitn te it_a community arc more

We are most happy in the privilege of debating the question of to-night before your impartial hearing. While each side has striven to prepare the best argument in its support, both alike sincerely desire to reach the truth. Your decision will relieve the restless hours of suspem;e. We arc conscious, in a maiden effort on such a subject, and at such an occasion

Resolved, That Public Opinion is shaped more by the ' Press than by Public Speaking. .. Resolved is a strong term, but is used here simply as a big interrogation point.

14

RlOIIJJfOND OOLLEGll .MESSJJJNGER.

numerous and complex. Inercas~ the area, lengthen the radius of the circle,and the interests binding the people together are less numerous and less complex; so that there arc t:ircles within circles, commni1itieswithin communities, each bound together by tics whosestrength and number vary inversely with the length of the radius. Contract yonr cur\'e, shorten your radius, and when at the ccutre you have reached the individual here, now. The multiplicity and complexity of interests as they flow out in every direction like light from a point, arc at their maxinwm. Each individual is the centre upon which is adjusted the microscope and telescope of his intellect. These in their sweep survey the near or distant fields, to examine in detail or view in general. Each according to his capacity and disposition thinks upon_and forms opinions respecting what he observes without and within. But there arc at present about 1,350,000,000 people, centres from each of which numerous circles radiate. These must intersect each other in places without number. Take a thought or opinion and follow it in its circuits through each intellect with its special coloring. Trace the curve through thia vast ma,,.;c. Who can do it? The term Press is much less difficult to define. Its sphere of application is large. A scm;itivc, unseen toe may receive a press to the discomfort of its owner. Tho results of presses arc imprints, or prints. These are numerous, and we must exclude from our discussion all such as are given on farewell and extraordinary occasions. Othet¡ prints are widely diffused, and very cffective in shaping public opinion, which, to our regret, are excluded from tho subject-

namely, calico prints. Having marked off what the Press is not, as here used, we will define it as a term transferred from the instyument employed in imprinting signs of ideas or thought on appropriate material, to the imprinted material put in convenient and durable form, and the complex mac:hineryof its distribution. All this material-books, periodicals, pamphlets, papers-is effective only so far as the mind is capable of interpreting the signs, and entering into sympathy with the original thinker. Public Speaking embraces all speaking in which the speaker delivers a speech, discourse, or harangue before a public assembly. The speaker's theme may be science, re1igion, politico, or any subject touched with interest to the human soul. With men there is a type of min<lheld in common by the whole great mass, and from which each differs according to his individuality and idiosyncrasy. On account of this similarity of mind, this identity of type, whatever one of the race has thought or felt is fraught with interest to another, as he either has thought or felt, or may think or feel the same; and that fact goes thus far towards explaining his nature. Shakespeare liYes and is read with delight because what he wrote is true to our nature. This nature is dual and is essentially social. The solitary man is weak, with but few avenues through which to exert his powers. To secure to him" life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," societies are formed, having names according to the various modes of administering governments. To institute and sustain the complex machinery, needs, and interests of societythe more advanced civilization, the more complex-a means of communication be4

1

THE PRESS VS . .PUBLIC SPEAKING.

15

tween minds is absolutely necessary. This necessity is supplied in language, the vehicle of thought.

for, in speaking, the ear i(the organ addressed, and it must guide : as well as receive the articulations.

Language has two modes of expression, speaking and writing, the one appealing to the ear, the other to the eye. The subtle mind interprets the effects ofsoundwaves upon the ear, or of signs and symbols presented through the eye. Which first awoke thought or feeling in Adam, we are not told; but i11 the absence of direct statement, from reason we must conclude, the ere. For there is no sonnd · where there is no ear to receive and mind to inte~·pret, and we cannot conceive that our ,·enerable old ancestor, upon appearing on the stage of life; broke that great silence with some exclamation like, Hu! Even then he must have looked around to locate himself. It is a fact of observation that acutene$s of sight is developed earlier than acuteness of bearing. The intellectual superiority of vision over hearing is ackn6wledged by all who treat these subjects. vVhat is seen is clearly and vividly reproduced in memory ; the mental imnges are stored up and become the fruitful source from which the imagination dra,vs its supply iu minute delineation, or in those bold and startling flights which freeze or transport the soul. ~o great is the influence of what and how the youth sees o,·er the mental powers; that it is potent in giving tone and tendency to the man's mind und life. But try to reproduce and hold before your mind the image (or idea) of a sound heard. The attempt is like grasping at receding gossamers that float away in the air.

It is the vividness and clearness : of vision in conveying thought and _:reeling that have given their power to gestures, and caused signs :mu picture-writing to be used in primitive times to convey id eas. These signs and symbols in clue time were developed into the several alphabets employed in writing, and writing, by Gutenberg of Mentz, in 1436, into printing; ";hicb, up to the present, has been perfected into a thing of marvellous power, and of influence inestimable. The following figures are approximately correct. l\fore than 25,000 new books are annually issued from the press. Within the United States alone there al'e 15,043 periodicals, such as newspapers and magazines; 1,021 of these are dailies, but the grea t majority are weeklies. The daily papers of New York city alone have a circulation sufficient to supply a daily lo every sixty-five persons in the United States. Multiply the periodicals by their circulation, and the product is eqni valent to a weekly for evet·y family, and a daily for every two; estimating fiye in a family. Of our population ninety-one out of every hundred over ten years of age can read. The remaining nine usually are of such mental culibre as to be incapable of holding or transmitting any very decided opinions.

It may be objected that the car is supel'ior for acquiring a language. ·where the object is to s_peak the langnage, it is i

•

There are currents in the ocean deep and strong which keep their course for centuries, while at the surface , waves, billows1 or lighter currents are formed at ~he sport of the changing winds, tides, nnd tcrnpemture. So in the sea of minds certain opinions, more or less true, have been

16

RICH/JfOND COLLEGE MESSENGER.

and are still held respecting the gl'eat may read, study, lca,·e and return to find facts, natnl'e and issue of human life. it unchanged, ,,,e would cite the work of These, usually gathel'c<l and given in Confucius (550-478 B. C.), the great permanent shape by some great thinker Chinese philosopher and reformer, whose and reformer, become drilled and rooted precepts are learned and whose name is into his followers,so that thenceforth they held sacred by one third of our race. serve as criteria in harmony \l'ith which His teachings have moulded their prithey form opinions and give judgments vate life and untional institutions for 2400 respecting all questions ancl circumstances years. lie, with the aid of his followers, which passing time presents them. was enabled to effect this by collecting, These questions and circumstances arn preserving, and giving a ll<'W impetus to the surface currents on the ocean of life. the Chinese literature, which was then As the sea in time, by filling in some threatened with complete dcstrnction. places and washing out othel's, may be- The folio\\'ing gi ,·cs you his opinion on come pent up and then l>nl'stout in a uew our rnbject. One of his most notable direction, so the power of the Press and precepts was, " ·what you do not like when <loneto you, do not do to others." the Speal~c1·may shape or deform the This, through the syn1bolical nature of once formed opinions until there is a social cai·thquake, a convulsion in society theil' lang11agc,he represented by an idcagram, whiC'h told its meaniug when and politics, such as produce,] the French looked at. Added was, "A thing seen, Revolution, with its Reign of Terror. The weightier than a thing heard." Mosucceeding argument, it is hoped, will prove that in all such cases the Press is hammed, or "the praised," wrote the the power behind the throne anrl uo small Koran, a book full of things wise and unwise, true and false, and gave it to his part of that upon it. ,vritiug is not the Press, but the Press followers. He wrote in it, " Paradise is is a refined mode of writing. The ques- under the shadow of swords." At the tion refers only to the present. But if electric eall of this great religious teacher there are instances, before printing was from the desert of Arabia, a follo,ring known and when writing w,1slittle prac- gathered holding dear his doctrines. ticed, where what was written shaped They burst the limits of thci1· desert more the opinions of communities and lands, and ultimately OYClTanAsin, AfnationFi,those instances become ctfortiori rica, and Southern Europe, threatening arguments for theaffirnrnti\'e. If simple to gain for the Semitic race the position writing accomplish such, what would the which the Indo-European now holds. Equally suddenly aml brijiantly they Press of to-day with its multiplied power do? But if the neguth·c cite cases <lur- shone in literature, science, nrt, and ing the same period when speaking was philosophy. But some of the teachiugs almrn;t the only way of communicating of the Koran tended directly to produce intelligence, such cases for them al'e m·- the \'Oluptuary. Its followerFibegan to gumcnt without force. To show the direct their attention from the severc1· power of thought (arguments and facts) and nobler portious to that which sought put in permanent shnpc, e,o tlwt men caneall(l gratifi<:ntion,auclhence !iave sunk

THE PR ESS VS. P UBLI C SPEAK I NG . to their pre!lcnt ,·oluptu ous wort hlessness. · It were needl ess to me ntion the womlerful .11oulding po\\'er th e Vedas exerted and still exe r t up on the ancient and modern Hindo os, th e O ld Testame nt upon the J ews, the Il iad upon the Greeks, the Bibl e up on Chri stendom. Indeed, to know the geniu s and characte r of any people, on e must k now the book which they ha, ·c stoocl by, which they hayc studie<l, upon which the ir opinions have been form ed, and by wh ich their character accordingl y has been mo ulded.

17

of the plains, ed ucati ng and shaping pub lic opinion on every topic, and producing a harvest of int elli gent, well-informed men and women .

Iu a ·litera l'y poin t of view the cha1·acteristic of ou r age is the n ewspaper and nove l; the one the uni versal educator, the other shap ing our opinions respecting the sweets of love-mak ing and ruatrimony. The gids are char med with such books as Roe's "A Yo ung Girl 's Wooing." The boys like to read both sides, and so thorough ly has nove l-r eadin g shaped our We admi t with pleasure that in the opinions its own way on th ese subjects days of republi can G reece and Rome, our that the poor fellow who sets out to win intimate friend s Mr. Demos t henes and his prize entire ly ignor ant of the man amMr. Cicero shaped p ublic opinion more vres expcctea,- is destin ed to a desolate than the Pr ess . Fo r the latter was not, path nnpitied ( unless he find s a eympaand th ey were th e people's n ewspape rs. tbizer ). Besides th e abov e productions But few oth ers had access to the public of the Press there are millions of books records, or \\·er e acq uainted with the home treating all su bjects within human ken and foreign r elations of t heir governments . systenrntica lly and more or less exhau strich he l'itage left u s by sage or The Daily Dispatch, New Yorl,; rJe,.alcl ively-a saint of old, or modern think e1· and and Times,failed to make their daily appearance discussing meas m es of aclmini~- writer . Some of these are tex ts-Looks over which in youth we pion, and accordtration and matters of genera l interest re spectin g religiou, crlucatio n, fashion, ing to the tende ncy of their teaching, are influenced in our opinions of affairs in philosoph), lab or au<l capital ; rnilr oads, commerce, minin g, man ufacturi ng, tar iff genernl. Some are the delights of the culturetl, a gl'eat var iety are for the reand prot ection, with 1,001 othe r things. ligious, many for scientis ts and philosoBesides th e r egu lar newspapers there phers, others are t he studi es of lawyers, arc periodi cals, weeklies, monthlies, quarferlies, &c., devoted to special topics, suc h doctors, and politicia ns, and all alik e, by disposit ion of facts and ar gument s, are as the religious pap el'S of the vari ous decreating and shapi ng th e opinions of nomination s, lit er ary, scient ific aml eelucathose who peruse th eir pages. What a tional magazines, and in fact specialties made of every s nbj ect in which men seek powe r ! W ho can comput e it ? developm ent and pr ogress. T hese, like None can de ny th e spea ker' s power as the rain s and dews of heaven permeate in educat ing and shapin g p ubli c opinion. and mak e beautiful as well as fr uitful the It is great, and all hon or to those who use earth, find their way to the office, or the it worthi ly. The pr eacher, th e politician, homes and fir esides of townsmen ai1cl the lawyer, the lectur er, each has his ,country-folk, of t he mo un ta ineer or man power, his sphere of acti on, and his mede 3

18

RICHMOND

------·------------------------

COLLEGE llfESSENGER.

