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pt. I. The political opinions of Richard Cobden. The policy of commercial treaties. Free trade and free enterprise. Note on state railways. Egypt: A letter to M. de Laveleye. Reciprocity: A letter to Mr. T. B. Potter, M. P. A statement of bimetallic theory. The national income and taxation.--pt. II. The law of value and the theory of the unearned increment. ; Mode of access: Internet.

Prelude to the "1913 Red book" of Missouri. ; Social legislation enacted by the 1913 legislature.--Work of the free employment bureau, 1913, in supplying employment to the unemployed.--Protecting the unemployed searching for owrk by regulating and restricting private employment agencies.--Social features of Missouri's population statistically related.--Federal income ax paid by the Missouri corporations and individuals.--Possibilities and advantages of farm life; statistics.--Women's welfare department; its object.--Farm school; vocational training, aphilanthropic enterprise.--Initiative and referendum amendment.--Vocational continuation schools. ; Mode of access: Internet.

ORATORICAL NUMBER APRIL, 1901 CONTENTS April 35 The Significance of the Unin-tended 36 Our Democracy 41 The Dream of the Ages 43 The Man with the Hoe 47 War in the Light of the Twen-tieth Century SI International Arbitration to Sat-isfy National Honor 55 John Ruskin—The Man 58 Editorials 62 "The Reign of Law" 63 Exchanges 67 Advertisements 68 FAVOR THOSE WHO FAVOR US. For Fine- Printing go to Be X lo Wile Friipliil faff CARLISLE ST. GETTYSBURG, PA. C. B. Kitzmiller Dealer in Hats, Caps, Boots and Douglas Shoes GETTYSBURG, PA. R. M. Elliott Dealer in Hats, Caps, Shoes and. Gents' Furnishing Goods Corner Center Square and Carlisle Street GETTYSBURG, PA. EDGAR 5. MARTIN, ^CIGARS AND SMOKERS' ARTICLES ^p* ^y*j^ Chambersburz St., Gettysburg Leadership IN THE CLOTHING and MEN'S FURNISHING Business It is strictly here—everybody knows it. Testimony ? The stock itself. The pen suffi-ciently nimble to tell all the good points of our ::::::: FALL AMD WINTER. SUITS AND OVERCOATS has not been found. We will keep you dressed right up-to-date if you buy your Clothing and Furnishings here. : : : : STIINE McPherson Block- No. II BALTIMORE STREET WILLIAM H.HETF.ICK GETTYSBURG COLLEGE PA.UL K1ELFFER FRANKLIN &MARSHAL HOWARD E.SH1MER MUHLENBERG COLLEGE J . W. D OVNEY L E H1G H EDWARD E.KELLEY URSIWU5 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY The Literary Journal of Pennsylvania College Entered at the Postojftce at Gettysburg as second-class matter VOL. X GETTYSBURG, PA., APRIL, 1901 No. 2 APRIL JOHN KEBLE Lessons sweet of spring returning, Welcome to the thoughtful heart! May I call ye sense or learning, Instinct pure, or heaven-taught art? Be your title what it may, Sweet and lengthening April day, While with you the soul is free, Ranging wild o'er hill and lee; Soft as Memnon's harp at morning, To the inward ear devout, Touched by light with heavenly warning, Your transporting chords ring out. Every leaf in every nook, Every wave in every brook, Chanting with a solemn voice Minds us of our better choice. Needs no show of mountain hoary, Winding shore or deepening glen, Where the landscape in its glory, Teaches truth to wandering men. Give true hearts but earth and sky, And some flowers to bloom and die, Homely scenes and simple views Lowly thoughts may best infuse. 36 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE UNINTENDED PATTI. KIEFFER, of Franklin and Marshal [First Prize] '"PHERE is an Eastern fable of three princes contesting in arch- * ery for their father's kingdom. The youngest, regarded as a weakling, after an apparently poor effort, is unable to find his arrow. The elder brothers divide the kingdom, while he is left in ridicule to search for the lost missile. Hedoesso. Traveling many days in the direction of the shot, he comes upon his arrow imbedded in the door of a cavern, whither it has been wafted, mile after mile, by some unseen power. The door opens into the land of the genii, a realm of untold riches; and the youthful archer, now a mighty potentate, returns to receive adulation, where but a short time before he had met with but scorn and ridicule. The story of the princely archer is more than a fable; it is an allegory. The shot from his bow had an unintended and unex-pected result; a similar fate has attended men's efforts in all ages. For it is the universal experience that men aim at one thing and attain another. It has been always thus. Men work and labor and toil, and when it is all over and the work is done, behold, the result is other than that of the original intent. Men build better than they know. So true is this that there would seem to be a law by virtue of which it is characteristic of most of the great and genuine and lasting achievements of man, that they come in an unwonted, unintended and unexpected manner. Great is that which man has sought for and achieved; greater still is that which he has not sought for and has yet achieved. Great is the logic of man; the logic of events is greater. Indirection and unconscious-ness— these have attended the fruitful workings of human handi-craft, of human agency, and of human genius. The great discoveries—how have they come? In their blind-ness, men sought to read their fortunes in the stars, and out of astrology grew the noble science of astronomy. In the black kitchens men spend their lives in the search for the elixir of life, and out of alchemy, chemistry is born. The fall of an apple and the discovery of a universal law are inseparably linked. In the cathedral at Pisa a verger oils a lamp and leaves it swinging to and fro; a youth of eighteen sees it, ponders, and conceives the idea of measuring time. Indirection is the law. Men puzzle them- THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY 37 selves with problems for years; and then, suddenly, and in some unexpected manner the truth is imparted to some genius and the world moves on a step. New and untried ventures bring strange results. Columbus is sure that he is discovering a new route to the East; the floating seaweed that quells the mutiny on board his ships belongs to a new continent whose discovery renders his name immortal. To-day, four hundred years later, the powerful young nation which has grown up upon this continent has reached the Pacific and is look-ing beyond, and men stand with bated breath as they see her reach-ing across the great ocean to the East. The dream of the Genoese adventurer, after four centuries is about to receive some semblance of fulfillment in a manner of which he little dreamed. A protest against the sale of indulgences is a trifling matter; not so insignifi-cant is the splitting of the Roman Catholic Church and the de-stroying of the Papal supremacy. The little Mayflower bears a small band of men and women seeking religious freedom. After several centuries we look back to the spot upon which they landed, little dreaming of their mission, to see diverging therefrom the rays of light which have illuminated our nation ever since. That was Puritan light that made clear the pathway to Bunker Hill, to Yorktown, and to Appomattox. The colonies are now full grown and the mother country be-comes tyrannical. An unjust stamp tax is imposed and the colo-nists resist. The Boston Tea Party registers opposition to taxation without representation. But the colonists are still loyal. '' From one end of the colonies to the other," says Franklin, "no one is thinking of independence." Then, like a thunderbolt in a clear sky, a bold spirit, raised to a higher plane than his fellows, and catching the first glimpse of a new dawn, cries, "Give me liberty, or give me death!'' The cry of treason is the reply; but the events of a few swift years prove that he has caught a true vision. Resist-ance to a petty stamp tax inspired a revolution, threw off a yoke of oppression, and laid the foundation for the freest, most enlight-ened, most powerful republic in history—while men wondered. The world's battles in all times have been fought out upon forlorn hopes. Gideon sat by the wine-press when he received the call to arms. His three hundred put to flight the hosts of the Midianites. Wilberforce in England and Garrison in America go forth, like Hercules of old, to battle with the hydra-headed slave 33 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY interests. In both continents it is one against a thousand. The one wins and both continents are freed. The world's schools present a strange picture. England's greatest preacher was an uneducated school usher. The temper-ance lecturer is picked out of the gutter. Buu3'an was an infidel. Lincoln was born in a slave state. Paul sat at the feet of Gama-liel. Moses was brought up in Egypt. The poet, the artist—he, too, knows the significance of the unintended. He calls it inspiration. Not a substitute for toil, for years of labor; but the final result comes not in the direct line of work. The painter in his studio sees his work fruitless for years; he is almost in despair; and then one night, as he is taking a moment's rest, in God's great out-of-doors perhaps, his reward comes. Gaspar Becana sits idle by the hearth when the long-awaited message, denied him at his work, is revealed to him in the flame. Years of toil, of unremitting labor; but at the supreme moment, no effort. Small wonder that Schiller exclaimed; "Since creation began All that mortals have wrought All that's God-like in man Comes—the flash of a thought." A scene from our nation's history. Thirty years of growing bitterness have kindled the flame of national discord, and the fiery characters proclaim that slavery is a crime. But at this moment the black slave is forgotten. It is a Federal fort off the southern coast, and it has been fired upon; the national troops have been attacked; states withdraw from the Union; brother takes arms against brother in the horrors of an internecine con-flict. Anti-slavery is swallowed up in a war for the preservation of the Union. Two short, swift years of war, and the voice of the commander-in-chief is heard throughout the land. The words he speaks are those of the Emancipation Proclamation. The slave is free, and that is accomplished by two years of war for another purpose in which thirty years of direct opposition failed. But there is no standing still. History is making. It is thirty years later and another crisis is reached. An oppressed people has lifted its appeal to the great American heart, whose pulsations, imperceptible at times, are none the less sure and true. The world's eyes are directed to Cuba, to the unprecedented ?pec-tacle of a great power wielding the sword in a war for the sake of THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY 39 humanity. But while the battle is on, what means this other sound, this note ol war from far across the sea? What mean these guns and sound of falling masonry? Has the electric impulse reached from Cuba half-way around the world? Yes. The American flag floats over Manila and the Philippines are ours. "But hold," the people cry, "tofree Cuba is our onhy aim. What have we to do with those far-off islands and a foreign race. New possessions are not part of our intent." Intent? If history can teach; if the experience of the past can furnish lessons for the present and future, this is the very seal and sign and token of the genuineness of your new duty that it was unintended. Then a voice cries, "So be it, America has burst her bonds!" "Imperi-alism!" is the reply and a new conflict is on. The final arbiter, the sovereign will of the people, must decide. But who can doubt the result? Stop our country's growth? Put an end to the national life? The ballot is cast; the people have echoed "So be it," and the seal of ratification is placed upon another great move-ment whose inception was unwitnessed by human eyes. Then, above the conflict of party and the war of words, one can all but hear the genius of the nation: "Here, O America, is thy duty. Whether thou wilt or no, here is thy mission. Thy path is clear. Here or nowhere is thy destiny, work it out therefrom, to the ends of liberty and humanity, of justice and order and peace." And what is the meaning of it all? Is man a creature of blind chance, his fate determined by every gust of wind that blows? Is history wrought out by luck? Are we to doubt the poet, doubt that "through the ages one increasing purpose runs?" Are man's work, his years of toil, his planning, his foresight, his God-given gift of reason—are all these to go for naught? The on-ward march of civilization answers No. The uplifting and better-ing of humanity answer No. The assent of man answers No. The unintended—unintended by whom? Who intended that the sun should shine by day and the moon by night? Who intended that the earth should yield up her fruits and the rain descend from Heaven? While man proposes, God disposes. Eeason,plan, method, purpose,—all these, could man, blind man, but see them. Yes, "there's a divinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will." It is a dark night at a time of crisis in our nation's history. The 40 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY great captain lies dead at Washington by the hand of the assassin. In the great city of the commonwealth a mob is gathering and its mutterings are terrible in their foreboding. Old wounds gape afresh. The suspense is awful; what the morning will bring no one can tell. Suddenly, above the uproar of the crowd, like the clear note of a trumpet, a voice is heard. It is the voice of a man of the people. The words he speaks are few and simple: "God reigns!" Like the calming of a great storm upon the waters, the crowd disperses and the dawn ushers in a day of peace. May the echo of those words be endless in our country's career! God grant that down her path in times of peaceful well-being, in times of storm and stress, the words of her inspired patriot may ring in the ears of all her sons, "God reigns!" Yes, at her birth-throes He was with her; in the trying times of her infancy and youth He guided her; in her maturity he has blest her. And now, in the full plenitude of her powers, He has sent her a new mission. May He give her strength to fulfill it. May He give her people wis-dom and make her leaders to see the right path: And then, as we turn our eyes towards the future, with senses sharpened by patriotic fervor, we may catch the first glimpse of her shining forth supreme in that glorious company of nations when right shall have become might and the sense of human brotherhood filled all men's souls; and as we strain our ears to listen we may hear, mingled with the triumphal music of might and power, and rising far above it, the clear, pure note of a simple entreaty, the voice of the people lifted on high with that of the poet, to the ' 'God of our fathers, known of old Lord of our far-flung- battle line, Beneath whose awful hand we hold Dominion over palm and pine, Lord God of Hosts be with us yet Lest we forget! Lest we forget!" «9£, "While words of learned length and thundering sound Amazed the gazing rustics round; And still they gazed and still the wonder grew That one small head should carry all he knew." —GOLDSMITH. THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY 41 OUR DEMOCRACY WM. H. HETEICK, of Gettysburg [Second Prize] YV7E feel honored, as a people, in that good favor and for- " tune which makes us citizens of the American republic. We exult in the privileges which that citizenship affords. We rejoice in the liberty that gives us equal chances with all for the highest and noblest attainments in life. In short, we would be none but Americans. Were we Germans, we might challenge the world for a refor-mation. Were we Frenchmen, we might extol with pride the merits of an eventful revolution. Or, were we Englishmen, we might look with pleasure on a long line of illustrious rulers, or boast of universal dominion over the seas, or of lands on whose soil the sun never goes down. But we are Americans. We hold up but a century and a quarter of history, but where is its equal? Our part in the world movement was the founding of the people. To found the people. What an aim! To vindicate their honor! To make them free! Ours was the revolution on whose fate hung the human race. It was a conflict between man and king—a people in battle against the tyranny of the whole past. Here was born civil liberty that lifts the yoke of oppression from a subju-gated world. Ah! Here on our own battle-field was struck the blow that annihilated slavery, which for fifty centuries darkened civilization with inhuman crime. Our boast is not of territory. The sun sets every evening over our land, but it throws its golden light on a free and independent people, subject to none but their God, and held and maintained by a constitution that receives the approbation of the world. Our exultation is in the principles of our government; our joy in their beneficent results. Democracy is our nation's honor; manhood the integrity of our people. Manhood—the keystone in the arch of our republic. Manhood—that which Rome with all her strength could never develop, nor Greece, with all her depth of thought, conceive. MANHOOD, that gave Germany her refor-mation, but not strong enough to make her free; that once made England a republic, but too weak to give her equal rights. No! Europe could never develop it. The nearest she came to it was the Puritan and him she drove, exiled, beyond the sea. Away 42 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY from custom and the iron grip of centuries; beyond the despotism of monarchs and aristocracies ; on the water-edge of-an unknown continent it found a home, and on that continent it established an ideal government for man, our own republic. We, the people of that republic, sit this day in our own purple, with no master but our conscience, our reason, and our God. Beneath us lies the dark past of conflict, breaking its troubled waters against the mountain of our democracy. The step to a throne has been taken and the destiny of man is sealed. We stand at last where kings have never stood; with no equal in the world; with tyranny at our feet and the eternal sunshine of progress on our heads. In our hands no diamond-studded sceptre; but an in-vincible ballot. On our heads the crown of an inalienable right. Here equality brings the triumph of humanity, the problem of the ages. We give man his rights and in less than two centuries he builds a nation. We make him his own master and he conquers his own self. We give him room for genius and he becomes a Garfield and a Lincoln. Accident and favor no more usurp the place of honor. The wreath of victory is placed on the man who can, be he the favored son of fortune or the poor, obscure peasant from the cabin-home. It is democracy—manhood crowned—that makes us truly great. To destroy that there must be a power greater than the people's and deeper than the soul's. To take away from the people their God-given rights is to make the world an enigma and the hope of man a dream. No! The people rise and with them the world. Creation moves towards its inevitable goal with our own democracy in the lead. One by one the nations fall in line, moving to no martial strain, but to the music of peace, goodwill to mankind. Yonder in the clear light of the future stands the cross of Christ, in which the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of the Lord, and around which shall gather the nations all, unfurling their banners "in the Parliament of Man, the Feder-ation of the World." «8^ "The object of oratory alone is not truth, but persuasion. —MaCaulay. THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY 43 THE DREAM OP THE AGES ARTHUR L. CROSSLEY, of Lafayette [Honorable Mention] 'T'HE centuries roll on and on. Nations come and go. But *■ great principles and truths never cease their onward progress. Slowly and quietly they make their way among the peoples, but surely as the eternal God from whom they spring. Such was the principle of religious liberty, forbidden and restrained by the pre-judices and customs of all the past, the first flame kindled in the heart of Luther, then spread throughout Germany and Europe to England and across the sea. Born of the theses nailed on the church at Wittenberg, grown among such convulsions of war and carnage as even Europe had never known before, the principle at last triumphed and the soul of man stood forth free to worship the God of its choice. Such was the growth of political freedom. We see the first faint gleamings of the dawn in early Greece and Rome. But the stormy clouds of the dark ages sweep before our gaze for a thou-sand years. With Magna Charta comes a rift in the darkness. Strong-hearted Englishmen rise in their might and Albion's Isle is free. But for a hundred years, continental Europe still lay in abject slavery at the feet of despots. Suddenly the terrible storm breaks on the vine-clad hills of France. The reign of terror is abroad in the land. Peasant and regal blood alike flow freely, and every brook and rill runs crimson to the sea. When at last the clouds are cleared away, the divine right of kings is a thing of the past, despotism is forever dead, and already we see across the waters the goddess of liberty, whose scepter shall rule the world. The work of the German monk is done. The task begun by Pym and Hampden is finished. The principles of religious and political freedom are proclaimed throughout the earth. But I think, perchance, I see another great principle at work among the peoples. I hear the great heart of humanity throbbing and beat-ing under its mighty impulse. Implanted in the breast of earliest man, it remained for the present age to see it take root and quicken into life. A spark kindled from the great altar of Truth, it has lain smouldering in the human heart through all the centuries. But the great social principle is at work in the world to-day as never before. It is the great force which is to-day shaping the 44 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY course of events. But little more than a century ago and there was not a nation under heaven in which slavery was forbidden. But, behold, England's air grows too pure for the slave to breathe; the shackles fall from the negroes of the southland; the serfs of Russia walk in freedom. "Tis but the first ripening grains of that harvest which is yet to be. 'Tis but the glimmering stars of the morning which foretell the coming of the sun. Go, read the workings of this great principle in the mighty movements of the past century, in the extended suffrage of our land, in the history of the Rockdale pioneers, in the great secret societies of our age, in the present attitude of the Christian Church, all unite in one mighty strain, the Brotherhood of Man. But as society more fully realizes the great bonds which unite man to man, as the flame of truth grows brighter and brighter, men more clearly see the injustice which surrounds them on every side. The scales fall from their eyes. They behold an age of such marvelous labor-saving inventions as a century ago the boldest imagination would not have dared to dream of. But never has the lot of the toiler been harder. Never have his ranks num-bered so many of the children of our land. They behold a nation groaning beneath the burden of its wealth, whose fields are wav-ing with yellow harvests, whose granaries are bursting with golden grain. Yet in the very midst of these greatest accumula-tions of wealth, there are homes of direst poverty, and children that hunger and freeze. They behold a civilization, the most wonderful of all the aeons of time. But its course is strewn with the wrecks of humanity, its foundation stones are red with the blood of man. But seek a deeper meaning in thy book of truth, in the Utopi-an literature of Bellamy and Morris in the mighty trades-unions with their cry of "labor against capital," in the air ever rife with the curses and threats of the striker; yea, go breathe it in the fra-grance of those flowers that bloom on the graves at Homestead and Lattitner. The great social principle is at work in the world, and has been from Babylon down. But never have its notes of warn-ing sounded so plainly in the ears of all who listen. The silent toilers of the ages have at last begun to know the great wrongs which are being done under the veil of law and necessity, and they are determined to right them, even by that greater wrong, the strike and the riot. The principle is at work in the hearts of THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY 45 men. We see it in the struggling, starving masses of our great cities, in the discontented workers in our factories and furnaces. The threatening murmur grows louder and louder, until but a few months ago, the hills and valleys of our own fair state echoed and re-echoed, rumbled and thundered with the angry cry and fearless demand of such an army of toilers, in solid and united ranks, as never before in an industrial crisis, has blocked the wheels of progress. The toilers of earth have at last realized their strength, and they are demanding that which by justice has ever been theirs. They have turned on their oppressor and ask, "Who made thee a task-master over us? Why shall thy children have a plenty and more than enough while our little ones go a-hunger-ing?" The toilers are waiting their answer. The appearance of a new truth or principle among men ever means a change in the great social organization. It is only a question whether society shall gradually and in due time adjust itself, and it shall only be a reformation, or whether it shall repress the changes which the growing principle makes necessary, until they shall suddenly break forth in a revolution. Ambition and power have been repressing the changes in tlae organization of society which this growing social principle has made necessary, and for this cause is labor arrayed against capital, and there are strikes and riots and bloodshed. Build your roads of iron and your bridges of steel. Harness the steam and the mighty Niagara. Delve deep into the heart of earth and search the infinite with thy telescope. Bring forth the atom of matter and circle the globe with thy lightning. But, im-portant as all these are, there is yet a greater task before the American manhood of to-day—to solve the great social problems which are pressing on every hand, to put an end to this fraternal strife which threatens, to stay the floods of discontent which are slowly gathering their mighty waters, to quench the fires of an-archy which are kindling in every city and village, to fell this cruel giant of oppression who is trampling out the souls of men. Is the task too great ? Falter not, for we have in our sling one sure stone, even justice. By this shall we accomplish our mighty work, put an end to this tyranny of man over man, let no longer one man possess that which belongs to all, but recognize the equal rights of every man to the bounties of nature, the free blessings of heaven and the rich heritage of all the past. This is 46 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY what justice demands and the working men of to-day are seeking. And it is because we have trampled on these great principles of right, because the opportunities of life have not been thrown open to all alike, but it has been for some to sow and for others to reap, for this cause are the stormclouds gathering on the horizon of time and the laborers are marshalling their forces. The call comes to finish the work begun by Garrison and Lin-coln, to strike down the oppressor of men and forever loose the bonds of slavery which still linger, to wipe out the stain of that southern legislature's recent action, and to make the pages of our own state yet fairer, to rescue the childhood and daughters of our land from the curse of such lives as that of the factory, that life which to-day, ere the bloom ot youth hath appeared, stamps disease on thin pale faces, hopelessness and ignorance on their young lives, and forever brands vice and immorality on their in-nocent souls. We plead not for the men, they are strong. We plead for the helpless childhood of our land, for the fathers and mothers of the years to come. Shield them from the curses which blight. I,et not the gates of the factory and the depths of the mine shut then* from the opportunities of life. Else in the after years they shall know the great wrong which has been done, their hearts shall grow bitter within, and their lives shall become sources of evil and anarchy. "For the child's sob in the silence curses deeper Than the strong- man in his wrath." Go, conquer the isles of the sea. Carry thy commerce to the uttermost parts of the earth. Gather the riches of the nations in thy garners. Wear thy purple robe, knit with the life threads of youth. Drink thy sparkling wine, tinged with the heart drops of childhood. But remember, our brothers, the toilers, are journeying to meet us among the rock-bound hills of Gilead. Wronged through all the centuries, they have not forgotten that stolen blessing. L,et us not delay, but haste to see that these great labor problems are solved, that justice is done in the land, and that brother is reconciled unto brother. Else, behold, these toilers of earth shall rise up and become a very Samson in our land,—nay, even now they are rising—and in their wrath shall they bow themselves and the pillars of state shall tremble and fall at their might. It needs no Daniel to read God's handwriting on those pages THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY 47 of the past. The great social principle must prevail in the end. Whether it come by peace or by a Reign of Terror, whether by the mounts of Gilead where the sons of Isaac met, or by Pharsalia, whether thy brother's anger shall be appeased or he shall rise in his wrath and strike thee down, I know not. But come it will as sure as the fountains of eternal truth and justice. And when at last this great principle shall have prevailed among men, and there shall have been effected in society those changes which the growing light of truth and intelligence has made necessary, when the fertile Canaan of life's opportunities shall have been thrown open to all alike, then and then only will the race of man have taken one more step up the incline of true progress and we shall have come a little nearer to that "Dream of the Ages," that time of which the prophets have foretold, and the poets have sung, that day when the stranger shall see in the stranger his brother, when man shall no longer rise on his fellow-man, but united by the bonds of brotherhood, they shall together mount the heights of progress and achievement. «^ THE MAN WITH THE HOE HOWARD E. SHIMER, of Muhlcuberg- \ RIGHTEOUS discontent has ever been the dynamic force ** making for social uplifting,—the sign manual of progress. It is the men who have been discontented with wrong and oppres-sion that have carried on the great agitations of the world, and have made history. Wilberforce and Howard, Thomas Paine and Samuel Adams, Garrison and Phillips were all men profoundly discontented with the wrongs inflicted upon their fellow men; and from their discontent came the spark that lit the altar-fire of liberty. Were Millet's "Angelus" before us while reading Edwin Markham's "The Man with the Hoe," we would be inclined to revolt against nature's apparent injustice. Millet has painted the man with the hoe in colors; Edwin Markham, in words. He is a digger of the earth, bowing his back and breaking the clods. He stands as a type, the honest and honorable representative of those whose lot it is, and must always be, to perform the hard uninspir-ing and soul-crushing labors of mankind. He was seen of old 48 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY among the brick-makers of Egypt, among the millions who lifted wearily the walls of Ilium; who carved the pillars of Karnak and paved the Appian way. To-day he may be seen with a needle in a New York sweat-shop, with a pick in a West Virginia coal mine, with a hod in a London alley, with a spade on the banks of the Zuyder Zee. The manual laborer of to-day is far more discontented with his environment than were his progenitors. This discontent does not imply that his condition has degenerated. It is rather a sign of progress from the status of the mere burden bearer to that of the thinking and responsible social unit. The leaven of educa-tion has worked through the mass—all too imperfectly it may be —and fermentation is still going on. As the reed, breathed upon by the great god Pan, could become no more "a simple reed by the river," so it is no longer possible for the man with the hoe, into whose soul has come the conception of larger liberties and a wider life, to accept with dull and passive content the lot of his forefathers. Much depends upon the point of view from which this man with the hoe is considered. When beheld through the windows of a Fifth Avenue palace, the objective universe takes on a different aspect to that which it assumes when seen from an East-side tene-ment house. The counting house and the sweatshop generate two distinct philosophies of life. The sympathetic spirit may be aroused by the thrilling tale of the sailor's ship-wreck, the miner's entombment, or the slow starvation of the sweater's slave; but only those who must bear the brunt of these industrial tragedies can realize to the full the horrors of the black waves, the poison of the fire-damp, and the howls of the hungry wolf at the door. Sometimes it is a tyrant, forgetful of this brunt, who oppresses; sometimes it is an aristocracy which gathers in the fruits of power and throws upon the masses the burdens of government; sometimes it is a plutocracy which openly exalts money and debases flesh and blood; but everywhere it is the same brutal spirit which ig-nores the brotherhood of man. He was a veritable Columbus in the world of sociology who made the discovery that there is a good deal of human nature among men. The man with the hoe may justly claim to possess his modicum of human nature. With Shakespeare's usurer, he may exclaim: "If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY 49 us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?" The laborer is a man, claiming a man's share of life; and the questions which most directly affect him can be best considered from the standpoint of manhood rather than from that of classhood. But it is this very breadth of vision that is the most difficult of attainment. The increase of the class sense is rapid. Even the constant attrition going on under democratic institutions does not serve to keep it in check. Plato's saying that "every city holds two nations, the rich and the poor," has in it only too much truth. The Optimist, however, sees thatthe standards of humanity are being more and more upheld by the masses, who occupy that social stratum which lies between the dark despair of the Sub-merged Tenth and the gilded idleness of the Elevated Four Hundred. The literary sycophants who strew rhetorical flowers in the pathway of the successful, without inquiring into the methods employed for procuring success, complacently throw the respon-sibility for the present condition of the man with the hoe upon God, or Nature, or the man himself. Is it the fault of God or Nature that children are driven into factories at so early an age that their bodies are stunted, their minds dwarfed and the strength and usefulness of future generations impaired? Is God or Nature responsible for the laws which permit this impairment of the man-power and the woman-power of the nation? The indolent cannot expect plenty under any just form of government; neither can the vicious expect happiness. But, let us see whether something can not be done to alleviate effectually the painful inequalities of the conscientious employee as compared with his employer, and whether philosophy can not be led from the closet and religion from the altar, and made to exert a united, a practical, and an all-powerful influence upon the affairs of men. Give justice to everyone—justice in the making of the laws, justice in the interpretation of the laws, justice in the execution of the laws,—justice first and charity afterward. But questions of detail and method constitute, after all, but a comparatively unimportant part of our problem. The great thing is, that the mass of the community shall be capable of self-govern-ment. Theologies and governments alike are but the replica of the human minds back of them. Michael Augelo may conceive SO THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY heaven-reaching lines of grace; but to erect the stately edifice there must be suitable material. So, the question of the industrial welfare of the American laborer merges into the broader question of the triumph or the failures of the democratic idea upon which the American Republic is founded. Political equality and industrial inequality can not long co-exist. In our republican institutions work the ferment of the ages and the leaven of all nations. Kings may prop up their thrones with bayonets; but democracy must rest upon in-telligence. The greatest danger which confronts our republic is the grow-ing antagonism between classes. The poor will never again be the passive sufferers of bygone ages. Their indictment of social injustice is drawn and presented. "Bitter voices say it," writes Ruskin, "voices of battle and famine throughout all the world, which must be heard." The test is at hand which is to prove whether the sneers of Macaulay and Carlyle against the republic were false or founded upon truth. It is easier by far to preach the gospel of rights than to teach the law of the comprehension of duty; for the latter demands a well-disciplined and well-devel-oped intellect. We know that it is said, iu palliation of the restrictive influence of plutocracy, that the condition of the man with the hoe is as good as he deserves. We know that it would be useless and per-nicious to call upon the half-savage and brutalized peasantry by electing them to Congress or the State Legislature. We know that the man with the hoe is unfit for it, that is the very curse of the system. What is it that unfits him? What is it that makes slavish labor, and slavish ignorance, and slavish stupidity his necessary heritage? Does not the same Aryan blood course through his veins? Has he not five senses, the same faculties, the same passions? When every true American realizes that the Almighty knows no class distinctions; when the lessons of truth and purity which have been inculcated in our Christian homes, will be applied to the man with the hoe; when religion and labor will go hand in hand; when none but the bravest and most loyal citizens dare sway the employer's sceptre, all signs of decay will be buried into oblivion and we shall have a nation too noble to crumble, too great to be conquered. THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY 51 WAR IN THE LIGHT OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY EDWARD E. KELLEY, of Ursinus '-pHE military power of Europe has become a matter ot vital *■ importance. She is virtually arm-crushed. Her armies are devouring her very substance, depleting the national treas-uries, and changing the established social and political con-ditions. With the unsettled state of China, the increase of arma ments and navies and the attitude of a people cursed by taxation and conscription, Europe cannot remain forever a vast, hostile camp. The rivalries of England and Russia and the antipathies of the Frank and the German threaten to "turn loose the dogs of war'' to prey upon humanity for their self aggrandizement. Under existing conditions war must come. Such is the verdict of history as she points the finger of warning to Rome and Carthage. A condition of affairs like this, however, has no place in the midst of the liberty, the intelligence, the happiness and the morality of our age. When war thus threatens to rush the nations headlong into a "roaring conflagration of anarchies," then war disdains the spirit of the age, mocks the God-like reason within man, and becomes "the living and triumphant relic of barbarism." Not only Europe but the civilized world demands that this in-stitution, by which so few rights have been gained, which could not have been achieved without it, be brought before the bar of reason. For this institution has committed the greatest crimes recorded on the pages of history in blasphemy of that which is holiest; in the name of liberty, fraternity and equality, the French Revolution raised a gigantic monument whose brick was the flesh of Frenchmen and whose mortar was the heart's blood ot France. True, some wars have been productive of a lasting good. Europe purchased liberty of mind by the death of six million crusaders; religious liberty was the outgrowth of the Thirty Years' War; the French Revolution broke the iron chains of despotism; this, our own glorious union, had its birth in war. It were a grievous pity, however, if such a blasting institution had not done some good. The most lasting benefit may be the result of the worst evil, and on the other hand, "the purest, holiest and noblest virtue may be devoted to a useless cause." But the blighting and accursed results of war everywhere predominate. Civiliza-tion was retarded one hundred years, as a consequence of the THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY Thirty Years' war. The civil wars in England and France delayed it for similar periods. Above all, man is to be governed not by material but by moral standards. There is no doctrine more abusive to the human understanding than that we ma}' do evil that good may come. There is another sentiment—"sublime, sacred, insurmountable, indestructible, eternal—the sentiment of right." Let no advocate of war presume on the dead past as a criterion for the breathing, ever living present. Political and economic conditions have changed since George the III; absolutism is a thing of the past; the object of the crusades is now the noble mission of the press. Oh! how incompatible with the age is this institution of war. We, the heirs of all the ages, look with sympathy on the barbaric past, and still we train legions of men to the profession of murder; we speak of a higher civilization amidst the ruin of our home, the shriek of the widow and the cry of the orphan which our cruelty has made. We boast of a common brotherhood of man, and yet we grasp our fellow by the throat and stifle the very life that God gave him! The fact that our own nation recently drove despotism from the shores of this west-ern continent and broke the shackles of an oppressed people is no justification of war. It was a glorious work. And she but made use of a recognized agent which is maintained by the interests and prejudices of powerful nations. The stigma lies not on the noble work of the Republic; but upon the age which upholds this bloody relic of the past in domination over reason; for this age, while it makes the individual abide by a trial of reason, is so inconsistent as to allow the nations, groups of individuals, to be ruled merely by their lust for conquest. Let us not, I beseech you, deceive our-selves. For this institution of war to have a mission, our religion, which teaches love to one's neighbor, must be false; philosophy, which teaches the irrationality of brute force, belies itself, and man, who professes to acknowledge standards of morality and justice, is a base and unworthy hypocrite. Vain and delusive is the theory of the survival of the strongest —of the right of one civilization to crush another out of existence. Our universe is a natural one, and its units can only grow from step to step through the continuous process of natural law. Where-ever nations have attempted to usurp the place of nature by in. troducing untimely changes, inevitable and dreadful reaction has THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY 53 followed. History is replete with the baneful results of coercion. Such a theory binds only the jungle. When applied to man, fash-ioned in the Divine image and sweeping onward, ever onward to the realization of his ideal, it prostrates the native dignity of his manhood in the dust. The triumph of the stronger is not the triumph of justice. O, strange Justice, which is ever on the stronger side. "Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne." Tell me, when Poland, noble and heroic Poland, lay crushed and bleeding at the foot of the Muscovite, was the triumph of the stronger the better? Who of us is certain in his heart that force is accomplishing a purpose in South Africa? Read in the history of Ireland another living witness against the iniquity and injustice of war. Truly, justice depends upon reason and not upon the sword, and man, "the sovereign animal of crea-tion," cannot be molded like clay. We have reached that stage in the world's progress when the restriction of force will be conducive to the advancement of civ-ilization; when co-operation must replace destructive competition. Before this growing love of humanity man must acknowledge his fellow as a natural as well as a social and political unit. Before this growing love of humanity war becomes a crime. From amongst the ruin, bloodshed, and carnage of the battle-field, the soul, startled, shrinks from its shattered body to wing its flight heavenward ':o record its destruction. Do you not think that God, the great sovereign of nature, will demand the right of its deviation from that purpose for which the laws of nature and of nature's God created it? By what right do we rush this being, its heart fermenting with evil passions, with curses upon its lips, un-called into the presence of an offended deity? How will we in judgment before the tribunal of the Most High, free ourselves from our responsibility for its condemnation? How will we an-swer the shivered, wrecked and ruined legions—the once glorious and God-like representatives of a mighty universe standing hand to hand .witnesses before the Eternal King against us? Is it through the plea that we desired the territory belonging to another? Is it through the false argument that we wished to substitute our higher civilization for a lower? The rise and fall- of nations means less to God than the loss of this one soul—this soul, which, as Cato says, "secured in her existence, smiles at the drawn dagger and defies its point. The stars shall fade away, the sun himself grow dim S4 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY with age, and nature sink in years, but thou shalt flourish in im-mortal youth, unhurt amidst the war of elements, the wrecks of matter and the crush of worlds." When all is considered we find that man is bound to his fellow not through mere ties of blood, but by the sacred ties of his own divine nature. A condition of affairs like the present which ig-nores this hallowed link of a common Fatherhood strikes at the very vitals of Christian idealism. The maintenance of war, this relic of primitive man, on the plea of its antiquity is unjustifiable. History is a mute witness to the fact that all human institutions have their day, that once they have ceased to be of utility they must either be forgotten or destroyed. "There is no question without an answer; no problem without a solution." War and "man's inhumanity to man has made countless thousands mourn." Man introduced inequalities and wrongs upon this earth; honor de-mands that by him they must be righted. Duty calls to everyone of us to array himself on the side of humanity. Let others sing of the flag and country, I plead for this growing love of humanity which will elevate and purify patriotism. Let others chant the martial music of war, I hear the cries which have risen midst the ruins of the world's battle fields; from the homes of those who have shed the rich, ripe blood of their manhood in behalf of military glory; from the millions who have been robbed of their liberties; from the millions throughout the broad universe who have been ruthlessly sacrificed to the cause of nations. Oh, we have had enough,of bloodshed! Let us blot it from our lives, and I appeal to you, representatives of our civilization, to cast your in-fluence wherever you can, against this hideous relic of barbarism. Remembrance implores you by the sorrow-tensioned chords of memory; from every blood-stained battle-field the commingled ashes of the dead entreat you; humanity cries out to you in the mute persuasion of her fallen greatness, and heaven adjures you in the dying agonizing voice of a crucified God: Thou shalt not plant the brand of Cain upon the brow of man! >*> ««£> " Eloquence is the appropriate organ of the highest personal energy.''—Emerson. THE GETTYSBURG MERCURi 55 ■ INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION TO SATISFY NATIONAL HONOR JAMHS N. DOWNEY, of Lehig-h HPHE establishment of an international tribunal to which all * disputes between nations, that cannot otherwise be adjusted, should be referred has been the dream of philosophers and states-men for ages. That this has not been accomplished, proves that civilization has not advanced sufficiently to enable nations to set-tle their differences except by resort to arms. In the dawn of civilization we find, even in judicial processes, a mixture of forcible contention, showing the transition from a period when rights were regulated by the strong hand. In later years, however, there has been some progress in settling disputes between nations and the principle that human reason is capable of settling differences as well as creating them has been established. The past century was ushered in in the midst of a period of destructive wars and its history contains the records of many bloody conflicts. Nevertheless, it has witnessed the growth of the practice of international arbitration to satisfy '' National Honor." This method has been shown to be broad and far-reach-ing, and while in some instances the award has been set aside or not enforced, in no case have two nations gone to war after hav-ing agreed to arbitrate a difference. The first experience of this nation in settling disputes was the Jay Treaty with Great Britain in 1794. While this treaty was not satisfactory and by no means popular with the American people it is our initial step in the paths of arbitration. Washing-ton alone, while not approving of the treaty, stood up for it and signed it. In so doing he exhibited his firmness of character, good judgment, and foresight. And when he said "My objects are to prevent war, if justice can be obtained by fair and strong representations of the injuries which this country has sustained at the hands of Great Britain," he at once struck the key-note of arbitration. Since the Jay Treaty there have been twenty distinct arbitrations between the two great English speaking nations of the world, Great Britain and the United States, of which the Behring Sea dispute is the latest example. The greatest settle-ment was that of the "Geneva Award" in regard to the Alabama claims and it demonstrated that arbitration between nations was possible. This was a grave question and involved the honor 01 S6 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY England and the United States, yet by temperate and wise dis-cussion, it was brought to a peaceful adjustment, and, as has wisely been said, "Two great and powerful nations, gaining in wisdom and self-control and losing nothing in patriotism and self-respect, taught the world that the magnitude of a controversy need not be a bar to its peaceful solution and the maintenance of national honor." When the conference at the Hague was called by the Czar in 1899, the suggestion was greeted with sneers and suspicion on the part of many, with enthusiasm by a few and by most with a shrug of the shoulders. The majority of the delegates attending had vague ideas concerning arbitration and its extent. Russia, the leader of the movement, was the greatest surprise of all. She thought arbitration should be made obligatory except where honor and vital interests were involved. Honor and vital interests are always shadowy things in the hands of the statesmen, and, more-over, can be shown to exist in any dispute that may arise. The conference found the idea of disarmament too fanciful and the limitation of armament to its present strength premature. Dis-armament should follow and not precede arbitration. The real obstacle in the way of arbitration is not so much the lack of efficiency in method as the lack of disposition to try it, and the system of arbitration presupposes that nations desire an amicable adjustment of their differences. Such settlement may be prevented, either by wilful opposition to it, by claims that render argument impossible, or by some covert act on the part of one of those concerned. It is difficult, if not impossible, to con-tend against a situation like this, since the direct tendency and effect is to bring on a collision before arbitrators can intervene. History affords many examples of aggressive wars or wars of ambition where national honor was not concerned; but happily they are now becoming less frequent. The remedy against such wars was suggested in the unratified treaty of arbitration adopted in 1890 by the Pan-American Conference. It was proposed to adopt a principle of international law, and to make it imperative that diplomatic and consular controversies and any disputes what-soever between nations, except cases in which, in the judgment of one of the parties concerned, its independence was at stake, should be settled by arbitration. The object of this was to leave each nation the right of self defense, while forbidding any to - THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY 57 commit aggression. Again, at the conference at Hague, these resolutions were revived and vigorously pushed by Great Britain and the United States. Great generals have shown their abhorrence of war. Well-ington said, "Nothing except a battle won can be half so melan-choly as a battle lost." General Grant, speaking of arbitration and national honor, said, "Though I have been trained as a soldier and have taken part in many battles, there was never a time, when in my estimation some way could not have been found to prevent the drawing of the sword." The characters of the men who govern nations and to whom the honor of their country is entrusted, shape the events that fol-low. If they are wise and honorable, then their country will be peaceful and prosperous. If they are impulsive, self-seeking, and unreasonable, then their country will suffer. Our republic, guided and directed by this spirit, has done more for the cause of international arbitration than any other country in the world. Its purpose has been the enlargement of the individual, the advancement of his interests and liberties, and finally, to administer justice to all. The question of peace and the satisfaction of national honor is one which may not be settled for generations. It is one, how-ever, which this and every coming generation will have to deal with, and whatever is done the world looks to the United States as a leader. Appreciating this we may close our minds to our ingenious fault-finding and turning our eyes away to the far horizon, we there see the shadowy images of international law and justice and morality dimly visible among the clouds. k "The prodigies which eloquence often works, in the hands of a single man, upon an entire nation, are perhaps the most shining testimony of the superiority of one man over another." —D''Alemberi. 58 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY JOHN RUSKIN—THE MAN ' WM. L. HESS, of Swarthmore JOHN RUSKIN has said, 'All my theories are summed up in *-* the line of Wordsworth, 'We live by admiration, hope and love.' Not admiration of ourselves, nor hope for ourselves. Love can be only of others; self-love is a contradiction of terms." Truly, a noble utterance from a man of intense earnest-ness and commanding sincerit3r. Search where you will, there can be found no character who commands more genuine respect and whose personality has been more general than that of the practical thinker, the late John Ruskin. His was a life of genius, enthusiasm and self-devotion. To read him is to admire him; and to admire him is to admire that which is sincere, pure and poetic. John Ruskin was born in London, England. Unlike the fathers of many of our celebrities, his father was a man of affluence, his shrewdness in business, that of a wine merchant, being the means of his acquiring a fortune early in life. We are told that the elder Ruskin was of a visionary nature when away from his shop, and that he spent his evenings in reading Shakespeare and in singing. The mother was a woman of great severity. One of the tasks which she imposed upon her son until he was fourteen years of age was that of committing many and long passages from the Bible. The influence of this early teaching was manifold. His writings teem with Biblical quotations and imagery. We do not find in Ruskin's early life any of those amusements which are so common to boyhood. He was not in any way in-dulged, and if he committed a fault the usual penalty was sure to follow. These restrictions made his boyhood unattractive and uninteresting. Yet there was developing in this quiet and reserved child a genius which was destined to astound the world. At the age of eleven years he is discovered successfully copy-ing the etched illustrations by George Cruikshank, to Grimm's '' Fairy Tales." It is true that as an etcher he showed slight pro-ficiency, but this early performance is evidence that he had the power to become mighty in something although it happened not to be in etching. After having received a preparatory training under the direc-tion of tutors, Ruskin was sent to Oxford, where he was graduated at Christ Church College. His college life was uneventful, and of his life at Oxford he relates, "It seemed to me all that was re- I THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY 59 quired of me was to say my prayers, go to church, learn my les-sons, obey my parents and enjoy my dinner." Like the unfolding of a beautiful, delicately perfumed flower which gradually opens its petals to God's genial sunshine was the unfolding of the life and character of the nineteenth century prophet, John Ruskin. The tempest of criticism beat about him; the fierce winds of doubt, greed and envy tried by their piercing blasts to cast him to the dust; but, like the flower, he remained steadfast and pure—beautiful in his constancy. He held that 'his mission in life was to proclaim the beauties in the works of others—not his own." Did he fulfill his mission? Ask that stu-dent of art who received his first impressions from Ruskin ! Did he fulfill his mission ? Turn to that student of architecture who owes to Ruskin what skill he possesses, and ask if his master ful-filled his mission ! Ask that lecturer or preacher who uses such choice rhetoric in his discourses, that lecturer or preacher who has read Ruskin ! Ask that social reformer who has studied Rus-kin's ideas and method of reform as he saw them in others but which he idealized and made his own; yes, ask that question of all, and the artist, the architect, the lecturer and preacher, and the social reformer will candidly answer, John Ruskin did fulfill his mission, he did perform those duties which he claimed he would perform; and, sir, the world to-day is better because there has lived in it a man who not only promised, but one who also acted out his promises in word and in deed. Ah! a great and good man has gone out from our midst. The physical form of our lamented Ruskin has left us, but the influence of his Christian life remains. And this influence will remain as long as the world endures, and future generations will appreciate Ruskin as we have failed to do. Criticism will be heard no more; but the melody of his language; his grand prophetic visions will be enjoyed by all! Pre-eminently was Ruskin a nature-worshipper. He loved the flowers, the brook, the mountains, and the fleecy clouds. To him the wayside rose preached more eloquently than words the lessons of purity and simplicity, and to sit for hours watching the fitful changing of the skies was to him a perfect delight. His soul stirred within him, he could exclaim with Shakespeare: 60 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY "Full many a glorious morning have I seen Flatter the mountain-tops with sovereign eye, Kissing with golden face the meadow green, Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy." We should study Ruskin, for, by so doing, our faculty of appreciation for nature will be opened. We will more deeply value the small things which lie about us on life's pilgrimage. The tiny blade of grass will arouse new thoughts within us. The dainty Quaker-lady will teach us the lesson of humility as it has never before been taught; even the seemingly unsightly stones which are strewn along our path possess a language too deep for words. An editor of note has lately said, "Work is for the worker." To no one does this more aptly apply than to John Ruskin. Many of his well-defined theories for the betterment of the working classes, and for the uplifting of humanity in general may appear to have been as seed sown by the wayside, but the time spent in working out his theories only strengthened him for the practical tasks which he so well performed day by day. That which is put into work is surely that which shall be reaped. Put in envy, and discontent and misery shall be the reward, whereas power is the reward of love and patience! Thus it was a practical test of our teacher when he gathered around him that promiscuous band of workmen and children to teach .them the right way of living. After his arduous labor of thirty long years to undertake such a stupendous work was noth-ing less than heroic. Again must we pay honor to this fearless spirit, who needed only to speak, and the intelligence of the world listened with awe! L,eft a fortune by his father, he lavished it upon his chosen people, ignorant and poverty stricken. The quintessence of art, literature, and science was offered to them; and costly museums were founded for their instruction. And this cost him more than his wealth! He paid the price; they reaped the material reward! His was the loss of peace; theirs was the gain of a new life and happiness! But the enterprise was a failure! Failure, did I say? Yes, but a glorious failure; not shorn of any of its benefits, its fame still lives as a blessing to humanity! In its character this enterprise might seem Utopian, but after all deductions have been made there is no discredit to be cast THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY 61 upon the memory of John Ruskin, for, bear in mind, he was merely living what he wrote. With his Bible as his lexicon he followed its teachings; followed them although the whole Christian world laughed him to scorn; aye, followed them even after his project had failed! He wrote, "Religion is a submission, not an aspira-tion; an obedience, not an ambition, of the soul," and he lived that religion. His life was a constant submission, a holy obedi-ence to the will of his God, and our God. In his declining years he was rejected; thrust aside by the busy world; but from out his confinement we still heard him proclaim against the evils of the times. In poor health, yet while life lasted he continued to attack the most alluring vices, and preach those "inner virtues" which he held so sacred. There was something awaiting him beyond which was no vanity; all was radiant before him; and on the twentieth of January of the last year of the nine-teenth century the soul of John Ruskin serenely took its flight. . The character of this great benefactor of the whole human race, what is its message to thinking men and women? Simply this, that truth, knowledge, right living, are the basis of growth in man. But there is a sadness in truth! Knowledge has its sorrow! Right living still continues to have its tragedy! The martyred Lincoln wrote the truth in his Proclamation which freed millions in bondage, and his life was the price! The Seeker after knowledge, a Newton or a Darwin, must drink to the dregs the cup of sorrow! A Christ must be led to a Calvary, and there pay the penalty for his spotless life! Upon the monument of Time one more name should be en-graved, that of John Ruskin, and underneath, I would have traced the words, "Prince of Peace." "Those who speak in public are better heard when they dis-course by a lively genius and ready memory than when they read all they would communicate to their hearers."—Watts. "The business of oratory is to persuade people." —Lord Chesterfield. THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY Kntertdat the Postoffice at Gettysburg as second-class matter VOL. X GETTYSBURG, PA., APRIL, 1901 No. 2 K. C. RUBY, '02, Editor-in- Chief R. ST. CLAIR POFFENBARGER,' 02, Business Manager J. F. NEWMAN, '02, Exchange Editor AAssi■s,tant. E»dji,tors Advisor'y Board " , ., 0 ,"" PROF. J. A. HIMES, A. M., LIT. D. MISS ANNIE M. SWARTZ, '02 _ " " " ' "' * . " " ,", PROF. G. D. STAHLEY, M. D. A. B. RICHARD,'02 _ . _. _ ' _ PROF. J. W. RICHARD. D. D. Assistant Business Manager CURTIS E. 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The Mercury November. 1908 HELP THOSE WHO HELP US. The Intercollegiate Bureau of Academic Costume, Cotrell & Leonard, ALBANY, N. Y. ™?j£r^2l CAPS AND GOWNS lo (Gettysburg Coilege. Lafayette. Lehigh. Dickinson. State College. Univ. of Penn sylvi.ii", Harvard. Tale. Princeton, Wellesley, Bryn Mawr and tho others. Class Contracts a Specialty. Correct Hoods _. Degrees. Mr. College Man We are already lining up our clients for next Spring. With our National Organization of 12 offices we will need over 2000 college men ror technical, office, sales and teaching positions throughout the United States. We can also use at any time college men who are in the market for a position. Let us explain to you NOW. Write for the "College Mau's Opportunity." It tells how Hapgoods, a great organization built up by college men has placed many thousand youngmen, has raised the standard of college men as a business factor throughout the world. (State age, education, location desired. 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For Artistic Photographs Go To TjPTON The Leader in PHOTO FASHIONS Frames and Passapartouts Made to Order. PATRONISE) OUR ADVERTISERS Come and Have a Good Shave or Hair Cut -AT-Harry B. Sefton's. BARBER SHOP. 35 Baltimore St. Barber's Supplies a Specialty. Also choice line of Cigars. SHOES REPAIRED —BY— Charles Hartdagen, Middle St., Opp. Court House, GUARANTEE ALL WORK. GETTYSBURG DEPARTMENT STORE, Successors to the L. M. Alleman Hardware Co., Manufacturer's Agent and Jobber of HARDWARE, OILS, PAINTS AND QUEENSWARE, GETTYSBURG, PA. The only Jobbing House in Adams County. PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. ••,«»»#***« »*»»£»»#»»#*####-G&S&ifitl PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. Weaver Pianos and Organs Essentially the instruments for criti-cal and discriminating' buyers. Super-ior in every detail of construction and superb instruments for the production of a great variety of musical effects and the finest shades of expression. Close Prices. Easy Terms. Old Instruments Exchanged. WEAVER ORGAN AND PIAN ) CO., MANUFACTURERS, YORK, PA , U S A. H^^i^S$g;^oKMCSK&t^KC^C^!^S4$^9Ki^^MC;^;^^ ■ I '•t 'V. IT I\v f ■£■ h '■)/ 1\ I•V Students' Headquarters —FOR— HATS, SHOES, AND GENT'S FURNISHING. Sole Agent for WALK-OVER SHOE ECKERT'S STORE. Prices Always Eight lite Lutheran PuMicfltioii Society No 1424 Arch Street, PHILADELPHIA, PA. Acknowledged Headquarters for anything and everything in the way of Books for Churches, Colleges, Families and Schools, and literature for Sunday Schools. PLEASE REMEMBER That by sending your orders to us you help build up and develop one of the church in-stitutions with pecuniary ad-vantage to yourself. Address HENRY 8. BONER, Supt, THE M ERCURY The Literary Journal of Gettysburg College. Voi. XVI GETTYSBURG, PA., NOVEMBER, 1908 No. G CONTENTS. THE SPIRIT OF SELF-SACRIFICE, 2 S. SNYDER, '09. I A DEFENSE OF FOOTBALL, 7 H. DOLLMAN, '08. THE IDEAL AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, 10 G. L. KIEFFER, '09. THE DANCE OF DEATH, 11 S. BOWER, '10. OUR LITERARY SOCIETIES—I. PHILO, 16 FRIENDSHIP AND THE STRENUOUS LIFE, 18 PAUL M. MARSHAL, '10. OUR TREATMENT OF AN INFERIOR RACE, SO R. E. BOWERS, '10. THE POWER OF PUBLIC OPINION, 22 MISS VIRGINIA BEARD, '09. WHAT KNOWLEDGE IS BEST FOR CULTURE, 25 O. D. MOSSER, '09. EDITORIALS, 27 BOOK REVIEWS, 29 EXCHANGES, 31 THE MEFCUKY THE SPIRIT OF SELF-SACRIFICE. S. SNYDER, '09. N this age of commercialism and industrialism every man is striving for a position in the world. His high-est aim seems to be that this position should make him prominent in the eyes of his fellow-men. The spirit of the age tends somewhat towards selfishness. Man seems to have lost the dee]) meaning of the term sacrifice. Webster de-fines the term, in the light we wish to consider it, as surrender, or suffer to be lost, for the sake of obtaining some thing; to give up in favor of a higher or more imperative object of duty. Self-sacrifice is then, the sacrificing of one's self, one's interest, for others. Such a spirit we all admire. Every nation immortalizes her heroes and her martyrs. Why is this? Why does the spirit of self-sacrifice fill our minds with the greatest admiration and gratitude? Admiration, because the man who sacrifices is worthy to be admired. Gratitude, because through the efforts and sacrifices of men from age to age, the world stands at the present time more nearly perfect than ever before. Self-sacrifice is an unchangeable law. All around us are il-lustrations of this. It may be traced from man to the far dis-tant beginnings of life in its lowest forms. Below even the or-ganic we find the atom giving itself to the molecule and the molecule giving itself to the crystal, it is prevalent throughout the vegetable and animal kingdoms. In these the weaker are sacrificed to the stronger. It is very evident then, that in the plan of nature the lower was intended as a means to the higher. Naturally then the question arises, if this is an unchangeable law in all the lower ranks of nature, where everything is sacrificed unconsciously or unwillingly, does it stop when it reaches man, the very point when the beauty of morality and the glory of heroism becomes possible? Nay, rather the reverse. Sacrifice in the lower forms simply fortells what it should be when it reaches man, something higher and nobler, because man ] - sesses an intellect—a will. It is then no longer a fixed law. • It-is in the power of the individual to use at bis will. THE MEROUEY. Man realizes the importance and the joyful reward of a life infused with this noble spirit, but in this like many of his other activities, he is unwilling to pay the price. He too willingly gives up his high and noble ideals of self-advancement to his baser and more ignoble passions. As a country grows richer the sacrificial spirit naturally de-clines, but never should it be forgotten. For this spirit has made history. Progress of any kind can be attained only through sacrifice. AVhatever vocation in life one aspires to is attained only by a certain amount of sacrifice upon the part of the aspirant. (Glory and renown will be brought to the seeker and his vocation in proportion as his life is filled with the spirit of sacrifice.) The story of individuals is precisely the same as that of na-tions, it was not an easy task to found the great empires of Greece and Rome. Not simply one sacrifice but a series of sac-rifices accomplished these two great tasks. Greece, lovely Greece, the land of poets, the mother of art and philosophy! How proud she can feel of her illustrious men! Men whose works are still alive and helping to mark destinies. Her governmental found-ers who were so filled with that high sense of honor and right that her history became famous! Her citizens in general, how brave and noble! They were willing to sacrifice their very lives in the pass of Thermopylae and on the plains of Marathon that the honor of their nation might survive. They fondly hoped her influence should go on forever. But alas! All her glory suddenly turned to shame and she fell. Rome, the city of the seven hills, was likewise the seat of a e mighty nation. She was invincible on land and sea. She ruled the world. Her list of illustrious men how wonderful! The very founders of law and government which today we fol-low. But alas! Her death knell, too, was sounded and she fell. "Why did these great nations fall? Simply because they ne-glected to carry out the fundamental principles on which they were founded. Jealous}-, avarice, and debauchery virtually : • ?ed their ruin. Is this not the story of many a lost life? The downfall of Greece and Borne remain a message to every republic in every time. The same enemies of Greece are at WOTk todav. Every nation should be on her guard lest these -4 THE MERCURY, same enemies gnaw at her vitals and place her honored name among the nations that were, but are no more. What is true of nations is likewise true of individuals, because a nation is nothing more than an aggregation of individuals. Who can read the history of that little country, the Nether-lands, that so valiantly defended its religious and civil liberties, without regarding it as one of the noblest examples of self-sac-rifice in all history? Think of the little children crying in the streets at the death of her noble leader, William the Silent. How many children cried in the streets at the news of Napoleon's death? The lives of truly great men are measured by the sac-rifices wherewith they have lifted humanity to a higher stand-ing. Away with the person whose motives are merely for the grati-fication of self. Scott points out the destiny of such an ideal in these words:— "The wretch concentered all in self, Living shall forfeit fair renown, And, doubly dying shall go down To the vile dust from which he sprung Unwept, unhonored, and unsung." Our own country, today the head of all nations, was establish-ed through the glorious spirit of sacrifice. Queen Isabella of Spain gave Columbus her jewels that he might plough through the mighty waters of the untried sea and discover the shores of an unknown world. After the discovery came the colonization of America, and we can but faintly picture the hardships endured by emigrants com-ing to strange shores. Yet they passed through all these trials cheerfully in the hopes that their posterity would fare better. The Revolutionary War which secured national independence to the colonies, shone brilliantly with the noble spirit of self-sacrifice. It was the spirit that moved Patrick Henry, in that memorable Virginia convention, to utter those inspiring words. "Give me liberty or give me death." It was this spirit that prompted Washington to leave his comfortable and peaceful THE JIERCUHY. home at Mt. Vernon to assume the cai-es and duties of command-er- in-chief of the Continental Army. It was this spirit that ciuised Lafayette to leave the sunny clime of France to fight for America's liberty. It was this spirit that caused Nathan Hale to utter those inspiring words, dear to the heart of every loyal American, "All that I regret is that I have but one life to give to my country." It was this spirit that possessed those three patriots, who refused to release their captive prisoner even though offered bribes of gold. Yea, it was this spirit that prompted the thousands of brave heroes to give the very best they had—their very lives—that their country might be free and independent of Great Britain to become the greatest repub-lic the world has ever known. But these are historical facts of many years past. Behold our present surroundings! All around us are the marks of a once bloody struggle. Here on this historic battlefield of Gettysburg-thousands of brave heroes gave their life-blood for the cause they thought to be right. But I woud not hold up before you such examples as those heroes of the Bevolution, nor would I hold before you the heroes of hard fought battlefields as the highest and only types of self- Bacrifice. There is one sacrifice of the battlefield and there is another not of the battlefield. The sacrifice of giving one's life on the battlefield simply shows what man will do when put to the test. In this there is an objective impulse impelling him on- • id. The other type of sacrifice is that type which is working ■secretly, the results of which come out before the world in deeds, not words. That type of sacrifice that sees in the future some noble purpose which will be a benefit to humanity and which dares to stand firm in the presence of opposition. That type which, when wrong is in its presence, dares to hurl against it all the powers of right. Such a spirit of sacrifice has recognized the mutual relations of Sacrifice and Service. True sacrifice should always serve. Patriotic self-sacrifice was known before Christ, and it is known outside of Christendom. That is but saying that Christi-anity interprets the sublime experiences as it supplies the deep-est needs of the human race. This it does by showing human. virtue to he a manifestation of the divine life. 6 THE MERCURY. But sacrifice has done more than mould great nations given to man eternal life. The stories of ancient struggles assume a new significance when read in the light of Christ's life and death. They are but revelations of that life of God in the soul of man which is as universal as humanity. Remove from the Bible the historical interpretation of sacri-fice, and from the Christian hymns the expression of the Chris-tian faith in divine sacrifice; and by that very act the inspiration to self-sacrifice as the consummate flower of the divinity in man and the supreme ethical expression of the highest life is taken away. it has The life of Christ was one of contin-uous sacrifice but the sacrifice of giving His life on the cross that man might be saved far eclipsed all others. But there is another type of sacrifice which is seldom men-tioned and it has done and is still doing more than any other, humanly speaking, to mould characters and to shape destinies. This is the sacrifice of the mother in the home. Of all earth's sacred shrines the home is supreme. What is home without a mother? The sacrifices of a mother are unparalleled. Words can paint no picture of them. To realize their deep significance they must be experienced. We are in a sense what our mothers make us. How many of us would be compelled to write shame upon our foreheads were it not for the sacrifices and guiding hand of mother? She is the colossal figure that towers above •all others. She is the one who solves the many perplexities of the home and radiates it with a brightness and sacredness inde-scribable. She is the essence of love divine. THE MERCURY. A DEFENSE OF FOOTBALL. HARRY DOLLMAN, '08. j OOTBALL has been condemned by many, but mostly by those who know little or nothing about the game itself and the real merits of the game. Now, it is only rea-sonable and fair that football should be judged from an unprejudiced and unbiased point of view. Man is not only unfair to himself, when he forms hasty opinions without having weighed all the facts in the case, but his actions become very ignoble when he endeavors to enforce his ungrounded con-clusions upon others. We will admit that there are some marked evils attached to the game, but we do not believe they belong to the main body of football any more than a wart or a mole is a part of the nor-mal physical organism. They are mere accidents. If we elimi-nate from our sports, which are so essential to keep the body and mind in a normal healthy state, every game that bears some evil fruit, we will be compelled to do away with athletics alto-gether and possibly with all forms of recreation. There is a well-grounded sociological principle which bids us to substitute something positive when we wish to eliminate an evil tendency. This is especially true when the evil tendency attracts the attention of the young. Since the hostile football critics have not been able to offer a substitute, the wise course is not extermination but rather a readjustment of the game so as to suppress the evil effects. Do away with football in college life and you will introduce a series of escapades. Do away with athletics altogether and you will usher in a chaotic state of disorder. All the penned up pas-sions of youth would then be let loose to work havoc and destruc-tion. Football is an exhaust valve through which all the super-fluous energy of mob violence escapes by means of a natural and harmless outlet. You never hear of college eruptions during the football season. College strikes, raids, and the like are un-known when the student body has a common interest at stake in the success of their team. This branch of athletics has also a harmonizing effect upon. 8 THE MERCURY. the students. They gather in mass meetings to arouse enthu-siasm for a common cause. There are no class distinctions. There is no fraternity prejudice. The faculty, the college men. the preparatorians, and the seminarians are on the same level. All have come together in a common hond of fellowship, that each one may contribute his part to the athletic success of ! i - Alma Mater. If this great American game touches I lie emotions of the soul and causes it to overflow with enthusiasm, will these same emo-tions lie dormant when the student goes out in active life? No, he will undertake the great tasks before him with that enthusi-asm which he developed and fostered in college. He will ac-quire that unerring confidence which will enable him to tackle every obstacle and to press forward towards the goal of his life's ambition. Injury of body, a sluggish intellect, and immorality have been associated with football. But here again, the critic is laboring under a false impression. He is judging rather from the excep-tions and not from the broad general effects. Football develops the physical, quickens the intellectual, and disciplines the moral side of man. It only requires a little direct observation to determine how quickly football transforms a slow, awkward, round-shouldered,, anatomy into a spry, supple, square-shouldered organism. It produces in a player a firmness and alertness of step, a strong, graceful movement of the body, and above all, it is the best ex-ercise known to increase the amount of chest expansion. On the other hand, football teaches the participant to think quickly and act quickly. He must be able to comprehend and interpret signals and act instantly. He must learn to size up his opponents' strength, to take into account his own position on the gridiron, to strike the right blow at the right time and at the right place. Many brawny men stand along the side lines because they are not able to use their heads while in a game. Generalship is more important than avoirdupois in gaining a victory on the gridiron. There is no other game in the curriculum of athletics that tones down an explosive temper so well as football. The univer-sal testimony of football men bear witness to this fact. A playeY THK MLERCtniY. ■will very soon learn that be must respect the rights of others. Clean playing wins, while Foul playing carries the ball towards the enemy's go.il. Apart, from all this, the host moral benefit a player receives is the discipline he derives from careful training. I take the liberty of quoting the pledge which forty-three football candi-dates in Gettysburg College have signed: "1st. I do hereby pledge upon my honor to abstain-from the use of tobacco in any form, intoxicating liquors of any kind, to indulge in no licentious acts or conversation, nor willingly listen to or observe the same, to observe proper sleeping hours as or-dered, to lake no part in any gambling (including betting on any contest), to attend promptly every game and practice (un-less excused in advance by the coach), to do all in my power to promote harmony and good feeling among the members of the team, and cheerfully to obey all rules and regulations which may be adopted in the future. "2nd. The fact that I do not win a position on the team will not absolve me from this pledge." Does it mean anything to the moral life of a small institu-tion to have forty-three men adopt such principles in their every day life as are embodied in this document? Does it not also .strengthen the individual to observe these rules rigidly when he is tempted to break them ? Will men be disposed to ignore these principles when.they get out into the real contests of life? There is a price put upon a clean moral life that his mind may be free to act and his body quick to respond. 10 THE MEKCUUY. THE IDEAL AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. Q. L. KIEFFEK, '09. |HEN our forefathers left the sovereign dominions of Europe and settled on the American shores, they sought a tolerance of thought and action. And when the hand of tyranny still persisted in reaching across the seas mi (I grasping them in its despotism, they arose with one accord and declared themselves free and equal. They then set up upon this earth a form of government which they meant to be ideal. Yea, it has even modified the form of every existing government. But its firm establishment was not without a price. The welding of the nation as a world power was amid the din of battle. But not alone by din of battle was this accomplished. Her illustrious sons in her halls of state during peace, also won for her eternal fame. What would she have been but for a Jef-ferson, a John Sherman, a John Hay, or a Boosevelt? Surely their achievements added to those of a Washington, a Lincoln, and a McKinley. But did the establishment of this government alone require the coping with an external world? Ah, no! Internal foes had to be met. There was a time when the curse of slavery threatened the disunion and annihilation of the nation itself. She had met her external foes and had conquered. Was she to perish by her own hand? No. Again mid the din of battle and in her halls of state victories were won. Upon the heights of Gettysburg it was decreed the nation should live. From her halls of state came forth the Emancipation Proclamation and the immortal words of Lincoln at Gettysburg. Such in brief has been our nation's historic past. But let us examine whether the ideal government, of our forefathers' con-ception is today firmly established. Is this ideal being correctly interpreted when it is necessary for the cry to go forth through-out the land : "Shall the people rale?" Is this cry, if the ideal is being correctly carried out, not tautological? Evidently an apathy exists among the American people which necessitates such a cry. The nation is not thinking of her historic past and high ideals. She has permitted her leaders to become the asso- THE MERCURY. 11 ciates of a corrupted few, and the legalizers of a despot which: corrupts her sons and daughters. But this shall not continue. The American people have not forgotten the ideals of their forefathers. They will rule su-preme. From north, from south, from east, from west, there-comes the rumor of her sons uprising to their might of self-gov-ernment. . Down with the betrayers of your confidence and: blighters of your homes. Arise ye true sons of America and save-her from the hands of her enemy. Let the righteous and just rule. God grant that the emblem of our nation shall no longer be a misnomer. May the time come when its stars in the held of" blue shall brightly be the symbol of ripening fields and happy homes; its red, the symbol of the valor and heroism of her sons not vainly manifested; its white, the undeniable symbol of the purity and the true faith of her people. And as the sun makes his daily circuit may this emblem even be found waving before-his path—a symbol of "a government of the people, by the peo-ple and for the people"—which "shall not perish from the earth." A THE DAHCE OF DEATH. S. E. BOWER, '10. T was midnight in the little Canadian town of St Francis. The continuous rattle of many shuttles and. the steady grind of factory wheels had long since died, away. Only the echo of a foot-fall on the stone pave-ment, or the distant barking of a dog across the Walloostook broke the profound silence. Probably none of the villagers were conscious of the superb, beauty of this night. All of them had long since retired—save one man. John Maynard, a bachelor, lived in the upper story of an old mansion which, divested of its former glory, was now used as a kind of apartment house. The court was to meet the-following week and he had been working for several hours on his briefs. His work finished, be folded his papers, and leaned back 12 lUE 11EKCCKY. to relax in his chair. He contemplated retiring but his atten-tion was suddely attracted by the light of the clear moon. He stepped to the window to drink in the beauty of this night. From his position he could look down upon the Walloostook as her shining waters moved along silently. On the ridge yon-der his eye beheld an oak standing in profile against the sky. and near it one pale star caught in the upper branches of a dead pine. On the opposite ridge but a short distance away, the little graveyard stood out in full view where tops of the pine trees were rocking to and fro' in the night breeze and the white stones shone in the moonlight and the long shadows crept silently o • this dwelling place of the dead. For some time Maynard stood silently musing upon the see] '•This is the very witching time of night when the spirits stalk abroad," said he to himself, startled by the sound of his owi voice. Suddenly it flashed through mind that this was the eve of All Saints' Day, the night on which the disembodied spirits returned to visit the scenes of their life on this earth. Just then the town clock struck the half hour after eleven. He hastily threw on his coat, reached for his hat and betook himself to the graveyard. He was a venturesome fellow and de-termined to find out for himself whether this superstition had any foundation in fact. He hurried along at a breathless pace and was soon at the entrance of the cemetery where the rusty gate created an unwelcome greeting as he passed within. For a moment he stood still, hesitating to pursue this adventure, but the sound of the midnight hour from the distant clock spurred him on to quick action. He rushed to a secluded corner of the graveyard and concealed himself beneath a grave-stone. "This is indeed a ghostly scene," thought he, "and I wonder whether my foolhardiness will be rewarded." The echoing ring had not yet died away when the graves be-gan to yawn forth their dead. One after another opened and there floated majestically forth all that was left of that frail form which men and women so often worship here on earth. Others came more slowly as though reluctant to be aroused from their peaceful slumber. Some had but one leg, others but one-arm. Some forms were bowed with a ripe old age, others had' THE MERCURY. 13 the bearing of a knight. Some jaws were set with teeth of gold,. while others had no teeth at all. At first there was heard not a sound to break the awful still-ness, but as the assembly increased in number the spirits began. to seek out each his own friend or relative and soon the conver-sation became general. '"How are you, Brown, I'm glad to see you out again." ■•Hello, Smith, where've you been keeping yourself?" •'And here's our old friend Jones. Jones, we're mighty glad-to see you." "Well, just think of it," grumbled poor old Mrs. Black, "if my old man didn't go and git married again, and buried his second wife within two feet of me. I won't lie there, so I won't. No, I won't." "Oh, dear," sighed old maid Perkins, "nary a hand has teched my grave in twenty years, by the look of it, an' think of the money I had." And thus it continued. Here a young fellow muttering male-diction on a certain young doctor who had made an unsuccessful attempt to remove his appendix; and there an old miser griping two rusty pennies—sole remnants of his earthly store. At length a huge and bony frame, more stately than his fellows, mounted a tomb-stone and addressed the assembly: "My clear fellow spirits: Some of you have been rather tardy in coming forth but I guess we are about all here at last. And now what shall be the manner of our celebration ? You remem-ber last year we scattered about the town on a visit to our old homes and friends; shall we do that again? "Yes, let's us visit the town," said one, "I have but one living relative and I must call on him." "No, let's stay here and have a dance," said another, "I want to get limbered up." "Let's have a good old experience meeting," said a third. "Not much. I had enough of them on earth to satisfy me." A sudden whiff of smoke hid the little assembly for an in-stant and when it cleared away Herr Teufel himself was stand-ing in their midst. He was greeted with an enthusiasm which carried Maynard back to his college days in which he figured in 8 football star and his comment was,. '^^tWB«i^a^tJji(.|§.,mjti 1 GETTYSBURG COLLEGE Gettysburg, Pa. LIBRARY - 14 THE MERCURY. confined to earth."' .Now the devil persuaded them to celebrate with a dance, explaining that if any relative needed attention he would be glad to look after the matter himself. "We have no instrument," objected one spirit. "Give me a fiddle," shouted the devil. An old musician came forth, through iho crowd and produced a violin which had been buried with him at his request. "This instrument has suffered somewhat from neglect," ob-served his Satanic Majesty, "it has only two strings." But that, however, is not of any circumstance to a good musician. This,. in fact, gives me an opportunity to prove to you thai ! can w\ a bow as expertly as that form of intra-mundane trident that is peculiar to my lordly office. Let's see. Two strings. A and G. "Why, that makes a discord.*' The assembled spirits laughed a hollow laugh at this remark. "Yes, a discord," continued the devil, "the sort of progression not without canon in my tin of music. But enough of this palaver. I'll show you that if necessity is the mother of invention I'm its father." In a I ri he pulled up the A string a half tone to B fiat and began a stir-ring dance in G minor. As the strains of music began to sound shrill and clear on the night air, the shadowy forms snatched each one his partner, whether man or woman, old or young. The many joints, stiff from non-use, began to creak and grind together till the music itself was almost drowned. The practiced violinist became warmed to the fray and brought forth such magical strains that one was reminded of the sacred cremona in the hands of the master. The steps and swing of the dancers increased to the rythm of the music till the dry bones rattled and clattered aa only dry bones can. "They glided past, they glided fast Like travelers through a mist. They mocked the moon in a rigadoon Of delicate turn and tryst. "With mop and mow we saw them go Slim shadows—hand in hand. About, about, in ghostly rout They trod a savaband. THE MERCURY. 21 would require too much space. Let us limit ourselves to the manner in which the American negroes are treated by the people ef the United States, and show why they are considered so in-ferior, how they are treated and the possible remedy for closing the breach between the two races. The negro is here'to stay. It is a case of "visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth gener-ation,'' in a magnified sense. When the old slave-traders were conveying thousands of human beings across the waters, so as to make the men of another race rich and prosperous, little did they think that they would be as free and independent by law as the masters themselves. They brought them here to serve, and they thought that they would naturally serve to the end of time. Born and reared ignorant, degraded, and illiterate, they were brought to this country, where they were often treated as brutes. They were ranked as animals. As animals they received no edu-cation; they had no social intercourse with intelligent people; the}- had no chance for intellectual development, and if they would have had, they did not have the time. As a result, we have the negro of today on our hands. While they receive a much, more human treatment than they did fifty years ago, yet they are counted socially, mentally, morally, and racially inferior to the white man. There are nine millions of negroes in the United States at present. This great mass of humanity must live in some man-ner. As it is now, they must live by serving. They are not per-mitted to hold great social and political positions. They even are not permitted to earn a living as carpenters, plumbers, ma-sons, painters, and the hundred other mechanical trades. A negro can be a fireman on a locomotive, but when he is fit to be an engineer he is turned back. That position is reserved for whitemen only, although a negro may be more capable than many a white engineer. The most responsible positions that the great majority of negroes may hold is to be a bootblack, a barber, a servant, or perhaps a teamster. A great crime has been commit-ted if he becomes a prosperous farmer, or banker, or prosperous-business man. In the South he is even treated more harshly than in the North. There race prejudice exists so firmly that special schools, special hotels, and special conveyances, besides a. THE MERCURY. host of other specials, are required so that th uiv be no ming-ling of the races. We all recognize the fact that the negro is as free as we but when it comes to the point we can never admit him as an equal. Even a negro who stands at the head of his race, and who really is our equal, and possibly superior, is still held, as our inferior. Negroes are undoubtedly advancing in civilization and culture. But the very thought that they may some day be our equals, or even our superiors, is a disagreeable and repulsive thought, I dare say, to every white man and woman in the United States. To remedy these conditions a co-operation of white and I must be formed. Surely we must not retire into the old sysi of the feudalism of the Middle Ages, having the white man as the employer, and the negro as the servant. So in order not to have the feudalism of the races, the negro must be changed and become an equal of the white man. The white man should give the negro the rights of common humanity, the right to better himself, socially and economieallj'. Booker T. Washington sums up very clearly the negro's part in the following statement: "The more I study our conditions and needs, the more I am con-vinced that there is no surer road by which we can reach civic, moral, educational, and religious development, than by laying the foundation in the ownership and cultivation of the soil, the saving of money, commercial growth, and the skillful and con-scientious performance of any duty with which we are intrusted.'" THE POWER OF PUBLIC OPINION. MISS VIRGINIA BEARD, '09. |NE of the most potent factors in the direction or forma-tion of a business enterprise, political campaign, social reform and in many eases even the selection of a life course, is found to be the great motor power of public opinion. Consciously or unconsciously we hold up to this light our undertakings and their possible or probable results, and BR, IMJLLF.U IJV IPTTH.ITITTTS.IIS PICTURE FRAMES 0F AU S0RTS M W ft** * A W «h4U, REPA|R woa|( DQNE pROlwpTLY I WILL ALSO BUY OR EXCHANGE ANY SECOND-HAND FURNITURE NO. 4 CHAMBERSBURG STREET, GETTYSBURG, PA D. J. SWARTZ DEALER IN COUNTRY PRODUCE, GROCERIES, CIGARS AND TOBACCO. GETTYSBURG. SHOES REPAIRED —BY— J. ff. QoHep, 115 Baltimore St., near Court House. GOOD WORK GUARANTEED. —TS— J. I JVfUJVTPEfi Your Photographer ? If not, why not? 41 BALTIMORE ST., GETTYSBURG, PA. 8EFT0N I FLEMING'S LIVERY, Baltimore Street, First Square, Gettysburg, Filbert St. A convenient and homelike place tostay while in the city shopping. An excellent restaurant where good service combines with low prices. BOOMS $1.00 PER DAY AND UP. The only moderate priced hotel of reputation and consequence in 3Pla.ilad.elplaj.a, ModgnLSteamu^dry . . OF YORK . . Offers the COLLEGE STUDENTS first-class work at Special Low Prices. E, C. STOUFFER, Local Agt. C. D. SMITH, Prop. COMPILER IMPRINT ON JOB WORK MEANS TASTY WORK CAREFULLY DONE. MENU CARDS, LETTER HEADS, WINDOW POSTERS. ENVELOPES, PANCE CARDS TICKETS, Programs of all kinds. Everything the College Man wants in Paper and Ink. Specially designed work. Latest Effects in Paper, done in Colors along lines of College Men's Associations. Catalog and Book work. The Gettysburg Compiler will keep old and new students in touch with town and college life.