-

of praise, and we could ill do without dressed to the will, to persuade men to their public speaking. Indeed,. they are act upon knowledge which they: have, essential to our civilized society. But opinions already formed. There is often several things may be essential to the ex- but little need for instrncting and shapistence of an object, and one may even try ing op1mons. The preacher endeavors to institute a comparison between them. to pet·suade the people to quit sinning This we do. The shaping of Public Opin- and serve God. This they, as:: well_as ion which preaching docs is, perhaps, he,· know to be their duty, Politicians more than offset Ly that which the Bible try to nrouse citizens to poll thefr votes. does, omitting to mentio11the numerous They are promised great Lenefits, almost nearly related books. For surely the a ride upon the moon,if they will but vote. words of God are wiset·than those of Speaking genemlly we read as superiors, men. See what gross sins, superstitions we listen as inferiors, we read at our will, and ignorance the early church fell into we.listen at the speaker's will. In paras soon as deprived of the Bible, though ticular we read Shakespeare,Macauley, or the copies were few and they written on Hawthorne, and are at home whether the parchment. scenes and events be of kings' palaces or On the other hand, witness what a blow hovels of the poor. We read, if need be was struck the Papal power and a won- stop and re-read to get the thought, folderful changewrought in Germany during low it out, weigh and pass judgment like the Reformation,when by special anange- kings on the most leamed or lordly ments the then young Press published author. This we do because the author Bibles and furnished them to the people in person is absent, and each recognizes almost at present prices. 'fhe effect of his individualit}' and right of reason. If · M. Luther's preaching could not have we do not agree with the author he at been pE:rmanent and pervasive had not least nourishes thought, calls up facts and the people1 when aroused, read and with we form conclusions, having our opinions horror seen for themselves into what either mouified ot· rendereJ more fixed. gross darkness and pct·versious of the It often is that one can in private read tl'Uth they had been led. The politician and master a subject when the mind has and statesman can't stir unless be studies less to distract it. It speaking, one's prefrom his books the science of govern- judices against the subject or speaket·have ments and gires to the people a platform often sealed the judgment against conin harmony with previous opinions de- viction. Snch a person, when alone, will rived from the Press and cnviron'ment. read and consider with a comparatively The lawyer is at sea without his codes, unbiased mind. If one desires to think law books, and precedents. The lecturer closely and accumtely on a sultiect, he will address laughing or yawning au- writes clown his t.houghts as they r.omein diences, and then empty benches, unless mind. If a student ask you to translate his hearers have previously acquired a sentence or work an original, you at some knowledge of his or kindl'ed sub- once look at the book, or get out your jects. paper and pencil, without waiting to atA vast deal of speaking now is ad- tempt the task from simply having heard

THE PRESS VS. PUBLIC SPE'JtKING. it. This is because you can fix your attention better when the subject is before your eyes ; Leside,you are relieved of the effort to keep the whole in mind while it is thought upon. Where there is thinking, there is shaping of opinion; without it, there is none. The Press reaches more people, reaches them oftener, occupies them more, and has iLs advantages in awakening thought. The conclusion is evident. From the nature of public speaking, the statements made arc of a more general character, and less accurate. Speakei:s frequently repeat the same idea in new words. They treat their subject less ' logically than it would be treated in an article, essay, or book. In con5equcnce of the inaccuracy in statements and the fallacies of arguments and the imperfections of memory, some predict that the day is not distant when lawyers will present printed arguments to judge nndjnry to be weighed and concluded upon. The day when the orator can "guide the whirlwind and rlirect the storm" in political nml social crises is past. The men of the present are too cool and calculating to be thus led. They prefer what tlle Press offers, cr.isp facts, with the honor of forming their own opinions respecting them. Enlightened men refuse to adopt and act from what to them may be a mere sentiment of the speaker, unless they know somewhat his grounds. This and the additional fact that reporters are always present at speeches of worth to give their contents to the worltl, have greatly changed, nnd in some respects improved, the nature of public speeches. But where the speaker addresses 1,000, the Press addresses 10,-

19

000 on the same and perhaps a million on other subjects. The precedent exists in Congl'ess that a member writes a speech, moves and is granted its publication, without delivering it, for the benefit of his constituents. In nntional assemblies much less speaking is dune than formerly. These bodies arc more occupied with the details of business, and the speaker for buncombe fails to secure attention. When these facts are considered it is seen why every cause presented to the people has iti, paper and literature to advocate it. It is the Prnss on both sides that is so ventilating at, present in civilized lands the question of Labor aud Capital; and it is hoped that the chaff may be winnowed away and their trne relation preserved and enforced. It is the Press that is educating England up to the point of giving Ireland " home rule," and also removing the props of the Estal.,lishment from the public mind so as to sever the existing relation of church and slate. It is tho P1¡ess that is breaking the yokes of de~potism and giving to civilized lands more liberal form3 of government and better citizemhip by reYealing to the people usurpation and cri!lle, teaching them their duties anrl upholding their rights, which they learn to cherish nnd in time procure. The power of the Press is greater to-day than ever before, yet in the past it was the Press disseminating a skeptical literature, a false philosophy of society and government that prnduced the French Revolution. Helvetius, who by his writings aided in bringing it to pass, wrote that "man is possessedof the same two fundamental faculties as beasts,- -ruemory and sensation," that his superiority is due to

to

RICHMOND COLLEGE .MESSENGER.

his external form, and that virtne aml duty·have:relation only to his sensibilities. Condillac added to the follies of Helvetius and ignored all " i<leas of ju stice and moral good." The:blasphemous Voltaire, by his criticisms, wit and satire, fas<:inatcd France, and with but~ little exception converlcu Germany into a nation of infidels. Rousseau, a forcible thinker and brilliant writer, but a complete failure at speaking, argued that revolutfon was justifiable. Another says, "He write!:!,and Paris is fascinated; he advances theories of legislation, and the French nation watches fo1· the dawn of a Utopian freedom." These men, not orators, wrought through the Press, and that in the 1800th century, when the reading public was comparatively small. Those who read were led to false conclusions and expectations by the talented writers. Seeking all for self, they overlooked the rights and needs of the lower classes struggling with pon :rty. These, though ignorant and opprcsse(l, had brawn, and those that were ready to lead them to battle against their tyrannizers, elegant gormandizers, and fanciful philosophizers, so that all Europe shook" When I<'rance in wl'alh her giant limo s

upreared, And with that oath that smote earth, ail', and sea, Stamped her strong foot, an<l ~uid ~he woul1l be free."

Ccrventes wrote Don Quixote to correct the extravagances of knight- errantry among his countrymen. It wrought so great a change in the minclsof the people, a worthy Spaniard said that "the liistory of Don Quixote has been the ruin of the Spanish monarchy ; for since then men have grown ashamed of honor ancl love."

The ll<'gati rn is the speaking side,,and may so present its merits as to_excite our uneasiness ; but in a \YOrd, the Press, 1 ' the art of pre~en-ing all arts," presents the accumulated wisdom and knowledge of the centuries; offers and secures to men, with thei1·effort and co-()peration,education in its different d<'grees, and_hcnce, wherever it is founcl, is most effectiv( directly in shaping public opinion. Indirectly the e-peakcr himself studies his books, keeps informed, and holds his opinions received and shaped chiefly at the hands of the Press. To this extent he is simply its echo, and when he 1·cecives from another speaker, its Jeccho. The majority of speakers arc deficient in originality. They cull thcit- thought s, argnments, and curls from products of the Press, an<l glitter in them. The morning's snn, when the earth is wrapped in its ample folds of white, conycrts the stately snow-clad hills into sparkling gems, and fields and forests into fairy Janel. But suppose, as by a magic wand, the Press with its products wern rciuo,·cd to Mars. How it would war against the speaker's interests, as well os ours. Then he would appear in his meagreness and poycrty. The sun in his shining at length disenchants the cartl~of its resplendent yet unproducth·e glory. ]inally, the hope is inclulgcrl thnt, limited to men, it hos been proved that the Pre ss shapes Public Opiniou more than Public Speaking. There ore more women in the worl<l than men. Yom· E.pcaker is happy in Raying thnt he has ne,·er heard a woman speak in public; but few clo. Y ct the world is foll of their writing s, especially poems, stories, and novels, ~ncl these arc the productions

A BRIEF' GLANCE AT THE NATION'8 BIR'l.11!. that prove most effective in shaping the opinions of the masses. Mrs. H. B. Stowe had her story, Uncle Tom's Cabiu, published in 1852. Within a few years several millions of copies ha<l been circulated in this country and Europe; it had been translatecl into seventeen langua ge", and acted in every European capital. So wonderful was its effect at home and abroad, it has been averred that all the speeches North did

A D1·ieC Glance

kss to free the sltwes, uud for a time bring war, bloodshed, and blight upon onr fair land, than did this one book. It is the silent forces that are the most powerful in the world of mind as well as of matter. Will the negative, in addition to the superior influence of the Press as exerted through men, meet the united power of the bristling pens as wielded by 700,000,000 of the fairer sex?

at tile

vYe are now entering upon a new yeai·, ancl it might he profitable fo1·us, and it might awaken within our bosoms feelings of a nobler patriotism, ancl afford an inepiration to greute1· exertions in the future, to cast a glance into the dim vista of the nation's birth and call before us the year of which this new one is the hundredth anniversary. This year brings with it the first centennial of the birth of the Federal Constitution, '.Inclit is meet aud proper that all trne Americans should be exultant over the fact that this constitution still stands as fil'ln as the foundations of the everlasting hills, though the tempests of national disunion have striven to rend it to atoms and the storms of party faction and political :mimosity have aimed blow after blow at its destruction. Upon this anniversary of our national constitution, we should indeed rejoice that the governmeut instituted by om forefathers as a mere political venture, u scheme of go\'ernmcnt unknown and 1mheard of before in the annals of history, has sto0tl the test of u century, and bas given the lie to the prophecies of the European Powers who

i1

.Nation•s

Dh·tb.

sneered at and scorned our idea of a democratic go\'ernment, and predicted its overthrow in the fast popular uprising. But their predictions proved wonderfully unttue, and in place of inevitable destruction, the sinews of our political fabric waxed stronge1· and stronger until the brightness of its glory has eclipsed the nations of the East, and by uniting strength of government with constitutional liberty, is truly the brightest sta1· in the galaxy of nations. Men are mistaken when they attribute weakness to our system of national life, and assert that the English Government is stronger than ours. The English Government has no constitution, aud for that i-eason is liable to be overthrown at any moment by the vengeance of its own people, and tumble headlong into national annihilution. Our strength is in our constitution, and it is so framed that it can never be destroyed by political demagogues and e01·• rupt legi;,lators; for the brunches of the government-the legislative, executive and judicial-are totally distinct and separate, each department presenting an

RIOHlfOND

COLLEGE .MESSENGEE.

insurmountable check and banicr to the encroachments of the others. Let us glance for one moment at the condition of American affairs at the dose of 1786, and the beginning of the eyer memorable 1787, as contrnsted with the present. The Revolutionary wnr had terminated fi\·c years before, successfully to the colonies. Affairs were in a deplorable condition. The colonies were knit together by no bond of union, save the articles of confederation, whi'.:h, being wonderfully deficient, were scarcely able to hold th11mtogether when the British Lion was at their doors, and now what would they suffice, when the enemy was driven beyond the waters, peace ,,·ns established, and poverty, distress and restlessness reigned supreme? Well might all Eurnpe look eagerly at the sight, cherishing the hope, and wrapped in the expectation, that the thirteen colonies, now in such a deplorable condition, restless, miserable, and without government, the bonds of union rapidly dissolving between them, woukl soon be buried in anarchy; and thus- be an easy prey for their relentless hands. The wise men of the colonists saw with prophetic eye the approaching crisis. Spain was taking ad,·antage of the turbid state of affairs, and was not only asserting her claim to the supreme navigation of the Mississippi, hut was also inciting the Indian tribes of the South to commit depredations upon the froutier, and plunge the tomahawk into the brain of the helpless frontiersman. The general government was ignorer], for in fact there was no general government, and the States executed justice within their own territory, and repelled the invasion of the merciless savage. The finances of

the cotmtry were also in a horrible condition. The government had obtained loans from France, and the first instalment fell due in 1786, and though it amounted to only $3,500,000, yet there wa~ no way to liquidate the instalment. The States were called upon by a powerJc,;s Congress to raise their respective quota of the funds, but " they all with one accord began to make excuses," and by flatly refusing, proved to the country that there was no government to enforce authority. Congress seeing theiL· efforts were fruitless, resorted to other means. e find that this period of ouL'national life was by far the most dangerous and the most tt·ying. With no power to enforce authority, neither one's property nor life is safe from the depredations of bis neighbor. At the close of the yeaL'1786, we find that the trouble is increasing. The1·e was no sound eul'l'ency auywhere to be found. Each State had its own mint and issued its own money. PapeL· money was as bounliful as it was in the gloomy years of the Southern Confederacy,and tqnally as depreciated in value. The large importation of foreign goods subject to little 01· no duty, and sold at low pl'iccs, was fast sapping the life blood from the mechanical and manufacturing interests of the colonists. The people were just <lrif'ting to the coneIusion that a protccti ve tariff was the on]y clixi r to infuse life and spirit into the industries of the land. As it was then, so it is now, arnl"ever will be, the life and breath of our country. Without protection the manufactories would be deserted, the foundries would be forsal,en, thousands would be wandering through the sh'cets of our cities beg-

,v

SIR WALTER RALEIGH. ging bread, and business would be enveloped in general stagnation from the Atlantic to the Pacific. During the last month of 1786, and the beginning of the following year, affairs had reached their crisie. The courts of justice were crowded with suits, and the lawyers were growing fat over the spoils of their hard-working and poYerty-stricken countrymen. The rlamors and threats of the old soldiers who were as yet unpaid for their services iu the late war, were growing loud and dangerous. Finally the storm bursts forth, the insurgents headed by Daniel Shays caused the colonists to tt-embl<' for their safety, and Congress, fearing the result of a general uprising, sent General Lincoln with a body of men to disperse them. After

Sh• ll 'altct•

The court of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth presented an interesting spectacle. Here in the principal place stood the Queen herself, who has been aptly described by one of her courtiers as '' more than a man, and in truth, somewhat less than a ,rom:m." And, in fact, in administering the affairs of her kingdom, and in making use of the best and most talented men in her kingdom, she showed in many respects she far exceeded masculine ability. But on the other hand, by her extreme vanity and intense love of flattery, and by her cruel jealousy and envious disposition to all other members of her sex who exceeded her in beauty, she showed a weakness which proved her to be "somewhat less than a woman." Next in importance cam~ William

some trouble and bloodshed, the insurgents were finally quelled before the conflagration had reached all the States. Thus terminated the last great struggle under the "articles of confedation." Many have been the insurrections, uprisings, and popular revolts since then, but we can celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the Federal, constitution rejoicing in the thought that nothing thus far has been able to shake the foundations of our free institutions and civil government, and cherishing the firm conviction that Divine Providence will guard with eagle eye the dostiny of the nation, so long as the people cling to Him and acknowledge in their legistative decrees the wisdom and omnipotence of the Ruler of Nations.

Raleig·h.

Cecil, a man of great ability, and one whose services were indispensable to the English people. On account of his cool judgment, indefatigable vigor, and great intellect, he enjoyed the friendship and confience of the Queen, and continued to · maintain it during his lifetime. His sole effort in life 1Yas for the aggrandizement of his native land. Next, and fa1·different from the forme1·in character and disposition, came the utterly unprincipled and selfish Dudley, Earl of Leicester, handsome in person and manly in bearing, but unscrupulous and deceitful. Ile gained the regard of the Queen by stooping down to flattery.

Between

him and Burleigh there existed a personal enmity.

Tbe one striving to ele-

vate self on the ruins of bis victims ; the

4

RICHMOND COLLEGE :MESSENGER.

other exerting himself for the good of his country. Next came the true and uoblc Essex, who was unjustly beheaded. Thoroughly honorable and generous, and a true gentleman, he could not lower himself to the contemptible position of a flatterer. Offending the Queen's vauity was the chief cause of his full. Following these came Robert Cecil, the '' arch deceiver," as he has been truly called, the sou of Willi~m Cecil, and for different fron him in many rcRpects. Deformed iu body, a misanthropic spirit towards all better fayored than himself, seized him, and he followed up his victims with fiendi$h tenacity nncl finally destroyed them. And now we come to Sir Walter Raleigh, handsome, noble, witty, and thoroughly patriotic. Such cliuracters as those abo,·e described had he to contend with. He was one of the Queen's favorites, was apprcciateu by William Cecil, and was the firm and lasting companion of Essex. But in Dudley he had an enemy, and Robert Cecil hated him with all the unquenchable hatred a disposition like his could possesR,and finally caused his fall. Sir Walter Raleigh was born al Hayes, Devonshire, in 1552; sent to Oxford to complete his education. Herc his great intellectual strength and studious habits wern exhibited. His sparkling wit here displayccl itself, und the habits which elevated and ennobled. his future life were fo1·med. Leaving college at the age of seventeen, he joined a froop of some English gentlemen and went over to Franco to help the Protestants in their struggles . for religious liberty. The first signs of bravery allll

,·alo1·wore here displayed by him, which afterwards enveloped themselves into great usefulness in the cause of bis country. llis next scene of action was in frpland, where he went after his return from France as captain of a company, to suppress a rebellion, and amid the carnage of fiercely-fought battles, he gained a well-earned reputation at one time by his superior tactics, at another by deeds of personal bravery. Aftc1·his return from Ireland he came into fa,·01·with the Queen on acconnt of his superior q ualitics, and she appointed him to many officesof trust. About this time the newly discovered country of America was of grent interest in Europe. Spain had sent over several vessels, and the glowing tales of the riches and beauty of the new country were attracting universal attention. The imaginative mind of Raleigh was fascinated by these reports, and bis ambition led him on to this new rnad of discovery. Though his brother had met with many humiliating failures, yet he obtainccl a pateut and sent o,·er two ships, which succeeded in reaching the new country. The result was that he was made a knight, and continued in his course of disco\'ery and colonization though he met with many foilurcs and discourngements. At this period a foat·ful cloud of danger was hanging with threatening aspect over England. Philip had for many years been the most powerful enemy of England and now determined to wreak his vengeance upon her an<l o •crwhclm her at a single blow. For this purpose ho prepared the Armanda, one of thr. greatest and most formac.liblcfleets that ever appeared upon the English channel. In this moment of peril Raleigh

SIR WALTER RALEIGH. greatly assisa;ledthe English people by his excellent genet·alship and kuowleclge of uavigation. Not long afterwar<ls he incurred the enmity of the Queen by his marringe. Though her enmity was strong against him, yet she rdenled to some extent, and Sir Walter not striving lo breast the current which with all its terrific force had come upon him, retired for awhile to private life1 hoping to again co::ne into favor with the Queen. His efforts towards colonizing America having ngain foiled, he fumed his attention to Spain. Philip had not been entirely crushed by the failure of the Armada, but was striving to rise from the ruins, an<l was preparing another fleet at Cadiz. Ralegh's bold miucl formed the project of destroying it iu its 0\\"11 harbor, and through his own iustmmentality it was accomplished, and the merit of the victory belougs entirely to him. But e,·cn this could not entirely bring him into favor again with the Queen, who ncnr forgave an injury. Therefore, wearied and discouraged by the hardships and failures he had undergone, he retired from public lifo. He now gave himself up to the enjoyments of study, and indulged to a great extent in poetry. About this time the Queen <lied, aucl by that he lost his best support ., for though he was not in he1· favor, yet, on account of his superior qualities, she would never ha vc consentr<l to his ruin. She was succeeded by James, the King of Scotlancl, and he, much to his di scredit, chose the crafty Robert Cecil for his confidential secretary. Now the time for him to accomplish his purpo'les had come. He had for many years, under the garb of hypocrisy, professed friendship for