PRIZE NUMBER. ' APRIL, 1906 ¥OL. XI¥. HO. 2 GETTYSBURG COLLEGE GETTYSBURG, PA. M*Uft«0ftNMtf \m**nmm***mh*m*m EBTT«aBVRaMKEW8» PRIHT, , r HELP THOSE WHO HELP US. The Intercollejlate Bureau or Academic Costume. Cotrell & Leonard, ALBANY, N. Y. Makers of Caps, Gowns and Hoods to the American Colleges and Universities from the A tlan-- tie to the Pacific- Class contracts a specialty, Rlcia. G-owxis fcr tlxe ZF-u.lpit a-zid.Beaaels.- Seniors Going into Business or Technical Work should write us to-day for full information concerning desirable posi-tions in all parts of the country. We already gave 1,2:51 definite places for College, University and Technical School graduates to be-gin work in July or September and the list is growing daily. A choice of the beat opportunity is yours if you write us at once, stating age, course taken, practical experience if any. and line of work preferred. ^5e3a.n.s37-l-va.ziia. B'ld.g-., I»ls.ila,«a.elp3a.ia" ^a,.- Offices in Twelve Other Cities. Come and Have a Good Shave, or HAIR-CUT at Harry B. Seta's BARBER SHOP 35 Baltimore St. BARBERS' SUPPLIES A SPECIALTY. Also, choice line of fine Cigars. R. A. WONDERS Corner Cigar Parlors. A full line of Cigars, Tobacco, Pipes, etc. Scott's Corner, opp. Eagle Hotel GETTYSBURG, PA. Pool Parlors in Connection. IF YOU CALL ON C. A. Bloehe*, deuueler, Centre Square, He can serve you in anything you may want in REPAIRING)- or JEWELRY. i WE RECOMMEND THESE FIRMS. Established 1867 by Allen Walton SJfc Allen K. Walton, Pres. and Treas. Kobt. J. Walton, Superintendent. Hummelstown Brown Stone Company and Manufacturers of BUILDING STONE, SAWED FLAGGING, and TILE, WALTONVILLE, Iade in his image thou must nobly dare The thorny crown of sovereignty to share. Think not too meanly of thy low estate ; Thou hast a choice ; to choose is to create." THE MERCURY. 43 SONG OF THE WAITERS. BY ROE EMMBRT, '06. OH, we belong to the boarding-house, The boarding-house caf£, Oh, we don't bother with etiquette, For manners are in the way ; If you've got the " mon " you steps right in, And every man has his say ; You pays yer cash, And you gets yer hash, At the boarding-house cafe\ We brings yer in and we sets yer down, At the boarding-house cafd ; You bows yer face and you says yer grace,. If it happens to be yer way ; When you ask for bread look out for yer head',. And keep it out of the way, For we slings 'em down, And don't pass 'em around, At the boarding-house caf£. And we ain't a first class restaurant, At the boarding-house cafe ; We've just a common eatin-hou.se And there's no champagne-frappe Yer soup comes hot, right out of the pot, But it ain't no consomme ; But it goes to the spot, And yer gets a lot, At the boarding-house cafe. Oh, we feeds ten dozen students, At the boarding-house cafe ; Oh, we piles it in their faces, Just three times every day ; We starts 'em in for breakfast With some shredded, flaked, baled hay ; For dinner its mash, For supper its hash, At the boarding-house caf£. 44 THE MERCURV. O'1) things look mean and they ain't too clean, At the boarding-house cafe ; When the outfit ain't too dirty, Why you bet we lets 'em lay, For we feeds the college students And they don't care anyway ; They pays their cash, And they gets their hash. At the boarding-house cafe. A MODEL Y. M. C. A. BUILDING. G. E. WOLFE, '09. By the death of Sir George Williams, which occured some weeks ago, the world was newly reminded of the great organi-zation, the Young Men's Christian Association, which he es-tablished sixty-one years ago. In these years the Association has undergone such a great transformation that today it is a mighty factor for good every-where, devoting itself to a broad and diversified development of young men and boys and engaging in many enterprises for general social advancement. The most characteristic monu-ment to the memory of this noble man will be found not in St. Paul's Cathedral, where his body will lie, but in the Association buildings which have been erected all over the world for the carrying on of its great work. It is the purpose of this paper to sketch what the writer, and others who have seen it, consider a model Association building. No one walking down one of the principal streets, in the not far distant city of Lancaster, could fail to observe this model Young Men's Christian Association building, for it occupies one of the most imposing corners in the city, and is of consider-able size; the main building being four stories in height, 180 feet long by 63 feet wide, and extending, together with the an-nexed gymnasium, practically the length of a half-square. The external appearance of the building is also such as to at-tract notice, distinguished as it is for its beauty of architecture THE MERCURY. 45 and material. One's first impressions, then, on entering the building, are very pleasing, and, as one continues to make an inspection of it throughout, these first impressions invariably continue with the spectator. A marked- feature of the internal appearance of the building is its cheerfulness—it has a homelike air. The fact that care and taste has been exercised in the arrangement of every part is clearly in evidence. ' The walls throughout the building are hung with some of the most beautiful pictures that are to be had—fine reproductions of famous paintings, most of them, framed in neat, substantial frames ; all of them the gift of one of the city's most generous educators. These are not only pleas-ing to behold, but also make interesting and inspiring subjects for study. The attractive paper on the walls also adds greatly to the cheerfulness of the interior of the building—the designs in some of the rooms being quite rich—as do also the furnish-ings, which are elegant and serviceable. In fact, the internal appearance of the building,is all that one could desire. But the purpose to which every part of this splendid Asso-ciation building is dedicated is the thing that will interest one most, when making a tour of it. The basement is the first de-partment- visited,-and ihe first objects there to claim one's at-tention are the Twin Regulation Howling Alleys, the Manual Training Room, which is well equipped for practical work, and the Locker Rooms. The Swimming Pool, 40 feet long by 18 feet wide and 3 1-2 to 6 1-2 feet deep, the seven beautiful marble and nickeled Shower-Baths, constituting a most elegant bath equipment; the Boiler Rooms, Workshop and Store Cel-lars are also located on this floor. On the first floor are seven Store Rooms, the rentals of which contribute materially to the financial needs of the Asso-ciation, and the splendid Gymnasium with 2806 feet of floor space, equipped with the best appliances for health and devel-opment. The second floor is the working floor of the Association and contains the Reading Room, which is open to all the men of the city; the Library with its 8000 volumes; Member's and 46 THE MERCURY. Ladies' Parlors; the main floor of the Auditorium, which has a seating capacity of 835 ; and the Reception Halls and General Offices. On the third floor are located the Banquet Halls; a suite of rooms given over entirely to boys' work; the Bible Study Room; Committee Room; Auditorium Gallery; Magazine Closets and Kitchen. The fourth and top floor contains the Dormitories, the com-fortable rooms of which are furnished and maintained by the Ladies' Auxiliary; Educational Class Rooms, where young men can and do increase their store of learning in various branches.; Camera Dark Room, where the developing, toning, printing and mounting of pictures can be done most conven-iently ; and Boys' Printing Office. The value of this beautiful building is over $200,000, but the fact that it stands for all that is best in the physical, mental, social, and moral development of manhood, is what gives it its true worth. It provides an ideal place for the boy, as well as the young man, who is seeking to improve his spare moments, and who recognizes the value of association with his fellows in a healthful atmosphere. Though it is not by any means a mere place of amusement, it does furnish that which is most beneficial in this direction ; indeed the Association puts forth definite effort along this liner- to offset, if at all possible, the tendency of so many young men to gratify this element of their character in unclean places, the number of which in a city es-pecially is far too great. As an example of what is being done: in addition to the approved games constantly available, and the Star Course of entertainments, the Auditorium every Saturday evening during the winter season throws open its doors to the crowds, and furnishes most excellent entertainment in some form or another. The Physical Department in Association work today receives special attention, and this building providing as.it does the best gymnasium and apparatus obtainable, together with a most competent instructor, is there to offer men who need it the best possible means for scientific body building and health producing THE MERCURY. 47 work and there are many such, who from long hours in the office, behind the counter or in the study are forced to cry out for some sort of vigorous recreation. The Swimming Pool not only provides a luxury, which one must have enjoyed to ap-preciate, but is also an ideal place to acquire the fine art of swimming at any season of the year. However, all the various phases of Association life in an As-sociation building, interesting as they are, cannot be touched upon here, but it does seem in.place to express finally the hope that, especially in view of the fact that the Young Men's Chris-tian Association of Gettysburg College is striving to have a building of its own and thus increase its sphere of usefulness, this little description of a model Association building may arouse a deeper earnestness on the part of our students and friends to the extent that the time for the erection of the build-ing which will meet our needs here may be hastened. The necessity tor such a building is obvious, and it is to be hoped that all are interested. AMERICAN HUMORISTS. THOMAS E. SHEARER, '07. AMERICAN literature from its very beginning has had a delicate and exquisite humor. Who that has read the works of Washington Irving, the Father of American Litera-ture, has not been charmed with his humor? The same ques-tion might be asked concerning the works of J. Fenimore Cooper, the Founder of American Romance, and also of the earlier writings of Lowell, such as the " Biglow Papers," or his " Fable for Critics." Dr. O. W. Holmes acquired fame as a humorist from his Breakfast Table series, and even Hawthorne, with his " undercurrent ot melancholy and serious thoughtful-ness," has given glimpses of the higher and brighter side of life. Yet in this earlier period it would hardly have been predicted that there would ever be a class of writers who would make it a business to excite the laughter of the public. But the pro-fessional humorist made his appearence in the early '5o's, in 48 THE MERCURY. the persons of Benj. P. Shillaber and Frances M. Whitcher, of " Widow Bedott" fame. The former known to the public as " Mrs. Partington," was a very popular humorist. He was born in Portsmouth, N. H., in 1S14. For some years he was connected with various periodicals, and afterwards (1852) pub-lished " Rhymes With Reason and Without." This was fol-lowed by " Liie and Sayings of Mrs. Partington," " Partington-ian Patchwork " and " Ike Partington and His Friends." The droll sayings and blunders of " Mrs. Partington," drew smiles to the gravest of faces and made her a conspicuous character. Scarcely less prominent and slightly preceding her in time, was " Widow Bedott." Her quaint humor and playful descriptions of country life and society brought the writer immediate fame. " Widow Spriggins," added to the " Widow Bedott Papers," increased her fame. This authoress was born in Whitesboro, N. Y. in 1811 and died in 1852. Closely following these was a great number of humorists, among whom Samuel L. Clemens, Chas. Farrar Browne, Henry W. Shaw, Marietta Holly and E. William Nye are the most noted. Samuel L. Clemens, or-Mark Twain, as he is better known to the public, was one of the most successful of professional humorists. He was born in Florida, Mo., in 1835. He early learned the printing trade, was pilot on a river steamboat from 1855-*6i, when he became private secretary to his brother who then held a government position. He afterwards lived in Cali-fornia and in Hawaii, and later in Hartford, Conn., where he attained fame as a humorous lecturer. In the field of author-ship his broad humor soon gained for him a wide circle of readers. His most successful work was " The Innocents Abroad" published in 1869. Other well known works are " Adventures of Tom Sawyer," " Huckleberry Finn," etc. A good example of his humor is his story of playing jokes on a guide. The party was traveling in Italy, and after they had noticed the satisfaction the guide took in exciting their emotions, they never took any interest in anything. The doc-tor asked the questions, as he could keep his countenance, and ' MHBMMHHHHHMHHH1 THE MERCURY. 49 I looked more like an inspired idiot than any of the others. " It comes natural to him," said Mark. When the guide showed them relics of Columbus, none of them had ever heard of him, and so it was of everything else. " The guide was bewildered, nonplussed," he continues. " He walked his legs off, nearly, hunting up extraordinary things, and exhausted all his inge-nuity on us, but it was a failure; we never showed any interest in anything. He had reserved what he considered was his greatest wonder till the last—a royal Egyptian mummy. He took us there. He felt so sure, this time, that some of his old enthusiasm came back to him." " See, gentelmen !—Mummy ! Mummy !" The eyeglass came up as calmly, as deliberately as ever- « Ah what did I understand you to say the gentleman's name was ?" " Name ? he got no name ! Mummy !—'Gyptian mummy!" " Yes, yes, born here ?" " No, 'Gyptian mummy." " Ah just so. Frenchman, I presume ?" ■• No !—not Frenchman, not Roman !—born in Egypta !" " Born in Egypta. Never heard ot Egypta before. Foreign locality, likely. Mummy—mummy. How calm he is—how self possessed ! Is—ah—is he dead ?" " Oh, sacte bleu ! been dead three thousan' year!" The doctor turned on him savagely: " Here now, what do you mean by such conduct as this ? Playing us for Chinamen because we are strangers and trying to learn ! Trying to im-pose your vile second-hand carcasses on us ! Thunder and lightning! I've got a notion to—to—if you've got a nice fresh corpse, fetch him out!—or, by George, we'll brain you !" " Artemis Ward," as Chas. Farrar Browne is known, was a natural born humorist. Humor seems to have been his birth-right. It came from him as naturally as water flows from a spring. It sparkled in his conversation and gleams forth from all his writings. He was born in Maine, in 1834, and at an early age went West to make his fortune. After roving about for some time he entered newspaper work, contributing de- f I 5° THE MEKCURV. scriptions of an imaginary travelling menagerie, under the style of " Artemis Ward, Showman," while on a lecturing tour he had an opportunity to study the Mormons, and soon after, his book " Artemis Ward Among the Mormons," appeared. He was fond of giving himself the character of a showman and mingling lessons of good common sense with his droll witti-cisms. As such a character he tells the following experience with a " Woman's Club." " I pitched my tent in a small town in Injianny, one day last season, and while I was standin' at the dore takin' money a deppytashun of ladies came up and sed they was members of the Bunkumville Female Reformin and Wimins' Rites Asso-ciashun, and they axed me if they cood go in without payin.'" " Not exactly," sez I, " but you can pay without goin' in." " Dew you know who we air?" said one of the wimin—a tall and feroshus lookin' critter, with a blew kotton umbreller under her arm—" do you know who we air, Sir? " " My impreshun is," sed I, " from a kersey view, that you are females." " We air, Sur," sed the feroshus woman, " we belong to a Society whitch beleeve wimin' has rites—whitch beleeves in razin' her to her proper speer-—whitch beleeves she is endowed with as much intelleck as man is—whitch beleeves she is trampled on and aboozed—and who will resist hence4th and forever the encroachments of proud and domineerin men." During her discourse, the exsentric female grabbed me by the coat koller and was swinging her umbreller wildly over my head. " I hope marm," sed I, starting back, " that your intentions is honorable ! I'm a lone man hear in a strange place. Be-sides, I've a wife to hum." " Yes," cried the female, " she's a slave! Doth she never think of throwin' off the yoke of tyrinny and thinking and votin' for herself!—Doth she never think of these here things?" "Not bein' a natural born fool," sed I, by this time a little riled, " I kin safely say that she dothunt." - i THE MERCURY. 5 l "Oh what, what," screamed the female, " 0, what is the price that woman pays for her experiunce ! " " I don't know " sed I; " the price of my show is 15 cents pur individooal." " & can't our society go in free?" asked the female. " Not, if I know it," sed I. " Crooil, crooil, man ! " she cried and burst into teers. . " Won't you let my darter in ? " sed another of the exsentric females, " O, please let my darter in—she's a sweet gushin' child of nature." " Let her gush ! " roared I, as mad as I could be at their tarnal nonsense, " let her gush " whereupon they all sprung back with the simultaneous observashun that I was a Beest. " My female friends," sed I, " be-4 you leeve, I've a few re-marks to remark ; way them well. The female woman is one of the greatest institutions of which this land can boste. It's on-possible to get along without her. She is good in sickness— good in wellness—good all the time. O woman, woman," I cried, my feelin's worked up to a high poetick pitch, " you air an angel when you behave yourself, but when you take off your proper apparail & (metyforicolly speakin') get into panyloons— when you desert your firesides, & with your heds full of wimin's rites notions go round like roaring lions, seeking whom you may devour somebody—in short, when you undertake to play the man, you play the devil and air an emfatic noosance. " My iriends," I continued, as they were indignantly departin,' " way well what A. Ward has sed." Marietta Holley was a writer who saw the humorous side of things wherever one was to be found, and she presents it to her readers in the most agreeable manner. Her humor is with-out any apparent effort or anything that is far-fetched. It flows along in a natural spontaneous way that is delightful. Miss Holley was born near Adams, N. Y. In her early years she began to write sketches, poems and essays, some of which were published in a local paper and gave indications of the future success of the writer. Her first real literary effort appeared in a Philadelphia magazine under the pen name \1 S'< THE MERCURY. " Jemyme." After this she used the name of "Josiah Allen's Wife," by which she is now best known. It is said that her first book was refused by the publishing house, but that one member of the firm assumed the responsi-bility of bringing it out, and did so with eminent success.* Af-terwards, she published " My Opinions and Betsy Bobbet's" which was so successful that since then her books have been in constant demand. " Samantha at the Centennial" and " Sweet Cicely, or Josiah Allen's Wife as a Politician," both had large sales, but her most successful book was " Samantha at Saratoga" for which she received $ 10,000 before it was pub-lished. Nearly, one quarter of a million copies of this book have been sold. Owing to their length no example of her writings can be given here. Her biographer, however, says, " Her humor is of the wholesome type, imbued with common sense and she never provokes laughter at anything which is good. Ratherr in the most playful and laughter provoking manner, does she hit off the follies and foibles of society. She can see some-thing humorous in almost every person, every snatch of con-versation and every style of dress." Edward William Nye was a writer of humorous sketches. He is known to the public as " Bill Nye," the signature under which his articles were published. He was born in Shirley, Maine, in 1850. While he was yet a child the family moved to the West, and he received his education at Falls River, Wis, Later he went to Wyoming where he studied law and was ad-mitted to the bar in 1876. At an early age he began to con-tribute humorous sketches to the papers. For some years he was connected with various western journals and it was while he was editor of the Laramie "Boomerang" that his fame spread beyond the confines of the West. He finally settled in New York, where he contributed to the " World " and to some other prominent papers. He made a lecturing tour through Europe, and on his return lived at Ashe-ville, N. C, where he died in 1896. His writings have been — HBHMMM BHMHP If THE MERCURY. 53 published in book form under the titles—" Bill Nye and Boom-erang," " The Forty Liars," " Baled Hay," and " Remarks." He says the discovery of New York occurred in this man-ner : " About this time a solitary horseman might have been seen at West Two Hundred and Ninth street, clothed in a lit-tle brief authority, and looking out to the West as he petu-lantly spoke in Tammany dialect. As he stands there aboard of his horse one sees that he is a chief in every respect, and in life's great drama would naturally occupy the middle of the stage. It was at this moment that Hudson slipped down the river from Albany, past Fort Lee, and, dropping a knickle into the slot at One Hundred and Twenty fifth street, weighed his anchor at that place. As soon as he had landed and discovered the city, he was approached by the chief, who said :." We gates. I am on the the committe to show you our little town. I suppose you have a power of attorney, of course, for dis-covering us?" " Yes," said Hudson. " Very good," said the chief, as they jogged down town on a Sixth Avenue elevated train towards the wigwams on Four-teenth street. " We do not care especially who discovers us so long as we hold control of the city organization. How about that, Hank ?" " That will be satisfactory," said Mr. Hudson, taking a pack-age of imported cheese and eating it, so they could have the car to themselves. Thus was New York discovered via Albany and Fort Lee, and five minutes after the two touched glasses, the brim of the Schoppin and the Manhattan cocktail tinkled together, and New York was inaugurated." There yet remains space, to say but a few words about " Josh Billings " and to give his " Letter to Farmers." Henry W. Shaw, or " Josh Billings," was the son of a Massachusetts Congressman and was born April 21,1818, He entered Hamil-ton College but soon tired of college life and ran away to the West. There he led a roving life, at one time he was a coal-dealer ; again, he was a farmer, and then he became a steam- 54 THE MERCURY. boat captain. He finally settled in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., as a real estate agent and auctioneer. The quaint spelling he adopted has had much to do with the popularity of his productions. He wrote an " Essay on the Mule" which received no notice; then adopting dialectic spel-ling his " Essa on the Muel, by Josh Billings," was reproduced in halt the papers of the country. His homely humor, plain common sense and droll manner, made him popular as a lectuier. Among his publications are— " Josh Billings on Ice ; " " Every Boddy's Friend ;" " Trump Kards ; " and " Josh Billings Allminax," which continued for ten years with a circulation of over one hundred thousand copies a year. He died in Monterey, Cal, in 1883. LETTER TO FARMERS. Beloved Farmers : Agrikultur iz the mother ov farm pro-duce ; she is also the step.mother of garden sass. Rize at half-past 2 o'clock in the morning, bild up a big fire in the kitchen, burn out two pounds ov kandles, and greeze yure boots. Wait pashuntly for dabrak. When day duz brake, then commence tew stir up the geese and worry the hogs. The happiest man in the world iz the farmer; he rizes at 2 o'clock in the morning, he watches for dalite tew brake, and when she duz brake, he goes out and stirs up the geese and worries the hogs. What iz a lawyer ?—what is a merchant ?—what is a dok. tor?—what is a.minister?—I answer, nothing. A farmer is the nobless work ov God ; he rizes at 2 o'clock in the morning, and burns out a half a pound of wood and two kords ov kandles, and then goes out tew worry the geese and stir up the hogs. Beloved farmers, adevv, JOSH BILLINGS. S THE MERCURY. 55 THE USE OF ROUTINE. E. VICTOR ROLAND, '07. THERE has never been an age when activity so pervaded every phase and condition of life, as in our present age. Whether we take a view of the industrial world, with its varied enterprises, or survey the broad field of intellectual pursuits, we behold every successful and renowned man actively engaged in his particular work. This must needs be true of every in-dividual, whether he be farmer or manufacturer, lawyer, preacher, or what not. We live in an age of great things, and consequently great things are expected of us, and in order that we may not be a disappointment to ourselves and others we must follow out some system or. routine of work. It shall not be our purpose to speak of the use of routine in the many pursuits of life, where it must necessarily be followed, if suc-cess is sought, but to consider it in relation to education and its importance in student life. A splendid example of routine is found in almost all of our schools and colleges. Take for instance the system followed out in every well regulated public school. The child takes up the study of certain branches, and continues these from day to day and from term to term, until he is able to take up other studies, ior the development of his higher faculties, and thus he continues until he has prepared to enter college, where the course is continued on the same plan. Just what routine should be adopted by the student when he enters college is hard to map out, but it is most essential that every college man adopt some routine to be followed out in his daily life. Now in order that one may not err in the mapping out of this daily plan of action there are three things that he must realize. First, that he has come to college above everything else to be a Christian man. Secondly, that he has come to college to acquire the training, that comes from the pursuit of such.studies as the curriculum offers. Thirdly, that there are various outside activities of the col-lege life that he must help maintain. r; I 56 THE MERCURY. Now as to the first. How is the student to maintain his Christian life, and raise it to a higher standard ? There seems to be only one reasonable way to do this, and that is to set apart a portion of every day, for the study of God's Word, and the cultivation of the secret prayer life. The college man has peculiar temptations, and it is only by following out the above plan, that he can hope to combat successfully with them. 'Twill not be necessary to say to the one who follows out the above plan, that he should attend as many of the religious services associated with the institution, as are possible. So then we will consider this as the first step toward a successful routine. It would hardly seem necessary to say that every student who enters college, should pursue energetically the studies composing the regular course. It is only through this plan that he can ever expect to become a learned man. Taking for granted, that every student realizes this, there might be added a word in regard to how these studies should enter into the day's work. Every lesson should have a certain portion of the day in which to be gotten out, and if possible nothing else should be allowed to interfere. It might be added here, that a portion of every, day could be well used, if it were allotted to the study or reading of good literature. It is fitting also to say that some portion of the day, should be allotted for glancing over the daily newspapers. And now we come to the consideration of the outside work of college life, such as the literary societies, the college publi-cations, the musical clubs, and the various athletic sports. How much time a student can devbte to such matters, will de-pend largely on his ability to get out his required work. The ordinarily intelligent student will have some time to put on such work, and so he should help in whatever field he is fitted for. Every student should engage in some form of athletics, if it is possible lor him to do so, as all decent sports, will aid in giving him a strong body, which is the best condition for a free and healthy mind. It is a sad thing that many students do not realize the importance of the exercise of their physical organism, and thus quite a few leave college physical wrecks. ■■■■■Hi THE IVfERCURY Entered at the Postoffice at Gettysburg: as second-class Matter VOL. XIV GETTYSBURG, PA., APRIL, 1906 No. 2 Assoi tale Editors GEO. W. KESSLER, '08 J. K. ROBB, '08 EDMUND L. MANGES, '08 Advisory Board PROF. J. A. HIMES, LITT.D. PROF. G. D. STAHLEY, M.D. PROF. J. W. RICHARD, D.D. Editor-in-chief WARD B. S. RICE, '07 Exchange Editor THOS. E. SHEARER, '07 Business Manager THOMAS A. FAUST, '07 Ass't Bus. Managers. HENRY M. BOWER, '08 H. WATSON DAVISON,- '08 Published each month, from October to June inclusive, by the joint literary societies of Pennsylvania (Gettysburg) College. Subscription price, one dollar a year in advance; single copies 15 cent3. Notice to discontinue sending the MERCURY to any address must be accompanied by all arrearages. Students, Professors and Alumni are cordially invited to contribute. All subscriptions and business matter should be addressed to the Busi-ness Manager. Articles for publication should be addressed to the Editor. Address THE MERCURY, GETTYSBURG, PA. EDITORIALS. WE consider it no little pleas-ure to send to our readers, this month, a double prize number, consisting of the inter-collegiate oratorical prize oration, and the Senior Graeff prize essay. By these we are enabled to judge our position among the institu-tions of our rank, and to become acquainted with the merits and qualities of orations and essays which are worthy of reward and applause. 58 THE MERCURY. MUCH interest has been shown of late by the members of the literary societies. Some of the students are just beginning to realize the invaluable, practical benefits that are derived from this line of work. We note, with pleasure, a great im-provement in the work of the members and particularly of those who have been most active. It is this unceasing toil, this ever readiness to act, that has raised the plain of the achieve-ments of the societies so much nearer that of their ideal. The one great object of the societies is to create a desire in the hearts of their members for better and higher achievements in the literary field. We study our text books so that we may develop our minds, cultivate our intellects, and broaden our sphere of thought, but how are we to impart our knowledge to others, unless we learn to give expression to our.thoughts. If we should study our text books from now until eternity, what would we get ? Theory, that's all, simply theory. It is very good as far as it goes, but it doesn't go very far unless we are able to put it into practice. Be practical, are the key-words to success. By continued application we develop our intellect, but what will this development avail us unless we rightly direct it. The literary societies are the practical agents whereby an ease of speech and clearness of expression is at-tained. If you don't believe it, try it. Thousands of others have done so, and are now at the top of the ladder above the wrangling of the rabble. We congratulate the societies upon the rapid strides they have made toward excellence in every branch of their work, and, in the literary field, among the students, we hope soon to see even greater activity. * * * 1 GETTYSBURG has again triumphed. It was not on the ath-letic field ; it was not a victory over brute muscle and brawn ; but we are gratified to say that it was in the intellectual arena that she has shown her strength. One of Gettysburg's sons has brought honor to his Alma Mater from a field from which heretofore she has retreated in defeat, though honor-able, and each time with a firmer determination to finally con-quer. Her earnestness has now been compensated, and the THE MEKC'JRV. 59 victorious ivy of the 1906 inter-collegiate contest waves over her head. This victory, which several times has been on the point of being ours, but is now a reality, should be a stimulus to every loyal Gettysburg student. It should be our purpose to hold that which has been placed in our hands; it should be an at-tainment to which all should turn with that firm determination which is characteristic of final success. Then let us all realize the situation and prepare ourselves to contend with the future. Our chance will be small, if we put too much confidence in letting tomorrow care for itself; or if we attempt, in the very latest hour, to make a dash, for there is much truth in a bor-rowing from Hare : " Nothing bursts forth at once, the light-ning may dart out of a cloud ; but the day sends forth his bright heralds before him to prepare the world for his coming." We hope, fellow students, that you will not regard this lightly; for we know that these things are not mere chance, but the re-sults of careful and steady preparation. Nor do we believe that we are hoping for impossibilities, for we are confident that there are those in our midst who can again lead the Orange and Blue to victory. EXCHANGES. We acknowledge the receipt of the following exchanges: The Amulet, The Haverfordian, The Scio Collegian, The Sus-quehamia, Juniata Echo, The Forum, The Manitou Messenger, The Red and Blue, Augustana Observer, The State Collegian, The Dickinsonian, The College Student, The Drury Mirror, The Monthly Bulletin, Temple Echos, The Lesbian Herald, The Philomatliean Monthly, The Mountaineer, The Augsburg S. S. Teacher, The Star and Sentinel, The Gettysburg Compiler, and the Western Maryland College Monthly. The College Student contains a very readable essay on " Chas. Lamb—His Personal Qualities, His Dictaion and Rank as a Critic." The writer treats his subject systematically and the result is a unity which is very pleasing. 60 THE MERCURY. " American Students in Christian Mission " in The Philo-mathean Monthly contains some concise statements concerning the great Student Missionary Conventions. There have been five such conventions in America. The first was held in Cleve-land, Ohio, in 1891, and was attended by 680 delegates ; the second, at Detroit, Mich., enrolled 1325 delegates; the third was at Cleveland again, with 2221 delegates ; at the fourth, at Toronto, Canada, there were 2957 delegates and at the fifth, at Nashville, Tenn., their number was almost 5,000. The Augustana Observer this month is below par. Neither of its two articles are up to the standard, although one is writ-ten by an alumnus. Just the reverse is The Manitou Messen-ger. Its neat appearance is pleasing and the contents are in keeping with the appearance. The review of " Tito Melema " and the article on " Joan of Arc " are both good. We find The Red and Blue especially attractive this month. " The Sketch Book " is a novel feature, but highly entertaining. The article " The Lure of Bohemia " was read with profit and enjoyment. Prize Contest Essays are usually very profitable reading, but there is one in The Sitsquehanna entitled " Conrad Weiser— The Patron of two Races " that makes us wonder if the prize is not a booby affair. From all appearances the essay seems to be a compilation of heterogenous sentences, nearly every one of which is placed in a separate paragraph regardless of content. We trust there are other competitors, for we should not like to see a prize of any value and honor won by such an essav. PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISER'S • i FURNITURE Mattresses, Bed Springs, Iron Beds, Picture Frames. Repair Work done promptly. Under-taking a specialty. * Telephone No. 97. £9C. E- Bender 37 Baltimore St., Gettysburg, Pa. The Windsor Hotel 1217=2 Filbert St., Philadelphia. Headquarters for Students. Thoroughly Renovated, Refurnished and Remodeled FRANK M. SCHEIBLEY, Manager. Graduate of Lafayette College 1898. A. G. Spalding & Bros. Largest Manufacturers in the World of Official Athletic Supplies Base Ball Lawn Ten is Foot Ball Archery Roque Ouoits Cricket Lacrosse Golf Implements for al Sports Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide for 1906. Edited by Henry Chadwick. The most complete and up-to-date book ever published on the subject. Fully illustrated. Price 10 Cents. For over a quarter of a century Spalding's Trade-Mark on Base Ball implements has marked the advancement in this particular sport. Spalding's Official League Ball is the adopted ball of the National League, and must he used in all match games. Every requisite for Lawn Ten-nis and Golf. Spalding's Trade MarK. on our Athletic Implement gives you an advantage over the other player as you have a better article, lasts longer, gives more satisfaction. Every Base Ball Manager should send at once/or a copy of Spalding's Spring and Sum-mer Catalogue—FREE. A. G. SPALDING «3 BROS. New York, Chicago, Boston, Buffalo, Washington, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Montreal, Canada, New Orleans, London England, Denver, Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Syracuse, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Baltimore, Hamburg, Germany. ,. .-.i.k.i i»i«j; PATRONIZE OUK ADVERT1SEKS. BEGKEK & GOUINS OHAMBERSBURG ST., Dealers in Beef, Veal, Lamb, Pork, Sausage, Pudding, Bologna, Hams, Sides, Shoulders, Lard, Prime Corned Beef. SEFTON & FLEMMING'S LIVERY Baltimore Street, First Square, Gettysburg, Pa. Competent Guides for all parts of the Battlefield. Arrangements by telegram or letter. Lock Box 257. J. I. MUMPER. The improvements to our Studio have proven a perfect success and 41 Baltimore St., we are now better prepared than Gettysburg, Pa. ever t0 give you satisfactory work • ICE CREAM Telephone Call 1612 SODA WATER Sheads' (High (Grade (Confections 37=39 Chambersburg Street, Gettysburg, Pa. FRUITS RESTAURANT ATTACHED Under New Management —r-^ The Peoples Drug Store Invites you to visit them and select your needs from a fresh, new, and up-to-date stock. C. WM. BEALES, Ph.Gr., Prop. D. J. Swartz Country Produce Groceries Cigars and Tooaccj) GETTYSBURG. Dealer in Shoes Repaired —BY— J. H- BR^ER, 115 Baltimore St., near Court House. Good Work Guaranteed, WANTED. College students during their vacation can easily make $20 to $30 per week. Write for par-ticulars. THE UNIVERSAL MFG. CO., Pittsburg, Pa. "I I I

The Mercury December, 1907 HELP THOSK WHO HELP t'S. The Intercollegiate Bureau of Academic Costume. Cotrell & Leonard, ALBANY, N. Y. M_aklr_'Lof CAPS AND GOWNS To (icttyi-burK Cmii i;i\ LnSiyetto. I.ebich. Dickinson. State College, Univ. of Penn-ivjnti. t, H'orviird. Yale. Princeton. Welk-sley, I!o n Ma\vr;in(l the others. Class ntracts a Specialty. Correct Hoods for Degrees, TIOLO Collegre S^a^n's Opportunity We offer the Surest Means of finding your right place. Hun-dreds of good positions open in business, in teaching and in tech-nical work. Offices in li! cities. Write us today. Hfc UUJIJV HUOtiKRS. Commonwealth Trust Building, Philadelphia, Pa. HOTEL GETTYSBURG, Headquarters for BANQUETS. Klectric Lights, Steam Heat, All Conveniences. Free Bus to and from station. Convenient for Commencement Visitors. RATES $2.00 PER DAY. -livery G.i-ta,c"kecL Jolin V. A/(c|Ptiq, Proprietor. IP YOU CALL ON . C. A. Blocher, Jeweler, CENTEE SQUABE, He can serve you with anything you may want in REPAIRING or JEWELRY. WE RECOMMEND THESE FIRMS. Established 1867 by Allen Walton. ALLEN K. WALTON,.Pres. and Treats. ROBT. J. WALTON, Supt. Hnmmelstown Brown Stone Company, QUARRYMEN and Manufacturers of BUILDING STONE, SAWED FLAGGING and TILE. vv cclio-n.v-i.lle, tcupt\\r\ 'So.', "Pa. CONTRACTORS FOR ALL KINDS OF CUT STONE WORK. Telegraph and Express Address. Bro.vustone. Pa. Parties visit-ing quarries will leave cars at lirown^ione Station on the P. & R R. R. For Artistic Photographs Go To TTPTOJV The Leader in PHOTO FASHIONS Frames and Passapartouts Made to Order. PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS Come and Have a Good Shave or Hair Cut —AT— Harry B. Sefion's BARBER SHOP. 35 Baltimore St. Barber's Supplies a Specialty. Also choice line of Cigars. SHOES REPAIRED —BY— Charles Hartdagen, Middle St., Opp. Court House, GUARANTEE ALL WORK. GETTYSBURG DEPARTMENT STORE, Successors to the L. M. Alleman Hardware Co., Manufacturer's Agent and Jobber of HARDWARE, OILS, PAINTS AND QUEENSWARE, GETTYSBURG, PA. The only Jobbing House in Adams County. PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. Vft Seligiiiqi] Am Gettysburg's Most Reliable THILOfjS «»»«* « « 0« « CO., MANUFACTURERS, YORK, PA . U S er Government for this murderous act, but he denied it and put all blame upon the natives, and furthermore, he declared that there was no great loss, because these two families were in the way of prosperity. The British flag was then raised on the place, and he called it British ter-ritory. The Boer Government complained bitterly on account of this act. England answered that it was done without her consent, but as the flag was flying, it could not be taken down, and that England was willing to pay damages to the sum of two million pounds. In 1878, gold was discovered in Zululand, and when Eng-land hoard'of this, she decided that she must have a part of it or all of it. I believe that England would claim the moon, if there were a way to rcn-n that celestial body, and if diamonds and gold were discovered on it And if she had no other rea-sons for her claims, she would say, "we have looked on it for so Jong." But Shoedanviia. the king of Zulaland, was not willing that the British should have their own way for he knew that this would end his rule and bring ruin to his people, and so he ■went to war with Engi-.nd. ' England was worsted in this war. Their army, after having received several defeat , was finally surrounded by the Zulus and would have been annihilated, had not the Boers interfered. Gen-eral Lewis Mover wa; sent from Pretoria with 5,000 Boers to aid the English. He siu.eeded in breaking through the lines, of IO THE MERCURY the Zulu- and relieved the English army. As soon as the Eng-lish gem al realized that he was no longer m danger, lie took matters into his own. hards and invited the Zulu king to visit the British camp under a flag of truce and make tei as soon as lie arrived lie was arrested and e> :>f peace; but on a small island off the western ooast of Africa. England thought that this would end the triibe with the Zulus, but the son of the exiled ruler proclaimed himself king and made preparations to continue the war, but England had enough, and secretly with-drew her arm}' into. Natal. The English Government was chagrined by this defeat at the hands of a savage nation, and the loss of men and money, with-out any corresponding gain of territory, consequently she de-cided to steal the Orange Free State and part of Transvaal. But the Boer Government watched them closely and made pre-parations to meet the invasion. In 18S1 the English army marched into Boer territory, but they were entrapped by an army of Boers numbering 600 men, who defeated the British army of 7,000 men. They killed about half of them and cap-tured the others. When Gladstone, the premier of England, received news of the battle, he said: "I can,not send soldiers to South Africa as fast as the Boers kill them. We ought to make peace with those people who know how to fight for their rights and liberty." A term of trust was agreed upon during which time hostilities should cease, and President Krueger was invit-ed to come to London to make definite terms of peace. Accord-ingly, in 1883, President Krueger, .Taubert, Dr. Reitz and mv-self, went to London where we were treated witli the greatest re-spect by the English. Oom Paul was regarded as a hero With the help of Mr Gladstone, a man of honor, who was friendly toward the Boers, a treaty was signed which favored the Boers. The Tinted States had already recognized the South African Republics as independent governments. In this treaty, Eng-land did likewise, and soon many other powers followed. We went on our way'rejoicing. First to Holland and from there to Germany, where Bismarck gave a dinner in honor of Krueger and hi;-, party. It was on this occasion that Bismarck said: "Krueger is the greatest statesman living, for he got the best of that political fox, Gladstone, and England will dig the grave of her wprld's power in South Africa."- THE MERCURY II The treatj' made in London in 1884 would probably never bave been broken, had not gold been discovered in Jobannsburg, Transvaal during the same year; and if Gladstone., Bismarck and James Blam had lived in 1899, the war would not have broken out. When it became known in England that plenty of gold could be found at Johannsburg. the English people at once began to flock thcTe. Cecil Rhodes, a heartless man without conscience, was one of the first arrivals, who at once made prep-arations to mine the gold. He realized that it would not do to bluff Krueger as he had done before, therefore, he began to treat with Krueger and .he Government in Pretoria. He offered to organize a company to dig the gold and give a certain percent-age to the Boer Government. This company was organized, and it was agreed that the Boer Government should receive 25 per cent, of all the gold mined. All went well for a time; but in the year 1891 the English capitalists began to complain about this percentage, claiming that it was too high. Cecil Rhodes, Barno Banato and Alfred Beit, as the heads of the company, forced the working people to strik.v This strike broke out in 1894 and was at once put down by the Government. In order to lower the wages of the working-men, the company brought in prisoners to work in the mines, but the Government would not allow them to remain. After this failure, the. company imported coolies from Japan, China and India, but these the Government also sent away. Then the company bought control of many Eng-lish newspapers and the newspapers of other countries and these papers slandered the Boers as being opposed to prosperity and progress. Joe Chamberlain, Secretary of the Colonies in Lon-don, now took up the matter and commanded the Boers to per-mit the importation of foreign laborers, and, furthermore, to give all British subjects the right to vote and to hold office. The Government was willing to grant this privilege providing these subjects should swear allegiance to the Transvaal Republic. This the British refused to do. Cecil Rhodes and his friends hired Dr. Jamison and a civil engineer from the United States to organize a mob, invade Jo-hannsburg and take the mines from the Boers; and if possible, to overthrow the Government in Pretoria. The two men organ-ized a mob of 3,000 men who marched up from Capetown and openly boasted that they would soon have the Boers under con- 12 THE MERCURY trol. But the Boers made preparations to meet the mob and were ready to interfere when the time came. Jamison and his men came on toward Johannsburg and expected to arrive there in the evening; hut 'he Boers intercepted them and made an at-tack about nine miles from Johannsburi;. Jamison and his men after a short fight, were captured and taken to Johannsburg. Dr. Jamison and nineteen other leaders were taken to Pretoria and there imprisoned, -while the remainder were condemned to be shot for high treason. The British Government claimed to have no knowledge of the matter, but declared that they would punish these men, if the Boers would turn them over to them. President Krueger obeyed their request and handed over the captives. They were taken to London, given a mock trial, sen-tenced to six months imprisonment, but were soon afterwards pardoned by the Queen. Chamberlain and Rhodes determined to bring on a war be-tween the two nations and, therefore, troops were constantly being brought into cur country. When we inquired as to the meaning of this, we were put off or received no answer at all. It was a kind of "cat and mouse" philosophy wdiich England wished to practice on the Boers; England being the cat and the Boers the mouse. England said, "I am a cat and am satisfied, while you ought to be willing to become a part of a cat." "Come," she said, "let me devour you that you may become a part of a cat as so many other mice have done before." But the Boers failed to see the wisdom of this kind of philosophy and refused the invitation to be eaten. m THE MERCURY , 13 WHAT THE TURKEY DID. ■ A Christmas Story. H. A. CHAMBERLIU, '08. KTHUK CLARKS01SF ceased his labors and, buried in thought, rested for a moment leaning upon his axe. Truly his life was a hard one. .Why should he be compelled to remain here on this farm to cut wood while his companions were enjoying themselves with their friends and relatives at their respective homes? When his chums had all left college he had turned sorrow-fully away and had gone slowly out to the nearby farm where he was to work during the Christmas vacation to pay his college expenses for the ensuing term. It is true he had found a pleas-ant place. Mr. Northwood, the farmer, and his wife had been very kind to him. He had also found Gladys, their only daugh-ter, a girl of seventeen, very interesting and friendly during the long evenings when he had rested before the open fire-place in the comfortable sitting room. But with all this—it was not his home. Often he had felt lonesome. But with that determination which had characterized his col-lege course and had won for him the latin prize in his Freshman year, he went to work again with renewed vigor. Higher and higher grew his pile of kindling wood—fewer and fewer became the number of pine blocks. Suddenly his attention was at-tracted to a figure coming slowly clown the walk which lead to the woodshed. It was Gladys. "I thought I'd come to watch you work a little," she said. "We have been so busy in the kitchen getting ready for Christmas." He would much rather have stopped his work and talked to her but he kept on plying the axe. She continued to chatter and he endeavored to listen as best he could, but it was hard to work and talk at the same time. All at once without the slightest warning the axe slipped, cut-ting a long gash in Irs hand. He felt a sharp pain but did-not cry out. He looked at the girl who had become deathly white. With a little cry she Ihrew up her hands and fell senseless upon the carpet of chips which covered the ground. He carried her tenderly to the house almost forgetting the ac- H THE MERCURY ciclent, which had caused her insensibility, in his efforts to bring her back to consciousness. Mrs. Northwood, at first, in her excitement did not know what to do. After a little work, however, Gladys opened her eyes, and the flow of biood from his hand had been stopped. That evening as they sat before the fire discussing the events of the day, Mrs. Northwood said: "Gladys, why don't you ever wear-that ring which your uncle sent you from Mexico ? The stone alone must be worth fifty dol-lars. I am afraid yon do not appreciate the gift." A bewildered look came over the girl's fa-^e and she exclaimed : "1 was wearing that ring this afternoon when I fainted." Mrs. ISTorthwood shot a sudden glance at Arthur which he did not fail to notice, but said nothing. They then separated for the night. The next morning as Arthur was about to begin his usual work in the shed, the old farmer came out to him with a stern expression on his face. "You need not woi-k any more for me," ho said slowly. "Gladys could hardly have lost the ring for we have all searched every-where for it, and you were the only one with her at the time she was unconscious. I will keep the affair quiet but you must go today. Go back to your college and try to learn that a college education consists of more than that which we get from the books." "Why"— Clarkson began but was checked by the farmer:— "No explanations are necessary, sir—go." Clarkson climbed the stairs to the little room they had given him and gathered together the few articles of clothing which he had brought with him. If he had ever been sad before he was doubly so now. A shadow fell across the floor. He looked up and saw Gladys standing in the doorway— her eyes red with crying. •'•'Oh, Mr. Clarkson,"' she began, "I am so sorry. I know that you would not take the ring but my mother—" With this she threw her apron over her head, and, in a flood of tears, left the room. As he went back to college where he must now spend a miser-able Christmas alone, h? bemoaned his fate. His good name bad been ruined. His tuition could not be paid. He was a vie- THE MERCURY 15 tim of circumstances. And yet she had said that he was inno-cent— that was one consolation. The next day he sauntered up to the postoffiee to see if he would receive a letter from home. Sure enough, the postmas-ter handed it through the bars, hut as he looked at it he noticed that the address was m a strange hand. He opened it and read: "My dear Mr. Clarkson:— Come out to the farm at once. I was too hasty You are innocent. Yours • very sincerely, Jacob Northwood." The note was very brief, but how it thrilled the heart of the youth. He lost no lime in getting to the farm where Gladys met him at the gate and said: "Oh. Mr. Clarkson, we have found the ring. When we killed the Christmas turkey we found it in its craw. The selfish old gobbler- had picked it up from the place where I must have lost it. Come into the house." It is not necessary to' relate all the pleasant things which fol-lowed. There was no more wood cutting and—such a Christ-inas! The Xorthwoods tried in every way to make amends for the wrong they had done him. AVhen he returned to college a week later he was the happiest boy to arrive, for he had not only had a delightful time, and found new friends, but best of all in his coat pocket was a cheque on Mr. aSTorthwood's account which would more than pay the expenses of the term. 16 THE MERCURY THREE GREAT PHILOSOPHERS. Plato—Part I. CHARLES W. HEATHCOTE, '05. LATO was born in Athens about 42' B C. He was the son of Aristo and Perictione, a noble family. His mother traced kinship to Solon, the great legislate-of Athens, and Solon was a desce. dant of Noleus the i?on of Poseidon. Aristo, his father, was a descendant of Codrns the last great Athenian king, and he traced kinship to the god Poseidon Tradition claims that the god Apollo especially foless-id fti.p marriage of Aristo and Perictione and endowed Plato with special divine qualities. At an early age he received instruction • rom alle teacher Dionysius taught him literature; Ariston, the Argiane,.,gym-nastics and Megillus of Arigentamj music. With the other youths he took part in the Pythian and Is hmian games. He also, probably, took part in the military expeditions to Tanagra, Corinth and Del him. ♦ In his youth he was actively engaged in writing poems. He look part in many literary contests and reveaied much power and ability. He was about to enter a contest with a poem upon which he had worked faithfully and careful'y, when he became acquainted with Socrates. He destroyed hi' poem and most of his other poetical writings. However, some fragments have come down to us and they reveal beauty, thought and simplicity in style. From the time he met Socrates, he began to devote ail of his time to philosophy Plato was a student. He was acquainted with the past history of Greece and the sy terns of the earlier philosophers. His poetic nature and temperament revolted against the course and flippant reasonings of many of the phi-losophers of his day. They sounded as it were the minor chord entirely in their reasonings and to this the nature of Plato re-fused to respond. Thu.-:, when he understood the teachings of Socrates and the truths he taught, it seemed as if he had touch-ed the inajoi chord, tha: beautiful melodious bell-like tone, in his heart, for at once his whole nature became attuned to the THK MERCURY 17 1 ruths of Socrates and Plato bee;■1 me his enthusiastic and power-ful disciple. Plato was.about twenty years of age w'jen ne came under 1 he influence of Socrates. He was yet in hie creative process of life. His master's power over him was absolute. Since Socrates' work was noble, inspiring and uplifting, he was able to make Plato a mighty power for good in the world. Plato remained faithful and true to his old teacher and mas-ter, lie was a true disciple. He followed his teacher through his varied caieer and after his death which had been inflicted by '.he Athenian people he became the leader oC the Socratic school •md taught and promulgated anew the immcital Socratic truth. His truth was ideal. Sometime after Socrates' death Plato went to Egypt and made himself acquainted with the religious thought of that land.Trad-i tion says that he also went to Persia, and the^e he was taught the Zorathushtrian doctrines. But this cannot oe definitely deter-mined. He also visited Italy and studied the organization of the Pythagorean schools. Plato very likely visited Euclid at Megara, as Megara was not very far from Athens. How much influence Euclid had over P'ato in the formation and the deeper '.evelopment of his philosophic system can not be definitely 1 nown On his return to Athens he was threatened with punishment and even death. He stood firm in his determination to carry nit his master's work and would not be swerved from his course. Plato look 1-0 active part in governmental affairs. He was not ?n orator. ' He had returned to Athens to open a philosophic school. He opened his academy in the grove of Aeschemus. Over the great philosophic sehoo! he presided until his death. There with his pupils he analyzed and developed the germs of ethics, psychology and logic as found in the Socratij teachings. It is said that Plato made several voyages to Sicily in the in-terests of his academy. ■ At the invitation of Dionysius, the Svracusan ruler, Plato discussed with him on the subjects of happiness, virtue, government and justice. Plutarch (610) rays, "Justice was the next topic; and when Plato asserted the happiness of the just, and the wretched condition of the unjust, 'he tyrant was stung: and being unable to answer his arguments, i8 THE MERCURY he expressed his resentment against those>uo seemed to listen -o him with pleasure. At last he was extremely exasperated, r.nd asked the philosopher what business he hsd rrr Sicily. Plato answered, 'that he came to seek an honest man.' 'And so, then/ replied the tyrant, 'it seems that you have lost your labor/' Dionysius had resolved to slay Plato but through the plead-ing of Piato's friends his life was spared and he was sold into flavery to the Aeginetans. He was finally ransomed and re-turned to his academy. When D-'onysius the younger ascended the throne Plato again visited Sicily, but he was unable to accomplish anything. Of Plato's family less is known then of Socrates' Ye: y likely ne was married although it is not known to whom. Neither ran he be called an ascetic as some writers of recent times have been accustomed to call him. A man of hi, social, intellectual and moral position could not live an ascetic life and do the work he did. Thus it has been mentioned that his power as a writer was revealed in his early youth. It was evidently in the prime of ' ife that he established his academy at Athms. It was there ".hat he was busily engaged in teaching philosophy and writing •:nd rewriting his lectures and "there at the ripe age of eighty-pne he died." Marshall rays, "Prom the scene of his labors bis philosophy las ever since been known as the Academic philosophy. Unlike .'Socrates, he was not content to leave only -i memory of himself and his conversations. Re was unwearied in bis reduction and correction of his written dialogues, altering them here and there both iu c;.; ression and in structure. It is impossible, there-fore, to be absolutely certain as to the historical order of compo-sition 01 publication among his numerous dialogues, but a cer-tain np proximate order may be fixed." A very large number of works have been attributed to Plato. Some ha -c ' een proved spurious Most historians of philosophy accept thi ivy-six compositions as written by Plato'. Most au-thors aeocy the works of P.'ato as follows: Charmides; Lvsis• Laches; Ion; Meno; Euthyphro; Apology; Crito; Phaedo; Pro-tagoras, ihithydemus; Cral.lus; Gorgias; Hippias Alcibiades: TIUC MKKCUKY 19 Meneseus; Symposinus; Phaedrus; The Republic; Timaeus; Philebus; Parinenides; Theoetetus and The Laws. Acccrdirg to TJeberueg (104), "Schleiermacher divides the-works into three groups. Elementary, mediatory or prepara-tory and constructive dialogues. As Plato's first composition he names the Phaderus; as his latest writings, the Republic. Li-malus, and the Laws." In all bis waitings the poetic nature and style predominates. Although he is a waiter of urose, he is a poet at heart. Some-one ha-5 called him, "the Shakespeare of Gre k philosophy on ac-count of hif fertility, variety, humor, imagination and poetic grace. The philosophy of Plato is the philosophy of Socrates. This philosophical reasoning is prevalent throughout Plato's works. His thoughts and principles are built upon a Socratic basis. As Plato analyzes the deep thoughts of Socrates, he, here and there, adds a finishing touch and makes it more complete. It must not bo thought that Plato was a mere imitator, he was to) great a genius for that. Plato had been trained in the true Soc aric school of hard reasoning ana logical thinking. His kn Avlcdge of philosophy in the largest sense was marvelous. His knocedge of the various systems of the wo-ld gave him power to produce a careful and logical system, of reasoning with the Socratic truths as basic philosophical principles. Zeller says, "In Plato's scientific method also, we recognize the deepeinng, the purification and the progress of the Socratic philosophy. Prom the principles of conceptual knowledge arises, as its inunediate consequence, that dialectic of which Socrates must bi considered the author. While Socrates in forming con-cepts, stiV.es from the contingencies of the given case, and never ■ goes b3.T!id the particular, Plato requires by continued analysis from the phenomenon to the idea, from particular ideas to the highest and most universal.' The Socratic form of discussion 111 the character and manner of the dialogue is prominent in Plato's writings. If there is an idea that Plato desires to have understood and- made clear, it is brought out in his writings by the manner if speech. Though in some places his logic may be distributed, yet taken on the whole it is not the case. He sets forth his philosophy with 20 THE MERCURY (.learner and in a scientific way. The dialogue enabled his readers to grasp his ideas more readily. There is another striking characteristic in his dialogues; that is, Sociites is the central figure. He not on;y xeads in the con-versation, , 'le best listener, but he is also the most acute reasoner and thinker. Though Plato in some instanc s may represent an idealized Socrates, nevertheless be remembers how great a debt of gratitude he owes his master. From Socrates he received his spiritual and tbeistic beliefs. In th'i Banquet by Plato (M. Ed. T. 81) we quote the follow-ing pan; of a dialogue in which Socrates is discussing with Agathon Jhe philosophical conception of Love. "Come," said SocratT-., 'let us review your concessions. Is Love anything else th:n die love first of something; and secondly, of those things of which it has need?"—"Nothing."—"Now, remember x-f these things jrou said in your discourse, thai Love was the love —if you wish I will remind \ou. I think you said something of this kin.i, 'hat all the affairs of the gods were admirably disposed through the love of the things which are beautiful for there was no love of ^hings deformed, did you not say so?"—"I confess that I did."—'You said th.pt what was most likely to be true, my frLnd: and if the matter be so, the lovs of beauty must be one thing, and the love of deformity another. '■—"Certainly." So eo'n],rehensive is Plalo's philosophical system that much is emh-ived in it. To divide it into distinct divisions is diffi-cult. KIP philosophical system may be divided into three parts: logic, physics and ethics. Whe., the dialogues are examined carefully it is found though the though! may seem to relaps too much in the following state-ments, nevertheless, every thought looks up to the idea that Plato wishes to unfold. There is no confusion. One idea explains another idea, one thought leads up to another thought and so on in true progressive and logical order. THE MERCURY THE BELLS. JOSEPH ARNOLD, '09. 21 "How soft the music of those village b'-Jie Falling at intervals upon the ear., In cadence tweet, now dying all away. Now pealing loud again and louder Btill Clear and sonorous as the gale comes on." —C'owper. Soft and SAveet, indeed, are the'tones as they set the calm quiet air on a Sunday morning vibrating. What a charm the strains of a familiar hymn have, as they reach the ear from some distant church! ' And yet the chimes and bells with all their pleasant memories of childhood days lingeringly attached to them, with all their melodious sweetness, have an interesting history. Almost at the very beginning of things, a certain Tubal Cain, sixth descendant from Adam, an artificer in all kinds of metals, probably discovered the sonorous qualities of metals. He may have manufactured some crude instrument, which, when struck gave forth a ringing sound These crude beginnings gradually were improved upon; for, in Exodus, we learn that bells of gold were attached to the robe of Aaron in order that his going in and coming out of the place of worship might "be made known to the people. Zechariah introduces us to another improvement; namely, the inscription, "HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD," upon the bells of the horses. Not only did, in those early times, the Children of Israel make use of the bells, hut also the Egyp-tians, Assyrians and Chaldeans. Those used by the Egyptians were as a means of announcing the feast of Osiris. In offering sacrifices the priests of Cyble of Assyria made use of the bells. So on down through the ages we come across the development of bells, some of gold and others of bronze. About bells were associated many superstitions, as records show us. Pliny and Juvenal, it is said, tell us of bells being rung during eclipses, which were, as it was believed, attended by evil spirits. The ringing of the bells would, according to their beliefs, drive these away. The belief can easily be evidenced 21 THE MERCURY by inscriptions upon the bells as follows: "Pesiem fugo" and "Dissipo veutos." During the early Christian era a number of such brief inscriptions were put into poetical form and became the common inscription upon bells. Laudo Deum verum, plebum voco, conjugu clerum Defunclus ploro, pesiem fugo, festa decoro. Funero pilango, fulgura frango, Sabaia pango Excito lentoSj dissipo ventos, paco crucntos." Bells, even at a very early period, were put to a practical pur-, pose, as may be gathered from the following records left by Aes-chylus and Euripedes: Greek warriors were accustomed to wear small bells-upon their shields so that they might when on guard duty inform the passing captain that they were awake. Even Plutarch is said to have mentioned in his record of the seige of Xanthus the fact that bells were attached to nets stretched acre-the river so that natives could not escape by way of the river without coming into contact with the bells thus attached. Thus far small bells only were referred to, since the large ones were not. in use for worship or alarm or to strike the hour, till some 400 A. D. The use of bells for churches doubtless gave rise to that feature of architecture, the bell tower. In the Middle Ages, bells played a prominent part. During that period whenever a bell was cast, before it was used in a church, it went through a form of consecration; for it was wash-ed with water, annoiuted with oil, and marked with the sign of the cross in the name of the Trinity, and, from what we can gather, archbishops officiated and persons of high rank, with great pomp, attended the ceremony of christening. As time went on nearly every form of worship had its bell. There was the Sanctus bell, tho Angelus or Ave Marie bell, the Vesper bell, the Complin bell, and the Passing bell. The Sanctus bell of today is a small bell and it is rung before the elevating of the Host by the priest. During the Middle Ages, this was a large bell and rung just when the "Sancte, sancte, sanete Deum Sab-baoth" was sung or chanted. All who heard bowed their heads in reverence and adoration. The Angelus was rung at fixed hours and called the mind from worldly duties toward a mo-ment's meditation and the blessed Virgin. It further marked THE MEKCURY 23 the time of beginning and cessation of labor. There still lingers with ns a sweet echo, as it were, of that beautiful 'custom in the famous painting, "The Angelus." The artist seems to have caught the charm and in the moment of God-given inspiration placed upon canvas the halo of bygone days. The Yesper bell was the call to evening prayer and the Complin bell closed the clay. Finally the most impressive was the solemn tolling of the Passing bell; it called for the prayers of the faithful in behalf of the passing of a soul from life. A little of the spirit of the Middle Ages still clings to us; for we still adhere to some of the customs of those times. The toll-ing of the bell during the passing of a funeral in a "God's acre" comes directly from the custom of the Passing bell. One rite or ceremony peculiar to the Dark Ages was t. pe tolling of a bell to summon an audience in order that a priest might read in their hearing an anathema; to blow out in their presence the candle and in that manner excommunicate a poor unfortunate from "bell, book and candle." The use of the curfew is familiar to all. It was probably in-troduced into. England from France by William the Conqueror. Alarm bells were a,so used at an early date. Is it not Shakes-peare who makes Macbeth say when Birnam wood was moving on the castle in which he had shut himself, "Eing the alarm bell!" ? Of course, in modern times, since the discovery of electricity, the use of bells for alarm has become more or less systematized. The composition of material which enters into bell making can readily be gathered from various sources. There are in the world some very large bells, marvelous and unique, arousing much wonder and creating great interest. It may be that the longing for display was accountable for sucli huge sizes. May we not likewise infer that their immensity in the eyes of the ignorant and semi-civilized made them more meritorious? Thus Russia, mostly in a state of semi-civiliza-tion, is noted for the largest bells. The large bell which espe-cially attracts universal attention is the "King of Bells," the hell of Moscow. Hs history may be read at a glance from one of the inscr (ions upon it. namelv ip- 24 THE MERCURY . This Bell :, was cast in 1733 by order of the Imperial Empress Anne, Daughter of John It was in the earth 103 years and by the will of the ■ r .: Imperial Emperor ^ Nicholas "' "'-■: :. was raised upon this pedestal in 1835, August 4th. It is not necessary here to enter into details concerning its history; the number of times it was recast, its enormous weight or colossal size or the stir it created among the nobility of Eu-rope. Sufficient to say, that it excells and stands alone. There is another very large bell of which mention should be made namely, the Assumption bell of Moscow, next in weight to the "King of Bells." Although it weighs one hundred and ten tons and its diameter is eighteen feet, it is hung and tolled once a year. A writer says, "When it sounds, a deep hollow murmur vibrates all over Moscow, like the fullest tones of a vast organ or the rolling of distant thunder/' One bell, though not a large one, is nevertheless dear to the heart of every loyal American. That bell announced to the peo-ple that the Declaration of Independence was signed; that free-dom was theirs. It bears the name of "Liberty Bell;" a name •deserved and a name *hat will last as long as time itself. Though iits life as a bell is but a brief one, there arfc gathered about it miemories saored to us. It still, as its inscription reads, "Pro-claims liberty throughout the land." Thus ends the stoiy of the bell imperfectly and briefly told ,ind yet let us not forget to mention the important part it plays in poetry. First upon the bells as we find them may be found couplets which run ns follows:— ■ »k and, also. "Jesus fulfil with thy good grace All that we beckon to this place." "I to the church the living call And to the grave do summon all." THE MERCURY "Be mec and loly To heare the word of God." 25 There are possibly as many quaint inscriptions on bells, as upon tombstones but space does not permit mentioning them. Most of the poets make mention of bells in connection with services. Longfellow says the Angelus called the Arcadian fanner from his work. Shiller in his remarkable "Lay of the Bell," portrays the life of a mortal. How clearly he associates the storms and calms of life in the tale of a belFs making. And who can, in such melodious rythmical splendor compare with Edgar Allen Poe, as he depicts the functions of the bells in that masterpiece of his? How it thrills one to hear that poem re-cited! One can almost hear the merry jingling of the sleigh bells o'er the icy fields, or the mellow wedding bell foretelling a world of happiness, or the banging and clanging of the loud alarm bells, or e'en the solemn tolling from the lips of the sombre iron bells of luckless destiny. What a world of thought is cre-ated in the reading of a poem such as that! How it carries us back, yea back to the days gone by! How we hear faintly the bells, sweetly echoing in our hearts some happy occurrence, or like a voice from heaven bringing us in close touch with a dear one gone before. Thus bells have played an important part in life from times immemorable to the present day. 26 THE MERCURY DO WE NEED POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS IN THIS COUNTRY? BY 1908. AST summer wtu'le spending some time in a rural dis-trict of a neighboring state, an instance of particular interest came to my notice. One day a resident of the small I village came into the postoffice and had a money order for a certain amount made out in his own name. The postmaster, being of an inquisitive nature, asked the man why it should be in his own name. The man said he didn't want to have the money in the house; that lie didn't have time to take it to the bank (for the nearest one was fifteen miles away); that it would cost him just as much to send it to the bank as to get a money order for it, besides the trouble of sending it: and that it would he safer in the hands of the Government than if it were in the bank. An instance of this nature to a person of ordinary intelligence would he very striking. Thoughts of the advantages of some people and the disadvantages of others naturally arise. This man evidently was'not in a position to enjoy the great privilege of. men in other districts of having a hank in which to deposit his money. Xext we would likely wonder how many men were in a similar circumstance hut who did not invest their money in money orders, having it hoarded up somewhere as cold cash. There are, no doubt, so great a number of them, even though their amounts of possession being small, that a vast sum of money is being held, hound up and kept from circulation. The man's last remark as to thfe safety of his money in the form of a money order, brings the fact to our notice that banks do not have the confidence of the people in general that the Government evidently has, for this man was willing to pay the Government to keep his money instead of receiving interest for the use of if from a bank. few people will deny that our present system of banks is a success considered in all its phases. But is it the best system that can be had? Does it efficiently meet all that is demanded of it? We think not. The present financial condition of our country leads us to this conclusion. The fact that banks in their present condition are subject to failure thereby causing the THE MERCURY .27 loss of the wealth of their depositors oftentimes inspires, more especially the small depositor, with fear and shatters all confi-dence in them. As a consequence great amounts are hoarded up in strong chests and other places and are practically a drag to the progress of our country where free circulation of money is such a necessary function in prosperity. The money strin-gency which necessitated the recent issue of Government bonds was largely due to the inadequacy of our banking institutions to supply the need. Ours is a country of gre"at natural wealth, so vast, indeed, in extent, that we can hardly get a definite conception of it. Though we are making rapid strides in developing these re-sources, we have not reached the greatest degree of efficiency. There are vast tracts of land that could be more efficiently cul-tivated; mines to be developed; products to be transported; and many other directions for progress, but no means of bettering this state of affairs. Why have we not reached the highest, de-gree of efficiency? This question is easily• answered by saying that the circulation of money is too small. Thus we see the great need of getting all money possible into circulation. Since there is such a great need for the circulation of all the money in the United States, we need to consider reasons why this circulation is hindered. Probably the most striking of these reasons is the lack of confidence that some people have in our banks. Circulation is not hindered by the lack of confi-dence of our people alone. There are vast numbers of foreigners in our country who. doubting the stability of our banks, and having explicit confidence in their own government banks, send their earnings home and deposit them there. In this way great sums of money are kept from circulating in our land and for this reason some industries must suffer because of being unable to secure sufficient funds for their-further development. The issue of bonds recently made shows the great need of money for circulation and, above all things, shows that the money will most likely he obtained from the-people who are afraid of investing money in other enterprises, but, because of their confidence in the Government, are willing to take her bonds at a lower rate of interest than could be gotten otherwise. We have been considering the fact that there are conditions in our country which are not as they should be for its better de- 28 THE ME.RCURY velopment and prosperity. To set forth these deficiencies with-out suggesting a means of correction would be foolish exertion. Anything that will right these conditions we may regard as the very thing needed by our country. Our suggestion for the cure of these conditions is a system of postal savings banks. Such a system would reach all conditions of people as the banking places would be the postoffices and postoffices are found scattered everywhere in the states. Then the great amount of money that is hoarded up, because there is no bank near enough, would be put.into circulation. Then tun, very many of our citi-zens who now hide their earnings and the foreign element who send their money abroad for deposit in their own government banks, because of their confidence in an institution with govern-ment backing, and not in our banks as they now are, would de-posit in the postal banks and thus by increasing the circulation of currency, help to remedy existing conditions. One with a different idea might wonder what would become oi our present banking institutions which are run by individuals who necessarily reap the benefits not only of their own money, hut also that of the Government which they get at a low rate of interest. He might ask, Shall we harm a fairly well working system for one that we only imagine Avould work? That a sys-tem of postal savings banks would harm our other banks is not likely, for it would obtain greater amounts of money for distri-bution to these banks at a lower rate of interest. With this view of the matter, the private banks would themselves be benefitted as Avell as the country at large. Then as to the working of the proposed banks we have no serious doubts. They are working-well in other countries and could easily be successful here. But someone may object; think of the great expense ami trouble the Government would have to undergo. It is true there would be some expense and labor connected with the en-terprise but the benefits derived would be so much'greater in proportion to the money formerly expended as most clearly to justify such a course. If our manufacturers today would re-fuse to increase their business because of more cost to them, we would have a pitiable state of affairs existing. Industries would be at a standstill. But they do not conduct business on this principle. They make a great sacrifice of monev and labor to THE MERCURY 29 a certain degree and in return make a greater proportional amount of gain. It is therefore an easy matter to see that the system would pay for itself and that is all we demand of it, since it is a gen-eral public undertaking and is not supposed to be run in order to make money. It would be for the welfare of the individual citizens of our nation. The idea of labor is no argument against it. We may rather consider it as a point in its favor. The extra labor would furnish excellent, well salaried positions for a great number of people. That there is need of some way of keeping the currency of our Government in circulation is very evident. The present pros-perity and welfare of our country demand it. If the present demands it, the same will be true of the future, only then the demand will be more intense. To meet this increasing demand necessitates, some system that will reach the portions of the country in which money is hoarded; that will have the confi-dence of the public in its favor. Our present system of banks has been, and is doing a great deal towards a free circulation of money yet they are proving insufficient. A system of postal savings banks, as we have shown, would meet the above named requirements; would furnish greater circulation of money; and would therefore add very materially to our progress as a nation. T H E ERCQRV Entered at the Postoffice at Gettysburg as second-class Matter. VOL. XV GETTYSBURG, PA., DECEMBER 1907 No. 7 Editor-in-Chief EDMUND L. MANGES, .'08 Exchange. Editor ROBERT W. MICHAEL, '08 Business Manager HENRY M. BOWER, '08 Ass't Bus. Managers LESLIE L. TAYLOR, '09 CHARLES L. KOPP, '09 Assistant Editor MARKLEY C. ALBRIGHT, '08 Associate Editors PAUL F. BLOOMHARDT, '09 E. E. SNYDER, '09 Advisory Board PROF. J. A. HIMES, LITT.D PROP. G. D. STAHLEY, M.D. PROP. J. W. RICHARD, D.D. Published each month, from October to June inclusive, by the joint literary societies of Pennsylvania (Gettysburg) College. Subscription price, one dollar a year in advance : single copies 15 cents. Notice to discontinue sending THE MERCURY to any address must be accompanied by all arrearages. Students, Professors and Alumni are cordially invited to contri-bute. All subscriptions and business matter should be addressed to the Business Manager. Articles for publication should be addressed to the Editor. Address THE MERCURY, GETTYSBURG, PA. EDITORIALS. GEN. DE WALI_'S It is with a great ARTICLE deal of pleasure that we present this number of the MHUCURY to its readers par-ticularly because of its article on the Boers. Some few years ago, when war broke out between these people and the English, we all read of the movements and ac-tions that took place in the Tran-svaal and Orange Free State with great interest. The war from beginning to end is doubt- THE MERCURY 31 less familiar to 11s, but we know very little of the Boer history prim- to this time. This article' gives us a very distinct and clear cut epitome of that earlier period. A thing that lends a peculiar interest'to this article is the fact that it was written by one of the most prominent men of the people with whom it deals, so that we get the facts first hand, it is needless to waste time or space in telling those of our read-ers who met General Dc Wall about his personal experience or service, but it may be of some interest to those who did not have the extreme pleasure of seeing or hearing him. Fifteen years in German schools and universities, a period before the war as pres-ident of the Volksraat or Congress of the Transvaal Eepublic, and during the war as a general in the Boer army, are three major items of his life. We have been rather fortunate this fall in having the privilege of coming in contact with a number of distinguished men, but most striking, most unique among them all stands Gen. l)e Wall. .He is a very extraordinary type of man. a type that is very sel-dom 'found. In this man we see one who has had the great privilege of a liberal education; one who has been successful in life, having at one time been a wealthy man and holding a posi-tion in South Africa second only to that of the distinguished and well known Oom Paul Krueger; one who experienced war in all its phases; one who has suffered as few men have and sur-vived, having lost wealth, position and family, and is now even an exile because he lefused to swear allegiance to the country that deprived him of wealth and family, all that was dear to him. He did not come to us'in state, but as a very common, man, yet the impression that he made upon us is one that will last longer for that very reason. Is it any wonder that a man of such a' varied experience both in quantity and quality is interesting? Although he has been a child of fortune and has known the extremes of joy and sorrow, he has come through them safely, with principles and faith in his God unshaken. We again say that we consider ourselves fortunate in having this interesting and instructive article to give to our readers, not because of the worth of the article alone, but because of its distinguished author. 32 THE MERCURY LITERARY It is with a feeling of pleasure that we write CONTEST. concerning the coming Inter-society Contest. We are pleased to announce that, after a lapse of two years, the two Literary Societies have settled their petty disagreements and have agreed to meet in a general literary contest and de-bate. The contest and debate were formerly leading features of the winter term; but in -recent years, as before stated, have not been held for various reasons. And now, inasmuch as all preliminary arrangements have been made and the contest is practically as-sured, it is our earnest wish that the.members of the societies realize the importance of the coming conflict. The individual members of both societies must know that without their interest the contest can not be a complete success. And, besides, honor, glory and renown, in no small measure, will be meted out to the participants, both th-5 victors and the vanquished. The contest and debate are bound to be interesting, and may the fickle Goddess of Victory smile upon the side best deserving her favors. j* I am a little country boy, I flunk ten times a week. But I guess few students know it, Cause for Muffing I'm a freak. It tickle? me to go to shows, But only when they're cheap. And when the Seniors turn me down, Then, Oh, how I do weep. I love to ride brown ]3onics, And wobble when I walk. I say I take the girls to shows, And I slobber when I talk. -Exchange. PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. THE BEST PEN FOR COLLEGE MEN There's no pen that gives such all-round satisfaction as Conklin's Self-Filling Fountain Pen. It's the best pen for College Men. When an ordinary fountain pen runs dry in the middle of a word, it means you've got to stop right there, hunt up a rubber squirt gun, fill your pen to overflowing, clean both pen and dropper, wash your hands, and then endeavor as best you can to collect your lost Crescent If train of thought It's different with Filler J. A. Kupp, L. E. Entei line. THE "R & E" STORE 36 Baltimore Street, Next Citizens' Trust Company, GETTYSBURG, PA. SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON HELPS AND SUPPLIES, P. ANSTADT & SONS, Publishers, Book and Job Printing of all Kinds UJrUe for Prices. YOR K. PA, PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS EMIL ZOTHE COLk^!EM3 ENGRAVER, DESIGNER, AND MANUFACTURING JEWELER 722 Chestnut St., Phila. SPECIALTIES : MASONIC MARKS, SOCIETY BADGES, COLLEGE BUTTONS, PINS, SCARF PINS, STICK PINS ANO ATHLETIC PRIZES. All Goods ordered through G. F. Kieffer, CHARLES S. MUMRER. UEJ1L.EU JJV TpTTTS TSTTTTTT? 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OCTOBER, J899 ooTheoo Gettysburg CONTENTS. The Character of Macbeth 1S3 Success in Business 160 A Mirror's Reflections 161 Pen Sketches from Nature 163 Editor's Desk, 168 College Y. M. C. A 169 Two Mischievous Fallacies in Education 172 Why we should be True and Honest 17S The Relation of Commerce to Missions 176 The United States as a Coloniz-ing Nation 179 Advantage of Studying the Classics 182 Athletics 186 G'SURG C. LIB. DUPLICATE FAVOR THOSE WHO FAVOR US. For Fine. Printing go to e Jo I. Wi M Hovf CARLISLE ST. GETTYSBURG, PA. C. B. Kitzmiller Dealer in Hats, Caps, Boots and Douglas Shoes GETTYSBURG, PA. J. H. Myers Fashionable Tailor, Clothier and Gents' Furnisher. The best place in town to have your Cloth-ing- made to order. All workmanship and Trimmings guaranteed. No charge for re-pairs and pressing for one year. Dyeing and Repairing a specialty. Ready-made Clothing the largest stock in town. Up-to-date styles. Bicycle Suits and Breeches Headquarters. 11 Baltimore St., Gettysburg, Pa. EDGAR 5. MARTIN, F^CIGARS AND SMOKERS' ARTICLES. Chambersburg St., Gettysburg. translations Literal—Interlinear—135 Volume* Dictionaries German, French, Italian, Spanish Latin, Greek tutorial Series JOO vnls. specially designed for coaching i^i exams, in all college studies Binds & noble Sehoolbooks of all Publishers 4 Cooper Institute, NewYork City 1 R. A. WONDERS, Corner Cigar Parlors. A full line of Cigars, Tobacco, Pipes, Etc. Scott's Corner, Opp. Eagle Hotel. GETTYSBURG, PA. JOHN M. MINNIGH, Confectionery, lee, • andIee Create Oysters Stewed and Fried. No. 17 BALTIMORE ST. .THE. GETTYSBURG MERCURY Entered at the Postojjice at Gettysburg as second-class matter. Vol. VIII. GETTYSBURG, PA., OCTOBER, 1899. No. S Alumni Editor. REV. F. D. GARLAND. Editor-in-Chief. J. FRANK HEILMAN, '00. Assistant Editors. LDTHEK A. WEIGLE, '00. S. A. VAN ORMER, '01. Business Manager, Assistant Business Manager. JOHN K. HAMACHER, '00. CLARENCE MOORE, '02. Advisory Board. PROK. J. A. HIMES, LIT. D. PROF. G. D. STAHLEY, M. D. PROF. J. W. RICHARD, D. D. Published monthly by the students of Pennsylvania (Gettysburg) College. Subscription price One Dollar a year in advance, single copies Fifteen Cents. Students, Professors and Alumni are cordially invited to contribute. All subscriptions and business matter should be addressed to the Business manager. Articles for publication should be addressed to the Editor. Address THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY, GETTYSBURG, PA. THE CHARACTER OF MACBETH. [FIRST GIES PRIZE ESSAY.] SHAKESPEARE was not only the greatest po.et and drama-tist that the world has known, but also a psychologist in every phase of human thought and action. Character has been nowhere more perfectly depicted than in many of his plays, and his art is most clearly seen in the painting of a man's soul through his words. This is especially exemplified in many of his tragedies. There is a wealth of psychological study in the char-acters of Hamlet, the brilliant student and noble prince whose life is wrecked by revenge; of Othello, the high-minded warrior whose soul is racked by jealousy; of Macbeth, the brave general who attained a throne, "In blood Stepp'd in so far, that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er." 154 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. Hitherto Macbeth has been thought of as a man of weak reso-lution who was led astray by the dominant will of a wicked wife. This opinion has been mainly due to the fact that for years the only powerful rendering of the part of Lady Macbeth was that of Mrs. Siddons, whose strong personality easily lent itself to such an interpretation, while the only objections were raised now and then in a scholarly treatise which never reached the public. But several years ago Sir Henry Irving and Miss Ellen Terry pre-sented the play before American audiences in an entirely new in-terpretation, which at first surprised the theatre-going world, but eventually won its approbation. Under their treatment, Macbeth became, next to Iago, the worst of Shakespeare's villains, a man who brought about not only his own but his wife's moral down-fall. An impartial investigation of the text of the play will clearly show which of these views is correct. It may be well to begin, as the play does, with the objective element in Macbeth's soul, for it will show more distinctly the characteristics of the subjective. Macbeth is at first seen as the brave general. "Bellona's bridegroom lapp'd in proof," who successfully fought his country's enemies, winning glory for himself and his king. This quality of physical courage is in truth one which is part of Macbeth's real character. His por-trait does not lack in valor, from the first, when "brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name) Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like valour's minion, carv'd out his passage, Till he fac'd the slave ; Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps, And fix'd his head upon our battlements," till the last, when, betrayed by every portent which the witches had given him, he sees the end to be inevitable, yet plunges into battle with Macduff. "I will not yield. ***** Though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane And thou oppos'd, be of no woman born, Yet I will try the last. Before my body I throw my warlike shield : lay on, Macduff, And damn'd be he that first cries, 'Hold, enough.' " THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 155 Another objective view of his character is that of his wife her-self: "Yet do I fear thy nature ; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness, To catch the nearest way." Bearing these two views of his character in mind, the student is prepared to pass unbiased judgment on the subjective, the real ele-ments of Macbeth's soul, as seen in the text itself. The first fact which may be established is that he had thought of murdering Duncan before meeting with the witches. Macbeth is not a good man fallen under the spell of witch-craft, which im-pels him to his bloody deeds. The first suggestion of murder comes from him soon after the approach of Ross and Angus: "Why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair * * * * My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical." Murder had been mentioned by no one—not even the witches— up to this time, and the prophecies of the witches were not such as to encourage or arouse the thought. They addressed him as Glamis, Cawdor, and "King that shalt be." The first he was by his father Sinel's death. With regard to the second: he was returning from a victory over the traitorous Thane of Cawdor, and it was in accordance with the customs of the time that the forfeited estates and title should be bestowed upon the victor. With regard to the last: Macbeth was next in succession to Dun-can, being his fiist cousin, and next of kin who was of age, as Malcolm and Donalbain were minors. His chance of becoming king was so apparent that the prophecy did not surprise the loyal and honest Banquo: "Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair?" It was but natural for Macbeth to dream of kingship, but there was no need of crime to attain it. But one reason can be as-signed for the tumult which the witches aroused in Macbeth's mind—his former thought of murder. But we may go further: it is clearly stated that he had broached the subject to his wife before this occasion. When Duncan is in his castle, after he has definitely made up his mind to commit the murder, he tells her that he will not go on, and she replies: I56 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. " What beast was't then That made you break this enterprise to me ? » * * * Nor time nor place, Did then adhere, and yet you would make both." There is nothing here to support the theory of a good man gone to ruin through the evil influence of his wife. Macbeth himself was the originator of the murderous plan. Assured by the early fulfilment of part of the prophecy, Mac-beth seems inclined to drop his thought of murder and let matters take their course. "If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me Without my stir." He seems content to await what may happen. But, unfortu-nately, the very thing happens within an hour which is needed to again arouse his wicked purpose. The king, happy in success, lavishly bestows honors, and among them, makes his son Prince of Cumberland, which was the title assumed by the successor to the throne. While this act of Duncan's was not constitutional, it was not objected to, and Macbeth sees two men in his way in-stead of one. The barrier between him and the throne is in-creasing. Accordingly, announcing that he will go before to make ready for the king at his castle, he adds: "Stars, hide your fires Let not light see my black and deep desires; The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see." This is the pivotal point in the play. Macbeth had a vague in-tention of murder before, but now he has made up his mind to commit the deed, and on that very night. Duncan's fate is set-tled. It is quite possible that Macbeth led his wife to believe that she was impelling him to the murder. It would be in entire ac-cord with the hypocrisy of his nature to bring about her moral downfall in such a way. Having made up his mind to the murder, he enters his castle. "Macbeth. My dearest love, Duncan comes here to-night. Lady Macbeth. And when goes hence? THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 157 Macbeth. To-morrow, as he purposes. Lady Macbeth. O ! never Shall sun that morrow see, Your face, my thane, is as a book, where men May read strange matters." And so later he says that he cannot do it, then yields little by little to her representations of the ease of the murder and of their escape from blame. We are impelled to pity this wife, who, guilty in her own ambition and assent to his plans, is dragged farther and farther down the road to ruin by the false dealing of her more wicked husband. This hypocrisy runs through the entire play and is manifested toward all, till his consciousness of his own false nature leads him to distrust everyone else. But the strangest element in Macbeth's character is seen in the beautiful imagery which he employs in pondering over the worst crimes. He loves to play with his conscience ; to set forth his crime pro and con; to conjure up its consequences, and he does it in language which one must admire. He is the greatest poet Shakespeare has shown the world and his genius rises as his deeds are darkest. He weighs and ponders the murder of Duncan and discusses it with his wife, until the phantom of his brain seems to be projected into space—he sees a dagger. For a moment he has a qualm of superstitious fear, but dismisses it quickly. "It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes." Then he promptly loses himself in rapt revery, and ushers in his crime with a beautiful soliloquy : "Now o'er the one-half world Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse The curtained sleeper: witchcraft celebrates Pale Hecate's offerings ; and withered murder, Alarumed by his sentinel the wolf, Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace, With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth, Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear Thy very stones prate of my whereabout, And take the present horror from the time, Which now suits with it." Nothing can be more awful than this portrait of a murderer reveling in mental images of what he is about to do, and causing riteUMmmmiwimmMmiMMmMB 158 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. wave after wave of emotion to pass over his sensibility, for the sake of the intellectual pleasure it gives him; yet never swerving from his inexorable purpose. With what poetic beauty of lan-guage he later describes the scene in Duncan's room : "Here lay Duncan His silver skin lac'd with his golden blood; And his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature For ruin's wasteful entrance." Absorbed with the pathetic words in which he has painted his picture, he never sees that they have caused his wife to faint. He is not the man to care for a matter of such small moment as his wife's feelings. He has been spoken of as a man of moral coward-ice. This may be true to some degree, but his fears were never more than superstitious, and never stood in the way of his pur-poses for an instant. He amply paid for any such weakness in his absolute lack of feeling. The influence of the supernatural upon Macbeth's course is a most interesting point of investigation. Was Macbeth responsible for his actions, or did the witches impel him to all he did? He certainly acted for himself in the beginning of his downward path. The first meeting with the witches contained nothing to compel into the course he took, but rather discouraged it. Banquo had as much reason as he to commit murder—even more, for the throne was promised to Macbeth himself, but to Banquo's descendants only. Had Banquo not been the loyal, honest soldier that he was, he would have planned death for both Duncan and Macbeth, that he might rule in person. Macbeth had only to wait, to become king honorably. But in his second consultation with the weird sisters, he surrenders himself to them; they advise him wrongly, and in his after deeds he seems impelled by a supernatural power— he has fallen into the net of Ate. In preparing the charm, Hecate tells us "He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear; And you all know, security Is mortals' chiefest enemy." There are two side-lights thrown on the character of Macbeth which may be of interest. The first is the opinion of Hecate con-cerning him, expressed when she upbraids the witches for giving him any knowledge of the future: THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. "How did you dare To trade and traffic with Macbeth, In riddles and affairs of death ; 159 All you have done Hath been but for a wayward son, Spiteful and wrathful; who, as others do, Loves for his own ends." We must remember that this comes from a supernatural being, and, as such, must be Shakespeare's estimate of Macbeth's real character. The second is the hypothesis that Macbeth was the third mur-derer who took part in the slaying of Banquo. This is not plainly stated, but may be argued from several standpoints. So intelli-gent a man as Macbeth would hardly entrust such a thing to two parties who did not know one another ; the third man displays a most intimate knowledge of Banquo's affairs, and is most eager for the murder. It is he who brings complete instructions; who first hears Banquo's horses; he when the others wonder that they seem to be going away, explains what Banquo usually does, re-calling himself by the quickly uttered "so all men do;" he rec-ognizes Banquo; he demands why the light has been put out, and first notices the escape of Fleance. Macbeth was not at the ban-quet, for it was appointed for seven oclock : but, as the ghost ap-peared and the guests were sent away before it had really begun, and it was then midnight, it could not have begun before eleven. This leaves four hours to be accounted for, These facts, then, seem to prove that Macbeth was a man who was not content to command the_ murder of a faithful friend, to gratify his jealousy, but must do it with his own hands—in truth, murder incarnate. A poet of the highest intellectual power, who expressed his blackest deeds in the most beautiful language; a man who de-lighted in exploring every phase and consequence of his action, for the sake of the emotional waves which would pass over his soul; a man of great sensibility, but no feeling, who could weep at his own portrayal of his sins, yet never think of pausing in their committal; a selfish, hypocritical, cold-blooded villain, with the physical bravery of the devil himself, and just enough moral weakness to superstitiously shudder for a moment—what a soul-study is presented in Macbeth ! —L,. A. W., *00. i6o THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. SUCCESS IN BUSINESS. ASUCCESSFUL business man exercises a great influence in a country, both morally and financially. The requisites for this success are many. To be success-fully engaged in financial business, the old saying applies very well, that, "you must drive your business, and never let your business drive you." To do this one must be punctual in fulfilling all business en-gagements, laying aside all else, and especially keep his mind away from all worldly pleasures, attending to business first, pleasure afterwards. One must have a foresight in his pecuniary affairs. His experience in his past business must teach him to look for-ward, as to how the market stands, whether it indicates an ad-vance or a decline. His experience will teach him how to judge the market to a great extent. Then he should not be forgetful as to the standing of his bank account, and a favorable one will generally add to his prospects of success. On comparing the two, the one who drives his business, and the other who lets his business drive him, we find a vast differ-ence. The one driven by his business never looks forward, and is always in the dark as to how he stands in his affairs, until the time is reached when it is too late to make the necessary changes, which if they had been made in time would have saved him from a financial distress. His creditors come on him and he is unable to make up a sum sufficient to pay them all and consequently be-comes bankrupt. The other man, driving his business, always keeps posted as to his financial condition and is always prompt in meeting all his business obligations, and therefore is respected by all the commu-nity and is happy and prosperous. At times circumstances arise which cripple a business man through no fault of his own. The successful man will rise above these, commence anew and build a second reputation. The un-successful man will sink down, prostrated by the storm and never will rise again in business life. To be successful morally one must show by his business trans-actions that he has the welfare of his patrons at heart, as well as his own financial success. The unsuccessful man is generally of the kind whose time is nearly all given up to idle pleasures for THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 161 his own amusement, and who cares not for the welfare of his pa-trons. He has for the most part no religious tendencies and con-sequently can not have any influence for the good in the locality in which he resides. But the successful man by his integrity wins the esteem and confidence of his patrons and associates. By his industry, energy and perseverance he sets a good example to those employed by him. He is generally a man who possesses some re-ligious tendencies, and experience teaches us that this is the most essential characteristic for success. Probably nothing can be given to prove this more forcibly than the fact that the most prominent business men in our coun-try to-day are industrious, energetic, persevering, and drive their business instead of allowing their business to drive them. —D., '00. A MIRROR'S REFLECTIONS. [SECOND GIES PRIZE ESSAY.] IT had been fitted into the marble mantlepiece years ago, when the house was built, that large square of beveled glass with its back-ground of mercury, and year by year it rested there in its place against the wall, with wide, unsleeping eyes, noting all that went on in the room. At first the only sight that met its astonished gaze was the blank, white wall opposite. That was when the house was new. But soon objects and persons appeared on the scene, to attract the attention of the observant mirror, when, the house completed, families moved in. For this was one of those large houses, built in great cities, for the accommodation of many families, and it fronted on a busy street where all day long numberless feet hurried to and fro, cars whizzed by, and carts and wagons rattled over the pavement. But of all this the mirror knew nothing. It could see only what was going on in its immediate vicinity. One day a dainty covering of pale blue and gold appeared on the bare wall opposite, and a graceful picture of St. Cecilia hung there. Chairs were scattered about, and the white keys of a piano shone in the glass. Some potted plants added to the beauty of a picture already pleasing to the mirror's curious eyes, but the sight that delighted it most was the vision of a happy face, peeping in a dozen times a day to arrange a curl or set a ribbon right. Some- 162 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. times a man's dark face bent over the woman's fair one, and formed a perfect picture, but only the mirror saw it. Once in awhile a third and smaller face appeared, and a pair of tiny hands were stretched to "catch the baby in the glass." These same pictures the mirror saw, day after day, and never tired of reflecting. But one day a new and strange sight greeted its eyes. Near the opposite wall stood a tiny white box, in which was hid the baby form, now cold and still, while over it pale flowers were strewn. No happy face peeped into the mirror in those days, and soon after the chairs and flowers disappeared, the room was left empty and desolate. But not for long could the mirror mourn over lost faces; new scenes came into its field of vision. Great heaps of books were piled up on a table against the opposite wall, and beneath the light of a green-shaded lamp a boy sat with his head resting on his hands. Often the mirror saw him thus, for hours at a time, turn-ing pages earnestly, and, all the while running restless fingers through his hair. Sometimes his head dropped down upon the table, and he fell fast asleep. Sometimes he got angry and threw a book across the room. Now and then a whole troop of boys came rushing past the mirror, pausing occasionally to adjust a tie, or part their hair exactly in the middle. How long the students came and went before its shining sur-face the mirror did not know,—but it seemed a long time. One day, however, the room was again deserted, the opposite wall a blank. And thus it remained for many a weary month, until the mirror grew tired of staring at the bare walls, and longed for the sight of a living face. At last it came, a gentle patient face, framed in snowy hair, a woman's face, yet one that seldom paused before the mirror's answering eyes, a face lined by suffering, yet deeply sweet. On the walls no pictures hung, no elegant bits of furniture brightened the room, just plain chairs, and a table on which stood a single red geranium plant. The woman seemed to be quite alone, except at long intervals, when a handsome, bold-faced man staggered by the wondering glass, and brought tears to the eyes of the sad mother. One night when a little lamp burned on the table, a still form was carried into the room by stranger-hands. Soon after that the opposite wall was blank again. THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 163 Many years had passed, and the busy street was no longer fashionable as a residence. Well-to-do folk sought other parts of the city, and the poorer class took possession. This the mirror did not know, so it looked with startled eyes upon the troop of ragged little ones, who next sought shelter within range of its gleaming surface. Hungry-looking children they were, who played all day long with simple toys in the bare room, and at night crept softly into corners to hide from the eyes of a cruel man. But one evening as the shadows began to fall, and obscured the view of the mirror, a sudden tumult arose, the children ran hither and thither, some-thing crashed against the mantlepiece, a blow shivered the glass, and the mirror's reflections were ended. -A. R. W., '99. PEN SKETCHES FROM NATURE. [THIKD GIES PRIZE ESSAY.] I DO not wonder at the ancients who peopled the earth, sea and air with gods, and then lest some one should be omitted and offended, built altars to both the known and the unknown ones. For even to-day, with all our minute knowledge of nature and revelation, her mild moods fills the breasts of the most in-telligent with fear and awe. Clouds assume monstrous and fore-boding forms and go scurrying, like martial hosts, across the sky, or hang like smouldering mountains on the distant horizon, hurl-ing bolts of fire at each other the while they are lit up by lurid flames and are rolling forth volley upon volley of artillery, whose concussions shake the very earth. Nor is there less to marvel at, even if there is less to fear, when the rain comes down in cata-racts, when the whistling sleet drives swift and sharp, or when the crystalline snow silently changes the bare fields into acres of diamonds. To the ancients, all these agencies in nature were persons or represented personalities. Beautiful conceptions they were, in-deed; but how much grander are ours. We have studied cloud formation and movement; have discovered sufficient of the laws by which electricity acts to harness it for our use, and have di-vested all nature of the personal element. But though we have thus removed Heaven from our surroundings as we have emerged 164 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. from the infancy of our race, we have made it a far higher and nobler conception. In learning that God is not in the whirlwind, we have subordinated it as a manifestation of Him to that gen-eralized and centralized Force, which is all powerful to create and all sufficient to preserve in equipoise the energies which are continuously working in nature. Nature is no longer manifesta-tions of persons, but of a Person. * * * * A little knowledge of nature often reconciles us to workings which otherwise seem only destructive. Many a man whose buildings lie in ashes, the result of a "hot stroke" of lightning, questions the utility of lightning, and is disposed to attribute it to an angry God, useful only to Him as an instrument of revenge, even as the ancients placed the thunder-bolts in the hands of angry Zeus. The following fact sought to receive our consideration and help to reconcile us. The air which we breathe is a mixture of three gases, possessing no particular affinity for each other. They are continually being used up by animal and vegetable growth and from the same sources again given off free. In an unmixed condition they would not serve their purpose. The mixing is pro-moted by electric discharges, and knowing thoroughly how essen-tial this process is to vegetable and animal growth, and especially to one's own life, it is easier to be reconciled to temporary loss and even to suffering, than when one is ignorant of these workings of nature. Not so destructive are meteors. Only occasionally does one read of a house being crushed and a family destroyed by their fall. Of what use are they? Any one who has lived in a city whose atmosphere is foggy of mornings, will attribute the same to the smoke, and so it is. The air is capable of holding a great deal of moisture, and were it perfectly free from dust particles, very little of the moisture would be precipitated. A heavy dew would likely fall nightly, but no showers, though the air be al-ways damp and laden to the point of saturation. The little dust particles are helpful to the formation of drops of rain. Meteors are the chief source of this microscopic dust. Coming from way out in space, millions and millions of miles from us, cold as space, they make a start for the sun. However, some of them in their eagerness to start on their journey, do not calculate for our earth and the power she has of influencing small bodies, and coming too near, they get caught in the atmosphere and only oc- THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 165 casionally does any such escape. Even if anyone does, it is only after it has been so singed by the friction of the winds that it is scarcely to be recognized again by its most intimate friends. Its path can be traced by its long trail of dust, a memento of its visit. These dust particles become the recruiting points of the invisible moisture and the clouds are formed, and when they fall as rain or snow they bring the dust with them. But there are generally more of these particles than the moisture can use up, so the little sunbeams