Raleigh, but all the time deceit and hatred were in his heart, and he was seeking an opportunity to destroy him. He first sh'engthened his power over the weak and foolish King, that through his instrunientality he might cause his ruin. He then began to look around for a cause to accuse him, but the purity of his life and characte1· was such that it was hard to find one. At last he caught in his toils a certain Lord Cobham, who was suspected of treason, and caused him to assert that Raleigh was guilty with him. With this testimony, and by moulding the court to suit his ends, and having a vindictive lawyer for the King's attorney, his plans were well laid. Having thus prepared his plans with all the fiendish malice a nature like his could contain, Raleigh was arrested on the charge of treason as having entered into a secret engagement with Spain, the country he most hated, and would like to have seen destroyed. During the trial his dignity never ·forsook him, and in many instances his innocency was displayed ; but the villainous and sagacious plans of Cecil were too well laid, and he was sentenced. He was then carried to his cell to await a traitor's death. When the day of execution came he was reprieved by the King, not at all moved by motives of affection, but hoping thus to prolong his misery, that the sword might fall heavier when he so decided. And now he was to spend twelve long and weary years in prisou. While there he gave himself up to literature and &tudy. Poetry also claimed his attention, bnt by far the most distinguished of his writings was his history of the world, which created quite a sensation ·among · the literary circles at that time. All his

~6

RICHMOND

COLLEGE ll'IESSENGER.

writings were characterized by grrat learning, profound thought, nnd beauty of style. Finally he obtained his rclcusc, though it was accomplished by nry liumilating conditivns. Im mediately his thoughts turned to the New ,vorlcl, which he had never forgotten during his long ir.iprisunment. With the rcmuinihg \ITcl'l,of his fortune he prepnrc<l a fleet a_nd came over. But his plans were again blighted. Through the perfidy of the King, Spain had gotfen possession of his plans, and when he landed he found the Spanish troops prepared for him. A battle ensued and he was worsted. He thrrcforc returned broken in spirit m11.l fortune, hav0ing been defeated in all his plans. By the most contemptible treachery he was again committed to the tower. Jame:; feared Spain, and Spain rcgardctl Raleigh

as one of her most dangerous <'nemics. Thereforn to please her, James looked around for a cause to put Raleigh to death. Not finding on<', lie at lust hit upon the sentence pnssrd upon him fifteen years before, and charged him with treason, of which he hn<lncwr liern formally pardone1l. He ,,,as sentenced to lie beheaded on the 28th of October, 1617, an 1 iuforn1ed that his execution woul1l take place the next morning. He walked boldly and cheerfully up to thcscaffohl, nnclaftet· <'Xhibiting his piety an<l b1·a\·cryin hiKlast worils he plncc<Ihis hcu<lupon the block, uml at two blows iL w,1ssc,·ered from his Locly. Thus cli<'tlSit· Walter Raleigh in the i,;ixty-sixth year of his life, one of Enghtn<l'snoblest and ycl one of her most unfortunate sons. RA·rLEEH.

EDT'l'ORlAL DJDPAR'l.1 1\'IEN'l'. There is nothing, perhaps, to "hich a public speaker should give more careful attention than to the cultivation of good taste. Many times a speech, which is othenvi&e meritorious, fails in its effect by a little bad taste. When ,re speak, it is for the public, for those addressed, and their plcasme, and their ('hoicc of sentiment must in part b6 regarded. Especially in the presentation of dews not generally held, great care should be taken to present them iu the most pleasing manner, if the speaker hopes to infl ueucc others to think as he thinks. It is bad tnste in a speaker to apologiie 1 for non-preparation, if he intends to speak at all, as such apology is gmcrally construed as an attempt to persuade the

audience that they will uot ha\·e an opportunity tojlHlge correctly ofhis ability; un<lthis coustruction is n10st often ro1·rect. But no method would more completely defeat itself. A consi<lrrnble amount of self-confidence is csseutiul to a sucrcRsfulspeaker, but the concealment of thi:; is not lees essential. A man can have self-confi1lcncewithout self-esteem, or cgotism; but while the former is permitted the latter is condcmne<l,an<lit is unfortunate for any one who is so sclfcoufidcnt ns to :ippear egotistic; therefore it is quite right for him to study the nrt of concealing his confidence in self. It is a gross vic,lation of good taste to refer to an au<litor br name, w hcthcr the reference be complimentary or sarcastic,

EDITORIAL

DEPARTMENT.

and it ,·cry rarely happens that an allm,ion of any kind to one who is present, even without cnlling names, is permissible. Although there is a taint of vanity in eYcry human nature, yet it is unpleasant to a man of srnse and modesty to be praised to )tis face, and e!'lpeciallyin the presence of others. In the in trod netion of a speakH a few moderate praises arc allowable, but 011an occnsionof this kinll it is better that they be too few than that nfl:erthe spee('h the audience should fet·l that they were too profuse. In this connection we Yenture to assert that were it not understood that newspaper " puff's" <lonot signify anything, some of them would be off'ensh·e to people of modest taste. Nothing can contribute more to the happy effect of a ~pcechthan appropriateness, both in the choice of subject arnl regarding the length of time spent' in its discussion. People go to C'hurch expecting to hear a sermon, but there are occasions when a religions exhortation is not looked for, although the speaker may be a pr<'acher. Protracted attention makes weary both body and mind. 1\Iore time and care are necessary in deciding what should not he said than in finding something to say. A long speech means repetition, the use of stale thonghte, Imt worst of all, wearied patience of the au. dicuce, and a depreciation by the liearcrs of the speaker's best sayings. We are of opinion that a genteel refusal to speak when called upon unpreparcll is better than to respond an<lexhibit the bad taste which cannot be :woilled without preparation. No one would expect this number of the Jfesse11ge1· to contain nothing about

Christmas.' \Ve could report many "good times" which the students enjoyed clming holidays, hut space admits of buL one allusion. ,Ye refer to the excellent dinner giyen by l\Ir. J. T. Ellyson to his Sunday-school class of the Second Baptist l'hurch. It will be impossible for any of us who were present ever to forget the royal feast and other pleasantrie s of . the occasion. We did not go home, an<l during the time spent at Mr. Ellysou's we were almost glad that we did not go. The friends of the college do more than they think when they extencl an opportunity for pleasure to · the bop:, who, on account of ·an unavoidable "concatenation of concurrent circumstances" (by which we mean the few ho1i7 daf 'l giYen, distance, &c.,) do not meet with friend:c, at home, ,vhere Christmas was ouce more happily spent than it will eyer be again. This scribe knows that lie expresses the sentiment of eve1•yone who composed the party when he returns hearty thanks to l\fr. and l\frs. Ellyson for the most hospitable man11e1·in which we were entertained.

we

During the Inst few months have been treated to a rare variety of public lectures. Tn the first place, we have enjoyed semi-monthly lectures on Bible topics, one of which contribt1te\l greatly to the merits of the last issue of the Messen,qr1·. The lust lecture ,ras by Mr. IL H. Levy, l\f. D., an alumnus of Richmornl College. . His subject was the Hygiene of the Mosaic Code, and he remarked at length ou leprosy. His lecture was full of interest. During the meeting of Good Templars in this city, two representatires of that Lolly pai,l us a Yi~it,and fayored us with

t8

RIOH!J-IOND COLLEGE lJfESSENGER.

excellent speeches. They failed to conYincesome of us, however, that A1m1rica will ever be redeemed from the curse of intemperance through the Good Templars' organization, only inasmuch as t.heymay influence legislation on the subject. We were visited also by two young men from Princeton, Wilder and Forman, who were born in India, and are 1 soon to return to that country as Christian missionaries. They addressed us several times during thei1· stay, presenting different phases of missionary work, their object being to induce some of om number to join them in their work. While we are in full sympathy 1vithmissionary work, and feel gratifieJ that several of our associates agreed to join . them in carr_ying the "good news" across the waters, yet we could not help observing how much their zeal peryerted their judgment. We should not ,:enture the following remarks, were it not that they have been spoken in substance by an experienced miseionary. · The natural inference drawn from the argument presented by these two young men, is that no man is doing as much for Christianity as he could do by entering the ministry, nod that no minister can effect as much good working in this country as in a foreig!1field. Of course such a conclusion is drawn without considering the inndaptaLility of some men to such work, either at home or abroad. It is a fact often overloolml that very fow men are adapted to the ministry as n life work, and fewer still are suited to foreign mission work. Such a theory o,·erlooks another fact- that a strong force of able and consecrated men are needed to couduet the affairs of both church and state

in such a manner that the support of foreign wol'k may be kept up ; and it is taking a narrow view of the matter to deny that ruen in ,·arious vocations may be important factors in evangelizing the world. We began this editorial with the intention of discussing chiefly the address made a few days after the visit of the young men referred to above, by Rev. l\fr. Bagby, a missionary to Brazil, but a want of space will exclude anything more than a me1:callusion, ond we reserve what we have to say about it until another time. We must say, howe,·er, that the manner in whic:h he presented the suliject bore a striking contrast to the method pursued by the young men. Those who fol)ed tu hear l\1r. Bagby missed a rare treat. He succeeded in arousing an interest in his work · that the others failed to arouse. One thing is worthy of mention: he did not assume that the students of our college were not compete11tto decide upon their life-work without the dictation of their equals in uge and intelligence. We should seriously regret it if this cditorfol is understood as underrating the two noble young meu from Princeton or their work, but WC do say that their ~xcessi,·c zeal causes them to be nonow in thefr views respecting other callings in life. The interest which om· go,·ernment, within the last few years, has taken in "ci vii service," and the light in which it has been viewed by our nationnl parties, muy well cull our attention to civil service as administered by other nations. W c arc all, more or less, aware of the position taken by Englund on this momentous question, and also the manner in

EDITORIAL DEPARTJJlENT. which she administers civil scn·ice codes; must write a treatise on some subject, asbut probably few of us arc aware of the signed him, wi1ich usually requires about part that civil ser\'ice plays in the empire six months. After this long and thorough of Germany. It is, indeed, very inter- tmining, he is thn1, generally at the age esting and curious. I 11 that country it is of twenty-eight or nine, ready to rnter quite different from the · United States. on his official duties. For to hold an office under the German The young Go,·ernment official now government is conE<i<~ered a social l101wr enters upon his work at the nry bottom and distinction. One of the highest am- of the ladder. At first he rereives no bitions of German youth, especially salary; but finally when he has actually those of high birth, is to belong to the receh-ed an appointment, he begins his dipl0matic or c:idl sel'\-il'e. This is a life-work with a salary of about seven position whil'h a German uoy most re- hundred and fifty dollars. They are now gards, and which is considered through- allo-.vedto show their genius and worth, out the empire a3 one of the most aristo- arnl gradually rise as their course warcratic. ' rants it. · As he is promoted in rank, his The German people, though slower than salnry is likewise increase1l. But it is a their neighbors in consummating their remarkable fact, and feems to be an exefforts, and reaching the object aimed at, ception to the other European Powers, yet they are more thorough than any other t that the salaries of German officials are nation and especially in the matter of 1 nearly all lower than those of the United thorough Ii terary attaniments. This is States. the e!'sentiul feature of their civil service, After a certain 11umuerof years, varynnd in order to attain ·the highest iug accor1lingto the offiec held, the G1r• branches of it, the German youth has man official is allowed to rdire on a to pursue a long course of study. In pension, which is generally about three the first place he must spend four or fi,·e fourths of his salary, at time of retireyearR in a gymna~ium, or high school. ment. Taken all in all, the German Then he must pass a three years civil servic~seems to be the most thorough course in a university, and undergo and efficient, though at the same time the an exnmination at the end of most strict and rigid in its regulations this period. He has also to study law, ancl qualifications fo1·membership, with which is necrssary for entering the Set'which we nre acqnaintrd. It might he vice, and then he must pass another exwell for . om· government to study tlie amination which requires two or tlH'ee years preparntion. Now comrs his final Germon system, and amalgnrnate in our "State examination," which is conducted policy many things conncctetl with their both ornllv and in writing; ofter this he ' system.