use these in a game of hide and seek and dash in and out among them so swift and in such varied ways that all we can see is the region in which they play, which seems a large city of fairy palaces painted in orange and jasper and gold, and we wish their morning and evening play hours would last all the day. Science in its infancy saw only facts; it is now discovering re-lations, and more and more tracing all phenomena to a central force which is causal for all events and existences. In this uni-fying and classifying process, there are some points which must remain for some time yet on debatable ground. The exact line of demarcation between the plant and the animal kingdoms is not fixed; in the lowest orders they merge insensibly into each other. As we rise above these low forms, the differences are more marked and charasteristic, physically ; but we never reach a point where they are not dependent and related, virtually. Beyond my window is a field of clover. Odor and color at-tract the bee. The pollen and nectar gives him a double burden to wing hive-ward. Both these are essential to his life. Neither does the clover yield them without being blest in the giving. Unknowingly the bee fertilizes the ovary and the plant is perpet-uated. This is only one link in the great chain of united and de-pendent relations. The clover roots penetrate into the soil, and air and water follow, disintegrating rocks and forming soluble compounds of the inorganic elements. These latter cannot sup-port animal life; but transformed into clover, they become, through the agency of the bee, honey—delicious and wholesome; or, con-sumed by the herds, flesh—invigorating and sustaining. Thus does the thinking man discover that in thousands of ways are nature's forces united and working for the sustenance and happi-ness of him, who is the crown of her products, and the best ex-pression of earthly existence. IHH^HHHmm 166 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. I remember as if 'twere yesterday, how, when a child, I was used to bend over little cone-shaped cavities in the soft soil under a thick-leaved tree or shelving rock and cry, "Rolly-bolly, come up your hole, come up your hole, come up your hole." I usually succeeded in getting "rolly-bolly" to respond, for soon the little grains of soil would move as though he were coming up. I never could get him to come clean out, though; and, angered at him on this account, would order him, "down your hole," or dig him out with a stick. I never once thought they had any other mo-tive for making pits or living than to come out when called unless they were stubborn. Alas, for all such childish fancies! I have since watched them and found that those are real treacherous pit-falls, formed with a malicious purpose,—to catch the innocent ants. And so voracious and cruel are these "rolly-bollies" that they deserve the name given them—ant-lion. The surest way to get them to come up is to throw a struggling ant into the little pit. The ant is at once conscious of its danger and immediately begins a pitiable and frantic effort to get up the incline. But the little grains of sand roll down beneath the struggling feet, and, trembling, sink into the treacherous quick-sands below at whose centre there is already a vigorous pushing up. Soon the ant is being helplessly pulled down by its leg into the dining room of its superior and hungry foe. You cruel rolly-bolly, what are you good for anyhow ? Do you do anything but kill the industrious ants ? What are you here for ? If rolly-bolly could answer I know he would say that life is as sweet to him as it is to the ant or to me. A sad and unpleasant law this seems at first: "And that a rose may breathe its breath, Something- must die." Humanity rebels against it. Man uses the power given him to exercise dominion over the earth, air, and sea, and even wages war against his kind, to prolong his little life which disease and death soon terminate. Could not God have peopled the earth with a limited number of immortal beings and prevented all this merciless warfare between kingdoms and races and species, and the shameful survival of the bloody strongest ? Doubtless it could have been done. But if the ant-lion and the ant could speak, they would likely prefer to live as they do, foes indeed, but each one enjoying life with all its dangers and uncertainties. And surely we can learn a lesson. The sum total of happiness is THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 167 greater when many enjoy life a short while that if a few should live always. It is our duty to live as long as nature permits, "to husband out life's taper to its close" ; to be unselfish for the sake of those who are living now; to be virtuous for the sake of those who shall live after us. Just as one meets with surprises in observing nature, finding unlooked for beauties and new adaptations, so there also await us disappointments. Birds, flowers and minerals which have been idealized by painter and poet are always disappointing when they are seen in reality, and this is especially true of those things which have been used as symbolic of the celestial and spiritual. St. John's description of the walls of the New Jerusalem is so sub-lime that one builds them of imaginary stones more exquisite than ever were found. For if built of our real amethyst, jasper and topaz, their combination would be exceedingly disappointing. But what better could be done ? Alone on Patmos, surrounded by rocks and sea and sky, conscious of the povetry of language and the inadequacy of terrestial objects as symbols, he fills in the picture with these colors, with a feeling identical to that expe-rienced when in the midst of the book-learned world he tells us, at the close of his beautiful gospel, that the world could not contain the books that should be written. These are only symbols. The music for the ears, the colors for the eyes will be such as hath never yet been conceived by the heart of man. # * # ^ There is but one way to Nature's soul, accessible to all ages and conditions ; it is found by those who love her with a sympa-thetic heart, for herself alone. The scholar who has habituated himself to scientific analysis of every object he meets, fails to se-cure that best knowledge of her tempers and strivings. A poor comforter indeed would he be who was so scientifically inclined as to think of the proportion of water and salts of sodium and potash in the tears of his weeping.friend. Is he any more worthy of Nature's confidence who sees in every bird an ornithological specimen, in every flower an addition to the herbarium, in every stone a mineral for his cabinet ? To see her best we must look at her sometimes with simple childlike eyes, even as we did when every object was for us a living personality. i68 T THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. "Siisse, heilige Natur, Lass mich gehn auf deiner Spur, Leite mich an deiner Hand Wie ein Kind am Gangelband 1 Wenn ich dann ermiidet bin, Sink' ich dir am Busen hin, Athme siisse Himmelslust Hang-end an der Mutter Brust. Ach, wie wohl ist mir bei dir! Will dich lieben fii and ffir ! Lass mich gehn auf deiner Spur, Liisse, heilige Natur ! " —F. L. Stolberg. —W. B. C, '99. EDITOR'S DESK. HIS word from the MERCURY comes late but it is sincere: Welcome, thrice welcome to the Freshmen ! The Gies prize of seventy-five dollars has been offered again to the students of Gettysburg. The object of the generous and loyal alumnus who offers it is to develop literary talent among our students and to afford the best possible material for the MER-CURY. As this prize gives so fine a chance for a convenient pocket-full, every one with a spark of ability should compete. Since the number of students competing for the prize last year was small, of course the articles of value for the MERCURY were few. This prize money is divided between the three best contributors, into parts of thirty-five, twenty-five, and fifteen dollars. Last year the successful contributors were Luther A. Weigle, 'oo; Anna R. Welty, '99; and W. Bruce Carney, '99. The paramount object of an institution of learning is mental training and consequently one would suppose that those intending to enter such an institution would be influenced more by its facili-ties to develop mental power than by anything else. Yet such is by no means the case, for the high record of a college in ath-letics is found to be its best drawing card. THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 169 Whether this incentive is one that friends of a college may be proud to use or whether it is disgraceful that superiority in con-tests of skill and physical strength should be made the basis of appeal to those desiring to enter college is not for us to answer. What we must meet is this fact, that not to fall behind its class, a college must make a good record in athletics. The sizes of Freshman classes in institutions making a good name in athletics last year seem to indicate that successful athletics means success-ful colleges. We rejoice that Dr. McKuight is living in the present and is doiugall in his power to stimulate athletics in Gettysburg. Many of Gettysburg's best friends little think how vital the question of athletics is to our college. L,oyal alumni, Gettysburg calls on you for support! Remember the Athletic Association of your Alma Mater! COLLEGE Y. M. C. A. DURING recent years the work of the Young Men's Chris-tian Association has been forcing itself steadily before the gaze and the admiration of the public and to-day it must be recognized as a mighty power in the world. It is our duty therefore to look at it as such. In its growth it has had great obstacles to overcome and one of them has been the great lack of interest and aid given it by the Christian people. In fact many have been positively antagonistic to the movement. This should not be and I feel that if the work in all its departments were fully understood there could no longer be this antagonism. It is our purpose therefore to show to you a little of the inner life of the association. It might be well to look first at the aims and purposes of this movement as a whole and also at its divisions of work. L,et me state here that the Y. M. C. A. is not apart from the church, that it is not a separate and distinct organization, but a part of the church, reaching out its hands unto thousands of young men and bringing them into active church work. Its fundamental purpose then is to bring men to a saving knowledge of their L,ord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is to help them to successfully battle against temptations and bring them into vital connection with the church. No other part of the church seems so ably 170 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. adapted to carry on this work among young men. In that it is a movement distinctly for men, we are able to reach many whom otherwise it would be almost impossible to save. The association work is non-sectarian and therefore should appeal to every branch of the evangelical church. As most probably is known to all, the work is divided into three distinct branches, the town, the railroad and the student. As we see how the many young men who are swarming our cities and towns are kept from yielding to the temptations peculiar to these places, and how many more are led to an acceptance of Christ, and as we see in the railroad circles the real earnest en-thusiasm in the cause of Christ and winning of souls to Him among those who have found the Life, we cannot but feel God is with us, and if He is with us, we know that souls must be saved and this is the fundamental aim of all our work. But we cannot dwell longer on these departments, but must turn our attention to that branch which is of vital importance to the student world. It is a recognized fact that the men who are to rule the world are the men who year after year are crowding out of the doors of our institutions of learning. If therefore we wish our government to be under the control of Christian men, men who will not flinch at doing their duty no matter what the consequences may be, it is of the most extreme importance that these men be won to Christ in their youth while they are within the college walls. To this end we are striving. It is almost impossible for anyone who has not been on the ground for himself to realize the awful need of Christian work in the colleges of our country. It fairly makes the heart break as time after time we see fellows coming from Christian homes where every helpful influence has been thrown around them and where possibly they have been looked up to for nobleness of character, and then come to college, sepa-rated from home and launched out into an entirely new life with its peculiar temptations, and amid fellows, some loving and some not knowing Christ, and then to see them fall little by little. It is pitiable in the extreme. And then there are those who have never known Christ, and what an awful influence they have on the weak Christians. It is for this that those who are Christians may be kept from falling and kept in touch with Christian work and that those who know Him not may be brought to Him that the Y. M. C. A. stands in college. I THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 171 In order to accomplish this we do not depend alone on our re-ligious meetings which we hold twice every week, but we have regularly organized Bible, Missionary and Personal Workers classes. If we wish to broaden our spiritual life we must employ those means which God has distinctly made known to us, and these are secret prayer and Bible study. The importance of this can not be too strongly urged. It is the backbone of all Chris-tian work. The International Committee of the Y. M. C. A. has furnished us with a most excellent systematic, devotional course of Bible study. Through it in the four years of college life a man has had a bird's eye view of the entire Bible. The Fresh-men take up the life of Christ; the Sophomores "Studies in the Acts and the Epistles" ; the Juniors, Old Testament characters ; and the Seniors, the crowning truths of the Bible. The Senior course will not be ready, however, for another year. The classes meet once every week and are entirely under the control of the students. Four years ago in the colleges throughout the United States and Canada there were eight thousand students banded to-gether in Bible study. Last year that number was increased to twelve thousand who continued in the work at least two months. The Morning Watch is urged for the most successful Bible study. This is the setting apart of about fifteen to thirty minutes to Bible study and secret prayer at the very beginning of the day when we can give our best thought to God. How can we afford not to give God this little time that we may hold sweet commun-ion with Him. Missions are brought prominently to the front in our work. Here again we use the course prescribed by the International Com-mittee. The class meets every week. Besides the class work, contributions are solicited from the students for Missions. In connection with the class is a volunteer band for the foreign field. The great need of missions is becoming to be more and more felt and where can there be a better place to stir up the mission spirit than right among college men ? Another most important part of our work is the personal work done among the fellows. A class is formed for the best methods of doing personal work and for discussion of the work to be done. Personal work is something every Christian ought to do and for which there is no excuse for not doing but rather condemnation. Another feature of the work is the work among the new stu- 172 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. dents, meeting them at the train and doing whatever we can for them to help in making them feel at home. An information bureau is also conducted. Especial efforts are put forth at the opening of the term to enlist men in Christian work before they form any evil associations. A reception is also held at the open-ing of the term for the new students that they may all become acquainted with each other and with all the men in college. May this brief sketch of the work of our association but move us on to a more earnest and prayerful appreciation of these privileges which we now enjoy, and may its success be the con-stant prayer of all who are interested in the cause of Christ. —WM. J. MIMJER, Jr., '00. TWO MISCHIEVOUS FALLACIES IN EDUCATION. EDUCATION, as we now understand the meaning of the term, must accomplish its purposes in the face of two mis-chievous and prevalent fallacies. The first of these is the fallacy of the short cut, the desire to avoid a long course of study and discipline; the disposition to make our culture consist in a few phrases and in merely superfi-cial knowledge of a great many things. Especially is this the case with the young people. While a boy is at his studies, his acquaintance, who is doing something that can be rated in dollars, measured with the yard-stick or weighed upon the scales, seems to him to be getting on, while he seems to be standing still; so he chafes and frets at his studies and longs to be in active business. How much better it would be for the world if such a boy could be made to understand that it is no gain, but a fatal loss of time to undertake to have a hand in the world's work before he can do anything that the world really wants; that if he wants a place he must first become such a person that the place will want him. The impatient boy ought to understand that so far as he is con-cerned the world is entirely patient, that it is quite willing to wait for him until he has mastered himself and some department of knowledge or industry, but that when he has done that the world is so impatient for him that it will at once find him out and set him at work. If however, he undertakes to participate in the world's work before he has fully prepared himself, what-ever he seeks he will find at his elbow some better man seeking THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 173 the same thing—some man who did what he failed to do ; a man who made the most of himself; who did not strive to do four years' work in three; a man who made the utmost of all his op-portunities. It is true not only that the trained man wins, but that the trained man is about the only one wanted to do any kind of work. In ordinary conversation we find ourselves referring to the young graduate as having "completed his course" or "finished his education," and yet if we think soberly of the matter we know that if the school or college has done its work properly for him it has only prepared him to be educated. The idea that education is a thing to be concluded definitely within a few of the earlier years of life, then to be regarded as forever over and done, and that it consists of some disagreeable preliminaries of syntax, Latin, grammar and rhetoric, to be gotten out of the way as speedily as possible; this idea of education we understand to be thoroughly obsolete. Rather do we understand that education, if it means anything, means the continual enrichment of the re-sources of the individual. How foolish then to think that an education can be "completed" or "finished" by taking a shortcut. The president of a certain college on being asked by a young man if he could not in two years probably get all the good that the college could give him, said: '' Well young man, when God wants to make a squash He takes about six weeks, but when He wants to make an oak He takes a hundred years." Another difficulty against which we must strive in the educa-tion of others or of ourselves is the alluring fallacy about the self-made man. Some one has wittily said that the chief char-acteristic of the self-made man is that he is much given to the worship of his Maker. Doubtless this is more witty than it is just. By a self-made man we generally mean one who has achieved distinguished success without the aid of schools, and if we think soberly about the matter we are in no great danger of saying too much in praise of such men. America, of all countries, should speak respectfully of the self-made man. In no other country has he achieved such splendid things; no other country probably owes so much to the self-made man. But what does he prove? In every case where a man has achieved great success by his own unaided efforts, he has been a man of extraordinary abilities, 174 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. and he has succeeded by means of these abilities in spite of and not because of the lack of other aids. We are now beginning to recognize the fact that the self-made man is one who has made the most of his opportunities. Every-man in the world who amounts to anything is a self made man. It is simply a question of using one's actual opportunities. Abra-ham Lincoln was a self-made man. So just as truly was William Gladstone. The opportunities of the one were those of narrowness and poverty; of the other, abundance and comfort. Each made the most of his opportunities, and for each equally this was the condition of success. We ought to understand that self-culture is not a term to be applied only to those who have not the advantages of assistance from the schools, but that the term self-culture describes the personal enrichment of every individual who simply makes the best of whatever opportunities he has. What great mischief has been wrought in the past by the fal-lacious idea that the man who takes advantage of the training which our schools and colleges offer is not a self-made man. Such a man is, indeed, the highest type of a self-made man. If we wish to be thoroughly prepared to engage in the active duties of life, and if we wish to give to the world the fullest reali-zation of our possibilities, we must be fully aware that there is no short cut in education and that the self-made man is that man who has made the most of his opportunities with or without the aid of the school or college. —' 'PROMETHEUS. '' Who reads Incessantly and to his reading- brings not A spirit and judgment equal or superior, (And what he brings, what need he elsewhere seek ?) Uncertain and unsettled still remains. Deep versed in books and shallow in himself. —Milton. THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 175 WHY WE SHOULD BE TRUE AND HONEST. TRUTHFULNESS and honesty go hand in hand. Truth alone may not constitute a great man but it is the most im-portant element of great character. It gives security to those who employ it and confidence to those who use it. It is an essential to every man no matter who he is, the king on his royal throne or the slave in the galley. In fact it is one of the first re-quisites for true manhood. Lying, common as it is, is denounced by the liar himself. He protests that he is speaking the truth for he knows that truth is universally respected and a lie universally condemned. He who tells an untruth is not only dishonest but a mean coward. Fear-ing the consequences of making a true statement, he cowers be-neath a lie or probably, what is even worse, just keeps on the verge of the truth, for a lie which is half truth is the worst of lies. Exaggeration is but another name for falsehood. To exaggerate is to pass the bounds of truth and surely these bounds cannot be passed without entering the limits of falsehood. There can be no middle point; what is not true must be false. Not only may one be dishonest in the words he utters but also in his doings. Actions have as plain a voice as words. The sin-cere man speaks as he thinks, acts as he professes to act and does what he promises to do. All phases of society are permeated by this most common of vices, from the highest to the lowest. A lie is a lie, no matter if it is a little white one or a big black one. Ruskin says, "Lies may be light and accidental but they are an ugly soot from the smoke of the pit and it is better our hearts should be swept clean of them without our care as to which is the largest or the blackest." Truth and honesty show themselves in many ways. They characterize the men of just dealings, the faithful men of business and those men who will not deceive you to their own advantage. Full measures, just weights, true sample and a strict fulfillment of engagements are indispensable to men who would succeed. We are always complaining of adulteration of the goods we buy. We pay for one thing and get another. In the study of Chemistry, we learn for instance, how cotton goods is very often treated so as to bring more money into the manufacturer's pocket. The cotton is loaded with china clay, starch, magnesium or zinc. 176 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. When such goods is washed, the clay and starch are removed and it becomes a rag. Recently an engineer crossing the Indian Ocean was decorating his turban with a piece of muslin. "Is that English?" he was asked. His answer was, "No, it is from Swit-zerland. The English makes my fingers stick. It's too gummy." This is the way the dishonest Englishman would eventually lose his trade by forcing this inferior, shoddy stuff on his customers. Why not be honest and sell goods for what they are ? Thus in all walks of life one may find falsehood and deception. But why ? Is it not always easier to tell the true straightforward story than to go to the trouble to invent a lie ? At first it is, but like all other habits, lying increases with practice and an experienced liar often finds difficulty in telling the truth. Very many times he tells a crooked story where the truth would have served his purpose even better. —J. C. M., '00. e^j THE RELATION OF COMMERCE TO MISSIONS. WE are living in an age of great commercial activity. The remarkable progress of science within the last century has afforded surprising facility in international commu-nication ; distances have been annihilated, and those parts of the globe most widely separated may now be said to be in compara-tively close touch with one another. The printing press, the railroad, the telegraph and the steamboat have brought into ex-istence an international community of interests as well as of thought. Along with this there has naturally sprung up great commercial rivalry, and nation now vies with nation in seeking new markets for its products. Vast as the world's great market is, the gigantic proportions of our modern manufacturing industries demand new openings. Nor would it seem a difficult task to find such openings when we but consider the hundreds upon hundreds of millions who need but be raised from their present state of savagery and barbarism to the light and life of our modern civilization to create new de-mands for the world's supply of commodities. With this object in view trading posts and colonies have fre-quently been established in the midst of savage peoples in order to awaken among them the wants peculiar to civilized life by THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 177 bringing them, as much as possible, into contact with the products and institutions of civilization. However, the results of such undertakings have not,as a rule,been of a nature calculated to recom-mend the system to us. Evidently the principle was wrong; our sav-age brothers need something more potent than the mere veneer of our modern civilization to bring them into a condition in which there will be a demand for the commodities of commerce. It is evident to the most casual thinker that between commerce and missions there exists a natural relation; but the remarkable closeness and strength of this relation is recognized by compara-tively few. We all agree with the statement that missions ma-terially promote commercial activity; but many of us shake the head, or at least want time to think it over, when we hear the statement that the founding of missions is essential to commer-cial success in a heathen land. That the latter statement is true however, we believe a careful study of the subject will prove. Reference has already been made to the efforts put forth to re-claim the savage from his degraded state and create in him new wants by familiarizing him with the manners and institutions of civilized society. The utter failure of such efforts has also been referred to. Experience has shown that the savage man may come into frequent contact with civilized men and the products of civilization without being in any way prompted to change his own mode of life. To him civilization, with its multifarious wants, is sheer foolishness, and contrasts very unfavorably with his own life of indolence and general simplicity. What then is the "Open Sesame" whereby commerce may gain entrance to this great market? The answer is plainly, the Gospel of Christ,—not civilization, as we have learned, for gen-uine civilization, with all its requirements must be preceded by the Gospel; whenever the order is reversed failure results. We might cite numerous examples to substantiate this statement. That civilization alone is insufficient is proven moreover by the fact that savages, after having been separated from their na-tive tribes and degraded life for years, given a good education and brought under the influence of the highest civilization, have fre-quently been known to relapse again into savagery. For a very significant illustration of this fact permit us to quote from Rev. J. C. Bryant, who, in writing in the Missionary Journal, says: "Of fourteen young meu who have left my employ within two i78 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. years, one has since been converted, and of course clothes him-self; the rest go naked as before, showing how impossible it is to civilize men without first converting them. Wash a pig and shut him in a parlor, he may stay clean for a while, but as soon as free he will return to wallowing in the mire. Make a lamb of him, and at once he gives up his filthy ways. To try to civilize heathen without converting them is to try to make lambs of swine by washing them and putting on them a fleece of wool." Thus we see that the only way whereby the world's savage and degraded millions may be brought into the full light and en-joyment of civilization and thus be made important factors in commerce is the way of the Gospel. It is only when the Gospel enters the hearts of men that they awaken to the great possibili-ties of life. New wants are created. The former savage no longer lives in tents and covers his body with the skins of beasts but dwells in a house and dons the garb of civilization. Instead of the few and primitive wooden implements by means of which he formerly cultivated the soil, he now uses modern implements of agriculture. And in every department of life this inward transformation gives rise to a demand for the various products of civilization. And thus it ever is, the Gospel opens the way, and in its wake comes the commerce of civilized lands. For another illustration of the great value of missions to commerce, let us briefly consider the missionary development of the Sandwich Islands. Less than three-quarters of a century ago these Islands were utterly valueless from a commercial standpoint. The inhabitants, who were most ignorant and lazy, lived in sav-age simplicity. The Gospel was carried to those Islands, with the result that a wonderful transformation followed. Civilized com-munities sprang into existence; churches and school-houses were built; agriculture was given new life, and the fertile soil of the Islands was made to yield bountiful harvests; various industries were created, and a steady and profitable trade with the Islands began. And at the present time the entire cost of christianizing the Islands is more than paid back in less than a year at the port of San Francisco alone. Many similar instances might be cited but we believe that sufficient has been said to show that Chris-tianity is essential to real commercial success and activity in those lands now in heathen darkness. Wherever it goes it exerts a quickening influence, it actuates men to living a more exalted, THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 179 more useful and more industrious life. It elevates the general character of society, and firmly establishes the power of civiliza-tion. It is essential to real progress and growth, being to human-ity what the sun is to the world. In view of these considerations it is a matter of surprise to note the comparatively slow progress which is being made in the world's evangelization. The very nature of foreign missions enti-tles them to the zealous support and encouragement of all civi-lized peoples. Christianity stands for the very highest type of civilization. Like an everflowing stream of purest water, it vivifies, purifies and transforms all with which it comes in con-tact. Christian missions constitute the only agency whereby men may be reclaimed from darkness and destructive indolence, and brought to a full realization of all the benefits of civilization. Their every advance gives a new impetus to commerce, for they bring about industry and fruitfulness. Under their divine in-fluence the earth is made to yield to men its richest treasures, and those places once desolate and unfruitful become the abodes of prosperity. "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose." —R. D. C, '00. THE UNITED STATES AS A COLONIZING NATION. EVERY nation that has ever been a factor in the development of the human race has had some strong characteristic which has given life and form to its civilization. Among the Greeks it was culture; among the Romans it was law; among the Hebrews it was purity; among the Americans this one central idea is liberty. For it, and for scarcely any other cause, thousands of them have shed blood in battle, and sacrificed their lives. From our earliest existence as a nation we were the best representative, if indeed not the only one, of pure civil and religious liberty. Two other representative characteristics of the nation are the unequaled energy and the undaunted perseverance of its people. There is scarcely any doubt that to-day the American people are the most aggressive, the most expansive and at the same time the best champions of liberty in the world. These characteristics of the people of the United States account largely for their being at i8o THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. once the most extensive and the most successful colonizers the world has yet seen. "A colony is a territory, not forming, for political purposes, a part of the mother country, but dependent upon her, and peopled in part, at least, by her emigrants." According to this definition there was no time in its history that the United States has not had colonies. The small country along the Atlantic sea-board had scarcely been organized before it launched out upon one of the most extensive colonizing schemes in the history of the world. In a few years the great Northwest Territory was settled largely by colonists from the mother country and new states were formed from it. This territory was not fully developed until the vast tract known as the Louisiana Purchase was also added. This domain, large enough in itself for a strong kingdom, was thrown open for colonization and in seventy-five years scarcely less than a dozen states have been developed from it. Since then the terri-tory of the United States has been extended by the Gadson pur-chase, the Oregon cession, the annexation of Florida, the Mexican cession, the Purchase of Alaska, and the annexation of the Ha-waiian and Philippine Islands. In the colonization of this vast territory the government had no trouble with the slight exceptions of the quarrel introduced into Kansas from the states and the Mormon power in Utah. This may in part be accounted for by the contiguity of the colonies to the parent government. Since we can go no farther west but must spread out to the islands of the sea we encounter more diffi-culties; but with the schooling we have had during the last hun-dred years we need not fear for our future success in colonizing or civilizing. When we consider with our great energy and deep love of liberty, our advantageous position, our immense wealth, our mar-itime power, our extensive commerce, our enlightened civilization, and our religious enthusiasm, colonization seems to be the work for which we as a nation are especially fitted. And when we compare our colonizing policy with that of Spain we can still further see why we have thus far had so successful a career and will likely have in the future. We find that throughout her career as a colonizer her ruling passion was jealousy; that her primary objects were subjection and and self-enrichment. Everything that could possibly tend to ac- THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 181 tivity, education, enterprise or independence was sedulously dis-couraged . The government of her possessions in the New World, extending at one time from 37° N. to 41 ° S., was administered entirely by foreigners who cared only for their own and the parent government's welfare. The original inhabitants, instead of be-ing raised to a higher plane of living, were reduced to a state of abject bondage and imbecility. At the beginning of the 18th century her annual income from her colonies was about ten mil-lion dollars. What do we behold as the result of such a course of colonization ? Her vast possessions in North and South Amer-ica have long ago slipped from her control, and now even Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippine Islands, her last colonial possessions, are lost to her forever. Spain's colonial policy was a failure. Examining more closely our past career we find instead of our controlling policy being jealousy it was first a desire of improve-ment in the domestic condition of the colonies and second the strengthening of the entire country. Instead of discouraging ed-ucation, enterprise, study, and independence, schools were organ-ized and encouraged, capital was sent into the territory for indus-trial development, railroads were built, and independence was en-couraged by extending to the colonies the privilege of becoming states as soon as they were capable of self-government. Instead of being ruled entirely by the parent state the colonies selected their own officers and administered their own local affairs, the national government reserving to itself only a veto power. In short the territories were held in a state of tutelage until they could manage their own affairs and then were admitted into the Union on an equality with all the rest of the states. In our new possessions many new conditions confront the government. They are thousands of miles away ; they are mostly in tropical latitudes; and they are more thickly settled than were our former colonies. In our new venture of crossing the seas to find colonies many of our old principles will still serve us well. We have become more philanthropic in our policy: we no longer expect any strength to the home government, nor any great com-mercial advantage, and certainly no increase of wealth. Our guiding hand, liberalizing influence, and generous sympa-thies have been extended solely in the effort of raising the inhab-itants to a higher political, social and religious plane of life. Our great aim here will doubtless be as it has been in the past to train 182 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. the colonists in the habit of self-government. This will be done by letting them, so far as possible, manage their own affairs to their own advantage and interest. It is now our duty to give them peace and order, the foundation of a beneficent government, and afford them every opportunity of prosecuting their lawful pursuits. —"GEORGB." ADVANTAGES OF STUDYING THE CLASSICS. OBSERVATION and the personal experience of many have proved that the classical department of an institution is the one least appreciated by the majority of the students. That such should be the case is due, perhaps mostly, to the fact that in this department we find some of the most difficult labor. It is, therefore, natural that the minds of some of the students should be prejudiced on this subject. It has often been a surprise to see men of experience argue that the study of Greek and Latin will never benefit a man. To say the least of the majority of such men, we can only say that they expose their ignorance by speaking on the subject. To convince such men that there are really benefits and advantages derived from studying the classics, is not the original idea of this produc-tion. But if they are patient in following while we speak of at least some of the advantages derived from studying the classics, they may be induced to lay aside their "Cui boni" criticism in regard to this subject. That advantages are derived from studying the classics has been proved conclusively by the past. While the world has had some powerful intellects who were not classical scholars, we can, never-theless, say that the most powerful minds of the past and the present are those which have been developed by classical culture. Let it be understood, however, that by studying the classics in this production we mean true, honest and earnest study. Not such studying as the majority of the students pursue. To say nothing of the dishonesty and injustice of such studying both towards the professors and towards the few of the class who are honest enough not to use translations, let it suffice to say that such a course of study will never secure true and lasting good to the scholars. All are willing to acknowledge that a student while at college THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 183 is laying his foundation for future usefulness in active life. And while the body must not be neglected, the mind is after all the important factor to be developed in the student. Now while the study of all the different branches has the tendency of developing the mental faculty, we hold as the first advantage derived from studying the classics, that they have the tendency more than any other branch to develop the mind of the student. The develop-ment of the mind may be a subtle point to discuss ; but what we mean by it, without bringing into consideration mental philosophy, is the cultivation of the mental faculties so as to expand the mind, thus making it stronger and more capable of grasping and prose-cuting other studies. It is the brain power that the student stands in need of, and as the muscles of a man are developed in propor-tion to his muscular efforts so the mind is developed and expanded in proportion to the exertions made. We find that in all institu-tions of learning much attention is being paid to the classical de-partment. The recitations are about as two to one compared with the recitations in any of the other departments, and frequently we find the professors in this department the most competent men of the institution. It is known that the recitations in said department are for the most part difficult. Taking, therefore, into consideration the time occupied in studying the classics and also the hard work em-ployed in solving many of the dark and mysterious passages of the same, we can come to no other conclusion than that classical training will develop the mind. In the second place, studying the classics will develop and en-large our thinking and reasoning faculties and our judgment. These are the faculties which place us so high above the brute creation, and if properly developed give to man his true dignity. The less these are developed the lower will be the standard of our manhood, but the more they are developed the higher will we as-cend towards that position intended by the Creator for all rational creatures. The man who cannot reason and think for himself is at best a poor and insignificant being. The above named faculties are the ones which should be par-ticularly developed in the student. Let him pursue the study of Greek and Latin diligently and he can not fail to improve him-self. I ATHLETICS. THE opening of the football season this year has been more encouraging than for some years. The material is better and heavier, the spirit of all the boys is higher, and the scrub team is larger and stronger than at any time within the knowledge of any man at college. There has been one great disappointment, however,—in the matter of a coach. Money is already secured to defray the expense, and a man was practically engaged, but at the last moment he went back on us, and we were left in the hole. Manager Imler THE GETTYSBURG MERCURi. 187 has been making strenuous efforts to secure a man, but has not succeeded as yet. Captain Dale has been doing all the coaching, being ably assisted by White, '97, a well-known former captain and half-back, who has been coaching the backs, and Ott and Menges, '97, former tackle and guard, who have been coaching the line men. The most attention has been given to defensive work, recognizing that there is no hope of winning the first two games—Indians and State—and the wisdom of the coachers was shown in the low score made against us by the Indians. Hickman is back at his old place as center. He plays the same good defensive game as formerly, and has improved greatly in offensive work. Nicely, our well-known big guard, is showing the same good form which always characterizes his work. Hoff-man has rapidly learned his place at left guard, and is playing an aggressive game. The guards-back is very effective as played by these men, they tearing big holes in the opponent's line. Gilbert retains his place at right tackle, with Williams, our former center, at left tackle. Gilbert's ability is well known, and Williams is fast getting on to his new place. Minuigh, a former Gettysburg High School player, is holding left end, and Emmert the "little sub," who was so much praised by Dickinson and Susquehanua last year, is playing left end. Both are speedy and manifesting excellent tackling ability. Rugh, a half on last year's team, is filling the position at quarter very acceptably, being quick and sure. Captain Dale at right half is so well known that nothing need be said concerning his ability. Koller, left tackle for two years, is filling left half. He is learning the position rapidly, and with a little experience at the place will be all that can be desired. The biggest surprise of the year is the ability displayed by Young, last year's captain and end, at full-back. He plays a fierce game, both offensive and defensive, his line-bucking being the hardest seen here for some time. Dale does all the kicking, and is prac-ticing hard at goals from the field. Other good men are Henry for the line; Krout, quarter, McClean, end, and Weaver, back. The Scrub, captained by Bottiger, 'oo, has been unsually strong, and is giving the Varsity good hard practice. The first game was played Saturday, September 23d, against the Indians at Carlisle. The result was encouraging in the highest degree, our men holding the Indians down to twenty points. In addition, but one of their tallies was a touchdown, the other three i38 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. being goals from the field kicked by Hudson. Our men played a fine game both offensive and defensive, and Young and guards tore great holes in the Indians' line. We clip from a comment on the game in the Philadelphia Times, September 25th: "Gettysburg did finely, and should rank somewhat better, it seems, than Swarthmore, Dickinson, Haverford, or Franklin and Marshall, who may usually be ranked with her.'' Now let everybody do his best to prove this prophecy true. —W. C F. SOLT MERCHANT TAILOR Masonic Bldg., GETTYSBURG Our collection of Woolens for the coming- Pall and Winter season cannot be surpassed for variety, attractive designs and general completeness. The latest styles of fashionable novelties in the most approved shades. Staples of exceptional merit, value and wearing durability. Also altering", repairing-, dyeing and scouring at moderate prices. .FOR UP-TO-DATE. Clothing, Hats, Shoes, And Men's Furnishing- Goods, go to. I. HALLEM'S MAMMOTH CLOTHING HOUSE, Chambersburg St., GETTYSBURG, PA. ESTABLISHED 1867 BY ALLEN WALTON. ALLEN K. WALTON, President and Treasurer. ROBT. J. 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iiirTiriTXTxnTiTirxTrrritTnrxnx-intirTTiv iimtuiminir'' mi mm 111 ill .#■-, -:- THE ~:~ Gettysburg mE^CURY. flOVEmBER, 1897. CONTENTS: Melancthon, the Scholar of Germany, Rev. F. D. Garland, A Prose Shakespeare, Rev. Edwin Heyl Delk, A. M [A Few Facts About Prehistoric California, Rev. M. H. Stine, Ph.D., IWhat is Nature, Prof. Oscar G. Klinger, A. M., INovember, lA Few Things About the Southern Negio, H. D. Shimer,. [Educational Value of Poetry Plie College Musical Organizations, Py First Smoke, Editors' Desk iAthletics |A Gettysburg Glee Book,. |The Junior Kanes, Our Exchange Table,. i Wise and Otherwise,. "■0. MILLER, PRINTER. GETTYSBURG. -^ijS«-'-^*^>"-j> R. H. REININGER, Merchant Tailor. Suits from {12,00 to {40.00, Pants from $4.00 to $12,00, The Best Work at the Lowest Prices. CENTRE SQUARE, NEXT DOOR TO POST-OFFICE-OP STAIRS, READY FOR FALL jlND WINTER, Suits to Order—Prices $12.00 to $35.00; Trousers, $2.50 to $9.00. ALL KINDS OF REPAIRING DONE. All the new effects in Check and Over Plaids you will find at THE LEADING A TAILOR, CLOTHIER & 4 \ GENTS' FURNISHER, Jtl UVCDC No. 11 Balto. St., ■ Hi HlltlfOj GETTYSBURG, PA. WJ£ Wierman, S/orM Stroet, Sroceries. EPH. H. MlNNlCH, Manufacturer, Wholesale & Retail Dealerln CONFECT10NEHY AND ICE CREAM, - the students of Pennsylvania (Gettysburg) College. Subscription price One Dollar a year in advance, single copies Fifteen cents. Sudents, Professors and Alumni are cordially invited to contribute. All subscriptions and business matter should be addressed to the Business Manager. Articles for publication should be addressed to the Editor. \ Address, The Gettysburg flercury, Gettysburg, Penna. MELANCTHON THE SCHOLAR OF GERMANY. BY REV. F. D. GARLAND '88. In the general judgment of men Philip Melancthon occupies a place among the great masters in the realm of literature. His literary fame has stood the test of time, has been tried in the fur-nace and found pure, has been weighed in the balance and has not been found wanting. We are not humiliated but are ennobled "1 offering our tribute of praise to the memory of great men like Melancthon. The remembrance of their character and achieve-ment will enrich us. No one can study the life-work and literary fame of this great scholar without being inspired to emulate his devotion to the cause of education, his zeal for the enrichment of THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. literature and his eminent labor for the public good. r. Melancthon lived at a crisis period in the history of the church and of the world. He lived in the midst of the great con-flict between liberty and despotism—a battle that was being fought for no single nation, for no single generation. The im-portance of authors like Melancthon has not always been correctly estimated. "Dante is worshipped at the grave to which he was hurried by persecution," while "Milton in his own day was the blind adder that spit his venom on the king's person" and later the "mighty orb of song." So Melancthon's memory suffered in the keeping of more than two generations who scarcely spoke a word in his favor. But Melancthon's noble effort to bring the actual world nearer ideal perfection in that mighty struggle of the centuries is being better appreciated. He was the most celebrated and the most powerful literary champion of those principles which were then struggling for infant existence. Luther who spoke of him as "the inconceivably learned and elegant" Melanc-thon sat at his feet for instruction. He was the Scholar of Ger-many in that day when the mighty conflict between that which was and that which ought to be took place, when the struggle was transferred from the "tented field" to the realm of ideas, which "burning all over with indestructible life were marshalled against principalities and powers." He lived to lead when "the brain and not the arm, the thinker and not the soldier, books and not kings," were set to rule the world. Erasmus the great scholar was right when he wrote of Melancthon, "Christ designs this youth to excel us all." 2. The genius of Melancthon was marked at an early age. Matriculated at Heidelberg University at the early age of twelve, he became pre-emineni. for his philological and philosophical studies, and was regarded worthy of the degree of bachelor of philosophy at the age of fourteen. On account of his extreme youth he was at the end of the following year denied the degree of Magisterof which he was adjudged altogether worthy. While but a mere boy he prepared rudiments of the Greek language which afterwards were published. During his residence at the Tubingen university he devoted himself diligently to the study of logic, jurisprudence, mathematics, theology and medicine. He was made a Doctor of Philosophy before he was seventeen and THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. soon after that became a public lecturer in the university. He gave especial attention to the classics Latin and Greek. At the age of twenty-one he was elected Professor of Greek language and litera-ture in the university of Wittenberg. He was a careful, critical, and accurate scholar. His mind was characterized by keen in-sight, logical order, unbounded power of endurance and ripened judgment. 3. His success was achieved in two particular directions. (a) His services in promoting the cause of education in gen-eral were great. His high regard for the place and power of edu-cation in matters of government and religion is shown in an ad-dress delivered at the opening of an institution of learning in Nuremberg. He said : "In the proper constitution of a State, schools of learning are primarily requisite, where the rising gen-eration which is the foundation of the future empire should be instructed; (or it is a most fallacious idea to suppose that solid excellence is likely to be acquired without due regard to instruc-tion. A Spartan said that their walls ought to be constructed of iron and not of stone; but I am of opinion that wisdom forms a better protection than arms or walls," On that principle he acted with great zeal throughout his life. He urged princes to reform the universities for the instruction of youth, as of all others, the most important object. Princes everywhere sought his advice in the establishment of schools, accepted his plans and adopted his methods. He stood easily at the head of the many great literary enterprises and engagements of that age, so that he has very properly been called "the founder of the learned schools of Ger-many." He not only inspired to the establishment of schools but he also prepared text books and furnished the proper means of study. He was indeed the pioneer in the preparation of the modern text book. He made abridgments of the various branches of philosophy, logic, ethics, etc., which were used in all the Lutheran schools for many years. He reduced almost every art and science into a form and arrangement which was of invaluable assistance to the student. He aroused the youth to study and created in the minds of his pupils a taste for literature. He revo-lutionized the methods and the means of study. His zeal in this work never abated while life lasted. His wonderful success was shown in the fact that from his boyhood days as teacher until his THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. death his lecture room was crowded with eager students, often as many as two thousand, among whom were barons, counts and princes from all parts of Europe. He wrote once and this senti-ment expresses the aim and glory of his career : "No service is more acceptable to God and no conduct more pious and praise-worthy than to aim at truth and to acquire its transforming in-fluence." (b) In authorship he was pre-eminent. Luther wrote more than he. But Luther was as he said of himself 'the rough pio-neer", preparing the way for "Master Philip who comes along softly and gently, who sows and waters heartily, since God has so richly endowed him with gifts". "Luther scattered their sparks among the masses ; but it remained for Melancthon by his logical and systematic writings to win not only princes, but also a large number of the learned and cultured for the cause of the Reforma-tion". He wrote commentaries on Genesis, Proverbs, Daniel, The Psalms, and also on Romans, Collossians and the Gospel of John. He wrote the first Protestant work on systematic theology. Of this Luther said, "He who has the bible and this work of Philip perfectly in memory is a divine against whom neither the devil nor any heretic can be able to take advantage. It is the best book next to the Holy Scriptures". In Ethics Melancthon's influence was immeasurable, and more enduring than his influence in theology. He is the author of the Augsburg Confession, the "First Protestant Confession of Faith", of which the late Dr. Schaff wrote : "It best exhibits the prevailing genius of the Ger-man Reformation and will ever be cherished as one of the noblest monuments of faith from the pentecostal period of Protestant-ism". 4. Melancthon was a toiler. As Cecil said of Sir Walter Raleigh, "He can toil terribly". He had that best genius, the genius of work. It was not only brain but iron labour with him that counted for success. He reached the heights of his literary fame by no easy path. "Had I not lived with Mirabeau", says Dumont, "I never should have known all that can be done in one day". So he who knew Philip Melanchton had an opportunity of noting possibility of accomplishment. Native talent coupled with persevering toil lifted Philip Melancthon above the level of ordi-nary achievement in the world of letters and made him worthy of that most distinguished designation, "The Preceptor of Ger-many". THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. A PROSE SHAKESPEARE. BY REV. EDWIN HEYL DELK, A. M. Books are the dried life-blood of personal and national history. Touch them with a living sympathy, and all the griefs, joys and heroisms of the past spring into being, thus re-enacting for us the tragedy and comedy of the human soul. There is another fact to recall in our char-acterization of literature, i. e., tnat there is a literature of knowledge and a literature of power. Darwin's "Origin of Species" well represents the books of the first order— the literature of knowledge. No single book has thrown such a flood of light upon the method of creation. This book, with his ''Descent of Man," have changed the view point of the scientific world upon the genesis and suprem-acy of man. Shakespeare's "Hamlet" is a work of the second order—the literature of power. It addresses itself not simply to the intellectual life but stirs our deepest emotion and brings before the imagination the horror and weakness of irresolution. Such a poem as Browning's "Saul," or Shakespeare's "Hamlet," become formative forces in the region of character because they address not only the analytical but also the volitional and ideal in human thought. Shakespeare is our master interpreter of life and puts before us as no other single writer has ever done before, or since, the complex motives, the marred action, the glit-tering ambition, the deteriorating moral nature, the mul-tiplicity of human types, the sweep of passion and the majestic march of historical providence. Unfortunately Shakespeare is praised much, but read little. His work is made a literary Bible and placed on the centre-table of undisturbed reverence. To many, his English has grown archaic, and his blank verse is too obscure a medium for the communication of his message. For the man of cul-ture, he will always remain the master interpreter of life, and, therefore, the supreme literary power. As he gath-ered his great life procession from all history, he has be-come the world's poet. He has become for all modern ,,; ,,,- wmmmmmmmamaammm THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. peoples the standard for the measurement of all literature of power. To select any one writer, then, and declare him to be a prose Shakespeare is a stupendous claim which borders on the audacious, or comic, according to one's mood. And yet, as I place the name of Balzac beside that of Shakespeare, I feel no personal uneasiness in my stlf-provided criticism. To men who know their Balzac as well as their Shakespeare, there will be fell no incon-gruity in placing the writer of the "Comedie Humaine" and the framer of "Lear" and "Midsummer Night's Dream" in the same class—the class of supreme literary genius. One must make at the outset, however, this acknowl-edgment, that Shakespeare was far and away the greater master of form and literary expression. But in their grasp of life and its deepest and most complex emotions, in the breadth and variety of their characters, in the pas-sion and intensity of their feeling, in the powerful and subtle presentation of human action, in their marvelous balance of realism and idealism, in their titanic and inex-haustible creative power, Balzac and Shakespeare were brothers. The Englishman was the greater, by reason of the fecundating and larger era in which he wrought, and by right of his more finished medium of expression which gives a grandiose setting to his immortal pictures of his-tory and individual action. A glance now at our prose Shakespeare. Honore de Balzac was born at Tours, May 16th, 1799. Nothing in his parentage, or place of birth, can account for his genius. To his sister Laure, who made him her hero through life, he owed a sympathy which was far more influential to his creative temperament than the early literary associations which nourish so many writers. He was not a good student, from the scholastic stand-point, but was an omnivorous reader and an intense lover of nature. The desire for fame early lured him to essay the craft of letters. He went to Paris with his family in 1814, and devoted himself to study. He was in constant at-tendance at the lectures of the Sorbonne, and to please his THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. father, took a three years' course in law. When the hour came for his family to leave the French capital, he de-clared his purpose to give his days and life to literature rather than law. As a test of his devotion to the chosen art, his father offered him a menial's allowance for two years. He remained in Paris working at a drama entitled "Crom-well." He broke down, under the strain of partial failure and want, and had to retire from the gay city. Soon, however, he went back again to his attic. Here he wrought furiously at short stories, in order to secure food and fuel. The ten short stories he wrote before his twenty-eighth year, he did not care to acknowledge, when he had come to his literary throne. They were the output of his apprentice days. Though a born novelist, he was not a born stylist and only after much toil and polish-ing did he master language sufficiently well to express the facts and fancies that crowded tumultously upon his eye and brain. It was not until he was twenty-eight years of age that he produced his first notable book—"Les Chouans." The '-Physiology of Marriage" followed quickly in 1830, and "At the Sign of the Cat and Racket" a year later. These books at once revealed his marvelous phychological powers, as his earlier stories gave promise of the definiteness of his objective vision. The streets of Paris now became the laboratory of his literary experi-mentation. Night and day he would walk the boulevards and quays gathering his material, testing its relation to the past, and its present relation to the whole fabric of society. Then he would rttire to his attic, and living for weeks on little or nothing, select from his material, tet up certain characters, live with his creations in imaginary walks and positive communings, until his dramatic talent made his creation a real thing. Then, when all was fused, his hard driven pen put upon paper some section of that great social drama—the "Comedie Humaine." At first, Balzac did not plan the writing of a systematic study of all classes and types of human characters. He was bent, primarily, on writing stories charged full with actual life. 'Yet it was more than a swarm of stories that was buz- THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. zing in his head ; it was a swarm of individuals often more truly alive to him than the friends with whom he loved to converse about them. And just because he knew these people of his brain, just because he entered into the least details of their daily lives, Balzac was destined to become much more than a mere philosopher or student of society, to which a creator of characters, endowed with that absolute dramatic vision which distinguishes Homer and Shakespeare and Chaucer. But b^cau^e he was also something of a philosopher and student of sociology, he conceived the stupendous idea of linking their charac-ters with one another and with their several environ-ments, in order that he might make himself not merely the historian but also the creator of an entire society." It is only as we view his co-ordinated work,not any sin. gle volume, that we begin to appreciate his tremendous grasp on the whole of life. His financial failures, his legal studies, his own irregular habits, his beautiful love affair, his multitudinous sympathies were all utilized in the interpretation of "the human comedy." Because he saw life straight and full his novels are not food for chil-dren or callow youth. Sin and its putrifactions are as boldly painted as sainthood and the oratory. Balzac was too elemental in his nature, and too sincere in his purpose to paint in grays and neutral tints. His color-scheme ranges from purest white to loathsome black. In pre-senting three thousand personages in his co-ordinated "comedy," he must, needs project upon his canvass many a maimed and distorted life. If fault this be, it is one he has in common with Shak ^speare and the Bible—neither of which can be read in their entirety in the nursery, or class-room. Balzac's works are for the mature student of life—with all its sorrow, joy and passion. He divided his great scheme into three great divisions: 1, "Sciences of Private Life," which consist of twenty-four novels, nov-elettes, and tales ; II, "Scenes of Provincial Life," num-bering ten stories, nearly all of which are masterpieces; III, "Scenes of Country Life," and the "Parisian Scenes," the latter containing his greatest works. In this latter class, THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. we find some twenty-four titles, six of them being novels "L'Histoire de Csesar Pirotteau," "Le Pere Goriot," "La Di'ehesse de Langeau," "La Cousins Bette." and his other profoundly popular studies. This series was sunple-mented by his "Studies in Philosophy"—twenty in num-ber, which furnish his metaphysical background of life, i.e., "The Magic Skin," "The Elixir of Life," "Louis Lambert," "Seraphita," and "Jesus Christ en Flandre." I know how ludicrously inadequate this mention of the greatest of novelists is, but I simply wish to call attention. For an exposition of his philosophy of life I would suggest the reading of George Frederick Parson's introduction to Balzac's "Louis Lambert," For an analysis of the whole "Comedie" Balzac's own division. "Studies of Manners," "Philosophical Studies" and "Analytic Studies," I find William P. Trent's article in a "Library of the World's Best Literature" to be as clear and accessible a presenta-tion as I know. ISaintsbury commenced an English edition of the great master's works and the introductions are invaluable. But for the realization that Balzac has given us a prose Lear we must read his own "Le Pere Gor-iot" and feel the terror, the devotion and the frenzy of the old neglected father's life and death. To know that there is a French Beatrice, Desdemona, Hamlet, Falstaff, Iago, one must follow for himself the career of Louis Lambert, Baron Hulot, Cousine Bette, Eugene Grandet and Rastiquac in their tortuous risings towards the In-finite, or their gurgling descent into the human hell of despair. To know Balzac thus is to know life. To know life is to cry aloud to God. A FEW FACTS ABOUT PRE-HISTORIC CALIFORNIA. BY REV. M. H. STINE, PH. U., '77. California is the land of wonders. Its climate is a happy surprise to the visitor from almost every State in the Union. Its delicious fruits are unexcelled in perfection and variety. Its natural scenery comprehends mountain and valley, forest and desert, all included in a surpris-ingly small extent of square miles. The busy life of the 10 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. city, the densely populated valley, and the silence and loneliness of the uninhabited mi-sa and the mountain, rock-ribbed and sublime in its towering heights, are all in the compass of a day's journey. This State so rich in its natural wonders has also its pre-historic surprises and apparent contradictions. Per-haps nowhere in America outside of Mexico are tbere more marked evidences of the existence of a pre-historic civilization far in advance of the North American Indian than in the Golden State. With the brief space at our command, we can call attention to only a few of these evidences. One of these is in Tuolumne county Here be-neath what is known as Table mountain "have been found many works of man's hand." Table Mountain it-self is a wonder. It is the remains of a flow of lava which originated in the crater of a volcano miles away. It seems as if the lava instead of seeking its lowest level had persisted in flowing along the ridge of the hill. The fact is, that the mountains which were at the time of the flow of the lava much higher than the present summit, have been carried away. Prof. Whitney truthfully says (Geology of Cal., "Vol I.): "The whole face of the country must, therefore, have undergone an entire change since the eruption took place, during which this mass of lava was poured out." Conceive, if you can, the sublime truth that mountains three thousand feet in height, have been completely removed. On this mountain, at Altaville, a skull was taken from a mining shaft at a depth of 130 feet beneath the surface. Seven different layers of lava and gravel were arranged in regular strata above it. Stone mortars, spear heads, and other stone relics were found 300 feet beneath the sur-face. We naturally wonder whether the people who left these relics were the same that built the irrigating ditches in the southern part of the State in what is now desert. And were they the people who laid the foundation and built the superstructure of the massive buildings, the ruins of which have been discovered in the southern part of the State ? T THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 11 It has been asserted that when Table Mountain was formed California was totally different from what it is now. Parts of the San Joaquin Valley may then still have been covered with water, whilst the great Mojave desert was at the bottom of an inland sea. Dr. Cooper says : (Geographical Survey, W. of 100 Meridian, Vol. I, p. 11) "The country consisted of peninsulas and islands, like those of the present East Indies." If these people who lived on the supposed islands laid the foundations of temples and built water ways, they were no doubt more civilized than the people who sought for gold where now the heights of Table Mountain rear their rugged walls. The question as to where those people came from is most interesting, especially if we adopt the views of Igna-tius Donnelly (Atlantis: The Antediluvian World, p. 135, 175 etc.) That they came from the South originally seems plausible. Evidently the civilization of Mexico and Cen-tral America is the oldest in the Western World. When we make this assertion we do not forget that Prof. Whitney and others, hold that the human remains and evidences of human handiwork prove that men lived in Pliocene times. We ask, do the houses and other relics exhumed from beneath the lava beds of Vesuvius prove that Pompeiians lived in Pliocene times ? It will be ob-jected that the two examples are not sufficiently alike to comparison. It is true, no mountains have been removed near Pompeii since the city was buried nor have the val-leys been elevated into mountain ranges ; but some very stupendous changes have been made in the face of Italy and elsewhere since Pompeii was destroyed. So two or three or five thousand years may have produced marvel-ous changes on the Pacific Coast, where the rumblings of earthquakes are monthly occurrences even in the closing years of the nineteenth century. We ask, are the remains even at the base of a mountain a proof that men lived in Pliocene times ? Were all mountains formed before and in Pliocene times ? 12 THE GETTYSBURG MJReUKY. WHAT IS NATURE? BY PROF. OSCAR G. KLIXUER, A M. While in conversation with a student-friend some time since, our talk turned upon Nature as it presents itself to poet, artist, scientist and the illiterate man. and he wondered how one and the same thing could produce such different conceptions in different minds. He then asked the question which forms the caption of this article, "What is Nature"? In my reply I endeavored to show that what Natnre is for each man depends upon what he is. I hope now to justify this answer by a rapid analysis of the conditions and processes of the act of knowing. The mind as substance is forever hid from human cog-nition, but the instrument and laws of its activity are now matters of everyday knowledge. No doubt longer exists that it uses as the means of its manifestations the nervous system with the brain as its center. The brain is hermetically sealed within the skull. "'The hair, the thick skin of the scalp, the skull, and two membranes at least, one of them a tough one, surround the brain ; and this organ moreover, like the spinal cord, is bathed by a serous fluid in which it floats suspended." (James). In the skull are several apertures filled with the nerves of the special senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Sitting at the center, the mind receives its materials of knowledge from sensations generated by external stimuli and carried upward to the brain by longitudinal vibra-tions of the several nerves. The relations of mind and brain are so close that psychologists ar^ unanimous in affirming that "the immediate condition of a state of con-sciousness is an activity of some sort in the cerebral hemisphere." Further it is believed that with every sense dead, mind would exist, if at all, only as a mere blank—"not mind, but only the unrealized possibility of mind." (John Caird). It is not to be doubted then that mind is awakened and furnished with the materials of knowledge by sensations which have their origin in the external world. TH.fi GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 13 But the materials of knowledge are not knowledge any more than the materials of a house are the house itself. The sensations which come to the brain must be reacted upon by the mind and the product which results we call knowledge. "It is neither wholly from within nor wholly from without, but both the external and the .nternal fac-tors co-operate in its formation." (Stuckenberg). This re-action takes place through perception, conception, judg-ment, etc:, and implies the recognition of differences and similarities. Let us call the reacting mind the subjective, and Ihe external stimulus the objective; knowledge as the individual, concrete act of knowing may then be denned as the union of the subjective and the objective in a state of consciousness. It may be necessary to indicate the exact meaning of the phrase "state of consciousness." A single intelligent introspective glance will show that what we mean by con-sciousness is a "stream" (James) of thoughts and feelings and volitions all intermingled and inseparable. Now a "state" of consciousness is the content of this stream in-cluded within certain definite time-limits. As all intelli-gence lies within consciousness, we must study the nature of the concrete act of knowing in this time-portion of it. It is in a state of consciousness, then, that the individual knowing-act takes place. This act I have termed a union of subjective and objective elements. It remains, there-fore, to determine just what these respective elements are and we shall then be in a position to get a glimpse of Nature as an absolutely objective reality. It must be borne in mind, however, that knowledge is, in fact, an indissoluble union of these elements and the separation of which I speak is mere abstraction. One can think of the color of the rose to the neglect of its other properties but he cannot, of course, separate it from them without de-stroying the rose. Take a single act of knowing an object such as hourly occurs in the laboratory. Here we have the different ele-ments in the cold light of the intellect without any color-lng of feeling. There lies the substance to be analyzed 14 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. and named. The eyes are turned upon it and on the retina is thrown an image of it. This sets up a vibration which proceeds upward to the brain. Somewhere at the brain's base, this sensation, a purely neural process is changed into a perception of color and form, a purely psychic product. So the ear and the nerves of taste and touch carry up to the same center their wholly diverse sensations of sound and taste and feel. The mind is now furnished with the data of knowledge, viz., certain neural affections which interpreted by the mind we call proper-ties of the object. But this is not the whole act of knowing. Whatever the mind cognizes comes to it under certain forms of knowledge—categories, as Kant calls them : fundamental ideas, as Whewell calls them ; ideas of the pure reason as others call them. These forms in which all sensations are received and worked over are such as time, space, cause, substance, indentity, etc. That object is there, it is now, it is itself, it had a cause. Now all these ideas which necessarily enter into every interpretation of the objective belong to the mind itself; hence in the knowing-act they are contributed by the mind in its reaction upon the in-coming sensations. Let us, now, in that union of the subjective and the ob-jective which we call scientific knowledge abstract from the whole the elements which the mind has furnished and note what remains. 1. Nothing is more commonly spoken of than the "laws" of Nature. But law is an idea of the reason and so far as we know has only an ascribed objective exist-ence. What we actually perceive in Nature are only uni-formities : water always seeks its own level, a stone al-ways falls to the ground, etc. Matter has certain modes of acting which are uniform and invariable and these modes we call laws. 2. Again, we affirm without thought of possible con-tradiction that "every change has a cause." But cause, also, is one of the fundamental ideas and "it is now uni-versally conceded that we have no perception by the THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 15 senses of any causal connection or nexus in the material world." What we do perceive is only sequence, but when one phenomenon always follow another and the relation of antecedent and consequent seems to be a necessary one, we call the phenomenon that comes first the cause of the one that comes second. And so, if space permitted, it would he possible to show that force, life, order, purpose, substance and all the other most common terms in scien-tific nomenclature stand for ideas, not things. To this I append the witness of Professor Cocker : "Order, pur-pose, design, law, are not objects of sense ; all that we perceive by the senses is a cerlain collocation and dis-position of matter in space." Nature, then, in its bleak objectivity when abstracted from all that the mind necessarily reads into it in every act of interpretation, is matter existing in what seems to be a system of uniformities, coexistences, sequences. This it is which furnishes the stimuli to the various senses and by them generates the different sensations upon which each individual mind must react in harmony with its own natural endowment. Its own natural endowment, I repeat, because difference is what constitutes individuality, and it is safe to say that no two human beings have ever been endowed in precisely the same way. No man is a chance product, however.— except, indeed, he be a transcendent genius—and natural endowment is determined, under the laws of heredity and environment, by his ancestry and the accidents of his early training. Some minds are practical, others poetical, artistic, philosophical. In some the constructive imagi-nation is most active and things are always seen in a bor-rowed light. In others the spirit of investigation is pro-dominant and the analytic tendency, as is the case of John Stuart Mill, becomes a burdensome nuisance. Other men there are whose whole thought centers about the problem of getting on in the world and they are never bothered by the aspirations of an aesthetic nature. Such men never see a landscape, and Niagara to them is only so much waste power! 16 THE GETTYSBURG MEKCURY. I said at the beginning that ''what Nature is to each man depends upon what he is." If he be a physicist, as Edison. Nature will be to him a reservoir of forces or one force manifesting itself in different modes. If he be a chemist, as von Liebig, Nature will be to him a unity of molecules combined in different proportions. If he be a biologist, as Huxley, Nature will be to him a great vit.il laboratory in which cells are built up and destroyed in end-less succession. If he be a poet, as Bryant, Nature will be to him a great speaking allegory, a store-house of imagery and sentiment, a dully-sentient reality capable of feeling— "Dim and faint May be its sense of pleasure and of pain, ■ As in our dreams ; but, haply, real still." If he be an unlettered farmer, as poor Hodge. Nature will be to him but su much soil in which to sow and so much sunlight in which to garner the harvest. I have space for only one illustration of my meaning In the West the sun is setting in a blaze of glory. Orange and gold melt into each other and pass into crimson. A magnificent tint spreads over the sky to the far East shot-through with beams of light. Hodge looks at it and re-marks, "Red at night, the sailor's delight." But John Ruskin, scientist, poet, and artist, looks at it and thinks of the contest waged between day and night since early dawn ; night has at length conquered, and "the sun sinks below the horizon, bathed in the crimson of his own blood. So every interpretation of Nature is colored by.— say rather, its whole content is given by,—the personality of the interpreter. It is to each of us poverty-striken or rich as our minds are endowed with sublime or only com-monplace ideas. We get from Nature just what we bring to it. To the "Mercury." NOVEMBER. Summer days have sped away. Summer clouds no more appear, November comes with skies of gray, Winter's snows again seem near. THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 17 The grass grows sere in the meadows Where the hoar-frost falls by night, No blossoms nod to their shadows, Nor beckon the bees to alight. Forest trees send down their shower Of dry leaves all over the ground. The robin—iar South is his bower— Sings to gladden his mate with the sound. Yet autumn days truly are gladsome ; Fulfillment of promise are they— Promise of fruit from the blossom Matured by the sun's ripening ray. What if purple asters turn gray, And golden-rod flames grow dim— The flower is more than the bloom of the day; There's a wealth of seed within. So life's not for a day, but for fruit; And the labor of summer's not lost. The best fruits ripen the latest, And some ripen onty in frost. And when pink petals are faded and withered, And almond trees flourish like snow; They that look out of the windows lie darkened, And the daughters of music brought low ; When the silver cords are unstrung, And the golden bowls broken be ; Return like the honey-bee, home, With thy treasure laid up on high. AEIEIE, '91. A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE SOUTHERN NEGRO. BY H. D. SHIMER, '96. This summer I was engaged in colporter work in the South. As every one knows, the South is the home of the colored man ; or if it may not be called his home, that is where one finds him very frequently. To me, coming from a state where it is the exception and not the rule to find colored people living, the colored man proved to be a very interesting subject for study. It is about him that I am now going to write ; and my writing, I will base upon what I saw and experienced. 18 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. Probably one of the first things that attracts ones atten-tion, when traveling among colored people, is the fact that they are a very happy and contented people. They live in the present, and for the present. How often have I seen colored persons clad in filthy rags, not knowing whence their next meal would come, bearing upon their countenance the smile of perfect contentment, and sing-ing, as only they can sing, some old plantation song! And why are they so happy ? It is because they are satis-fied with what they have. They, as a rule, lack true am-bition. While the white man toils and worries and plans for the future, unsatisfied until he has made for himself and his family a comfortable home, the colored man as a rule is perfectly satisfied to let the future take care of itself, and is the happiest man in the world, if he has just enough in the present to keep his body and soul together. What cares he for a palace in which to live ? Does not a little hut give him shelter from rain and from storm? What need has he of a palace for a home ? Does not the little log house give ample room for himself, and for his family ! Is it not easier to fill a small home with happi-ness than a large one ? Thus reasons the colored man; and I was compelled to believe that there was something in his reasoning ; for I have seen colored families, with a a dozen or more members in each family, live in miser-able hovels of one room, and live there in perfect content-ment. From what I could learn, during the seasons when negroes have work and make a little money, they spend their money about as fast as they earn it; and when they earn no money they live on almost nothing. They lack | that true ambition, which tends to make their future bet-ter than their present. When they have much, they are happy with much; when they have little, they are happy with little. A second thing in which I was interested in the colored people was their education. In the section of country where I was,-the facilities for acquiring a moderate edu-tion were average. School-houses for the colored people were so scattered about that any colored family was THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY, 19 within a reasonable distance of a school-house. As a re-sult, most of the colored children attend school. But one thing especiallv attracted my attention. It was the fact that little children from six up to ten or twelve years of of age, were very bright and active. In fact many of them were as bright as white children of their age. But when they got beyond ten or twelve years of age they seemed to become stupid and dull. I noticed this almost invariably among the strictly African children. The only way I could account for this was : From six up to ten or twelve years of age, their perceptive faculties were very active, and they could perceive things very readily, and thus were apparently very bright; but when they came to the age when the reflective faculties should assert themselves, they were lacking in their reflective powers, and consequently, for the lack of these powers, they became dull and stupid. Of course there are some few who are exceptions, and sometimes these few make very smart men and women. Yet how often can these exceptions claim their mental powers from the African race! How often are the minds of these exceptions made more active and fertile by Caucasian blood and energy ? Viewing the colored man from a religious standpoint, we are compelled to say that he is a very religious being. Without a doubt our colored brother has as much of the religious element in his nature as we have who are of fairer complexion. To realize the truth of this statement we have only to go to the great revival meetings which the colored people hold from time to time. There we may see religion in one of its phases, though not always in its true phase. In these meetings there is life ; and it is there that the religious nature of the colored man often unconsciously wings its flight on pinions of abnormal ex-citement, and soars higher and higher, until it exhausts itself in unconscious agony. Socially and morally the colored people with whom I came in contact were not. up to the standard of the white race. There was not that purity of heart, earnestness of true motive, and elevation of thought and conversation 20 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. among them which characterizes the noble characters of our own race. True, there are kind, charitable. Christian people among the colored race ; yet with all their virtues, there is something within the character of the colored man, which does not measure up to the standard of char acter among our own people. For instance, if a good col-ored brother, on his way home from religious services, should happen to take a chicken home with him that did not belong to him, his colored brelhren would hardly ques-tion his Christianity for such a deed. Again, colored ser-vants have a great liking for taking things that belong to their employer, and appropriating them to their own use. There seems to be a positive weakness in the colored man for that kind of thing. Topsy was no excep-tion to this rule. The families among them also point to a weakness in their moral and social disposition. There where purit}r and love should reign, I found too often the opposite ; the baser nature ruling and moral purity placed in the back-ground. It is true that this same thing may be said of very many of the homes of our own race ; yet we can say there are homes among our people where love does reign, and where moral purity finds an exalted place. In view of these foregoing facts this question naturally presents itself : What kind of citizens do the colored peo-ple as a rule make ? Closely allied to this question is another : What kind of citizens are they likely to make in the future ? In answer to the first question, we can say that the majority of the colored voters of the South have not suf-ficient education to use intelligently the ballot-box ; and it is a question whether the North did not entrust too much to the negro when it gave to him indiscriminately full rights of citizenship. There are few people in the South who want back their slaves. They agree with us that slavery was wrong. But there are many people in the South, the most intelligent and best thinking class of people, who honestly hold that the large majority of negroes, have not sufficient knowledge to use intelligently ^^^^^■■^^^■^^^^^H ^^^^^^■M THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 21 the bnllot-box, and that the North made a mistake when it gave to negroes, indiscriminately, the full power and authority of citizenship. In answer to the second question it is to be hoped that the negro will make a better citizen in the future than he does now. If he does not there is trouble ahead. The colored people in the South are increasing at an alarming rate. It will be but a short time until they will outnum-ber the white people in the 8outh. In such an event, the colored people would elect their representatives to govern-ment and municipal offices. What would be the outcome of such a step is hard to tell. We all know that the white population of the South would not look with favor upon such a step, and it would be justified in not so doing, if the intellectual and moral standard of the colored race be-comes no higher than it now is. Unless the colored race make rapid strides in intelligence and moral strength, it will be many years before they will be fit subjects to take active part in our governmental affairs. EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF POETRY. Life is a conscious effort to cancel the limitations be-tween the real and the ideal. The noblest life is an heroic effort to realize an ideal so grand and pure that it is unat-tainable. That branch of instruction which does the most to help the student cancel the limitations betwetn his real self and his ideal self has the greatest educational value. Tompkins says : "Life's ideal, heroic struggle is exhibited in its most perfect form in literature." The manifold objects and influences in the physical world are the means which man is to use in realizing his ideal self. But man without the poet's soul does not recognize their value. He walks through the world having eyes but he sees not. "A primrose by the river's brim, A yellow primrose is to him ; And it is nothing more." 22 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. The poet utilizes the common objects in the physical world and makes them a power unto spiritual. The ordi-nary individual sees in the nautilus nothing but a com-mon, insignificant little animal, but Holmes saw in that little animal a type of the human soul struggling to shake off the base and sensuous things of earth and attain its true spiritual freedom. The growth of the little ani-mal from the narrow, restricted cell to the Droader, higher one, was to him a type of the human soul broadened and elevated through the acquisition of knowledge and virtue. The nautilus cast off the shell which had restricted his freedom and separated him from the physical heaven. Holmes saw in that a type of the soul that has cast off all ignorance, prejudice and sin, and attained its true spiritual freedom. The intellect recognizes the fitness of the object in the physical world to typify growth in the spiritual world; the emotions are called into play and the soul is filled with pleasure as it sees the unity. But it must also move the will or it would be deficient as an educational force. The student sees that the end of the little creature is to become physically free. It has attained its freedom and left nothing between it and the physical heaven. He is not free. Passions, sin and ignor-ance still chain him to the earth. His will is moved to do what the little nautilus has already done. He moves for-ward and to his own soul utters Holmes' mandate : "Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul, As the swift seasons roll; Leave thy low vaulted past! Let each new temple, nobler than the last, Shut thee from Heaven with a dome more vast, Till thou at length art free, Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea." It is the poetic in life that "lifts the soul from the com-mon sod to a purer air and a broader view." The poetic soul recognizes in the physical world around him expressions of universal spiritual truth. Tompkins says, in substance, that the matter-of-fact scientist studies the lily as a physical organism and misses the best it has i^^^^Hj^^^^l^^^H THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 23 for man, if he stops there. The true scientist, who is always a poet, adjusts his ear to its whispers of infinite truth and beauty, and finds the message it has for man. The matter of fact botanist would have analyzed the gentian as a physical organism and stopped with a knowl-edge of its structure, habitat, etc. Whittier saw a deeper lesson. He was familiar with the New England custom of placing a pressed gentian on the inner side of the win-dows as a Xmas decoration. This though beautiful with-in looks like a dark speck to the traveler passing ; and the poet wrote his lesson: "So from the trodden ways of earth, Some sweet souls who veil their worth, And offer to the careless glance The clouding gray of circumstance. They blossom best where hearth fires burn, So loving eyes above they turn, The flowers of inward grace, that hide Their beauty from the world outside. But deeper meaning comes to me, My half immortal flower, from thee! Man judges from a partial view, None ever yet his brother knew; The Eternal Eye that sees the whole May better read the darkened soul, And find, to outward sense denied, The flower upon the inmost side." Ryan saw two roses, one perfect, blooming; the other broken, crushed. He noticed that the crushed rose breath-ed forth the sweetest perfume. He saw in that flower a type of the human soul chastened, but sweetened by sor-row and suffering, and he sent forth his message to man-kind: "It is a truth beyond our ken— And yet a truth that all may read, It is with roses as with men, The sweetest hearts are those that bleed. The Flower which Bethlehem saw bloom Out of a heart all full of grace, Gave never forth its full perfume Until the cross became its vase." Thomas Moore watched the carrier pigeon soaring 24 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. through the air at a great height in order to surmount every obstacle between her and the place to which she was destined. In that scene he recognized a type of the soul soaring above the sins and snares of this world to the place for which it was destined. His soul was filled with emotion as he saw the faithful bird soaring with a fidelity which man—proud man with all his intelligence, rarely, if ever, reaches. He seized his pen and to the world of literature gave this poetic prayer: "So grant me God. from every care And stain of passion free, Aloit through Virtue's purer air, To hold my course to thee! No sin to cloud, no lure to stay My soul, as home she springs; Thy sunshine on her joyful way, Thy freedom in her wings." BUTTERWORTH, '99. THE COLLEGE MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS. In our college life, along with its literary work, we should cultivate that which softens, soothes and elevates our natures—something which will drive away dull care and instill in us new life, spirit and energy. Could there be a more pleasant or effectual means for bringing about the desired result than that of music ? Its place in the college world is clearly recognized, it fills a felt want. Of course as everything else it has its time and place, as there are occasions when it might put a person in a "beat-ing" frame of mind and especially is this true of the stu-dent. The singing of Miss Quito just reminds me of the painful fact that—that which sounds well does not always leave a good impression, (thinking of the Hanover-York trip), however, a few minors (not Freshman) only throw the richness of the majors more into prominence. Without doubt the instrument most universally used j and mastered by college men is the old reliable "frog-hv your-throat," tin horn and indeed I want to toot the same a little over the prospects of our Musical Clubs for the coming season. Almost fifty men responded to the call ^■■■^^^^^^^■■^^^^^^■^^H THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 25 for applicants, and although by the graduation of '97 we lost much excellent talent, yet we are glad to say that the musical abilities of the new men exceeded expectations and feel quite safe in predicting that our institution will be represented musically this year in a very creditable manner. A preliminary selection for the Glee and also for the Man-dolin, Banjo, and Guitar Club has been made and the boys are working hard, as already several dates have been ar-ranged. Efforts are being made to revive the old college orchestra, and we trust that the same may be completely successful. We would bespeak for the Clubs the united, hearty support of the student body. That the members are not working for their own financial gain is shown by their intention of turning over to the cause of athletics any proceeds which may result from their labors. This is indeed a most commendable move, one which has the true jingle-that of putting aside small interests and seek-ing to benefit old Gettysburg. Conscious that the "phrasing" of this little "toot" has not been of a sufficiently high tone and knowing that the final sentence of the same must have seemed to you, dear reader, to be about as slow as, well-adazio-in coming, with this parting blast I'll give you a "whole" rest—never B sharp in your criticisms, never B flat in your praise, but always B natural. C. T. L., '98. MY FIRST SMOKE. We were seated in our study Wheu my chum said, "Have a smoke ; This won't sicken anybody." So I tried just for a joke. The effect was soon alarming, 'Round and 'round me all things sped, Until nothing was so charming As my own dear springless bed. Not alone a head near splitting, Other strange things soon were felt, Pains and sickness intermitting In the regions of my belt. 26 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. Matters had become so serious That uiy thoughts were not my own, Aud the words 1 said, delirious, Would not sound well 'round my home. If Proserpine and Pluto Hearkened to the prayeis I made, Chum won't chill, though winter's cold snow Freeze the grave where he is laid. H. M. C, '99. EDITORS' DESK. "Life is a page of paper white, Upon which each of us may write His word or two, and then conies night! Great^' begin, though thou hast time But for a line ; be it sublime! Not failure, but low aim is crime." -Lowell. ONE thing is strikingly lacking in our college life. It is the singing of songs that are distinctively our own. Occasionally we see a fair sized crowd able to unite on a strain of a song of the day, or on a stanza or two of some of the old favorites, but as a college body, we have nothing that we can call our sonq or songs, This is a serious deficiency in our college life. Take only a recent occurence, the rousing reception we gave to Mayor Strong and his party. After lusty cheer-ing and yells, and inspiring responses from our visitors were over, we all felt like singing. Here and there in the scattering crowd, a solitary voice sang out that "For Bonny Annie Laurie, I'd Lay Me Down and Die"; or per-chance, "My Bonny Lies Over The Oc^an"' uttered the far-away feeling of another. The typical college fellow, whose capacity for noise is never exhausted, declares his own wishes in, "There'll Be a Hot Time In The Old Town To-night"; but no song reached the universal heart. Here is the need—what is the remedy ? It is in tin composing and compiling of a book of "Gettysburg Col-lege Songs." A collection of this kind should contain I^^^^^^^Hi^^^^^HB^^^^H^^^^^^Hi^^M THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 27 number of original songs composed by students and alumni, and a careful selection from the songs which be-long to the college world in general, not forgetting the good old melodies that have come down from former ages. That we can publish such a book is not to be doubted a moment. The great number of men who sought for place on our Glee Club and Mandolin Club, our excellent Chapel singing, are only a few proofs that we have considerable musical ability represented in our number. Other colleges are not asleep on this point. All the larger institutions have a book of their own. Swarthmore has just published such a book. F. & M. students are busy composing special songs for Thanksgiving Day, when they hope to conquer Swarthmore on the gridiron. The students of Dickinson have recently organized into a musical association for the purpose of individual and col-lege advancement in this beautiful and uplifting art. Has Gettysburg nothing to sing about? Let us think and act. Let us no longer be content to write about the Col-lege and to talk about it. We want to sing and shout its praises! We believe that MERCURY hereby sounds a key-note to which students and alumni will chord. If the advance-ment of the College of late years is a true indicator of the future, all her friends will unite in a grand harmony and swell the praises of Alma Mater. We are listening. * * * NEVER before in the history of our College has a better time presented itself for the students to write literary articles of merit. Several professors are willing to direct the student along original lines and will help them in the development of something new, something worthy the attention of all. This is a grand opportunity to lead the students into methods of original thinking. It is a rare opportunity. A "rehash" of something old is weari-ness to the flesh. Aim at originality. You have the time, !i you seize it now. You have the brains, if you use them 28 THE GETTYSBURU MKRCURY. properly. You have the means of bringing your thoughts to the public. Are you going to do it ? * * IT is an unpleasant fact that a lack of the proper inter-est has characterized the work in our Literary Societies during this term. So far the majority of meetings have been held with not many more than a quorum present. Such a condition reflects not so much on the Societies as organizations, as on the individual members composing them. It clearly shows that they do not appreciate and take advantage of one of the most beneficial features of college life. To say that no other department in College furnishes more practical training and knowledge for the necessary intercourse and contact with others in life, than the Literary Society, is simply to repeat what has heen said hundreds of times by those who are in positions to know. The above statement is frequently made by those who neglected their opportunities in this respect, and only when the latter were gone did they realize their loss. Warning from such a source should certainly not be treated with indifference. It is to be hoped that every student of Penna. College will become alive to his own interests and take an active interest in Literary Society work. WHEN the majority of students are asked to do some work aside from the curriculum, there comes the reply— "I have no time now." There are only two conditions that will admit of such an answer. The students have either an over abundance of work or they waste too much time in doing it. A large percentage are subject to the latter condition. This becomes a great problem and one that deserves special attention. Each student must solve it for himself. You have often heard it said that if you want anything done promptly, go to the busiest man. This seems the reverse to what we might consider the true order of things. Yet it is practically true. The secret of THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 29 it all lies in the fact that they have learned how to sys-tematize their work. They do not go at their duties as though they had an indefinite period of time in which to complete them. Only a definite period is allowed, and realizing that they must be done within the fixed limits, they set to work with an object in view. This requires close application, but. never fails to bring the desired results. WE are under great obligations to the many alumni who have already consented to conlribute. We trust that you will not wait for a spacial invitation, but will send us articles voluntarily We take pleasure in announcing a few authors and subjects which will appear in early num-bers: Dr. J. H. W. Stuckenberg, "Sociology"; Dr. P. Anstadt, "Dr. Schmucker"; Dr. M. H. Stine, "Early Mis-sions in Cal."; Dr. E. J. Wolf; Dr. J. W. Richard, "Fe-male Education in Germany"; Rev. Henry B. Wile; Capt. F. M. Ott, "The Hazleton Strike"; Prof. Stahl, Rev. A. R. Steck, Rev. H. C. Alleman, C. S. Duncan, Esq., Dr. E. S. Breidenbaugh, and other members of the faculty and alumni, together with articles by the students of Col-j lege and Seminary. ATHLETICS. Our Foot-Ball season has about come to a close. With regret, we must say that it was not as successful as first indications led us to expect; but there are reasons to be given why this was the case. First and foremost was the lack of proper coaching at the beginning of the season ; then, the injuries received iu our larger games by many of the players. The question naturally arises here whether it is advisable to play U. P. so early in the season. Granting that our men are taught many of the fiier points of the game and that our own College is brought before the people, is it advisable to risk so much where there is no possible chance of victory? Through this year's game with U. P., we lost the services of our captain for several weeks just at the time when he was most needed. When the team from the University of Maryland appeared on the field, 11 was seen that they averaged quite a great deal more than our team, but notwithstanding this fact our boys entered into the game with a dash. y continual "bucking of the line," the University boys advanced the ball 0 our twenty yard line. Then our boys stood determined to sell their ■ L 30 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. lives dearly; but in vain, for by short gains, the Maryland boys crossed the coveted goal line. The goal was kicked. The ball was again put in play. After an interchange of punts, Dale caught the ball on our 45-yard line, and by the aid of excellent interference, made a run of 65 yards for a touchdown. We scored once more in the first half, making the score 12—6 in our favor. In the second half University of Maryland scored once, but on account of violating a rule in regard to kicking a goal, Capt. Dale would not permit them the privilege of a trial at goal. This immediately caused a dispute, which finally ended by the Maryland boys leaving the field. Score, Gettysburg 12, U. of M. 10. Next came the long looked for Indian game. Their fame had come be" fore them, and to say that they did credit to it is expressing it mildly. This was the prettiest game to behold that was ever played at Gettysburg. The Indians had learned some plays from Princeton, which were almost impossible to be broken up. Their weight combined with the excellent plays which they used, made it possible for them to run up the big score of 82—o on us. The result of the game with Baltimore City College was never in dfuM. Our men, especially the tackles, made gains almost as they pleased. After many long runs around the ends, and frequent "bucking of the line," our boys at the end of the second halt had run the score up to 40—o. Length of halves, 20 and 10 minutes. On Saturday evening after the game, our coach, Mr. Thomas, left for his home, his work here being finished. He certainly must be commended for the good results he brought out of the limited material which he had at his disposal. H. C. R., '99. A GETTYSBURG GLEE BOOK. A much felt want in old Gettysburg is a college song book Students and others have realized this for years, but no active measures, to our knowledge, have been taken to remedy the matter. Why not start a move-ment now which will bring about the desired result ? We need a college song book. We can have a college song book. Why not say we will have a college song book ? If others can why not we ? Philo should have its song; Phrena should have hers. Gettysburg demands it. "Gettysburg College March" wouldn't be a bad title for one of the numbers on the pro-gram of the instrumental club. However it isn't necessary that a volume of entirely new music be ar ranged. For instance, in the Harvard song book, with the exception of 1 "Johnny Harvard" and a few other selections, the book is merely a collec-tion of the favorite songs of Harvard's sons. The writer has frequently been asked to sing some of Gettysburg's college songs; when he replied that he scarcely knew what to class a Gettysburg college song, a look ot | amazement greeted him. No wonder. All colleges have their songs. Only we haven't learned ours. You can't learn them with a few practices in the spring of the year on the college campus. Place the collection of our | H^^^^^BaaH ■^^^^■B THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 31 favorites within reach of our student body, then they will learn thern and that correctly. How can it be done? Swarthrnore's class of '98 undertook aud perfected such a work just recently. The Harvard Glee Club officials superintended their book. Committees have been appointed by the student body of other institutions? Can't we adopt one of these or some other scheme that may be convenient, to place within reach of the student body a song book, which, to every Gettysburg man is indispensable. Think the matter over. Offer your opinions aud suggestions. Let us remember, no matter what our other attainments may be, we are deficient if we never learu to sing the praises of old Gettysburg. X. Y. Z. '98. THE JUNIOR KANES. We told 'em awl to keep 'er mum; "Let not a word be said 'Til after awl the sticks have kum, And ev'ry bil's bin paid; And then we'll kerry kaues the day The Seniors ware the gown ; Aud hear the things the people say About us, in the town. Aforehaud must each Junior lern, With kane to walk about." 'Twas sed;—but soon in tern The guarded kat got out. Of korse the reazon waz quite plane ; But others soon kame out To show why Juniors used the kane,— Sum sed we had the gout. The worst of awl, was sumthin' 'bout "The steep and rocky path," "Their beasts of burden, awl plade out,"— "They must now use the staf." Our reazou's true, the mind iz strong, But flesh iz mighty week, And so to help the week along, The walkin' stick we seek. To everyone who knows our clas, It goes without a sayin'; And so they let the subject pas, 'Bout '99's new kane. J. N. K. H. 99- 32 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. OUR EXCHANGE TABLE. The Yale Literary claims to be the oldest magazine of its kind in the United States, having been established in 1836. Its looked-for visits to our desk will strengthen more family the heretofore pleasant relations existing between our institutions. The Senate of the State of Michigan has passed a bill prohibiting all foot-ball playing in the State. In England there are no college journals. The University of Paris leads the world with 11,733 students last year. Berlin follows with 9,375. The highest salary received by any college professor is that of Prof. Tur-ner, of Edinburgh, $20,000 per year. The University of Chicago now offers 1,086 courses. The Black and Red, published by the students of Northwestern Univer-sity, Watertowu, Wis., is about equally divided between the English aud German languages. WISE AND OTHERWISE. "Homicide and verbicide—that is, violent treatment of a word with fatal results to its legitimate meaning, which is its life—are alike forbidden. Manslaughter, whieh is the meaning of the one, is the same as man's laughter which is the end of the other."—Holmes. I kissed the maiden on one cheek, Then thought she tell her father; Instead she quotes from algebra, "Treat one side as the other." Blest be the tie that binds My collar to my shirt, Beneath its silk or satin folds It hides a week of dirt. I'm sure that there is one (It is a woman's style) By whom her love is won,— 'Tis shown by pretty smile ; But who it is, perchance, Is more than I can see ; She tells, O heartless glance! Her love is not for me. V* THE GETTYSBUKG MERCURY. 33 If last century a maiden Wished to send her love away, When he'd popped the fatal question, She would quietly answer "Nay." But an ardent, wooing love Only fifty years ago, If he did not suit the sweet one Would be crushed by one short "No." Now, however, if a fairy Wants to give her flame the mit, When he asks her to be "his'n," She will softly gurgle "Nit." Ex. Every man lives somewhere on the main line between honesty and knav-ery, none being at the extreme end in either direction. HK—"My head's almost on fire with the heat of the sun." SHE—"I was sure I smelled burnt wood somewhere."—Comic Cuts. "Who wrote the most, Dickens, Warren, or Bulwer?" "Warren wrote 'Now and Then,' Bulwer wrote 'Night and Morning,' and Dickens wrota 'All The Year 'Round.' " A girl wrote to her best fellow: Don't phale to be thar." He replied at once, "I'll be thar. There's no sech word as phale."—Ex. They say a most peculiar thing Has happened here in town ; A woman took her watch upstairs, And then the watch ran down. —Wellington Post. "My good fellow," said the dude to the hatter, "how's trade?" "There's really nothing in hats now-a-days," replied the hatter, trying one on the head of the dude.— Yonkers Statesman. There is a man down town who never pays for anything. He even goes to bed on tick. "I tell you, sir," said the realist, "I don't believe in taking anything for granted. In other words, I don't believe anything that I can't see." "Am I to understand," returned the idealist, "that you never kissed a girl in the dark?" Thus we see that the theories of a realist may go down before the realism of a theorist. 34 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. According to Darwin and others it takes a monkey thousands of years to make a man of himself; but a man can make a monkey of him-self in a minute. We lead the world,—Ex. "Pa," said Willie "I guess I know why matches are made in heaven It wouldn't be safe makin' 'em in the other place."—Harper's Bazaar. Alice—"What a gallant person Mr. Dunkley is. He never addresses me without beginning 'Fair Miss.' " Doroty—"Oh, that's force of habit. He used to be a street car conductor. —Clevela?id Leader. Bill—"Be't still a raining, Sam?" Sam—"Ah, that it be ; and not like to give over, neither. Bin a-coniin' down powerful, it 'ave. Why, I did 'ear say it's bin so bad up in London thet they're a-celebratin' the longest rain on record."— 'lit-Bits. 2fou uji'/t ft'/ttt a fu/t Una of SPure 'Drugs ocia/?y. J. A. TAWNEY Is ready to furnish clubs and boarding houses with ffiread, J^olls, do., at short notice and reasonable rates. Cor. Washington and Middle Sts , Gettysburg. *David Uroxel, DEALER IN FINE GROCERIES AND NOTIONS. Lg==York Street.^! *M0TEL GETTYSBURG* BfttBEft SHOP. GO TO Centre Square. B. M. SEFTON. -^TIPTON & BARBEHENN* BAfiB£fiS, In the Eagle Hotel, Cor. Main and Wainingtos Sti. MUMPER & BENDER, FURNITURE, Cabinet Making, Picture Frames, Baltimore St., - - GETTYSBURG, PA. "SIMON J. CODORI, —DEALER IN— BEEF, PORK, LAMB, VEAL, SAUSAGE, York Street, Gettysburg, 49»Special rates to clubs. Subscribe for ^-"s Seitysburg Wfercury. %il ACCUMULATED WEALTH. Laying up of riches isn't the only thing in life, for frequently a sour disposition is Ihe result. You want to take comfort in life as you gnaloug, one of the best ways to take com-fort is to buy well-fitting clothing. My Fall styles tire now here and the selection is lufue and varied. Suits made to your order from $12 up. Pressing and Repairing done at short no-tice. J D. MPPY. Merchant Tailor, 13 Clumbsrttsrg St., - - Settysburg, Ft. & E. SPAJY©L~E1^ Successor to J W. Eichollz & Co. DEALEU IN PIANOS, ORGANS, MUSIC, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, STRINGS, Etc. YORK STREET First Square, Gettysburg. HOB CHESTNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA. Wright's Gngravintj Jfcouso ^AS become the recognized leader in iJI- uniquestvlesofCOLUCUE and FRA-TKUMTV ENURAVINGS and STATION-ERY. College and class Day Invital ons. en-graved and printed from steel plates; Pro-grammes, Menus,-Wedding and Reception Invitations, Announcements, etc., etc K.V araiue prices and styles before ordering elsewhere. 50 Vlsltlne Birds f.-om How Eng-ivoi Plats $1.03. ERNEST A. WRIGHT, ma Chestnut Street, - PHILADELPHIA. JOHN L. SHEADS, NEW CIGAR STORE Next door to W. M. Depot, Gettysburg, Pa. P. F. HENNIG, Bread, Soils, Pretzels and Crackers, YORK STREET, GETTYSBURG. ^"Reasonable Rates to Clubs. L. D. WjlLLER, 10 Main St , Gettysburg, Grocer Confectioner f and Fruiterer. ICECREAM and OYSTERS IN SEASON. GETTYSBURG, PA, - Main St. City Motel, FREE 'BUS TO AND FROM ALL TRAINS, RATES $,150 and $2,00 PER DAY, Thirty Socoaar Will from Eithir Depot. Hiy.XER WITH DRIVE OVER FIELD WITH 1, OR MORE $1.35. JOHN E. HUGHES. Prop'r. GO TO. G. A. BLOCHER'S ftwtlff Stilt FOR Souvenir Spoons, Sword Pins, &c. All Kinds of Jewelry. Repairing a Specialty. Post Office Coreer, Centre Square. if~J-—- PHOTOGRAPHED, No. 3 MAIN STREET, GETTYSBURG, PA-Out new Enameled Aristo Pot traits are equal to Photos made anywhere, and at any pi ice. » FOOT BALL SUPPLIES. Spalding League Ball, Iffits, Masks, etc. Managers should send for sam-ples and special rates Every requisite for Tennis, Golf, Cricket, Track and Field Gymnasium Equipments and Outfits. Complete Catalogue Spring and Summer Sports Free. "THE NAME THE GUARANTEE." A. G. SPAIDING & BROS., New York, Philailelphia, Chicago. S. G. Spangler & Co. f©ine . >^o- Telephone 39. 102 E. Middle St. S. J. Codori, c -*^lc)puggist. DEALER IN 2)ruys, TtyedicineSj "Uoiiet Sfr-tie/ es, Stationery, S/3ianAr ttoo/csj jfmateur iPho-toyrahic Supplies, E^, 2!) BALTIMORE ST., GETTYSBURG. PA. SPECIAPAI-DTTTO'T,ON 60LLESE WORK. A Fine Collection of BATTLEFIELD VIEWS Always on hand. Mail Orders receive Prompt Attention. CALL OIM. F. N|4RK BREAM, The Carlisle Street Grocer, Who always has on hand a full line of fine Groceries. HOTEL * GETTYSBURJ UwAtoil no CVlitre Bqiuira win-re M,r|I Ian Hoitriu formerly Htond. j «£T7 iVIIUiG, FEX.vJM RATES $2 PER DAM It is the acknowledged I.ciidifl Hotel of Gettysburg. !k-agH througrnut with Sn inn ; hotTB cold Untlis: commodious Safl pie Rooms; liiiiiiig-riiiini cupgH ity, 2UU; has a I uisiue ofrM excellence. Headquarters ra| League of American tth.rlmeM Headquarters, commercial tijH elers. Headquarters, milituryiH civic societies. Free 'bus [c'ajfl from all trains. H. & D. K. MILLER, PROPRJ E'MER « flKIENP, Manufacturers and Importers of ^ ^ CHEMICALS *-» CHEMICAL 205, 207, 209 & 211 Third Ave., Corner 18th St., pinest Bohemian and German Glassware. Royal Berlin and Meissen Porcelain, Purest Hammered Platinum, Balancesand Weights, Zeiss Micro- scopes, and Bacteriologica Apparatus, Chemically Pure Acids, and Assay Goods. t_£—'Established 1876.—£J-> WAT6HMAKEF AND rlEWELER, Gettysburg Souvenir Spoons. College Souvenir Spoons. No. 10 Balto. St. - GETTYSBURG, PA. THE Lutheran! PUBLISHING H0US1 _^^No. 42 North 9U1 St.J PHILADELPHIA, PA.1 Acknowledged Headquarters [i .r in the way of BOOKS FOR CHURCHES, FAMILItM COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS, AXD I LITERATURE, FOR SUN-DAY SVAOOLS. PLEASE BEMEMBEB That by sending your orders to usyoS help build up and develop one of the] Churche's institutions, with pccmiiaifl advantage to yourself. Address HENRY S. BONER, SUP'T, No. 42 North 9th PHIL A BARBER ^SHC 3. Qharles (5-. Se/^or"» ^ Proprietor, BALTIMORESTEEBM The Place for Students to Go, Only First-class Tonsorinl norH