:J()

RlCJI.MONlJ COLLEGE JlESSENGER.

SClE THE

PROPOSED

ROCKY

rrIFIC

MOl!NTAIN

project is on foot for tunneling the "Grent Di\"ide." Tl1e Divide is the Rocky Mountnius, and the point proposed to be tunneled is under Gray's Peak, which rises no lrss than 14,441 feet nboYe the le,·el of the sea. At 4,441 feet below the Peak, by tunneling from enst to west for 25,000 foet, direct communication would be opened between the valleys on the Atluntie slope nn<ltl,osc on the Pucific si1le. This would shorten the clistnncebetwecu Denver, in Colorado, an<l Sult Lnke City, in Utah, and consequently the clistnucebetween the Missouri river, say ot St. Louis nn<l Sun Francisco, nearly 300 miles; and there would be little more requiml in the way of ascending or 1lesccndingor tunneling mountains. Part of the work hM alreacly l,een nrcomplishe1l. The country from the l\,fosouri to the foot of the Rockies rises graJunlly in rolling prairie, till an ele,·ation i~ reached to .i,200 feet abo,·e the i;ea len!l. The Rockies themsch·es rise at n1rions pluces to a height exceeding 11,000 feet. Of the twenty most fumous pnsi,es,only 1,eycn nre below 10,000 feet, while fi,·e arc upward of 12,000 feet, and one, the Argentine, is 13,0J0 feet. Of the 37 important towns in Colorado, only twclre nre below 5,000 feet, ten nrc o,·er 10,000 feet, nnd one is 14,000 foet. Pusses at sud1 a height are of course a hnrrier to ordinary trallic, nrnl the rnilwnrs from the Atlantic to the Pacific ha,·e in consequence made detours of huudrcds of miles, leaving rich plaim1lying on the western slopes of the great snowy range practically cut off from Dcnve1· aud the RAILWAY

I

TUNNEL.-A

NO'I'ES. markets of the eost. The point from which it is propoFe<lto tunnel is 60 miles <luewest from De11\'er,nnd although one of the highest penkf', it is by for the narrowest in the great bocklione of the A merir.nncontinent. Dr. recent Canton lect11reson "Animal Mcchnnics," Fpeaking of the mechanism of the hcnrt, he deS<'ribcd the nnmber of the pul!'ations of the heart in difft•rent animal -in fish, frog, bircl, robbit, e:lt,d0g, sheep, horseand made n fow comments on the re-· marknl,lc Flowuef:s of the heart--10 strokes per 111inutc - in the horse. Then the number of pnlsntions in man nt \·arious periods of lifo, aml at differe11tlcvclF, from the Jeni of the !:'rnup to 4,000 foet nuove Fen lcn.J, was brought und1•r rcview, :rn<lwns fullowcc1by u computation of the uwrnge work performed by the heart in a healthy adult m:m. The work wns traced out by the minute, the hour, atHl the day, ancl was shown to equnl the feat of rai-ing 5 tons-.1:cwt. one foot per hour, or 125 tons in twenty-four hours. The excess of this work under alcohol in rnrying quantities formed n corallary lo the history of the work of the heart, Parkes' culcuhltion showing nu cxcr.ss of 24 foot tons from the imbibition of eight fluid ounces of akohol. The facts n•lating to the work of the heart by the weight 1,fwork accomplished was supplemcutecl hy n new calculation, in which the course of calculation was explained by mileage. Presuming that the blood was thrown out of the heart at each pulsntion in the proportion of 09 strokes per i\fr:cHANISM

OF 'rIIE HEART.-ln

n. \\'. Richnrcl on's

, ,

' ,

SCIENTIFIC

NOTES.

31

minute, and at the ass11mcdforce of 9 ' lion:1irc \\·ho will prope_rly encourage nnd ft:et, the mileage of the blood through the ~ct them before the world." body might be taken at 207 yards per minute, 7 miles per hour, 168 miles per EcoNmIY Ol~ l-TEAT.-Thc steamship day, 61,320 miles pc1·yrur, or 5,150,880 , Blcvile, of Ha\'l'e, recently built and enmiles in a lifetime of eighty-four years. gined by l\lessrs. Alex. Stephen & Son,:, The 11umberof beats of the hcnrt in the of Linthouse, is a steel screw steamer' ~amc long life would reach the grand to- 300 feet long, and is fitted with triple extal of 2,869,776,000. pansion engines of 210 N. IL P. The principal novelty is in the dPsign of the boilers. In the uptnkes of these-Kemp's ELEC'fRICA r. lKYEN'rl0~8.-AC'('Ol'ding to the Cow·il'l'-Jonrnal, l\fr. Buckel, patent compound high and low temperature-tubes µre so arranged that the n gcniuAof Louisville, has surct•ccledrewaler, b:!forc it enters the high tempercently in making some marvellous iunnature boiler, is l1eated by the gases from tions. It says: "One of the most imthe fires, whid1 would otherwise be lo~t. portant of bis creations is fl pntmt cooler. On her trials, the feed-water, which leaves This is a small iron contrivance, flUout 1 the size of a wooden bucket, ,vhid1 throws the engine, and in ordinary cases (•nters out rays of cold just as a stove rnlliates the boilers at about 120°, was raised to heat. It will freeze water in fl room du- about 360° Fah. The temperature of ring fiummer time, and will prove n price- the waste gases on lcaYing the tubes of less boon to laborerie in the hot sun, who the ordinnry boiler was shown by pyrometer to be about 630° Fah. This was oan cool themselns by this instrnmcnt. reduced to about 300°, showing how Another one of Mr. Buckel's i11,·e11tious is n patet)t electric whip. This is so con- 1 much of the heat that gencrnlly is wnste<l tri,·cd that the drh·er, by touching a but- is ahsorhl'd i11this design. ton on his scat, cnn form a circuit which will shock the horse and urge him on. Still another patent is a coffin, which will forever 1ircsen·e n corpse in a life-like state. l\Ir. Buckel has also impro,·ed the tdt'pho11c 80 that thP.listener Rtamling nt one end can see the person talkiug to him, and also henr the loudest yell or smallest whisper as distinctly 11s if th<1 ~penker were nt your elbow. The latest iiweution made by l\lr. Btu·kcl is an electrical nppnratus to quiet uncontrollable maniacs in asylums. Oth£>r itl\'entions arc soou promised to the public by this young man. He is at present ee1u·ching for c•npital to bnck him, and says that he will make the ninn a mi 1-

SuowEns.-.l!rof. Richard A. Proctor maintains that most of the meteor stn·ams with wl,ich the earth comes in contact al'c ,lerived from the earth itself; that is, thrown off by volcanic action at a time when the internal forces of our planet were suffic·iently acti ,·e to give the initial ,·elocity, some l\\'eh-e miles a second, requisite to carry them beyond the earth's attraction. Comcti-, which he regards as the parents of the meteor strcums, he thinks may ha,·e 01·igi11ated outside our solar system. l\I"St of the comete whose orbits belong to our system, he thi11ks originated in the larger planets. The sun is now, per~ ;\fETEOR

RIGH)'JOND COLLEGE ~MESSENGER. hops, giving birth frequently to comets whieh probably pass beyonll the limits of its attraction.

ldecl with iron filin~, when the partides of course nrrnnge themselvr.s in nccordn11cewith the lines of magnetic force. The flame of n spirit lamp or gas-burner The magnetic wells of l\1ichigan nrc ii; thr.11npplicd, when the finely dh·ided being inspcetrd l,y Prof. Jnn·utski, of iron readily takes fire and continues to Paris. The theory is that nt some 1lepth 1,urn brilliantly for a l'Onsidcrable time. there will be found a strutum of mineral By waving the magnet to and fro while hen\'ily chnrg<'<l with mnguetic electrieity, combustion is going on, a beautiful rnin which may be brought to the smfoce nu<l of fire is pro1luceJ. uscJ to run mills_nn<lfuctorics inJepcn _ A 11cwfluid for pre crviug museum dent of other force. The wells nre now i-:peei mens, so as to keep their color, size, flowing water from the 1lepthof 800 feet, form, ancl l'Onsistency for se,·crul weeks, so highly chorgeil with ckctricity that ·n has been cle,·ised by Professor Grawitz. knife-blade hel<lin the water a fow minutes becomes highly magnetized. While It co11si1,tsof l 50 grms. of sodium diloride, 20 grms. of saltpetre to 1 liter at work the drillers found their tools Leof water; to thi · is a1lded 3 per cent. of coming magnetized. A steel use<l in Lorut·icn,·id. measuring the depth lic<'ame highly charged. The mugnilicent stone building at Cleveland, occupied by the Cose School A TEW Ar.LOY. -. \ new nlloy 1 · :111of A pplicd Sciences, was totally destroynouucecl which is <'Spcci: .illy ndupte,I to ed by fire r<'cently. It wns but recently rnrious important 11~csin the nrts. It finh;hed, and contnined the finest geologimelts at the low kmpcrature of 116 decal collections in the counh'y. The loss grees F., the temperature of moderately is about $200,000. hot wntcr, and considerably below that at which the .m:igic Fpoons of long ago Cremation l,y electricity is the latest melted in a cup of tea. Its composition proposnl of the achorotcs of that system is: Bismuth, 48; ctHJmium, 13; kaLl, of di po iug of the dead. The bodies cnn 1!); tin, 20. It is said that it will withbe, it is 11i:Fc1·ted, in. tantly consumed by stand quite a sewre prcssur<'. this m<'uns,causing 110odor, and leaving only "a handful of sad-colored ashes." TnEC:OMBlJSTIBILITY OFlnox. - Profrssor Magnus, of Berlin, ,lcmonstratcs It is claimed by some that as soon as the combustibility of iron by the follow- the pow<'rfol Liek gloss tshnll be turned ing bl'autiful experiment: One of the on Mars, there will be dil!CO\'eredevipoles of n 1,;lrnight0111gnct is first Flprin- tktH 'CS of animal life on that planet.

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LOCALS.