The Mercury May, 1893 ADVERTISEMENTS. TReafting 1Ratiroa6 The "Royal "Route New and Direct Line To and From QETTT5BURQ. Fast, Frequent and Superbly Equipped Train Service Between NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, Allentown, Pottsville, Williamsport, Reading, Harrisburg and Interior Pennsylvania Points, with through connections to and from all parts of the Middle States, New England and the West. Visitors to America's Greatest Battlefield can obtain through tickets and baggage checks, via this new and most picturesque route, at all principal stations and ticket offices throughout the country. I. A. SWEIGARD, C. G. HANCOCK, General Manager. Gen. Pass. Agt Barber Sfrop, CHARLES C. SEFTON, PROPRIETOR. BALTIMORE STREET. THE PLACE FOR STUDENTS TO GO. ONLY FIRST-CLASS WORK. /HUgrc at-)d ^Kfc £or]S£r«Vatopy. Chartered 1850, offers Classic, Normal, Music and Art courses for Diploma and Degrees ; comprises three large brick buildings, situated on a beautiful eminence, a lovely campus, library, apparatus, hot and cold mountain water, steam heat, gas light, electric bells, a suite of rooms nicely furnished for every two or three students, music lessons on Pipe Organ, Reed Organ, Piano, Violin, Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, and Cornet, Lessons in Drawing, Crayoning, Pastel, China and Oil Painting. German and French languages taught and spoken. Special attention paid to Elocution and Voice Culture. Normal course with Diploma for teaching. Strict attention given to Physical, Social, and Religious culture. Kee Mar College is located in a most attractive, refined, and healthful city of 14,000 people. SEND FOR CATALOGUE AND JOURNAL TO Rev. C. L. KEEDY, A. M., M. D., President, Hagerstown, Md. WILLIAM SMALL, DIM BOOK nnunt AND DOOR Mm, 6 WEST MARKET STREET, YORK, PENNA. w. S^SGHRODER, DEALER IN Hats and Caps? VBoots and Sho^s? No. 6 Balto Street, Gettysburg. Spalding's Livery Stable, STRATTON ST., GETTYSBURG, PA. Branch Office, E. S. Faber's Cigar Store. Hacks, Carriages, Wagonettes, Double Teams, Riding Horses, Large Wagons Capable of Holding Sixty Persons at a Time. COMPETENT GUIDES FOR THE BATTLEFIELD. CHAS. J. SPALDING, Proprietor. —^-Jo^y) l'""|l||||||||!||||||||||ll"|||"ll''|i||"'|||||"'i|lll||ll"""|t|l"""l'""|"|l|"""li"IIU11""11"111 (0S§j"*— Gettysburg Carriage Works, CHAS. J. SPALDING, Proprietor. WEST MIDDLE STREET. BUILDER OF oo REPAIRING PROMPTLY DONE. ADVERTISEMENTS. F. D. SCHRIVER, Draper, Importer, • • fl^D Merchant Tailor, 23 Baltimore Street, GETTYSBURG, PA. The College Mercury. Vol. I. Gettysburg, Pa., May, 1893. No. 3. THE COLLEGE MERCURY, Published each month during the college year by the Students of Pennsylvania (Gettysburg) College. STAFF. m ■ Editor: GELLERT ALLEMAN, '93. Associate Editors ; MARION J. KLINE, '93. FRED. H. KNUBEL, '93. PAUL W. ROLLER, '94. JOHN J. BRALLIER,'93. NIELS L. J. GRON, *93. FLAVIUS HILTON, *93. Business Manager; G. FRANK TURNER, '93. Assistant Business Manager : BENJAMIN R. LANTZ, '94. ™ /One volume (ten months), . . . .$1.00 lERMS*t Single copies, 15 Payable in Advance. All Students are requested to hand us matter for publication. The Alumnt and ex-members of the College will favor us by send-ing information concerning their whereabouts, or any items they may think would be interesting for publication. All subscriptions and business matters should be addressed to the Business Manager. Matter intended for publication should be addressed to the Editor. Address, THE COLLEGE MERCURY, Gettysburg, Pa. CONTENTS. EDITORIAL, 37 FREEDOM IN GERMAN UNIVERSITIES, 39 MOTHER EARTH 41 ZEROS 41 COLLEGE LOCALS, 42 ALUMNI, 45 FRATERNITY NOTES 50 ATHLETICS, 51 TOWN AND SEMINARY 52 LITERARY SOCIETIES ,.,.,, 54 EDITO-RIAL. AN impetus has been given this year to oratorical contests between colleges, particularly in the East. The Western insti-tutions have had this test of comparison for some time, but in this section, it has fallen into disuse or been superseded by the various field contests. Of late years, the struggle between most colleges have savored more of brawn than brain.' A reaction in favor of the latter has, however, been awakened, and it will be appropriate and beneficial if only to a limited extent the training turns from matter to mind. The intellectual should figure to a larger extent than it does. This is a step in the right direction and would be eminently in keeping with the idea of a school of learning. There is a movement on foot to form a State Inter-Collegiate Oratorical Association, and it is proposed that those colleges which have representatives in the State Athletic Associa-tion be elegible to membership. Here is a fresh field for a display of comparative prowess, and would have something to distinguish it from the exhibition of an ordinary athletic club. The enthusiasm manifested in our col-lege of late in all departments shows the state of affairs to be healthy and is accomplishing many good results. In this new opportunity for a test of strength Gettysburg will meet her sisters in any overtures. What's to be done about it? * * WHEN a mob marched the streets of Paris, a young corporal in charge of a regi-ment held them at bay by a salute of cannister. This was Napoleon, and his method of master-ing the situation was by annihilation. In one of the mining camps of the West a mob of 38 THE COLLEGE MERCURY. lynchers are subdued by a gentleman, alone, unarmed, by the power of personality. With guns pointed at his own breast as well as at the one he was protecting, while from two hundred throats came the ominous slogan, "Lynch him!" the pistols are lowered, the thirst for blood withstood,the crowd conquered, by the simple words uttered with rare presence of mind and nerve, " Boys, you can't have this man." This is Heffefinger, famous for his prowess on the foot-ball field, now a Pay-master on a Northwestern railway. " A new field for the athlete" at first suggests itself. Yet it is but the legitimate field of the true athlete, who is nothing less than a true gen-tleman. The admiration for the ability of this man, confined heretofore, perhaps to the lovers of sport, resolves itself into a more exalted esteem and must be shared by all lovers of true manhood. There is no surprise in the incident. He that in the whirl of a foot-ball game, when the brain seems to lose the faculty of percep-tion, when all the world goes round, when one is conscious of nothing but fists, and arms, and knees, and death-like embraces, and earth itself is no longer a terra finna for one's feet, but leaves him treading on space till it rises to meet him with a thud; he who in such a melee keeps himself in order amid general chaos in a master manner, must in similar cir-cumstances, prove master of the situation. And the circumstances are not unlike. There is also a little to be said in favor of a sport that furnishes opportunities for the culture of such nerve and presence of mind. * * THE musical clubs have taken down the orange and blue and hung black on their car. The decree has gone forth that they will not be allowed to give entertainments, during this term, away from town. The musical ability that has wandered into our midst during the last few years has been carefully fostered until at present the college has among its students an organization of mu-sicians such as it has never before possessed, and one which is the equal of any of the simi-lar college clubs in existence—we make no exception. At the very height of success, the Faculty, by refusing to allow the clubs to make a short trip, have brought on a crisis in things musical. This action has also deprived the college of one of its best advertising me-diums. There is hardly a college in the land that does not realize the advantage to be de-rived from a traveling organization representa-tive of its musical talent. The most serious consideration, however, is as to the future. Under the existing circumstances it is a ques-tion whether the men next year will feel justi-fied in making such extensive preparation to give a series of concerts, as it involves sacri-fices of time and money. Can we afford to lose our place in the ranks of the progressive colleges? * * ONE of the luckiest strokes of fortune that could happen this college would be the en-dowment of a Department of History and Poli-tics. Owing to the present union ofthese depart-ments with that of English literature the work of the professor is hampered on both sides. This combination is a most unnatural and illogi-cal one. Just as reasonable would it be to give the management of the instruction in his-tory and politics to the Greek, or Latin, or German professor. Moreover, an extension of the electives in both English and history is desirable but impracticable, because the pro-fessor is already overworked. We feel confi-dent also that the course in literature and rhetoric for the under-classmen is curtailed not because the Faculty do not realize the import-ance of these subjects, or because the students are crowded for time, but on account of a lack of facilities. The prime reason, however, for this plea is the educational value of history itself. What men think of the world depends on what they know of it, and we dare say most of us know little enough. This, of course, is partly our own fault, but it is also due in great measure- to the lack of adequate instruction in THE COLLEGE MERCURY. 39 history. Whenever any of our liberal-minded friends feel disposed to give Gettysburg Col-lege some thousands of their wealth, let them remember the really urgent need of a separate department of History and Politics in this institution. * * * THIS is the last issue of THE MERCURY that the present staff will control. The societies have elected a new staff and they will have control of the publication for one year. We are pleased to state that THE MERCURY is on a sure financial basis already and we wish to thank all those who have contributed to its success. The many words of commendation which we have received on every hand, both by letter and through the press, have been very encouraging and have aided us. We were tempted to publish some of these but we remained firm in our first decision that THE MERCURY must stand on its own merit. The new staff is as follows: Editor, Julius F. Seebach ; Assistant Editors, Frank Fickin-ger, Sumner R. Miller, Roscoe C. Wright, Henry E. Clare, Alfred S. Cook, Paul W. Roller, and Waldo D. Maynard; Business Manager, Benj. R. Lantz; Assistant Business Manager, Chas. F. Kloss. We bespeak the same consideration for the coming staff that has been shown the retiring members of the board. FREEDOM IN GERMAN UNIVERSITIES. THE hegemony of Germany in all branches of science, without excep-tion, must be recognized by all civilized na-tions. It is a fact that Germany, scientifically, produces more than all the rest of the world." Mon. F. Lot, L'enseignement superieur en France. Ce qu'il est ce qu'il devrait etre, 1892. The wisdom of Germany, it is often sneer-ingly said, is professorial wisdom. Look at England and you will see men like Humphry Davy, Faraday, Mill, Grote, Darwin, Spencer, who have no connection with English institu-tions. In the fatherland, however, the case is different. Nearly all the pioneers of science hold academic chairs, those who do not have at least the right to deliver lectures in the uni-versities. The universities are the seats of science. No wonder that scholars of every tongue come to them, even from the farthest parts of the earth. What is the cause of this prominent position ? It is the freedom which is granted to the students and to the profes-sors. To the German mind students are young men, responsible to themselves, who aspire after science of their own free will. They arrange their own plan of studies as they think best. They have free choice among the teachers of the same subject. It matters not whether these be ordinary or extraordinary (assistant) professors or private docents. At the same time they have perfect freedom to migrate from one university to another, from Ronigsber"' to Zurich, from Gottingen to Gratz. Outside the university there is no con-trol over the conduct of the students so long as they do not come into conflict with the guardians of public order. No civil authority can touch the color-bearing citizen of the re-public of letters. Even if the drawn swords of policemen should meet the naked rapier of the " Burschen," the university authorities are called upon to decide. The " Bursche " stands or falls to his rector. It must be considered fortunate that German students have retained a vivid sense of corporate unions, by which an honorable behavior of the individual is demanded. To Americans this uncontrolled freedom is, no doubt, a subject of astonishment. How can young men be left thus to themselves without the greatest detriment? But it must be remembered that no German is allowed to become a citizen of a university except he has given proof of his ability to use rightly the freedom which is granted to him. He comes from the gymnasium with a logically 40 THE COLLEGE MERCURY. trained judgment, with a sufficient habit of mental exertion, with a tact developed on the best models to discriminate truth from the ap-pearance of truth—right from wrong. Delighted in youthful responsibility, he then devotes himself to the task of striving after the best and noblest which the human race has hitherto been able to attain in knowledge and in speculation. Joyfully he sings : " Hurrah ! Freies Wort lebe ! Hurrah hoch ! Wer die Wahrheit kemiet und saget sie nicht, Der bleibt furwahr ein erbarmlicher Wicht, Frei ist der Bursch !" He is joined in friendly rivalry with a large body of associates of similar aspirations. In mental intercourse with his teachers he learns how to " work the thoughts of independent minds." The German regards his student life as his golden age. With the melancholy tune's: " O alte Burschenherrlichkeit! Wie schnell bist du verschwunden ! Nie kehrst du wieder, goldne Zeit, So froh und ungebunden," he leaves the city of the muses. Since the German students are esteemed as men, whose unfettered conviction is to be gained, and who can no longer be appeased by an appeal to any authority, instruction is given to them only by teachers who have proved their own power of advancing science. No professors are introduced into the faculties who have not the qualifications of an inde-pendent academical teacher. He who desires to give his hearers a perfect conviction of the truth of his principles must know how convic-tion is acquired. He must have worked at the confines of human knowledge, and conquered for it new regions. A teacher who retails views which are foreign to him may be sufficient for those pupils who depend upon authority as the source of their knowledge. To such, however, as require bases for their beliefs, which extend to the very bottom, an opinion which is not based upon independent research, appears of no value. It is only with students who give themselves to the formation of inde-pendent thoughts that the intelligence of the teacher bears any further fruit. But the conviction of the student can only be acquired when freedom of expression is guaranteed to the teacher's own conviction. Liberty of teaching has not always been in-sured in Germany. In times of political and ecclesiastical struggles the ruling parties have often enough allowed themselves to encroach. The political freedom of the new empire has brought a cure for this. There is now no ob-stacle to the discussion of a scientific question in a scientific spirit. When toward the end of 1892 a reactionary party sought to deprive the theologians of the advanced school of their academic chairs, the German nation regarded the movement as an attack upon their sanctu-ary. Liberty of teaching! Freedom alone can cure the errors of freedom and a riper knowledge, the errors of what is unripe. No wonder that the Germans have such a number of young men, the so-called " privatdocenten," who without salary, with insignificant incomes from fees, and with very uncertain prospects of the future, devote themselves to arduous sci-entific work. And how readily the faculties admit young men who at any moment may change from assistants to competitors. Thus it has been seen that the entire organi-zation of the German universities is permeated by respect of free, independent thought. This love of freedom, which is more strongly im-pressed on the Teutons than on their Aryan kindred of the Celtic and Romanic branches, is the main cause of the intellectual supremacy of Germany. But liberty necessarily implies responsibility. The German professors and students are in a responsible position. They have to preserve a noble inheritance not only to their own peo-ple, but also as a model to the wider circles of humanity. They must work for independence of conviction. I say zvork! For indepen-dence of conviction is not the facile assumption THE COLLEGE MERCURY. 41 of untested hypotheses, but can only be ac-quired as the fruit of conscientious inquiry and earnest labor. They must also show that a conviction which they themselves have worked out is a more fruitful germ of fresh insight and a better guide for action than the best inten-tioned guidance by authority. The spirit which overthrew the yoke of the Church of Rome also organized the German universities. Germany, which in the six-teenth century first revolted for the right of free inquiry and gave its witness in blood, is still the van of this fight. Truly to Germany has fallen an exalted historical task. And if the mighty armies of her mighty foe should invade her sacred borders and crush the youth-ful defenders of the united Empire, Germany will still be the conqueror of the world. MOTHER EARTH. Mother Earth is waiting for her children, Wooing them to seek her quiet breast, Offering for their wounds a balmy healing, For their weariness—a dreamless rest. When the sun is riding in the heavens, When the day is shining warm and bright, Then they oft forget the patient mother, Yet she knows they will return at night. Mother Earth is calling to her children, Calling them in every passing breeze, In the mystic murmur of her waters, In the rustling of her forest trees; But the tender music of her whisper Falls unheeded on each deafened ear, For the chinking of her gold and silver Is the sweetest melody they hear. Mother Earth is beckoning to her children, Beckoning from each dancing flower and vine, Fluttering hands from every nodding tree-top, Wave and beckon in the glad sunshine; But her children's eyes are strained with watching For the fluttering of their while-sailed ships, For the laden barge whose longed-for coming Sets the wine of fortune to their lips. Mother Earth, thy children have forgot thee In the bustle of their noisy life, Lost are all thy gentle invitations In the dust and din of noonday strife; But when evening dews are softly falling Then, all bruised and weary from the fray, Heeding late thine oft-repeated summons, One by one they drowsily obey. —M. R. H., '94. ZEROS. IN the great problem of destiny, whether it be that of a race or of a nation—or per-chance of both—we find figures of value and zeros as in the simplest mathematical problem. In scanning the pages of history we find in every problem presented to the race for solu-tion, whether one of sociology or one of national or international importance, men of foresight, men of wisdom, men of individual thought and action—great men—who at a glance have grappled with the questions of the hour, and, by their industry and perseverance, planted on heights far in advance the ensigns of liberty and progress. As we look upon the great march of hu-manity, from the gates of Eden to the nine-teenth century, we see in the vanguard of this mighty host men leading in thought and in action, the light of whose achievements, shin-ing with refulgent splendor, has illumined ever the pathway of nations. In the constellated canopy of history there are stars which far surpass their fellows in brilliancy and splendor. Amid the social darkness of the fifteenth century, when igno-rance and superstition enveloped Europe as with a pall, there shone forth a Calvin and a Luther—bright stars which will continue to shine with an ever-increasing brightness until the dawning of the other day. When the great problem of the Reformation presented itself to mankind for solution all must admit that these men were figures of inestimable value. When the problem of American Indepen-dence was presented to the struggling colonies for solution, we see a Washington, a Jefferson, an Adams, and a Henry, at whose urns we may even to this day rekindle within our 42 THE COLLEGE MERCURY. breasts the slumbering fires of patriotism, and freely imbibe the true spirit of fatherland de-votion. A quarter of a century ago, when the life of the nation hung trembling in the balance, when one of the greatest problems to which a nation has ever been brought face to face was presented to Americans for solution—a pro-blem which cost many a human sacrifice upon the altar of a country's devotion, and for which the sod of many a field was crimson-dyed— there stood forth from the multitude, pre-eminent among all other leaders, the immortal Lincoln, whose life-work can be best summed up in the intertwining of the pine and the pal-metto o'er his tomb. Thus has it been through all history from the beginning. However trivial or mighty in importance the problems have been, we find alongside of the figure's value the zeros. As there are those who of themselves advance, and thus advance our race, so are there those who by their efforts would retard the onward, upward march. We meet on every hand these counteracting, deadening influences. These negative forces are at work in eveiy age. They pull down where others build; they tarry where others progress. Setting themselves up in opposition to every generous impulse, every noble endeavor, and every patriotic movement, as zeros to the left of a significant figure, they decrease the value of all that is noble and good, and depreciate whatever is honorable and upright. But who are zeros ? Well may we ask. In brief, carrying out the original figure, men who are nothing, stand for nothing, have not the courage of their con-victions, without individual value, unstable as water, wavering as the reed in every wind that blows. In this age of constant change, this age in which Church and society are under-going so many transformations, zeros.are not wanted, but men. Men who are not driven hither and thither by every wind of dissension, nor stranded upon the shoals of every new doctrine ; men who can, when these storms arise, let down through the troubled waters the anchor of firmness and stability until it rests secure upon the grand old rock of prin-ciple. These are the men who preserve our government and free institutions, not only in times of civil commotion, but also in the hour of a nation's peril. Many and varied are the problems which are brought before the American people. These problems must be solved, and each American citizen is a factor in their solution. As we look about us, particularly at election time, and see the masses—the body politic of this great Republic—arranged as so many zeros at the dictation of a " party boss," dis-posed of as though they possessed no individual opinions, no individual value, does not this spectacle impress us with a sense of the dan-gers toward which we are drifting ? By using such factors in the solution of our political problems, is it difficult to see what the result will be ? The result of every problem is in proportion to the number of zeros employed in its solution. Bearing this thought in mind, I would plead earnestly for individual thought, individual action, individual merit, individual value and worth. The words of Longfellow come to us with a peculiar aptness, " In the world's broad field of battle, In the bivouac of life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle, Be a hero in the strife." When this becomes a living reality, will America reach the summit of national great-ness. Then might will not make right, and justice will not be handicapped. ROSCOE C. WRIGHT. COLLEGE LOCALS. MARION J. KLINE, Editor. SINCE the last issue of THE MERCURY Dr. Charles Baum, '74, of Philadelphia, has endowed the Baum Sophomore Mathematical Prize with $500. The interest on this amount will be annually given to the Sophomore who THE COLLEGE MERCURY. 43 attains the highest grade in mathematics. THE MERCURY wishes to extend to Dr. Baum the sincere and hearty thanks of the students of his Alma Mater for his kindness. The Philadelphia Press of April 20th con-tains the following item of interest to all friends of our college and the Lutheran Church: " The will of the late Jacob Reddig, of Ship-pensburg, was probated to-day before Register Clark. The public bequests made by the tes-tator are $500 to the Theological Seminary of the General Synod of the Lutheran Church; S500 to the Pennsylvania College at Gettys-burg ; $500 to the Board of Home Missions of the General Synod of the Lutheran Church ; S200 to the Lutheran Board of Church Ex-tension ; $200 to the Education Society of the West Pennsylvania Synod of the same church ; Si00 to the Missionary Institute at Selin's Grove, and $100 to the Tressler Orphans' Home at Loysville." " Mr. R., you should never pick your teeth with a metallic tooth-pick !" Mr. R., of'95.—" I beg your pardon, but it isn't metallic. It is gold." Is that the kind of non-metallic gold you have in New York State ? Prof. H.—" What treaty was made in the year 1842 ?" Mr. O., of '93.—" There was a treaty con-cerning neutral trade made by Washington!' Prof. B.—" What mode is attributo ?" Mr. M., of '96.—"Ablative." Mr. J., of '95, says he is taking vocal lessons in singing. Persevere, Charley, and you will make the glee club. Chappie H., of '95, insists upon it that Adam was in the ark, while Mr. E., of '95, who is famed for his extensive and accurate knowl-edge of the Bible, graciously points out to him his mistake by telling him it was Moses. Mr. K., of '93, is quite an electrician. The other day he was heard to exclaim: " Hello, Rutt; do you have any isolated wire ?" Dr. B.—" What was the number of soldiers who were placed as a guard over Peter in prison ?" Mr. V., of '93.—" There were four quarts— I mean four quarters of soldiers." Bad break, Billy. " What is the subject of your graduating speech ?" one Senior was heard to ask of an-other. " They gave me 3 Es and 5 Ds," was the significant reply. Mr. H., Sr., of '95 (hunting for molybdate solution).—" Doctor, where will I find the elliptic solution?" Mr. B., '93, has a phonogragh. During the Easter vacation he was giving entertainments. One evening he made the following announce-ment : " The next selection is ' The Midnight Fire Alarm,' as played by the U. S. Marine Band. You must listen for the gong and then the alarm will be sounded." Then the phono-graph played " Nearer, My God, to Thee." Mr. B. now puts the title on each roll. Mr. S., '94 (carving pork).—" This beefsteak has the queerest appearance of any beefsteak I ever saw." Put on your glasses, Selly. Mr. R., of '95 (as a six-mule team passes by).—" Well, a six-horse team for such a little load ! New York must certainly have some ' way-back' sections." Mr. A., of'93, to Mr. G, of '93 (with photo-graph of beautiful young girl suspiciously near his lips).—" Stop kissing that photo., G." Mr. G.—" I am not kissing it. I'm blowing the dust off." Mr. B., of '93 (to street-car conductor).— " Please give me a transfer to Heart-iy Street." With a phonograph to occupy his mind and a girl to possess his heart, our friend B. is in a bad way. Mr. H., Sr., of '95, says that there are a large number of Italians digging up the electric rail-road. Dr. S.—" Pants is the abbreviated form of pantaloons, Mr. C." Mr. C, of '07.—" But, Doctor, pants is uni-versally used." " Arthur, I fear we must modify the univer-sality of the usage." Mr. S., of '93, says Gettysburg is a bad place for crows. " One day I saw fifteen dead crows walking along the railroad track." That must have been a remarkable sight. At a "World's Fair Exhibit" contest for amateur photography, Mr. R. A. Warner, for- 44 THE COLLEGE MERCURY. merly of the class of '95, had the compliment paid him as a photographer of having seven of his views selected for exhibition. Among the views was one of" Pennsylvania Hall," Gettys-burg College, and also a bird's-eye view of the campus. THE MERCURY extends congratula-tions. Several years ago the Board of Trustees passed a rule that, beginning with the Class of '93, each class shall be represented in the Com-mencement exercises by ten speakers. These speakers shall be the ten men who shall have attained the highest averages in their studies for the three terms of Junior year and the first two terms of Senior year. This arrangement is much more satisfactory to all concerned than the former rule of having the whole class speak, and its wisdom is exemplified in the case of the present class, which will graduate about 50 men. In accordance with this rule Dean Bikle has made the following announcement of speakers and subjects: Latin Salutatory, John J. Brallier; "Safe-guards of Suffrage," C. Edward Allison; " Man's Use of Natural Forces," William H. Deardoff; "The Roman Element in Modern Law," John G. Dundore; " Socialism and In-dividual Liberty," William J. Geis; "The Gothenburg System," Andrew S. Hain ; " Na-tional Quarantine," William C. Heffner ; "Fa-miliarity with the Best Literature," Frederick H. Knubel; "Literature and Revolution," Edgar Sutherland ; " Valedictory," Marion T. Kline. Another evidence of the progressive spirit of our preparatory department appears in the adoption of a new marking system, viz., ex-emption from examinations to those who se-cure a term-mark above a certain per cent. This system—new to us—has been almost universally adopted by the larger colleges and universities, and has in it much to recommend it to our own institution proper. It' has be-come almost an aphorism that examinations do not measure a student's ability or his honest intellectual acquirements. The new system does away with that practice so hurt-ful in its effects upon the college man. We refer to the " cramming " for examinations. And it encourages instead, honest, faithful work from day to day. We predict for the future classes of our college a better equipped set of men as a result of Professor Klinger's advanced ideas on education as shown in his new methods. The " Class Day" Committee, of the Class of '93, Messrs. Brallier, Guss, Hilton, Knubel, and Kline, have arranged a programme for Class Day, and it has been adopted by the class. The class also selected the gentlemen who have places on the programme. The following is the programme : TUESDAY, JUNE 20TH, 1893. Master of Ceremonies Gellert Alleman 3 l'- M. Ivy Poem, Frank R. Welty Ivy Oration, . John C. Bowers Ivy Song, . Class of '93 6.30 I1. M. Music, Band Address of Welcome, Jerome M. Guss Class Roll, Virgil R. Saylor Music, Band History, G. M. K. Diffenderfer " Bellamy," Charles W. Leitzell Music, Ban(i " Pulswana," William L. Ammon Class Song, Class of'93 John Hay Kuhns, Poet On April 8th, at 11.15 A. M., our President, Dr. H. W. McKnight, set sail from Hoboken, N. J., on the " Kaiser Wilhelm II," of the North German Lloyd line, for a trip to the continent. On Monday, April 17th, a cable-gram, announcing his safe arrival at Gibraltar, was received at Gettysburg. He sails from Gibraltar to Genoa and then will spend one week in the southern part of France. Thence he will visit the principal cities of Italy and pass through Switzerland and Germany. He will then visit Paris and London. He expects to set sail from Southampton, Eng., about June 7th, for New York. He will return on " The Spree," which is due in New York on June 13th. THE MERCURY wishes the Doctor a pleasant time, and trusts that he may return to us en-tirely restored to health and strengthened for many years of usefulness as the honored President of Gettysburg College. Y. M. C. A. NOTES. The College Association was well repre-sented at the recent district convention held in Middletown, Pa., on the 7th, 8th, and 9th of THE COLLEGE MERCURY. 45 April- There were six authorized delegates from the college, and one from the preparatory-association. They seem to have taken active part in the exercises and devotions, and were full of enthusiasm and zeal for the work as they gave their reports at the regular meeting on Thursday evening, April 13th. The meet-in"- of that evening was especially well at-tended, and close attention was paid to the talks delivered by the delegates, who recounted the methods and extent of Y. M. C. A. work in the district. Mr. Malof, a Syrian, a native of Damascus, having been present at the Middletown Con-vention, also addressed the meeting in a very pleasant and interesting manner. We expect good results from the Conference of Y. M. C. A. Presidents from the States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland, to be held at Carlisle, April 27th to 30th inclu-sive. The Presidents of both the college and preparatory associations expect to be present, and also Mr. Marion J. Kline, of the Senior Class, who will present some papers before the Conference. The good influence of the Y. M. C. A. among our boys is very apparent and most encouraging. The leaders appointed have, with but few exceptions, taken charge of the meetings and conducted the devotions in a most acceptable manner. Let all our students identify themselves with this organization and attend all its meet-ings regularly. Then we may expect greater results and richer blessings to ourselves and our institution. ALUMNI. FRED. H. KNUHEL, Editor. MANY a letter of praise and encourage-ment has been received by us from the Alumni; they impel us to more earnest work for the improvement of THE MERCURY. The present staff of editors has decided not to publish any of them, but keep this department purely for the brief mention of interesting bits of news that come under our eye. We are always open for suggestions, notes, and the like. Recently the Literary Societies adopted rules to govern the publication of THE MERCURY. Among; them was one which seeks the election of an editor by the Alumni Asso-ciation, who is to have charge of this depart-ment along with a student. It is impossible for one who is yet in college to do all that should be done; his sources of information arc not sufficient. We hope the Alumni Associa-tion will elect a live man for us at their meet-ing in June. Mr. Frank Fickinger, '94, is the student elected, who will hereafter take care of the Alumni notes. Commencement is approaching fast and every alumnus who possibly can should be here. There ought to be rousing reunions of the classes of '90, '83, '68, and even of '43, though the living members of the last named are few in number. Lack of space prevents us from mentioning the Easter services and accessions of our ministerial graduates. The Lutheran Publication Society has just issued The Distinctive Doctrines and Usages of the General Bodies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States. The General Synod is represented by Rev. Prof. M. Valentine, D. D., LL D., '50; the General Council by Rev. Prof. H. E. Jacobs, D. D., LL. D., '62; and the United Synod in the South by Rev. E. T. Horn, D. D., '69. The three other divisions of the book are not by Gettysburg men. Seven P. C. men contribute to the April Lutheran Quarterly. Dr. E. Miller, '41, " The Pastor fertile Times ;" Dr. M. Valentine, '50, " Conquerers through Christ;" Dr. E. J. Wolf, '63, "Two Facts as to Inerrancy;" Rev. G F. Behringer, '68, '' Frederick the Wise and the Castle Church at Wittenberg ;" Rev. J. Wag-ner, '71, " The Lutheran Church Doctrines in the Nineteenth Century;" Rev. M. S. Cressman, '75, "The International Lesson System;" Rev. J. Aberly, '88, " The Decennial Confer-ence in India." Rev. Prof. M. Valentine, D. D., LL. D., '50, and Rev. Prof. H. E. Jacobs, D. D., LL. D., '62, have able articles in a recent number of the Lndepcndent on " Denominational Union among Lutherans." '35. A picture of Hon. M. G. Dale appears in the February School Board Journal. He is President of the School Board of Edwards-ville, 111. THE COLLEGE MERCURY. '36. Rev. F. A. Muhlenberg, D. D., Presi-dent of Thiel College, was stricken with paraly-sis, but has recovered and resumed his work. '40. The fifth volume of Lectures on the Gospels and Epistles, by Dr. Seiss, has ap-peared. It is in size and form like the four other volumes. '44. John T. Morris, Esq., has been spend-ing some time in Florida for the benefit of his health. '46. The Sunday-school of St. Matthew's Church, Philadelphia, Pa., Rev. Wm. Baum, D. D., pastor, celebrated its 74th anniversary at Easter. '47. Rev. J. G. Butler, D. D., for so long a time Chaplain of the United States Senate, on account of the change of administration holds that position no longer. '48. In the Philadelphia Press of April 20th appears an able article by Hon. Edw. McPher-son. It is a stricture on Prof. Woodrow Wil-son's article on the relative merits of Bayard and Blaine. It was copied from the Gettys-burg Star and Sentinel. '50. The April Reviezu of Reviews gives an excellent portrait of Dr. Valentine in an illus-trated article by Dr. Barrows on the World's first Parliament of Religions to be held at Chicago next September, of which Parliament Dr. Valentine is a member. On September 12th he will read a paper on " The Harmonies and Diversities in the Theistic Conceptions of the Historic Faiths." '51. On the nomination of Congressman Beltzhoover, '62, Hon. David Wills has been appointed one of the Vice-Presidents of the Congress of Finance of the World's Fair. The congress is to meet about June 19th. He is also a delegate from the Carlisle Presbytery to the General Assembly. '53. Rev. P. Bergstresser resigned his charge, Middletown, Md., and will make his future home in Chicago from May 1st. He has been awarded a prize for a poem written by him. '53. Rev. J. S. Lawson, pastor of the Luth-eran Church in Pittsburgh, East End, has just issued the first number of a periodical, to be known as The Lutheran MontMy, It is to be issued in the interest of the pastors and churches of the Pittsburgh Synod. '53. A large part of Rev. W. F. Ulery's article on the " Intermediate State," that ap-peared in a recent Lutheran Quarterly, was rcpublished in The Thinker, of London. '55. Rev. Prof. Eli Huber, D. D., who occu-pies the chair of Biblical Literature in the Col-lege, has been bereft of his wife, who had been sick for a long time. He has the sympathy of all. '56. The corner-stone of Dr. S. A. Holman's new church in Philadelphia was laid some time ago. H. M. Bickel, D. D., '48, delivered an appropriate address. '57. Prof. H. L. Bauger, D. D., has been chosen one of the Vice-Presidents of the Anti- Gambling Society, and also as a member of the Advisory Board of the World's Congress on Religion at Chicago. '57. Prof. L. A. Gotwald, D. D., has been acquitted of the charges brought against him as a Professor in Wittenberg Theological Seminary, that he was not teaching the type of Lutheranism under which the college was founded. The defense was that he had not violated the obligation he took at his inaugu-tion. The Doctor will preach the sermon on Sunday night of Commencement Week to the students of Newberry College. '57. Dr. C. L. Keedy informs the public that the report stating that he has been negotiating to sell Kee Mar property, at Hagerstown, to the Catholic sisters is incorrect. '58. Rev. E. S. Johnston received a fine gold watch on April 9th from the members of the three churches composing the Stoyestown, Pa., charge. The occasion was his birthday. '61. Rev. J. B. Remensnyder, D. D., pastor of St. James', New York city, is preaching a series of Sunday evening sermons on the "Epiphanies of the Risen Lord." '62. This year's Spectrum, the Junior annual, will contain a historical sketch of Co. A, Twenty-sixth Emergency Regiment, Pennsyl-vania Volunteers, the College company, by Captain F. Klinefelter. '62. C. V. S. Levy, Esq., has been again appointed City Attorney of. Frederick, Md. '62. Rev. J. L Smith, of Christ Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, was highly complimented THE COLLEGE MERCURY. 47 by the Pittsburgh Journal of April 8th, on his very successful work during his first year's pastorate there. '63. Rev. M. Colver, some weeks ago, preached a special sermon before the Knights of Pythias, on " Faith without Works is Dead." It received high praise both from the Order and the local press. '63. Prof. E. J. Wolf, D. D., is one of the speakers on " Lutheran Day " at the World's Fair next September. '64. The present address of Rev. P. Doerr is Ligonier, Pa. '64. The address of Rev. J. G. Griffith has been temporarily changed from Stella, Neb., to Shannon House, Pawnee City, Neb. '64. Dr. Theo. L. Seip has been appointed by Dr. William T. Harris, United States Com-missioner of Education, as a delegate and honorary Vice-President of the Congress of High Education, at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, which is to convene July 25th, 1893. '65. A cablegram announces the safe arrival of Dr. McKnight and Mr. Scott, at Gibraltar. '68. The Inter-Ocean of Monday, March 13th, devotes a column and a half to a sketch of the history and growth of Grace Lutheran Church under the faithful ministry of Rev. L. M. Heilman. This sketch is followed by a very full outline of the sermon preached the day previous, together with a portrait of Rev. Heilman and an engraving of his church and parsonage. '68. Rev. R. F. McClean, for many years Presbyterian pastor at New Bloomfield, has removed to Carlisle, Pa. '68. Dr. Richard and his wife returned to Gettysburg on Tuesday evening, April nth, from their year's sojourn in Europe. An ac-count of the reception given them will be found among the Seminary Notes. Dr. Richard brings a phototype reproduction of the Codex Vaticanus for the use of the Seminary. '69. Rev. E. T. Horn, D.D., of Charleston, S. C, has been elected to membership in the American Society of Church Histoiy. '70. Rev. A. G. Fesnacht, of York, will erect two houses on West Middle Street, Gettysburg. He was in town recently looking after their erection. '71. Rev. Dr. W. H. Dunbar, of Lebanon, Pa., lectured in Baltimore, at the First Lutheran Church, and for Dr. Parson in Washington. '71. Prof. G. D. Stahley, M. D., Professor of Hygiene and Physical Culture, has been in-vited to become one of the honorary Vice- Presidents of Department Congress of Phy-sical Education at the World's Fair. '71. The salary of Rev. John Wagner, Hazleton, Pa., has been increased from $1,200 to $1,500, and the council voted the same to take effect from his eighteenth anniversary, which occurred on the first of July of last year. '72. St. John's Lutheran Church, Northum-berland, Pa., Rev. A. N. Warner, pastor, bought a parsonage on April 1st, and made the first payment, $600. '73. Rev. S. L. Sieber preached his farewell sermon to his congregation at Lewisburg, Pa., on April 9th. During his three years' pas-torate much has been accomplished. '74. An addition to the Lutheran Chapel, at Hughesville, Pa., Rev. J. A. Wiit, pastor, is planned. Already $3,200 have been secured. '74. Mention is made elsewhere of the gen-erous gift of Charles Baum, M. D. At last the Sophomores have a prize to contend for. '74. The Democrat and Sentinel of Lewis-ton, Pa., has great words of praise for Rev. J. B. Focht. '74. Rev. M. O. T. Sahm has removed to New Millport, Clearfield County, Pa., of which pastorate he has taken charge. '75. Rev. E. G. Hay, Pottsvillc, Pa., was presented by his congregation with an Easter Egg, containing fifty dollars in gold. His successful parish paper, The English Lutheran, is in its seventh year and has a circulation of 700. '75. Rev. E. D. Weigle, of the First Luth-eran Church, Altoona, Pa., was recently pre-sented with a handsome secretary by the young people of his church, the occasion be- 48 THE COLLEGE MERCURY. ing the celebration of his sixth anniversary as pastor. Mr. Weigle will preach the Bac-calaureate before the graduating class of Lutherville Seminary, June 4th. '77. On Easter Sunday a very handsome polished brass lecturn was dedicated in St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Canajoharie, N. Y., Rev. Wm. M. Baum, Jr., pastor. It was pre-sented by one of his members. '77. The address of Rev. R. F. Hassinger is changed from Beaver Springs to Beavertown, Snyder County, Pa. '77. Rev. B. F. Kautz, Millersburg, Pa., has been granted leave of absence for three months to afford him- an opportunity to regain his health, which is somewhat impaired. '77. Rev. F. P. Manhart is starting out with great vigor in his work at Missionary Insti-tute, Selin's Grove. He has issued a number of circulars to pastors and friends of the insti-tution. '77. Rev. W. L. Seabrook has returned from Florida to his church at Abilene, Kansas. His health is fully restored. During his long and severe sickness his congregation has acted nobly toward him. '77. Rev. C. S. Trump and his wife cele-brated the tenth anniversary of their wedding on March 6th. The members of the congre-gation sent a gift of a horse and buggy. Our congratulations and best wishes. '77. Rev. J. J. Young, D. D., now of Rich-mond, Ind., preached trial sermons on April 9th at St. John's Church, New York city. He has received a call from there and will proba-bly accept. '78. Geo. J. Benner, Esq., has been retained as counsel in the Heist murder trial, which will come up before the August court at Gettysburg. '79. Rev. E. Felton, Baltimore, Md., is re-covering from his late illness. He is now in Gettysburg and will remain for a few weeks. '80. Rev. Lindley N. Fleck was installed pastor at Oriole, Pa., on March 12th, by Rev. Prof. Jacob Yutzy, President of the Susque-hanna Synod. '80. Rev. J. A. Metzger recently preached his tenth anniversary sermon as pastor of his first charge. '80. Grace Lutheran Church, Springfield, 111., Rev. M. F. Troxell, pastor, was dedicated on March 19th. Pictures of the church and pastor appear in the Illinois State Register of March 18th. The sermons on the day of dedication were by President Clutz, '69, of Midland; President Dysinger, '78, of Carthage, and Dr. Barnitz, '61, Western Secretary of Home Missions. Mr. Troxell is a representa-tive of the Lutheran Church in the Illinois Church Alliance. '81. Rev. W. P. Swartz was elected Modera-tor of the New Castle Presbytery, which con-vened at Elkton, Md., last month. '82. Rev. H. L. Jacobs has been appointed to the pulpit of the Methodist Church in New Oxford, Pa. '82. Rev. H. H. Weber, General Secretary of the Board of Church Extension, preached a series of inspiring sermons in Bethlehem Tabernacle, Harrisburg, Pa., beginning ' on Palm Sunday, extending nightly through Pas-sion week, and closing on Easter Sunday. '83. Rev. Prof. H. G. Buchler is a member of "The New England Association of Col-leges and Preparatory Schools." '84. Rev. Herman F. Kroh has resigned from the pastorate of St. John's Lutheran Church, Sparrow's Point, Md. He has at present no other charge. His address is 152?. North Wolfe Street, Baltimore. '84. Dr. J. B. McAllister is a delegate from Dauphin Co. to the convention of physicians to be held in New York in June. '84. Rev. L. M. Zimmerman, pastor of Christ Church, Baltimore, has issued the first number of a neat parish paper entitled The Pastor s Indicator. '85. Rev. G. G. M. Brown, pastor of the Union Bridge and Keysville congregations, Maryland, has issued a helpful paper, The Pastor's Anniversary, which contains a sum-mary of the past two years' work, and some spiritually valuable suggestions to his flocl for the future. The suggestions are ones for any Christian. good THE COLLEGE MERCURY. 49 I '85. Rev. E. G. Miller was installed at Eas-tern on April i6th, by Rev. M. Valentine, D. D., LL. D., '50. '86. Rev. J. Elmer Bittle, of the Theological Seminary, has received a call to the Lutheran charge at Braidland, Pa., which he supplied during his last vacation. '86. The Messiah Lutherans of Harrisburg recently voted Rev. Deyoe an increase of $200 in his salary, which he declined in favor of the church's debt. '86. Rev. E. E. Ide has canvassed the western section of Baltimore, and will in the near future organize a prosperous mission. The field is a rich one for an English Lutheran Church. '86. The San Jose, Cal., Report of April 12th publishes an excellent likeness of Rev. V. G. L. Tressler, M. A., in connection with an article on his life and work. His great suc-cess in his church work is lauded and the cause-ascribed, " confidence in ' The Victory of the Faith '." Mr. Tressler is the Lutheran denomi-national Secretary of the State Y. P. S. C. E. '87. Rev. S. E. Bateman is continuing to introduce new ideas in his work at St. Mark's Mission, Hagerstown, Md. He has now a " Literature Table," which is supplied with church papers, periodicals, tracts, etc., for free distribution. '87. Christ Lutheran Church, Harrisburg, Rev. T. L. Grouse, pastor, celebrated its third anniversary at Easter. It was organized with 60 members, and now has 210. '87. The sickness of Rev. Cyrus G. Focht, Centreville, Pa., continues ; he is yet in a very critical condition. '87. The College Forum, the paper of Leba-non Valley College, begins in its March num-ber an excellent article on " Prometheus Bound," by Prof. J. A. M'Dermad, A. M. We await the continuation. '87. Dr. I. Newton Snively has been elected President of the Northwestern Medical Society, Philadelphia, and also Assistant to the Pro-fessor of Nervous Diseases in the Medico- Chirurgical College. '88. Rev. John Aberly, the students' mis- '90. Rev. F. S. Geesey has been elected sionary to India, has issued his circular letter ' pastor of Trinity charge, York Co., and will No. 2, which is addressed to the students of all the Lutheran colleges and seminaries that help to support him. '88. Rev. L. S. Black assumed charge of Christ Church, Gettysburg, on April 9th. The evening following, a reception was ten-dered him in the lecture-room of the church. The local papers of his former charge are sending good words after him. '88. The new chapel of the Church of the Reformation, Baltimore, Rev. D. Frank Gar-land, pastor, will be dedicated on Sunday, May 14th. '88. Rev. Leander Goetz will not go to Evansville, Ind., as reported, but continue in his present charge at Newberry, Pa. '89. The Church of the White Deer, Pa., charge, Rev. R. E. Fetterolf, pastor, burned to the ground on Sunday morning, March 19th. " To rebuild will be a very difficult thing for the present," Mr. Fetterolf says. '89. E. C. Hecht, of Red Lodge, Mont., ex-pects to go to Germany in a year or two to study the Romance languages. '89. Rev. A. M. Heilman, Dallastown, Pa., was surprised by his people recently by the handsome sofa and other things they presented to him on the twenty-seventh anniversary of his birthday. '89. Rev. H. E. Wieand's congregation at Clarion, Pa., have bought the old Methodist church property for $1,250. '89. Rev. H. E. Zimmerman, of the Semi-nary, has accepted a call to Tannersville, Pa. '90. Rev. J. E. Bittle has been called to the charge at Baitland, Pa. '90. Rev. H. C. Bixler has accepted the call to the Manchester (York Co.) charge, and will enter upon his duties about the middle of June. '90. Rev. E. E. Blint has accepted the unanimous call to St. Paul's Church, at Littles-town, Pa. He has been assisting Rev. J. G. Goettman, D. D., of Allegheny, Pa., for the past few weeks. 5o THE COLLEGE MERCURY. enter upon his work about June 15th. He will reside in Spring Grove. '90. Mr. Joseph S. Shapley is a charter member of the Delta Chi fraternity recently organized in the Law School of Dickinson College. F-RATEHNITCj MOTES. JOHN J. BRALLIER, Editor. PHI KAPPA PSI. Bro. A. C. Carty, '96, of Frederick, Md., was initiated April 15th. Bro. G. Frank Turner presided as Secretary at the recent District Council held at Philadel-phia. Bro. Schmucker Duncan, who is attending the Yale School of Philosophy, spent a few days in our midst recently. A symposium during Commencement week is proposed by our chapter. The hearty co-operation of our Alumni is solicited. Among the persons chosen as speakers for Senior Class Day Exercises are Bros. F. R. Welty and J. C. Bowers. The former will write the Ivy Poem and the latter will deliver the Ivy Oration. PHI GAMMA DELTA. Bro. Fickinger, '94, has been elected Alumni Editor on the new MERCURY staff. Bro. Knubel, '93, has been chosen as one of the ten Commencement speakers. Bro. J. W. Richard, D- D., '68, has returned from his extended trip abroad and has again entered upon his duties in the Seminary. Bro. Sanford B. Martin, '90, who spent the first week of the present term with his parents in Gettysburg, Pa., has returned to his studies in Yale Law School. The Pennsylvania State Convention of 0 /' J will meet at the Wyandotte Hotel, South Bethlehem, Pa., May 4th and 5th, under the auspices of the Beta Chi (Lehigh) Chapter. Bro. E. E. Blint, who will graduate from the Seminary in June, has accepted a call to the St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Littlestown, Pa. Bro. Blint will be one of the three speakers from the graduating class at Commencement. Bro. D. F. Garland, '88, surprised us re-cently with a short visit. He is much inter-ested in having the musical clubs come to Baltimore, and says we are sure of success. Bro. Garland's chapel will be dedicated on Sunday, May 14th. Bro. Luther De Yoe, '86, also spent a few days with us. PHI DELTA THETA. Bros. English, '94, and Meisenhelder, '97, were initiated on April 8th. Bro. Chas. Reinewald,, of Emmitsburg, Pa., recently spent a few days in our midst. Bro. Lantz, '94, has been elected Business Manager of THE MERCURY, and Bro. Cook, '95, was chosen as one of the Associate Editors of the same journal. Bro. Brallier, '93, will be one of the ten Com-mencement speakers, and has been assigned the Latin Salutatory. Bro. Leitzell, '93, was also elected one of the speakers for Class Day Exercises. Extensive preparations are being made for the accommodation of" Phi's " at the World's Fair. The Boddie brothers, members of Tenn. Alpha, have offered to fit up a nice, large cor-ner room on second floor of their hotel, the Great Western, corner of Jackson and Frank-lin Streets, Chicago, and donate it to the Fraternity as Phi headquarters. This location is in the heart of the city near the depots, Board of Trade, Grand Pacific Hotel, etc., and the generous offer will be accepted. The June number of The Scroll and a World's Fair " extra " will contain notices of interest to all the Phi men who intend to visit the Fair. ALPHA TAU OMEGA. Bro. James P. Michler,' 97, of Easton, Pa.; was initiated March nth, 1893. THE COLLEGE MERCURY. 