·--------

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·- ••·-·--

LOCALS. much as they can after making every pc,ssible sacrifice, then for the balance we shall appeal to the generosity of the Faculty and Board of Trm,tees. If any friend to this object should see this notice and desire to make us a contribution, he or she can forward it to J. D. Martin, Chairman Soliciting Committee, or can make it through any friend they may have among the students. We need a room, an<l must have one.

College exercises were suspended only three days Christn .as. This affected about 30 stuJents who Jiye too fur away to return· home for a few 1lnys ho1i<lay. The rest of the stndeuts took lea,·e of absence for a week or ten clays. \\'e are beginning to r<'alize the near npproach of Intermediate Examinations. Our watchword mu!'t be irnl'l.:. Loafers will please take notiet>,or not be offended at the consequences.

It is said that the prospects for the erec-

There was 11 Yery enjoyable reception µ;iyen at the Institute by Miss Hamner during the holidays. The college boys as usual were kindly remembered. l\Iauy of us were absent from the city, au<lregret hnving missed so pleasant nn occnsion. . A. student wl'ites a foaturc of hii; trip home, as follows : Our people hu11g our stocl-i11gup Withont our voice or knowledge; They put In good things-not a few, Hut, plague it, all came tumbling th1·ough That sock we bronght from college.

tion of a new mess-hall are better to-day than ever before. Plans have been about settled upon, and it is thought the building will be erected in the early spring.

1 1

:iskcd thl!m why they /11111r; tluit so<.:k, Fo1· nny misdemeanor; JI they had looked om tru11k 1u·o1111tl Wt•'re very $1lrC lh<'y might h:we foand ,\ 1w,n-r 1111<1 a clP:rn<'r.

\\' t'

\\'Ith one consent our home folk~ all 'l'his n•ason at ns 1lung: 'l'orn hncl co1Hfr11t11ecl it, well tht•y knew, .\nd thought the verdict should go i hrough, .\till ~o th<'~' had it li1111r1,

A movement has been started nmong the students to fit up a suitable room in handsome style for Y. l\I. C. A. meetings. $300 is desiml for this object, of which the boys are to contribute just as

1

One of the boys reported to us upon om· return that the l\Iess had been feeding in fine style during the holidays. He said that the dinner on Christmas day was in regular hotel style, except there were no printed "Bills of Laden." l\Ir. :X. received a very handsome Waterbury watch "with nil modern improvements, &c.-agents wanted," as n Christmas remembrance from a friend. He is nry much pleased with his present, but fears he must dt·()pone class to ha,·e time to kc('p hiR time-piece woullll up. Some of the student':!who rcrnniue<lat collegeduring the hulidap, were hilarious over a note from two "departed brethren," that they had sent. them per exprCi'S a Christmas box. Joy beamed in their faces until the box arrived und was opened; and then, somehow, they lost all nppreciation of the

J4

RICHJJIOND COLLEGE MESSENGER.

thoughtfulness of their absent friends. The contents coul<l not have met their expectatio11s.The old gobbler had waked up and fled; the hnm had broken aloose "to save his bacon"; the express employees had eaten all the cake and jelly, and nothing remained but a.child's picture book, a limber jack, a pop gun, and a nursing bottle, with a little chestnut coal and kindling wood for a rainy day. In the absence of their charity, they suspected a jol,e, and proceeded to retaliate in sn bstance as follows : "Denr fellows, we are looking anxiously for your hox. Thanks. Prof. H. wi he your immediate return fot· an important interview," &c. They received the reply : "Too thin"; and the way they got left, cxplaiM universally the cold wnve of the season.

1

The annual public debate of the Philologian Literary Society took place in tlie chapel Fritlay evening, December 17th. There was a large crowd of Richmond ' friends present, among whom were many ' of her fairest daughters, who seemed to , eujoy the programme hugely. The exercises began with an addrei;:sof welcome by the President, 1\fr. C. D. Roy. He then iutroduccd l\.fr. James T. Noell, who read a humorous selection in his own inimitable i::tylc,ancl was loudly applauded. The next star introduced was l\Ir. ,T. W. Avery, who declaimed, "0111 Times und New" in a masterly manner. Mr. C. A. Folk, of 'J'ennrssee, \\'HS then presented as the orator of the evening. Bis oration had been well prepared and was creditably delivered. He might have chosen a more Rpi<'ysubject, but 1

conltl ha\'e handled none in finer style. ~fhe deuate was then in order, with the cfo,putauts arranged as follows : First affi.rmati\·e, l\lr. T. R Corr; first negntive, l\lr. H. W. Williams; second affirmatfr<', i\fr. C. R. Cruikshnuks; second negatiYc,1\I!·.J. D. Martin. The question discu se<l wa~, "Is Public Opinion Shaped more hy the P1·ess than by Public peaking?" The debaters, without exception, acquitted themselves well. The programme was iutersper cd witlt musical renditions by the Philologi:rn extctte, Prof. J. I .. \yrcs presiding at the piano. The eYening seemed to be Rpent enjoyably by all, the memories of which will lingeL·fondly in the heart. of the '' Jolly Phi logs" until auother twelve-month is passed, when a similar programmE' will be rendered with a chu1weof actors; for further particulars of which, R<'t'f.ruall bills :111<1 newspapers. Perhaps the most interesting and intrnrti\'C cla. s that has eYct· been organized at this in~titntion meets C\'<'1')' Tuesday C\'cning to hear n Biblical Lecture from Prof. J[. II. Harris. \\' e arc forced to belie,·c that there arc few theological students equal to this D. D., and eannot snr more than tli:1t !tis labor of love is n grnncl i-ucccss, and the tudents do feel grateful to 1,im. 'fo cxprc•s' in words their npprccintion of his sympathy anu kinclncsR,the students invited Prof. Hanis nud latly to meet with them in the chapel Fridny moming, Dect'mlicr 24th, to join them iu n Chri:-.tnwsscr\'iCl', At the appointed time all had usscml,led. Dr. W. W. Landrum \\'Us prei;cut to

- --- ~--

LOCALS.

represent the students, which Im did by presenting to Mrs. Hards a handsome silvet· water set, and the Professor a gold- ' headed cane, appropiulely inscribed. His speech was peculiarly fitting, ladened with wit, humor, and thought, and the frequent applause of the students showed that they were being properly rPpresented. Prof. Harris, in response, said that the best speaker of the two would expre~s their thanks if the students would call at their parlors, but he would then an<l there thank them for their presrnts and especially for their kindly feeling. Prof. Harris has won the highest admiration of the students as chairman, professor,and friend, which is daily manifested by stronger evidence than sih-cr and gold can indicate. The Messengertenders its congratulations to Prof. and Mrs. Harris, and with an unselfish moth·e hopes to be alive to publish a report of their diamond wedJing.

It is with peculiar snclness that we chronicle the death of Miss MARTIIAA. MonRIS, the noblest and truest friend Richmond College has ever Jmown. The sad event occurred December 11th, at her room on the college premises. She had been a resident at the institution for twenty-five years, having entered it as a nurse when the building was in use as a hospital during the war. When her duties in this field had been discharged, she accepted the pressing invitation of President Robert Ryland to make the college het· home. Here she has lived, and her pleasure and pride has e,·er been to minister to the wants of the students, '' her boys," us

far as it lay in her power, with no ful'ther compensation than the delight it a-ffol'deJ her philanthropic heart. N eithe1·ti me nor circumstance has cve1·been known to keep her from the bedside of a sick student. Other friends might ha\'e come to her relief, but she would refuse to be relieved ; or if perchance, as in some cases, therP.was no other friend to C'ometo her assistance, yet she cheerfully and unceasingly continued her attention until the patient :needed. her ·services no longer. The essence of all that hns evet· been written or spoken of philanthropy and self-denial~might be inscribed upon her tomb as portraying her own virtues. Yet perhaps no stone may e,·er mark the resting place of her body, and no epitaph may ever be written at her gra,·e; but monuments to her memory shall live forever in the hearts of" her boys"-'' 111011tfments more lasting than bronze." We append resolutions adopted at n mass-meeting of the. students :

IN MEMORIAM. Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God in the wb;e dispensation of his providence to remove from om· midst our highly esteemed and dearly beloved friend, l\liss MARTHAA. l\IoRRIB,calling her to lay down the garment of broken and afflicted mortulity and "be clothetl upon with het· house which is from Heaven"-the holy, spotless nsture of immortality-and although we feel deeply and sadly the loss of a friend so l1elpful, kind, and ·sympathetic; yet be it Resolved, 18t. That while we cannot fully understand the deP.p mysteries of God's providence in thns dealing with us, yet we bow in meek submission ancl gently acquiesce in the Divine will, reposing sw~etly in the thought that "all

,JG

RIOH!YIOND COLLEGE MESSENGER.

---

things work togethe1·for good," and lhat our losi:;is her eternal gain, since hel' f<oul is released from its clay tenement ancl has gone up to the God whom he loved and served in this world. Resoh-e<l,£cl.That we recognize in her lifean example of true au<lnoble living, of thorough and complete consecration, of tru<', earnest deYotion to the work in which she so faithfully spent her life ancl ' in which she so nobly fell-viz., that of ministering to the wants of others an<l thus serving her Lord by serdng tho~c who needed her ministry. Resolued, tJd. That we further recognize in her lite a benevolent, gracioufl, all(l bl<>ssedmi1!istry,touching our lives with deep, true interest, with tenclcr, loving I care, and with warm, heart-felt ia;ympathy. Resohed, 4llt. That we tlo deeply aml sincerely moum the loss of one who has so tcn<lt•rly a111lso faithfnlly watchc,l

oun

- -- -- - -

over our sick beds, and with her healthinspiring presence, her smiling face, and her cheerful words, sent sunshine, gladncsfl, and hope to our hea1·ts. Resolved, 5th. That we strive earnestly to follow the blessed example of earnest cousecralion, true devotion, and loving self-sacnficeas l11iddown and exemplified in he1·1;re. Resolved,(Jth. That iu :MissMartha's death we arc deeply and sensibly impl'e ·c.<l with the solemn assurance that we, too, must soone1·or later travel the same road, meet the same ,Judge, and rccci,·c 0111· reward. Resofrccl,7th. That a copy of these resolutions be pnbli ·hell in out· CollegeJfeRaen.91•r. C.

R.

CltUffSH.A~KS,

'.A.FOLK,

IT. II. ll.ARIUS,JR., Comm-itlee.

L.E'l'TEH-J30X.

" O.1forrl.''- Dccm1bcr 7th fell on ' besides, that mi ·crable old bell that rings Tuesday. So did the snow, and l'rn- at the end of c,·e1-yline is too suggestive. · Hl'n<l us a pair of scissor. ; then if the bell fosRol'-- . is rung on us we can't hear it. " Conl1'ib1tlo1'." - \Ye would like to rr'' Jfi.'!,•A. P. P."-Lct us hnve your turn your unused manuscl'ipt, as yo11 nddrcss, an<l we shall be plca"-et1to send rcqnest; but in 0111· C~ll'cfuldisposition of 1 it 11·cfear it waRonly sa,·c,l ,qo({.~b,11.Jin·. you th<>Iincs yon <lc:irc.

" it. L. 1'."- "' c cnn't Rayhow mnuy mni,taehcs are wom by the student!-. We are a poor hand aclding fractionR.

"Drummer."- \Ve once thought that we woulcllike to ha,·e a type-writer for our editorial work, but they cost so much;

"Don (lni.t·ote."-" 'q uaw" is the diniinuth-c of Thomas Henry.

'' B. A." - \Ve are sorry that you or any othc1·graduate of Richmond College shoul<l find times too close to subscribe to the Jf es,wiger. We were in hopes you

J"-'

PERSONALS:

,> I

were doing well. We filed your postnl, sex ha,·c found their way into our rel'innd markerl your name null ctncl i-oicl tation rooms, arnl we extend them a cordial welcome tq come often. upon our list.

"D., '85-'6' "-,Ve

are a poor hull(1 writing recipes, an<l precious little do we know about "persimmon pudding." However, we can start you : First, get your persimmotts. Some kinrl friend will probably tell you the rest.

"Jmtn.~."-Thc fighting editor of our corps has not charge of the " Letter Box," but is pnrticeps tl'imini.~ thereto, aml will answer yom gricrnnces on accommo<latingterms.

"Alice J{."-We have neYet' had an application fut· memberr,;hipto out· liter- , "P. L. 'P." writes: "Please tell me ary societies from a young lady, and <lo the longest word in the English Junnot know what action would be taken in I gnage?" the mutter. Members of your belo,·ed Why, Lookinthedictionarynndsee. I

PERSONALS. Among the stu1le11tswho hnve left the at the beginning of the E-ession,has bet'll college, more thnn usual ha,·e come back compelled to return home on ncr.nnnt of' to the city to spend the Xmas holidays. ill-health. The boys nt the college have been glad I Pompey J. Peake, '86, is farming thii4 to see the fomiliar faces of l\Iessrs. R. A. ,· year at his home in Norfolk county. Wilbur, K B. Hatcher, H. W. Hemp, We were glad to see the genial face of E. B. Pollard, W. A. Harris, A. R .\. B. Rudd, l\I. A., '8-:1-,on the campus i\liller, E. ,J. Willi~, F. R Steel, -rc1.:ently. He has charge of a church Whitfield, \\'. II. Lyorni, nnd .J. L. at Newport News, and during ChristBrown. Of these, Harris, Hatcher, and mus recei\'~d, in the shape of a Yery Pollard :1re teaching, Lyons an<l \\'hithandsome pile of cash, a very plcnE-:mt fiel<l arc attending the Uni ,·ersitr of reminder of how much his people esteem Virgi11in, ::\Iiller and Willis arc secornlhim. )'t'ar men at Ste\'eu's Institute, Hoboken, F. R llollallll, '86, popularly known l larry Hemp has charge of a church as "Dnde," is sprnding the winter nt in l\Iarylaml, Lute Brown is rr.sting his home in Goochland county. from his labors on the engineering corps ,J. Hen;;ou, '8-1, i8 boarding nrar of the D.11n·ille& .\tbntic Raill'Oad, and college and studying medicine at the VirBob Wilbm· reports that he, Frank Steel, :lll(l Ham Fiery are determine<l to see ginia l\Iedical College. matter:< through in the dental aml D. :M. Ramsey, '8-1, who j,, now at me11ical<lepartmc11tsof the lfninir:a:ity of the Southern Bapfo,t Theological Semi:Maryland. nary, has accepted a call to two churche8 W. II. Reynolds, who entered college t in Woodford county, Ky.

I

1

,v.

,]8

RIGH"!YIOND·COLLEGE :MESSENGER.

:E. J. Woo<h-ille, '8G, is teaching this year in his nnti\'c county of Orange. We wPre ,·ery so1Ty irnlce<lto hem·that his hc•althhas not h<'<'llgood 1luring the foll and winter. Dr. H. H. LC\')', B. A., '69, and afterward:,;prize essayist and graduate of the Virginia l\lcdical Colleg<',entertained the students Yeryhighlr recently, by 1rn able lecture on the disease of leprosy. Dr. Le\'y is now Professor of Physiology in the Virginia Medical Coll<'ge,and has :il:so reflected credit upon lii3 alma rnate1· by ~uccessfully filling se,·crul other important positions in the city.

Dr. C. F. James aml Hon. \Ym. Wirt Henry, who hr\\'e for some months been currying 011 such an interesting and

EXCHA One of these days, when the Li:high Hnrr shall have increased its knowledge

\'igorous discussion in the Religious Jferald, are both alumni of tl1is institution, Dr. James having taken his B. A. here in '70, und :Mr. Hemr being a n. L. <•f'81. G. B. Stacy, who attended college Inst session, is now in the furniture bui-iness with his fathe1·in this t·ity. ,loe Buker, '78-9, who is li\'i11gnow at Bowling Green, Va., has Yisited the college quite frequently this session looking after the welfare of his little brother, we judge. Rev. I. l\I. l\fercer, l\f. A., 'i9, who hos been taking peciul courses in Germany during the last two years, returned home recently and now has charge of the Baptist church iu Alexllmlria, Vn.

GES. <lolph-:Afacon ~Alonthly,is aLlc in cYery respect, and seems to know what is the best wny to proceed, when it wishes to cncourngc a good :md noble enterprise. Accordingly we notice that it devotes 11 separate department to Y. 1\I.C. A. This ie a good idea, and one that should be adopted more generally by college mnga11,incs,for we bclic,·e in so cluing th<'y could ,·er)· materially ai<l this <·t111sc, which is ndrnncing in our <'Oll<'l?;l'Rn'ry rapidly year by yenr.

i>f'geography and orthography enough, . o as not to allow itself to l,e imposed upon hy tl1cstutenwut that Sewrmecis in Kentucky and is i,pellt·cl Swanee and afterwnr<ls shall go on extending its field of knowledge until it meets with that ,·cry m111sunl(?) worcl "chestnut," then we hope thut its Exchange editor will b<:nble to 11)1(lcrstandtlrnt the conclusion of the observation, "Now, if tho title of our worthy contempornry wns only "Chestnut Burr," in the ovem- , The Local, Personul, nnd Exch1111ge her Jle,-Jscn,qc1·, is so ohdous, thnt a goo1l departments of' our exchange from the critic, so far from noticing it a mark for Ohio State Uni,·cri,ity nre well gotten up, nnfil\'orul,lccriticism, \\'Oulubesupreme]y but we think thnt n " Lantern" of 11i11edisguetecl with a man who would insult <·nn<llepower (we mean that its bour<lof his readers hy finishing out the sentence. editors number nine) might shed a more beneficent light upon the college world, Our much esteemed neighbor, the Ran- if its rars were directed to a greater ex-

EXCHANGES. tent upon the many questions which could lie discussed to the hPRtndvantagc in its literary clPpartnwnt.

3[)

I interesting

manner. The Campits has a very full Local department, and, what is somewhat uuusual, a column devoted entirely to athletics.

\re have rcc('i\'e(l from l\Ioscs King, publisher, Carnl,ridgP, Mass., a copy of There is nothing true1· in the manageStll<7e11t's Song.~,\\'hich we cheerfolly re- ment and publishing a college magazine comnwncl to our Glee Club ancl all than that "in union there is strcngLh," students who wish a gnocl ctlition of the and so we think that . the Literary Somost popular college songs. This book cieties of Emo1·y and Henry College have is handsomely printed, contains 60 songs, done a Yery wise thing in uniting their two \\·ith their music, ncnrly all of which are . papers, the Calliopean C'la,·ionand Ilercopyrighte(l, and is quite cl1C'flp,selling mesion into one, the Exponent. \Ve confor 50 cents. gratulate the editors on the fine appearance of the mngazinc and its excellent litNot alone in its hnnd:;omcnew exte- erary department. rior and fine grncral appearance do we The sentence, "Our editors are men find cYidencc of the msthctic tendencies of ' talent' nncl ' information,' ancl they of the Pacific Pharos, but we notice that will allow nothing to go into it that has it clisplays great love for, :ind keen appre- uot been carefully and thoroughly predation of, the 1.)('autifulin language also. pared," sounds haclly, coming as it docs It has a grcnt longing to !'Ceits "prose from the editors, and might haye been column l,lossom with ,·erse"; boldly left out, we think, without rnntcrially inchampions the cause of the college poet; juring the leading editorial. clt,plmes the fact that more of its contribThe article " Francis Bacon," in the utors 110 not i1l\'okethe gentle 1\Iuse; and mllkcs a blue mark at once, should any Georgetown OollegP.Jlagcizine, evinces of its exchanges lal'k the highc1· adorn- careful preparation and clear analytic ment of poetry in its columns. This thought. The author has marked out large amount of style in the Phai·os yery clearly the two-fold character of seenu,, however, to hn,·e a solid hlu,is, ancl this '· the wisest, brightest, meanest of so we cotmt it one of om brightest cx- mankind," showing on the one hand that his character, as a politician, was low and <'hangrs. contemptible in the last degree, while on The author of the pil'cr, "A Sketch the other hand, as a philosopher, he was of Japan," in the ]) 'eemlwr numbr1· of the patient, beneficent scckm· of truth for the Ottawa C'ctrnpu ,i, doesn't seem to at- its own snkc and the good of mankind. tempt any of the more mrnstrnl and diffiWe have ne,·cr seen an inferior· nurn cult feats in compo.~iti;rn, but gi,·cs a Lcr of the Gap and Gown, but were F-pcplain, simple account of the pust nnd present of Japan as r('ganb its form of cinlly pleased with the October-Novem-gn,·crnmcnt and educational organiza- ber issue. W c felt us we read the alletion. The story contnins a great deal of gory, "The Magic Potion," almost us if useful imformation, wliieh is gi\'en in an a " magic" spell were upon uR, and ar~

40

RIOHlrIOND COLLEGE :MESSENGER.

quite sure that no one who begins to read this piece can put the paper down Lefore he has finished it, so ably and cleverly is it written. The Exchan.ge colurun of this paper is edited in a fearless and vigorous style. If the editors will allow us, we would suggest, however, that in justice to the rest of the I magazine, the department College Notes ought to be made more full and complete.

In the Butler Collegian, a great many items in "Locals" are entirely too local in their character, and seem to us to be intelligible not even to the general bocly of students, but only to the few who may haye been personally intcre ·tcd. Its two literary ai·ticles ure Ycry readable indeed. The strong point of "Hiudoo Belief" is the ingenuity with which the author puts some of his arguments, and the principal charm of" Parouomasia" is the variety and smoothness of the style, as the writer performs the difficult task of accumulating in a pleasant manner such a very large number of examples to prove his point, that distinguished men of all ages have not disdained to use " that innocent and enlivening piece of wit " called the pun. The Christmas numbe1·of the Nassau Lit. is fully up to its usual standard, which is saying a great deal for it. When its editors, howe,·er, say that in getting out • - -

a distinctively Christmas number the

Lit. makes a new departure in college journalism, it claims too much, and must at least divide the honor, for, not to mention other magazines that incline very largely that way, the Fordham College :Monthly for December is made quite as distinctively a Christmas number as is that of the Lit. We doubt not, also, that should one investigate the matter he would find that the year 1886 could not justly claim the honor of having been the first to see this departure among college nrngazinci::.

The Washington J~/j'ersonian lacks order in the arrangement of its articles. In that portion of the paper which one would rathe1· suppo 'e to be intended as the Edito1·iuldepartment, we find editorials, items of general news, and notices of Exchanges all mingled togcthe1·prnmiscuously. Moreover, among the Locals al ·o the editors have inserted a notice of an exchange-namely, the .MiamiJournal. We think that if these different suluect were collected uuder sepn.rate heads, the result wouhl be that each department would be made more complete, and the journal woul,1 be ,·cry dcti1le1lly improYe1l. Notes about the" Vul"iousYocntions" of the alumni of the college seem to have Leen collected with great c:u·c, and the nrticlc!:!" Via Abbotsford " n11d"Lnti 11 , Pronunciatiou" arc good.

--=.,_;...;:;;;..;;

The University of Pcnnsyl\lania is the oldest institution in the country beuring the legal title of University. Harvard, Y.ale, Princeton, and Columbiu, are only

__

-

colleges in thei1·corporate names. The College of Philadelphia became the University of Pennsylvania in 1701.

RICHMOND COLLEGE ~MESSENGER.

COLLEGE

NEWS

AND

41

FUN.

The performance of the Greek play '' The Acharnians" took place at the Academy of Music, in New York, Friday night, November 19th, and was given in aid of a fund for the endowment of the directorship of the American Clussical School at A thens. Being the first Greek plny ever presented in New York, it drew a large audience. The performance was in e,¡ery respect a good prod net ion and was warmly received. The music of the comedy, which was composed by Prof. Clarke, of the University of Pennsylvania, recei veil the hearty approval of the audience, likewise the chorus singing by the Orpheus and Cecilia Society of Philadelphia. Each actor played his part with admirable exactness, and Mr. Pepper, who played Dikaiopolis, received a hearty encore. The college presidents who attended were President Barnard of Columbia, President Hall of Cornell, and President Dwight.

an exchange, especially the latter clause of the I.1st senttnce: Prot: : " What is it to know? " R. A. A. : "It is to know that we know." Prof. : "A little more definite, if you please." ",veil, sir, it is to know that we nre certain that we know that we know." Prof. : "A Iittle plainer." "It is to feel that we know that we know that we are certain that we know that we know." Prof. : " Please be more definite." "It is to know that we are confident. that we know we are certain that we know that we know, but after all I don't know that I am positive that I know that I am confident that I know that I um certain that I know that I know what you w:mt to know."

Prof. R. L. Dabney has been invited by the Victoria Institute, or Philosophical Society of Great Britain, to furnish a paper to be read at the first annual meeting of that body. This will be the third paper contributed by Professor Dabney.

s if you

Mr. R., writing an exercise on the Lady of the Lake, comes to Canto II., and, very much perplexed, calls his friend W. from the next room, and asks him who was Canto II., and when did he reignanyway. The members of the Senior Philosophy class will appreciate the following from

AC CEPTING THE TEÂŁnrs.-He ingly): ",von't yon giYe me waltz, Miss Violet ? " She (coquettishly): "Pcrhnp press me." The Bold, Horrid Thing: that us we dance."

(entreat the next

"1'11 do

The deacon's wife wanted to jot down the text, and lcauing over to her scapcgmce nephew, she whispered, " IIaYC you a card about you?" "Yon ca11't play in chnrch," was the solemn reproving answer; and the good woman was Ro flustered tliat she forgot all about the text. A phrenologist ~ays that "fulucRs under the eyes denotes lnngnugc." ,vhcn fulness is caused by another man's fist,

RICHlJfOND

COLLEGE MESSENGER.

it denotes very bad language generally, we suspect.

fered to give the last fl0,000 sum.

At Rutgers the prizes of the graduating dass were taken by a Japanese nobleman.

Bancroft, the venerable historian, is one of HarYard's 'l 7.

The Cornell faculty lia,·e suppressed their student's journal. Too much liberty of the pre!'s was the cai1sap1'in<:ipalis.

of the

The system of government by a joint committee of students and faculty at Har\'ard gives great satisfaction.-Ex.

The Juniors at Colby expressed their joy on completing the study of logic by ·Professor: "Mr. 1\1.,what is an aqnecremating their text-books with very imcluct?" l\Ir.1\1.,thoughtfully: "A·q-11-a,water, posing ceremonies. a water-fowl." "Oh! third-year girl, what makes thee After a lapse of o,·er tweh-e years, women ha,·e again been aclmitte<lto the l\Iedical College of Edinburgh. Sahl a professor to a notorious luggard, who for once w!lsprompt at prayers, "I mark sou, sir, as present this morning; whnt is your excuse?" "I c:oultln'tsleep, s!r,"was the response.

mum? Tell us the reason, pray." '' 'Tis, cause I've had no chewing-gum All this eventful day ! " The American Protecti ,·e Tari ffLeugne offers prizes to i:enior students in all American colleges for appro,•ed essays on the "Advantages of a Protecti\·e Tariff to the Labor Industries of the United States."

Duutt: au<l George \\' ashinglon arc said to be the onlr ones of the worhl's Prof. A. C. Meniam, Profe. sor of rcnowne1lamong whose writings and rc- Greek at Columbia College, has b~en secorde,l sayings wo foil to find the el:;elected as diL·ectorof the School of Athens wherc omniprrsent pun. foL·the year 1887. Ile will leave for the new post at the close of the present " Profc.:;sor," said a gradual<', trying college year. to l,c pathetic at parting, "I nm inclcbted to yon for all I know.'' "Pray clon't mention such a trifle," was the not ,·cry flatteri'ng l'<'ply.

TALEN'rED Sm.ron.-" Purdon me, Miss Budd, is it true tlrnt you are engaged to my clnsAmnte,Charley HowThe .N'cw York Alumni Association ard ?" of Willinms College, at its recent meet- ' Miss lludcl- " Thal':,i rather a pointed ing at Delrnonico's,appointed a committ~e question." for tlie purpose of securing SJ0,000 foL· T. '.-" Excuse my uskiug, but I a111 the <•rcctionof n nc:w rccitatiou hall for histol'ian of our cl,1ss,anll I am getting the college. F. F. Thompson, of the all the gos~ip on the fello\Ts that I can." 11~iret Nutionul Bunk of New York, of- Life.

SELECTIONS.

SELECTIONS. In most. of the large l'itics of this ·: country "opium deus" may be founclby the anxious searcher after the likr. A <lescription of how the business is done is as follows: "The smoker lies curled up with his head resting on a bamboo or eurth£:nwarc pillow about fh·e inches high. Near liiru stands an opium lamp, the flame of which is protected by a glass shatlc low enough for the point of the flame to project abo,·e the top of the shade. The srnoket· takes a wire and dips it into a little box containing prepared opium. A small quantity adheres to the point of the wire, which is then hchl onr the flame of tlie lamp until the heat has swollen it to about ten times its original size. This is rolled oYer on the flat shle of the day bowl, the opium all the time adhrring to tl1e win•. \\' lwn it has been rolled to a soft, solid mass, it is again applied to the lamp,nnu this alternate roasting a1Hlrolling is kept up for at least ten minutes, liy which time it is in the shape of a pill and rt'ady for use. The aperture in the pipe is ~o small that it can only rcceiYe the smallest quantity, and the most careful manipulation is needed lo transfr•r the tiny ball of 0pium from the encl of the wire to the bowl of the pipe. The point of the wire h, i11sertcdiuto the hole of the pipe and worked ,round ancl round till the soft opium forms into a ronical-shaped ring about the wire. By twirling the wire the drng is gradually detached from it, leaving a hole through the opium about as forge as the hole of' the pipe bowl, with which it communicates. The pipe i:-;now l'l'ndy and the bowl is held ovet· the lamp so thut the opiuw

comes in contact with the flame. A spluttering noise rnsues as the smoker sucks at his pipe. After each successive draw he l:'jectsfr0m nose and month a volume of smoke, the very smell of which is enough to turn a horse's stomach. By the end of the fourth or fifth whiff the pipe is empty. The smoker scoops up another dose of opium, rolls it into a pit, and repents the operativn with the same patience as beforP,and smokes away uutil the pipe falls from his hands and he is lost in drPnmland." THE

OCCUPATION

OF GREAT

MEN.-

The MedicalAge has been investigating this sulijcct, and says that the father of Demosthenes was a blacksmith ; of Euripides, a dealer in vegetables; of Socrates, a mediocre sculptor; of Epicurus, a sheplierd; of Virgil, an innkeeper. Col urnbus was the son of a woolcardet·; Shakespeare, of a butcher; Luther, of a miner; Cromwell, of a brewer; Sixtus V., of a swineherd; Linmeus, of a poor country minister; Franklin, of a soapLoilet·; Rousseau, of a watchmaket·; Ullll ~Iurat, ofnn innkeeper. The writer concludes that the mothers of the;;emen may h:we been the source from which their genius was derived, and, indeeu, it is known th:it some of them were women of more than ordinary excelltnce. The doctrine that we shoulll patronize home industries is sometimes carried to a mischievous extreme. A correspomlent of 'Phe Nat·ion says : "The State of California has e,·en gone so far as to have prohibitell the use of school-books from other souL"Ces, such

RIGIHIOND

COLLEGE :MESSENGER.

as those written by some of the forrn1ost scientists, historianR, and scholar~, direeling the Foanl of Ed ucntion to 'ca11sc to be prepared,' mad<', and sol<l textbooks for their own use. Presently we shall have some distant State forbidding 'the importation of Shakespeare, alHl uucJertakiug by legislative enactment to proclnre him on the spot from local talent."

an opportunity to allude to a well-known political character of the time, whom he reprrscntcd as a person who wished to play the rogue, bnt had only sense enough to play the fool. cc Where," exclaimed Sheridan, in continuation and with great emphasis, " where shall we find a more fooli ·h knave or a more knavish fool than this?" '' Hear, hear ! " was instantly bellowecl from the aceustomocl " HEAR, HEAR! "- Sheridan on('e bench. The wicked wit bowerl, thanked succeeded admirably in entrapping a the gentleman for his ready reply to the noisy member who was in the habit of question, and sat clown amid the coninterrupting every speaker with cricc; of vul:-:ionsof laughter from all but their cc Hear, hear! " Richard Brinsley took unfortunate subject.

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