51 Bro. W. L. Ammon, '93, will be one of the speakers for Class Day Exercises during Com-mencement week. . / Y recently received information from Bro. ]I. W. Booth, Chairman of A T ii Fraternity Exhibit, that the proposed general Fraternity Exhibit is likely to collapse. A new official catalogue of all members of A T Q will be out in a short time. The direc-tory is under the efficient management of Bros. Booth and Ehle, of Chicago, and will be a book of great interest as a source of infor-mation to all Alpha Taus. The Fraternity Congress of the World's Fair will meet July 19th and 20th in Memorial Art Palace. This will be the greatest Pan- Hellenic reunion ever assembled. The chief and most important event of the meeting will, a joint session of Fraternity Editors. ATHLETICS. PAUL W. KOLLKR, Editor. BASE-BALL promises well, thirty candi-dates or more having applied for the various positions on the team. Captain Geis has the men in hand and gives them an hour and a half of hard practice every evening. The old men are doing very good work, and many new men are showing up finely. Among the new men the most promising are McCartney, '97, Leisenring, '97, Cook, '95, and Hoffman, '95. Many others show decided base-ball talent, which will be developed as the season progresses. The following is the authentic schedule of games as obtained from Manager Turner : Franklin and Marshall, at Gettysburg. Indian School of Carlisle, at " Dickinson, at " Western Maryland, st Westminster. Bucknell, at Gettysburg. Johns Hopkins, at Gettysburg. State College, at " " at State College. Bucknell, at Lewisburg. April 29th, May 6th, May 10th, May 13th. May 20th, May 30th, June 2d, June 9th, June I oth, A return game will be played with F. and M., date not yet fixed. You will notice from the schedule that a great many of the games arc to be played at Gettysburg; that will demand a hearty support of the team by the boys, and let us not fail to give it. The Freshmen class has organized a base-ball team with Mr. Brown as manager. The Sub-freshmen class has also placed a team in the field with McCartney manager and White captain. Some exciting class games can now be looked for. There is no reason why we should not have more class games, they are very often the means of bringing new men to the front. Mr. Chas. Huber, '92, being unable to de-vote his time to the work, has resigned his position as manager of field and track athletics. Mr. W. O. Nicholas, '94, has been elected to fill the vacancy. Manager Nickolas is now ready to receive entries for the spring athletic contest. This contest is preliminary to the annual athletic games held in Philadelphia. The men who make the best showing will be sent to these games as our representa-tives. We are now a member of the State League, and we trust that our men will endeavor to make as good a showing as possible. The candidates for the foot-ball team will practice once every week for the remainder of the term. The work will consist of run-ning, kicking, falling on and catching the ball, and work of that kind. It is very necessary that some work of this kind be done before the fall term, so that we can devote more time in the fall to perfecting the term work. Everybody seems to have caught the tennis fever. There are at present eleven courts about college, and all of them are occupied most of the time. Manager Hoffer has been working hard to make the annual tournament a success. He is now ready to receive entries. 52 THE COLLEGE MERCURY. All who desire to play in the tournament must hand in their names before May 5th. The entrance fee is 25 cents. Prizes will be given as follows : First prize in the singles will be the finest racket Spalding makes. Second prize, a college sash. The first prize in the doubles will be two tournament rackets. Second prize two fine belts. Three booby prizes will also be given. The tournament is to be played during the first part of Commencement week, and is quite an interesting feature of that inter-esting week. No regular work in the gymnasium is re-quired this term, the entire time being devoted to field sports, which demand all the energy one can muster. The athletic field fund is gradually increas-ing. An effort was made during vacation to increase the fund, but the committee has not yet made a report. The following is the Treasurer's statement of moneys received up to date: STATEMENT OF ATHLETIC FIELD FUND. Previous statement, $185 79 From the following, per F. J. Baum : W. J. Miller, 5 00 Joseph Stulb, 5 00 V. L. Conrad, D. D., j 00 Rev. H. B. Bickel, 50 April 21st, 1893. $201 29 E. S. BREIDENISAUGH, Treasurer. Quite a large and appreciative audience listened to the phonographic entertainment given in Brua Chapel on Saturday, April 22d, by Messrs. Bare, '93, and Newcomer, '95, for the benefit of the base-ball team. The enter-tainment was in every way a success, and the snug sum of $20.50 was realized. Many thanks are due the gentlemen for thus helping athletics and at the same time giving the students and citizens of Gettysburg such a treat. TOWN AND SEMITSTVRy. FLAVIUS HILTON, Editor. SEMINARY. ON Friday, April 14th, the Seminary Faculty announced to the Senior class the subjects for their theses. They are: Luther's Catechism, H. C. Bixler; Christian Asceticism, J. E. Bittle; The National Sun-day- Closing of the World's Exhibition, W. J. Bucher ; Catholicity in Mission Work, E. B. Burgess; the Bible in . the Schools, H. H. Fleck; Apostolicum Controversy, F. S. Geesey; the Present State of Higher Criticism, M. F. Good; Inspiration of the Scriptures, O. H. Gruver; the Relation of the Synagogue to the Church, H. L McGill; St. Paul and Women, W. G. Minnick; Phillips Brooks, S. T. Nicholas; Hawaii, H. C. Reller ; Christian Sociology, U. S. G. Rupp ; Fifty Years of Lutheran Foreign Missions, F. S. Schultz ; Duty of a Christian Man, S. A. Shaulis ; Music in Christianity, L. T. Snyder; Ultramontanism, W. J. Wagner. The Faculty have selected as speakers for the Seminary Commencement, Mr. Edward E. Blint (subject not yet assigned), Mr. J. F. W. Kitzmyer, The Preacher as Pastor; and Mr. G. H. Reen, Responsibility of Christianity for Islam. Thursday, April 13th, Dr. Richard made his first appearance in the class-room of the Seminary after a year's absence in the Father-land. The usual rhetorical exercises, on motion of Mr. Pohlmann, were set aside and the Doctor was then assured of the pleasure the students had in seeing him in his accus-tomed place. At the close of the address of welcome, Dr. Richard gave a hearty response and in the course of his remarks, said that Lutheranism was taught at Gettysburg as purely as in any of the German Universities, and that he was proud of the General Synod Church. His remarks touched upon the political, social, and religious state of Germany, but dwelt particularly upon the political. After the Doctor's response, Dr. Wolf and Dr. Hay gave a few reminiscences of travel in Germany. Dr. Valentine consoled those who do not expect to make such a trip by recalling to mind stay-at-homes who have become illus-trious men. Mrs. Richard then told what Germany looked like through a woman's spectacles. Rev. L. S. Black welcomed the Doctor as "one of his old boys." The meeting THE COLLEGE MERCURY. 53 ■adjourned and a general hand-shaking fol- Bowed. A course of ten lectures on Ecclesiastical Architecture will be delivered next year by Dr. Richard. It will treat of the history and development of Roman, Gothic, and Italian ■Architecture. i The Inter-Seminary Missionary Alliance minutes for 1892 contain a very interesting paper, entitled, " The Pastor and the Foreign ! Field," by G. H. Reen, of the Senior class. J. K. Cook will supply, for the summer, at Floyd Court House, Va., and Mr. E. R. [ McCauley, at Blacksburg, Va. The following supplied vacant pulpits April 16th : F. S. Shultz, Morelville, Pa.; S. A. Schaulis, Huntington; M. F. Good, Man-chester, Pa.; O. H. Gruver, Sparrows Point, Md.; W. J. Wagner, Littlestown, Pa.; F. S. Gusey, near Spring Grove, Pa.; Messrs. Dun-lap and Pohlman, at St. James, Gettysburg. And on the 9th, Messrs. Getty and Schantz, at St. James. Rev.S. Stall, editor of The Lutheran Observer, announced that a prize of #10 would be given for the best article on " The Value of a Church Paper." For the second, $5. The treatment of the subject is at the option of the students. Rev. M. Valentine, D. D., installed Rev. E. Miller, at Easton, April 16th. Dr. Richard secured and brought with him a photo-type reproduction of the Codex Vati-canus, the N. T. original in the Vatican Library, Rome. It is attributed by scholars to the middle of the fourth century, and regarded as the most valuable literary treasure of the world, and until within the last few decades not accessible to scholars. The original Codex is written in small capital Greek on parch-ment sheets, 10 by 12 inches, in three columns of 42 lines each to a page. In 1889 100 copies were made, which were quickly picked up by public libraries and a few private in-dividuals. By the aid of a German book-seller in Rome, Dr. Richard was able to get a copy, which cost 200 fr. It is expected the Seminary Libraiy will secure this treasure from Dr. Richard for the use of the students. This, added to our other valuable N. T manu-scripts, exceedingly enhances our facilities for textual criticism. The process made the copies even more legible than the original, and equal to the original for purposes of study. Among his other acquisitions, the Doctor secured Strype's Memorials of Cranmer (1694), and Heylyrts History of the Reformation in Eng-land (1674). TOWN. The congregation of Christ Church held a reception on the evening of April 17th for Pastor Black. Captain Calvin Gilbert has the contract for furnishing the markers and gun-carriages for the position of the regular troops. In the rearrangement of this Judicial Dis-trict it was attempted to join Adams with York and with Cumberland, who in turn opposed the union. It being expedient to separate Adams and Fulton, the only thing left was to make Adams a separate district, and so was reported from committee. This would do away with our associate judges. The Springs Hotel will not be opened this summer. However, large orders for water are daily received, and bottling has commenced. Gettysburg National Bank stock sold recently at $119 (par, $50); the highest price yet reached. Water stock sold at $23.25 (par, $15)- Gettysburg is indulging its passion for arbu-tus this season, and many there be who gayly travel the intervening 10 miles and seek it. Mrs. Walter chaperoned the Clover Club and their guests on their annual pilgrimage in quest, April 19th. Mr. Shantz, an expert botanist, Mr. McCauley, Mr. Frontz, and Mr. R. B. Wolf, all of the Seminary, formed the gentlemen of the party. At the meeting of the Masonic Lodge on the evening of the 17th ult, called for the con-sideration of a market-house and a town hall project, $20,000 worth of stock was taken and a site on West Middle Street, selected on the lots of Ed. McPherson and Mrs. Weaver. An architect was employed to furnish plans. April 17th a crowd of Italians arrived, and were put to work on the bed of the electric road. They commenced near the Peach Orchard. Poles for the trolley have been strewn along the streets. The company has secured the lots on which Wible's Warehouse and adjoining buildings stood for the location of the power-house. The buildings will be re- 54 THE COLLEGE MERCURY. moved immediately. The citizens are contract-ing for electric lights in places of business and private houses. Twelve double-decker cars, each with a trailer, will be put on, giving a capacity for 2,000 passengers per hour. All separate departments of the enterprise are re-quired to be finished by the end of June. ' Mr. Tipton furnished a large assortment of photographs for the Massachusetts and New York exhibits at the World's Fair. It is ex-pected that Pennsylvania and Ohio will engage similar collections. William Lochren, Mr. Cleveland's nominee for Commissioner . of Pensions, visited the battle-field on April 10th. Lawrence Heim and Archibald Mackrell, two of Pittsburgh's representatives at Harris-burg, viewed the field a few days ago. Quartermaster Hiram Hayes and wife, of Wisconsin, were here last week. LITE-RTVRy SOCIETIES. NIELS L. J. GRON, Editor. THE most active society men are now busily engaged in securing new members for their respective society. The members of the sub-freshmen class are the victims against whom the arrows of persuasion and exhorta-tion are aimed. He who desires to rise by stepping on the heads of others will soon be hurled to the ground; the man who wishes to illumine his own society by casting shadows upon his opponents will soon find that his effort has been expended in the wrong direc-tion. If you work for Phrena., do not depreciate Philo., if you are at Philo. then do not fail to give Phrena., at least, her dues. Though there may be some advantage in canvassing new students, explaining and deeply impressing upon them the merits of your so-ciety, yet a much more effective plan would be to see that all of the performances in the society show evidence of diligent preparation and then extend a hearty and cordial invita-tion to new students to attend your sessions. A student who desires to reap all the ad-vantage possible during his four fleeting col-lege years should commence society work at an early period of his course, but before he permits his name to be proposed in either so-ciety he should by all means be sure to visit both, during their regular sessions, at least] once, but better twice. Young men, do not] listen to persuasive tongues nor let your eye I be captivated by richly adorned walls; let the members and their methods of work appeal to your reason and then follow its dictation. This year and hereafter the Inter-Society Oratorical contest between members of the | Junior class will be held during Commence-ment week. The contestants are already be-1 ginning to prepare for the battle and we antici-pate a treat which shall do great credit to the literary abilities of the societies. May not Gettysburg Literary Society mem-| bers soon aspire to even higher honors ? Whyi not enter the arena of the Inter-Collegiate I Oratorical League, which we understand is | just now being formed? PHILO. NOTES. At the first business meeting of this term, I Philo. elected her portion of the editorial staff I of THE MERCURY, she also elected the following officers : President, Dundore; Vice-President, Fickinger; Corresponding Secretary, Allison, Jr.; Recording Secretary, Reitz; Treasurer, Kempfer; Assistant Librarian, Nicholas; Sub-scriber for papers, Mattern. On the evening I of April 21st, a most instructive and entertain-ing programme was rendered. It was the first of I the four authors' evenings of which we have' previously spoken. Lord Tennyson and his works were the subject for contemplation as I usual, selections on the piano was a part of I the programme. The interest which these] authors' evenings seem to arouse among Philo.'s members is largely due to the efforts of the Committee on Arrangements, of which Mr. John Hoy Kuhns is the chairman. Messrs. J. Enniss and Russel Auckerman, '97; have been introduced as active members | of Philo. PHRENA. NOTES. At the first regular meeting of this term, the following were elected to represent Phrena. on the staff of THE MERCURY : Business | Manager, B. R. Lantz, '94; Associate Editors, Wright, Maynard, Clare, and Cook, '95. Shimer, '95, is prevented from returning to| college on account of failing health. He con-f I templates taking up medicine at University 011 Pennsylvania as soon as he is able. i ADVERTISEMENTS. in Wanamaker's. Sporting goods of every sort. Sporting wear of every sort—Coats, [Trousers, Caps and such a gathering of Shoes for every indoor or outdoor game [as was never before seen in America. And Wanamaker prices—as low as [anybody's, very likely lower than any-where else. ATALANTA was the swiftest girl of antiquity. The myth has come true to-day in a Wheel. Our ATALANTA is a Bicycle as fast, as strong, as simple as any on the market; faster, stronger, simpler, safer, better than most of the "first-class" machines. And lighter—weight 30^ lbs. But the best part is the price—$120 for a bang-up $150 Bicycle ! JOHN WANAMAKER. SEND FOR CATALOGUE OF FOR youfSG I^DTSS, NEAR BALTIMORE, MD, This widely known, thoroughly equipped, and extensively patronized School will open its 41st Annual Sesson, Sept. 13th, 1893. All the Departments of a High Grade Seminary. Address, Rev. J. H. TURNER, A. M., Principal, LUTHERVILLE, MD. PROFESSIONAL CARDS. CHJ^LLES s. DUfiCRfl, '82, ATTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR-AT-LAW, Baltimore Street, GETTYSBURG, PA. CHHS. E. STRHLtE, '87, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW, Baltimore Street, GETTYSBURG, PA. DR. CHAS, B, STOUFFER, OFFICE, STAR AND SENTINEL BUILDING, GETTYSBURG. PA. fiber's Dril2 Store, Baltimore Street, GETTYSBURG, PA. Prescriptions Carefully Compounded. matest Styles \r\ flats, Shoes, AND Gents' Furnishings, R. M. ELLIOTT'S. N. B.—Stiff Hats made to Fit the Head in two minutes. A. D. BUEHLER&CO., Headquarters for B©@I^s a^d Brags, Stationery and Blank Books. LOWEST CASH PRICES- IV ADVERTISEMENTS. Absolute Evenness of Touch, Richness and Brilliancy of Tone,] Extraordinary Singing Quality, Unequaled Workmanship, Power of Standing in Tune longer than any other Piano| made, are among the characteristic qualities of DECKER BROS. PIAfiOS 33 Union Square, ^eua York. Used in Philo. Hall at Pennsylvania College. GO TO C.A.BLOCHER'S Jeuielpy Stove fop Souvenir ^ Spoons, ^ Sword Pins, &c. DEEKA Fine Stationery and Engraving House, 1121 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. Post Office Corner, Centre Square. WEDDING INVITATIONS VISITING CARDS BANQUET MENUS DIPLOMAS AND MEDALS COLLEGE INVITATIONS i CLASS STATIONERY SOCIETY STATIONERY PROGRAMMES, BADGES STEEL PLATE ENGRAVING FOR FRATERNITIES, CLASSES AND COLLEGE ANNUALS. All work is executed in the establishment under the personal supervis-ion of Mr. Dreka, and only in the best manner. Unequaled facilities and long practical experience enable us to produce the newest styles and most artistic effects, while our reputation is a guarantee of the quality of the productions of this house. ADVERTISEMENTS. R. H. REININGER, Merchant * * * Tailor. * * THE BEST WORK AT THE LOWEST PRICES. Suits from $12.00 to $40.00. Pants from $4.00 to $12.00. NEXT DOOR TO POST OFFICE, UP-STAIRS. CENTRAL SQUARE. PETE THORNE, Shaving $ Hair Cutting Parlors. FIKST eUASS 7VRT1STS. CENTRAL SQUARE. FLEMMING & TROXEL, Billiard AND Pool "Rooms. BALTIMORE STREET. RfHOS ECKEHT, DEALER IN Hats, Shirts, Shoes, Ties, Umbrellas, Gloves, Satchels, Hose, Pocket Books, Trunks, Telescopes, Rubbers, Etc., Etc. AMOS ECKERT. SPECIAL* TO STUDENTS. Fine Tailoring. JOSEPH JACOBS, Merchant Tailor, Chambersburg Street, (Below Eagle Hotel) GETTYSBURG, PA. Red Front Cigar Store R. H. RUPP, Proprietor. j4o. 8 Baltimore St., Gettysburg. The place for a fine Cigar or a good chew. Solid Havana filler, 5 for 25c. An elegant article. A FINE ASSORTMENT OF PIPES AND SMOKING MIXTURES. VI ADVERTISEMENTS. ESTABLISHED 1876. PE/NKOSE MgEKS, VV/dTcnndrcER s» JEWELER. Liafge Stock of tliatehes, Clocks, Jeuuelpy, etc., on Hand. GETTYSBURG SOUVENIR SPOONS. COLLEGE SOUVENIR SPOONS. That IVHO BUYS HIS BASE BALL, . BICYCLE, . . LAWN TENNIS 10 BALTIMORE STREET", GETTYSBURG, PA. Students' Headquarters IS AT J. R. STINE & SON'S CLOTHING STORE The Cheapest Clothing and-Gents' Furnishings in Gettysburg. CUTINQ, YACHTING AND BOATING SUPPLIES, MERCHANT TAILORING A SPECIALTY. COME AND SEE US. J. R. STINE & SON, THE LEADING CLOTHIERS, MAIN STREET, GETTYSBURG, RA. ELSEWHERE . THAN AT . A. Q. SPALDING & BROS. CHICAGO, NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, ToSMsulison ft. 243 Broadway, 1032 Chestnut St. DnTTLEFIELD LlVEKT. Rear of Washington House, Opposite W. M. R. R. Depot. GETTYSBURG, PA. . ^Mfe All Kinds of Teams. Good Riding Horses. -:o:- The Battlefield a Specialty, With First-Class Guides. DAVID McCLEARY, Prop

The College Metcuty. VOL. IV. GETTYSBURG, PA., JULY, 1896. No. 5. THE COLLEGE MEfiCUftr, Published each month during the college year by the Students of Pennsylvania (Gettysburg) College. STAFF. Editor: ROB3IN B. WOLF, '97. Associate Editors : LEWIS C. MANGES, '97. ED. W. MEISENHELDER, '98. SAMUEL J. MILLER '97. CHARLES T. JOHN W. OTT, '97. CHARLES H. E. L. KOLLER, '98. LARK TILP, Alumni Association Editor: REV. D. FRANK GARLAND, A. M., Baltimore, Md. Business Manager: HARRY R, SMITH, '97. Assistant Business Manager: JOHN E. MEISENHELDER, '97. -n.-.iru ("One volume (ten months). U'UMS-\Slngle copies Finable is advance. $1,110 .15 AH Students are requested to hand us matter tor publication. The Alumni and ex-members or the College will favor us by sending information concerning their whereabouts or any items they may think would be interesting for publication. All subscriptions and business matters should be addressed to the business manager. , Matter intended for publication should be addressed to the Editor Address, THE COLLEGE MEKCUHY, Gettysburg, Pa! CONTENTS. ABSTRACT or BACCALAUREATE SERMON, - 66 THE PLACE or THE Y. M. C. A. IN THE \ ,R SOCIOLOGY OF THE COLLEGE, | CLASS-DAY EXERCISES, . - --- 71 CLASS-DAY POEM, - 71 JUNIOR ORATORICAL CONTEST, - 71 HOME, SWEET HOME. - 71 ROLL OF HONOR, - - -.- - - - - - -74 COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM. --- 74 DEGREES. -74 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT, - - 75 ALUMNI NOTES, 75 SrF.ciAL ANNOUNCEMENT, - - - 77 COLLEGE LOCALS, -' --- . 77 ATHLETICS, 79 HOTEL LOOKOUT, --81 ABSTRACT OF BACCALAUREATE SERMON. BY II. W. MCKNIGHT, D D., IX. D. li'h- 8: 5. "See, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the Mount." These words relate to the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness. It was to sub-serve such great purposes in the camp of the chosen people that God himself had revealed the pattern of it to Moses on Mount Sinai, in-dicating and fixing both its general plan and its minutest details, and saying to him : "See that thou make all things according- to the pattern showed to thee.'' Moses was, first, to grasp clearly the plan, the ideal. He was to go to his work, not aimlessly, but knowing what he was to do and how he was to do it. Definiteness of plan, distinctness of ideal, and fidelity to it were to him the esseutialconditions of success. The lessons thus taught are easily discerned. They are applicable now and here. You, my young friends, are about to go down from a veritable mount of privilege and preparatory training to engagements and a mission that have been fixed for you in the divine plan. Your intended work is to be constructive. You are to be builders in a very high and real sense—builders of character, organizers and constructors of a lifework as solemn in its im-port as destiny and as enduring as the endless cycles of eternity. Nor are you left to guess what you are to do and how you are to do it. God, who has built the universe and formed its myriad and minutest parts together in a comprehensive and harmonious plan, whose purpose shines in every star, blooms in every flower, is enfolded in every seed and finds ex-pression in every voice of nature, has his plan, also, for your life and work. He has embod-ied it for your guidance in the precepts and principles of His word. He has revealed it 67 THE COLLEGE MERCURY. most clearly and impressively in the spotless example of His Son. He has brought you up to that other mount of latest and sweetest reve-lation, the mount of the cross, that you might with open-face behold and with grateful hearts love the heavenly pattern of living and work-ing. Fidelity to this divine ideal is central and all inclusive in your preparation for life. To ignore it is the madness of turning from light to darkness. To practically neglect it will be to repeat the fatal mistake of the foolish builder who "built his house upon the sand," and whose plans and efforts and hopes came to naught in the ruin wrought by the tempest's and torrent's fury. Speaking to you, therefore, in the name of your instructors and delivering to you the final and affectionate charge of the institution, whose training you have received, permit me to set before you the pattern of a true life, to urge you to embody it in the ideal, and plans you form for your work, and to re-peat to you the solemn injunction : "See that you make all things according to it.'' He then presented and discussed the ideal of a true life as ist. The subordination of the material to the spiritual. 2nd. The embodiment of beneficence. 3rd. Having as its radiant centre—its Holy of Holies, God, his will, grace and glory. After discussing these points he addressed the class as follows : "My young friends of the class of'96: In sending you forth now, the Institution is concerned, not only for what you will do, but also for the spirit in which you will do it. It would have you adopt as the stand-ard by which you will measure your achieve-ments a high and worthy ideal and aim. What you will do, the spheres you will fill, will be determined largely by your endowments and opportunities, by circumstances not always within your control. You may not be per-mitted to choose what you will do, but you can determine the spirit in which you will do it. This, more than anything else, will settle the question of your worthiness and real suc-cess. Ideals and aims, whether right or wrong, true or false, lofty or low, though but neutral facts, mere abstractions, become a vitalized force to those who make them their own—a power to be measured only by the comprehen-siveness and reach of the principles involved. Whether in the form of proverbs, mottoes or doctrine, they have masterful force. Men bow before them as the ripened corn before the au-tumn winds. How the recent re-statement of the Monroe doctrine, our nation's ideal for this continent, and its interposition against the ag-gression of England roused the people with readiness to subordinate to it all other interests and to defend it at any cost : "Freedom for the American slave," too, was once only an abstraction, and those who cherished it were decried as wild enthusiasts, but it asserted its sway and, through the proclamation of Presi-dent Lincoln and the victories of the Union arms, became a sublime reality in the disen-thrallment of swarthy millions. Of the Puri-tans, whose unswerving devotion to truth and the principles of liberty once made them seem so visionary, whose name has become familiar as any household word in the homes of free-dom, and whose imperishable memorial is the civil and religious liberty of England and America. Macaulay, tracing the power that swayed them to its source, has well said: "They derived their character from the daily contemplation of superior beings and eternal interests." All history attests the fact that all men who have done the best and largest work first wrought out in thought the pattern of their work. They anticipated the end from the beginning and set their aims toward it as the pilot holds the prow of his ship towards the harbor beyond the sea. Greatness and steadiness of aim impelled Paul and Luther to heroic deeds and made them a world-wide force. The loftiness of their ideals drew them up with increasing strength into spheres of sub-limest achievement. Nor can you come into excellence of char-acter and work in any other way. "Purpose," it has been wisely said, "is what gives life a meaning." It rouses and directs the energies, THE COLLEGE MERCURY. 68 and prevents drifting. Bind your life to that which is great and good, and greatness and goodness will be your enduring portion. A worthy ideal will give its ennobling impress to vour character and work, in any sphere, even as the beauty of the blossom is determined by the colors laid at the root of the tree. In the very sense of incompleteness, of "having not yet attained" which it begets and perpetuates vou will find a prime condition of progress, and an urgency to such sustained effort as in-sures increasing effectiveness and power. "Mrs. Sarah Larman Smith," it is said, "learned to talk of Christ to the Arab women in a few months, and Schwartz to the Hindoos in three weeks." Why? A great purpose— to preach the gospel to the benighted and per-ishing, quickened their faculties and enabled them to do in a few weeks or months what to minds, lacking such inspiration, would have been the work of years. So let it be with you. While you dwell among things which seem temporal and have to do with them, look above and beyond them at the things which are un-seen and eternal. Let your ideal of living and working be a pattern showed to you in the Mount of God, a celestial power and iuspira: tion in the doing of earthly things. Grasp its full significance "in the perfect man" in whom the ideal became the real, and pattern was changed with person. Let His love constrain you ; His arms control you ; His example in-spire and mould you ; let it be Christ for you to live, and the end will be, must be, eternal gain. "See that you make all things accord-ing to the pattern showed to you in the Mount.'' THE PLACE OF THE Y. M. C. A. IN THE SOCIOLOGY OF THE COLLEGE. BY DR. ENOCH PERRINE. A change international in extent has revo-lutionized the college world. Barriers between the different classes and between professors and students have been broken down. An-tagonism between different professors and bit-ter contention between colleges has largely disappeared. Colleges are bound even in an international fellowship. All departments contribute to this movement, the Y. M. C. A. most of all, suggesting a sociology of the col-lege. The young man coming to college thinks first of his social status, the attitude of other students, and whether he shall make war or peace. Formerly he had to conquer a place and having established his reputation as a dangerous man, he visited the newer comer with the same horrors to which he had been subjected. Now the Y. M. C. A. meets him at the beginning and does numberless acts of kindness, exhibiting the characteristics of Christ, "the first true gentleman that ever breathed." It thus binds the college world fast by social ties. This must be done in the college before we can expect, it to obtain out-side, since in the college are peculiar incen-tives for the work. The young man next adjusts himself to his intellectual environment. He begins to be shut in by the material success about him and may be tempted to leave behind his "trailing clouds of glory." Then the Y. M. C. A. can direct aright his thought, insisting that God ought to be traced everywhere, thus binding all his intellectual efforts around the cross of Christ, "by whom all things consist." The importance and office of the intellect in the pursuit of truth will be plain to him. Darwin suffered an atrophy ou his poetic and spiritual side and the Y. M. C. A. may prevent such a fate from overtaking their fellows, thus pre-venting the head from freezing the heart and working a great benefit in the Intellectual life of the college. As he proceeds in the acquisition of knowl-edge, the young student will begin to think that in ideas alone there is a defense against moral degredation and a nepenthe for all dis-appointments. Culture will keep corruption from his hands—will be a shelter in the time of storm. Orators and poets shall be his all in all. Then the Y. M. C. A. may give him 69 THK COLLEGE MERCURY. right conceptions as to the Moral life, assert-ing that it is pitiful when the soul mounts higher but comes not closer to God and prov-ing that he only is truly moral who bases his life upon God. All parts of the social life are to be harmonized under one supreme principle. This is to be found at the foot of the cross and any other proposal is but a scheme of decep-tion leaving the mighty turmoil to seethe and boil underneath in undiminished horror. As the Y. M. C. A. insists upon this no man of culture will wail with Mathew Arnold that "most men die unfreed, having seen nothing, still unblest." But all these results may be successfully ac-complished and yet the student may miss the crowning glory. He may play the gentleman in the highest outward sense, may go willingly to the point where his logical faculties assure him that'there is a God, may develop his aesthetic sense so that the moral thing shall seem to be a beautiful thing, and yet blending by all this glory he may not know that he is really in Chimerian darkness. Then the Y. M. C. A. can declare that only he truly loves who loves a personality, that no one ever got beyond a cold respect for an abstraction, though that abstraction be a s.ream of tend-ency that makes for righteousness, and that one must see the king in his beauty before he will get that larger outlook without which life is flat, stale and unprofitable. The Y. M. C. A. can bring about this very desirable change of view better than any other agency about the college since the ordinary student out of Christ, now that he is no longer in the acad-emy, will resent the efforts of his professors to a greater degree than he will those of his fel-lows. Hence in the Social, Intellectual, Moral and Spiritual life of the college, the Y. M. C. A. can make its influence felt at every point, con-tributing that great and final binding force which will make the students in colleges in all lauds a more nearly compact body, and hence furnishing the material for an enduring sociol-ogy inside the college that shall spread out-ward in power and bring the world into a fed-erated parliament that-shall be the longest known to history'. FINE ART'S LIFE. BY L. P. EISENHART. Delightfully care-free seems the Fine Art's career to most of us. Light-hearted and blith-some, it is like the Arcadian life of poetic lore. But beneath its ruddy surface are the marks of many a suffering, the traces of many a heartache. The working of these hidden cares gives to genius its wonted lustre. Sons of art whatever be its realm are all of one brotherhood. The story of the one is the re-told tale of the other. The history of Italy is one great romance. It is the story of sailors, painters and poets. But its fulcrum chapter is the tale of that life-tossed son of Florence. Dante. Born into the throes of civil war, banished from office, de-serted by his friends, he was turned out of his beloved Florence, a heart-broken exile. Sor-row- stricken, death-doomed, he became a wan-derer with no home on earth. An American poet told his life-story in the epithet "world-worn." But his thoughts kept tending toward the eternal world. There his tender pitying soul found a calm repose. This hidden pain of a wrecked and thwarted usefulness showed itself seared and smarting in the Divine Comedy. Had he been spared these suffer-ings, the world would have lost its greatest epic, "the voice often silent centuries" would have been unheard. Insanity made an exile of another Italian bard. Vexed in spirit and failing in body, it was during the same moments of his prison lite that he poured forth his sweetest strains. In another clime those ballads which inspired a nation's people with the love of country are the life thoughts of a poverty-cursed poet. England's master poet in the trouble time of life wrote his best tragedies. A German poet touched the key-note of Fine Art's life when he said of a fellow-craftsman, "The Muse of THE COEEEGE MERCURY. 70 Comedy kissed him on the lips, but the Muse of Tragedy on the heart." Many a versed line lightly passed by has in it the throb and heart-break of tragic every day. The picture of Scott's departure from life-bought Abbottsford is painted in cold, gray colors. We who read his tales of Scotland life scarce realize the pathos and romance of their writer's ill-fated career. Of it his own words were: "But death would have them from me, if misfortunes had spared them." Pride-stricken, broken in body and crushed in spirit he toiled until his fingers could no longer grasp that noted pen. Scott, the minstrel of Highlandlays, the story-teller of border life appeared in the tragic fifth act of his life as Scott the great-hearted man. The life of Robert Louis Stevenson was one long struggle for health. It was this that led him into the pleasant scenes of Scotland, brought him to America, and finally carried him to the island of Samoa. Yet in these blighted years came his creative mood, came too his working day. *'I count life just a stuff To try the soul's strength on, educe the man." Delightful Jean Paul Richter gave this word-ing to our theme—thought. "Fate does with poets, as'we-do with birds—it darkens the warbler's cage until he has caught the oft-played air that he is to sing." Workers at canvas and easel have painted with real meaning in dark, sombre hues. Michel Angelo working for years on those Florentine frescoes, a victim of civil strife and hated by his fellow-painters is a picture not to be forgotten. Many a time did faithless patrons and flights for liberty stay his brush. The sweet-faced Madonnas of an earlier art age are their master's souls in color. Had they life, theirs would be a touching tale of dingy garrets, sleepless nights, days of untold hunger. Pressing poverty and a father's violence made intense the storm and stress period of Beethoven's life. Few were the moments not embittered by trouble at home, ingratitude of friends and the sting of unjust criticism. But life itself seemed lost when the dearest of all senses to him was gradually passing away. His own sonatas could no longer make sound-harmony. It was at this time that he poured forth his great symphonies, those tales of human woe. That was poetic music, the music of the soul. Not one of Schubert's greater operas was placed upon the stage ; nor was he ever to hear his own symphonies ; to him starvation was an uncanny darkness, ever near by. The Fine Art's life of our master musicians is a song in minors. The saddening notes of their soul-touching sonatas are the echoes of many sufferings. Behind the richly-colored scenes of the glit-tering theatre have been acted life's sternest realities. Queens of the stage and kings among actors have not only acted tragedies but have also lived them. While yet a mere boy, Edwin Booth, snow-bound amid the' wastes of Nevada, heard the news of his father's death, the loss of his only hope. The woman of his first love, the companion in his art, died in his absence. Then came the rash act of a lunatic brother, which cast a shadow over the whole world and for a moment his reputation and honored name seemed lost. But a nation's sympathy and the sense of duty to his great art called him back from his gloomy retire-ment. Returning, "he saw his fortune of more than a million dollars, together with the toil of some of the best years of his life frittered away." "A crowning hurt was the gradual passing away of his style of dramatic art. Booth was a dreamer, made sublime by suffer-ing. It was his cares and sorrows that made him dreamy and mysterious in Hamlet, tender and majestic in Richelieu, frenzied and at the same time affectionate in King Eear. May we not say, then, that often has it been the storm and stress of things that has cried to the Fine Art's soul, "Awake !" The Kalendar is the name of an interesting exchange that comes to our table from the Woman's College, of Baltimore. 71 THE COLLEGE MERCURY. CLASS-DAY EXERCISES. TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 16, 1896. Master of Ceremonies, - - - - L. P. EISENHART. Music—Orchestra. CLASS EXERCISES. Class Roll, ARTHUR C. CARTY. Class History, IRA O. MOSER. Class Poem, EDNA M. LOOMIS. Music—Orchestra. Presentation Oration, - - WILLIAM R. REITZEL. Class Prophecy, FRED. J. BAUM. Peace Cup Oration, WILLIAMG. BRUBAKER. Mantle Presentation, - - - - WILLIAM MENGES. Junior Response, HENRY W. BIKI.E. Final Parade around the buildings, headed by the Band. CLASS-DAY POEM. From our Freshman year to Senior, College life meant toil and pain ; Now, lessons all are learned, and never Need we con them o'er again. Oh, the joy this thought brings with it; Joy wo feel but cannot speak. No more trials with mathematics, Logic, chemistry, or Greek. Yet, amid these thoughts of pleasure, I am in a dreadful fix; For the class must have a poem, And what will rhyme with '96? All the words by Webster given, All of those in Worcester found, One by one I've looked them over, But they give no classic sound. Days and nights I've toiled in anguish, 'Till my brain is in a mix; But not a word of sound poetic, Will make a rhyme with '96. All the class has done and conquered, All its record pnre and bright, Merit words of beauty, surely, Yet with prosy pen I write. I would say, the class are noble, Yet I only call them "bricks;" It is slang, I know, but truly, Noble will not rhyme with six. When I say of this or that one, He does well, he never sticks, Do not criticise my language, It's all the fault of '96. I would say they all are students, Aud I say, "They burn their wicks ;" Midnight oil would sound much better, But that won't rhyme with '96. Sometimes, classes passed thro' college, Trusting in a horse that kicks; Some have wasted time, but never, Was this done by '96. Some, the Faculty have worried, With their wild and foolish tricks. Neither this, nor any such thing, Has been done by '96. Thus, our record's full of honor; Not a conscience here that pricks! Every heart is brave and loyal, In the class of'96. But our college days are over, And we turn in sadness round; Noting now, with tender memories, Each familiar sight and sound. Hall, and "dorm" and "lab" and chapel, And the solemn clock that ticks, Mid our jokes and smiles the warrant For the death of'96. Now, the time has come for parting; Hall and Campus, loved of yore, Loved forever, we must leave you, We may dwell with you no more. Gettysburg, our Alma Mater, Mournful is the latch that clicks, As we pass beyond thy portal, A long farewell to '96. JUNIOR ORATORICAL CONTEST. WEDNESDAY, The Magnetism of Mystery, Our Debt to our Forefathers, National Character, - The Model American, - Home, Sweet Home, r International Arbitration, The Mission of the Jew, - Shoals of Success. - fPhrenakosmian. ♦Philomathsan. JUNE 17, 1896. GEORGE W. ENGLAR:* P. T. E- STOCKSLAGER.f - HORACE E- CLUTE.* ROBBIN B. WOLF.t - A. GERTRUDE SIEBER.* JOHN \V. OTT.f - GEORGE F. ABEL.* HENRY W. BIKLE.I HOME, SWEET HOME. BY ANNA G. SIEBER-The home is a divine institution, founded when God created our first parents in his own image and placed them in that home of prim-eval innocence to form the nucleus of the race. Even since the fallj which "brought death into the world and all our woe," the home bears the marks of divine fingers. Here love's first and finest feelings find expression and the wholesome restraints of government begin their peaceful sway. The Father of us all set the solitary in families and bound them together with ties of mutual sympathy, mutual depend-ence and mutual helpfulness. From the begin- THE COLLEGE MERCURY. 72 ning its divine sanction as well as its divine wisdom was recognized. Among the chosen people it developed into the patriarchal gov-ernment ; among the Greeks and Romans, in their highest civilization, the home was a sacred spot and the family the cradle of social and political power and the school of patriotism and religion. With the neglect of the home and a disregard for the family, came the decay of morals, the loss of power and the fall of the empire. The home must ever be the founda-tion of government, and if the foundations be destroyed, how can the individual, social and political building stand ? If the home be pro-tected and the graces of virtue, education, in-dustry and religion be carefully fostered and cultivated, the nation must live and fulfil her high destiny. The coming campaign will doubtless again fill the air with eloquent argu-ment in protection of the national sheep and the American hen and skillfully fail to mention the imperiled boy in the citadel of the Ameri-can home. Whether our great leaders recog-nize the home in their ambition for position or not, the fact remains the same, that here lies the secret of national power or weakness. There are several insidious tendencies which threaten the national life by destroying the home. There is the mad rush to the large cities early in life to secure financial advant-age. Leaving the pure mountain air, the ten-der ministries of home and nature, the asso-ciations of religion in the country or village church, the simple demands of society, the modern young man is tossed like a toy upon the jostling mass of humanity to "break every tender tie" of home, to live in the city board-ing house or hotel and to measure his untried strength with the powers of the world, the flesh and the devil. His future success in building character that will ornament society, strengthen the church, and protect the nation from potitical peril will depend largely upon the principles brought from the obscure home among the hills and valleys of his youth. The permanence of his financial and social standing must depend finally, not so much upon the tricks of trade, nor the chance of fortune, but upon the fidelity to truth, the per-sistent industry and the self-sacrificing econ-omy, laid stone upon stone, in the tedious for-mation of character about the humble home of childhood. Even wealth or position without these would be a calamity. The mountain stream, bursting from the rock, leaping with youthful glee over many a sunlit cascade, goes hurrying to the broad plain below, to turn the weels of industry, to quench the thirst ol a multitude, to join hands with kindred streams and bear upon her jew-eled decked bosom the commerce of a world. But there are a few simple laws laid down by Mother Nature, from which she must never depart. vSo, from the home must go the forces that will drive the machinery of a nation, strike hands with their kindred beyond the seas, and lift an exiled world back to God. Our success will depend upon a few simple laws which God and our Christian mothers will teach us. One of these principles is that gold must not become the individual's nor the nation's god. There are things finer than gold, more pre-cious than much fine gold. Those invisible hands that bind the gold-thirsty young man to his mother, those imperishable chords that in-crease their tension with distant separation and will not relax through the pleadings of time. Those divine threads that are woven into the web of our lives, in such a variety of color, through so many years of tender ministries, which neither the sunshine nor the rain will cause to fade. That mysterious attraction that tears the busy merchant from his surroundings to hasten to the old home, to feast the eyes upon scenes that will not perish, to quicken the affections that cannot die, to grasp the parental hand that warms with age, and to look upon the face of the only one whose feat-ures beautify with years. What strange calculations are these ! By some irresistible logic, as he stands by the grave of the departed mother, he reasons thus: 73 THE COU-EGE MERCURY. Take these stocks and bonds, these railroad and real estate interests, seize these large man-ufacturing and commercial. enterprises, take this palace of marble and bury them all, rather than let the cruel clay hide from me the treas-ured influence that crowned that life, finer than gold. Wealth must not become our ideal nor our idol. Only as it builds more homes and builds them more beautiful, adorns them with culture and religion, sweetens them as fountains of purity for the healing of the nation, strength-ens them as fortresses for her protection, will it bless our civilization. Another tendency that threatens the home is the social condition which seeks to separate the family. There is a kind of centrifugal force which tends to scatter the members of the household and destroy that bond which should bind them together with a kind of social grav-itation, which afterwards becomes the power of the community and of the state. There is danger of the boys and girls being thrown from the home nest before the fledgelings can use their wings or have wisdom to select their food. There are many temptations to lure them from the tender influences and sympa-thies of those who reared them. Even the recognized helps may prove hindrances ;. the schools that place these young lives in the hands of strangers over half their time from six years of age, the social, innocent pleasures that rob the parents of over half the remainder of their heaven-given opportunities, to say nothing of those attractions which cause many to spend the remainder of their time not spent in eating and sleeping outside of the home. How narrow the margin becomes for the home to do its work. To pi ess the plastic ma-terial into shape, to lay the artful chisel to the stone and hew with loving stroke the perfect form. How jealous the parent should be of these first and best opportunities! How guarded the sensitive plate of the mind and heart, that the first light to shine upon its deli-cate surface should reflect a perfect image ! Is the father anxious to spend the leisure hours in the home rather than in the lodge or club house, or is he too busy with his profes-sion, too closely confined to his business to im-press true character upon his own boy, who shall succeed him in business and become heir of his hard-earned estate ? Has the wife and mother been more anxious to keep flies out of the house than to keep her boy in ; has she be-stowed more thought upon velvet or brussels than upon the delicately woven character of an immortal ; has she studied to make an impres-sion upon fashionable society rather than to impress a future citizen of the State ? The law of nature will not be reversed to make amends for parental indifference or careless-ness. The colors we mix will appear on the canvas, the materials we use in the mortar will show themselves in the building. Is the home the centre of attraction and interest? Then it has its rightful place and becomes the sun of the system around which all things re-volve, from which they get their light and heat and are held in their proper orbits. De-stroy this relation, and confusion and anarchy follow. The home is a miniature government, in which the parents rule. Here begins re-spect for authority and obedience to law, the two great essentials in the security of the State; and if not learned here, may be learned too late to avert crime. Here are developed those finer affections toward brothers and sisters which, when en-larged, produce true patriotism and make "the whole world kin." Here under the form of possessions acquired and protected, the true right of ownership becomes early established, that true love of country may become the en-larged law of self-protection ; thus combining the law of chivalry to defend the innocent and the heroism of the soldier to protect the nation. The social and national life are found in min-iature in the empire of the home which, when properly controlled, becomes the ideal of the national government. The King rules his subjects with a father's tenderness. The sub-jects obey the laws, prompted by filial grati-tude for the general good. An injustice against THE COLLEGE MERCURY. 74 one member is an offense against the whole body politic. Suffering in part enlists the sympathy of the whole. A cry of distress startles the nation and all the nerves of sensa-tion carry the news and the alarm brings re-pair and relief trains over every highway of approach. The homes of the nation must ever be the fountains for the public school, the supply for the church, the protection of our liberties against internal and external foes. These must be the watch towers, and the sons and daughters the real standing army to protect our civil and religious liberties. The thousands of men who live on wheels, without a sure place to set their feet, must have a starting-point and a returning point for their souls, a tension to hold them in place more binding than the rules of the business firm, a restraint to stay their feet on the verge of temptation mightier than law, an unseen angel to stand between them and sin, to guard them from its blighting touch This starting-point is the Christian home, this tension, the mystic chord that binds them to the altar, this angel, the messenger that sits in the temple of the memory and holds the wife, the mother, the innocent children before the soul. The home is a type of Heaven, the perfec-tion of future blessedness. God, the Father of us all, Christ, the Brother of us all, we, the children. From the imperfect to the perfect, from the trial to the triumph. We are but children away from home. Earth is but the play-ground. We stretch onr tiny hands toward the stars glimmering in the dark-ness that surrounds us. We tire of these earthly toys. We cry, in our distress, to grasp the eternal. The father hears his lost childrens' piteous wail and calls us home ; sweet, sweet, home. ROLL OF HONOR. FIRST HONOR. LUTHER P. EISENHART, York. D. EDGAR RICE, Chainbersburg. GRAYSON Z. STOP, Frederick, Md. EDNA M LOOMIS, Troy. GRIFF PRIZE, FOR BEST ESSAY ON HOLMES AS THE POET OF COLLEGIANS." LUTHER P. EISENHAET, York. HASSLER GOLD MEDAL, JUNIOR LATIN PRIZE. ELKANAH M. DUCK, Spring Mills. WITH HONORABLE MENTION OF GEORGE F. ABEL, Philadelphia. BAUM SOPHOMORE MATHEMATICAL PRIZE. JAMES A. MCALLISTER, Gettysburg EFPIE ELIZABETH HESS, - - - - Taneytown, Md! WITH HONORABLE MENTION OF EDMUND W. MEISENHELDER, York. EDMUND L. ROLLER, Hanover. CHARLES T. LARK, - - - - - - Millersburg. WILLIAM H. SPRENKLE, - - - Jack's Mountain. ALBERTUS G. FUSS, . Williamsport, Md. MUHLENBERG FRESHMAN PRIZE. FOR BEST GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP. HENRY ALBERS, JR., Jersey City, N. J. WITH HONORABLE MENTION OF ARTHUR STC. BRUMBAUGH, - - - Roaring Spring. STEWARD W. HERMAN, - . York. PAUL H. BIKLE, Gettysburg. REDDIG PRIZE IN ORATORV. ANNA GERTRUDE SIEBER, . Gettysburg. WITH HONORABLE MENTION OF HENRY WOLF BIKLE, Gettysburg. GEORGE F. ABEL, Philadelphia. *—♦—» COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM. THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1896. Latin Salutatory, GRAYSON Z. STUP. Christianity and the Working Class, - WEBSTER C. SPAYDE. Municipal Reform, . FREDERICK J. BAUM. Cecil Rhodes, -. MERCHANT TAILOR flje tat Work at uje) NEXT DOOF* TO 5 Suits from $12,00 to $40.00. Lowest iPrkss, \ P^^f' J Paots from $00 to $121, ^Centre Square.^ COLLEGE OF PHVSICIANS S SURGEONS, The (College of Physicians and Surgeons of Balti-more, Maryland, i.s a well-equipped school. Four ses-sions arc required for graduation. For full informa-tion send for the animal catalogue, or write to THOMAS OPIE, M. D., Dean, Cor. Calvert and Saratoga Sts. c_£p»Established 1876.-5-5 *PBN110SB SfYBRSJfc WATCHMAKER AND JEWELER, Gettfsborg Souvenir Spoons, College Souvenir Spoons, No. 10 Baltimore Street, GETTYSBURG, PENN'A. J. A TAWNEV Is ready to furnish clubs and boarding houses BREAD, ROLLS, &0., at short notice and reasonable rates. Cor.Washington and Middle Sts., Gettysburg. WiiWlsiHoSwiit DEALERS IN Fresh Beef, Veal, Lamb, Pork, Pudding, Sausage, HAMS, LARD, &c-., GETTYSBURG, IMIM'A. JOHN L. SHERDS. NEW CIGAR STORE Next door io W. M.

The Mercury November, 1909 HELP THOSE WHO HELP US. The Intercollegiate Bureau of Academic Costume. Cotrell & Leonard, ALBANY, N. Y. Mak^« °f CAPS AND GOWNS To Gettysburg College, Lafayette, Lehigh, Dickinson, State College, Univ. of PeMi -ylvania, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Wellesley, Bryn Mawr and the others. Class Contracts a Specialty. Correct Hoods of Degrees To The Class of '10. We have begun our college campaign for next Spring and Summer. Over 25,000 employers look to Hapgoods for their men in sales, offices and technical positions in all departments. Most of these Arms use college men. They arrange with us to cover the en ire college world for them. We have a unique preposition of in mediate interest to any college man who will be open for a propo-sition. Let us tell you about it. Write to-day. TXL _,_^ _j c^ 17^ ,-~ " TIM JVJtTJOJVJJ, ORGJJYMZJITtOJV Of HfipGrOQEltB, BMUMM- BUOHMUBS. Commonwealth Trust Building, Philadelphia, Pa. HOTEL GETTYSBURG, Headquarters for BANQUETS. Electric Lights, Steam Heat, All Conveniences. Free Bus to and from station. Convenient for Commencement Visitors. RATES $2.00 PER DAY. -/i/very G-ttaartea. B. B. Cqwoll, Proprietor. All our drugs aud chemicals are sold to you under a positive guarantee, pure and full strength. H. C. LANDAU, DRUGGIST. EVERYTHING A FIRST CLASS Drug Store should have Opposite Eagle Hotel. lfm0Vmmt*f^mt^mftlwt^n GETTYSBURG COLLEGE Gettysburg, Pa. - LIBRARY - I WE RECOMMEND THESE FIRMS. Established 18S7 by Allen Walton. ALLEN K. WALTON, Pres. and Treas. ROBT. J. WALTON, Supt. HUMMELSTOWN BROWN STONE COMPANY QUARRYMEN and Manufacturers of BUILDING STONE, SAWED FLAGGING and TILE. Waltonville, Duphin Co., Pa. CONTRACTORS FOR ALL KINDS OF CUT STONE WORK Telegraph and Express Address, Brownstone, Pa. Parties visiting quarries will leave cars at Brownstone Station on the P. & R. R. R. For Artistic Photographs —GO TO— TIPTON The Leader in PHOTO FASHIONS Frames and Passapartouts Made to Order. D. J. 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XVII GETTYSBURG, PA., NOVEMBER, 1909 No. 6 CONTENTS. THE WBONG OP WASTE 2 DAVID M. CRIST, '10. FEESCOING A LOST ART 3 ELMER STOUFFER, '11. A HALLOWE'EN STOEY 7 SAMUEL BOWER, '10. THE VOTEE'S DOMINANT PBINCIPLES: WHAT THEY SHOULD BE 12 ROT V. DERR, '10. IS GEEMANY A MENACE TO THE WORLD'S PEACE? 15 C. M. ALLABACH, '11. A NAEEOW ESCAPE 16 R. L. MCNALLY, '13. THE "BACK HOME" BOY 20 EDWIN C. MORROW, '12. THE EVOLUTION OP THE BEAST 22 EDWARD N. FRYE, '10. THE SPIEIT OP THE PLACE 24 HARVEY S. HOSHOUR, '10. EDITORIALS '. 29 EXCHANGES 31 GETTYSBURG COLLEGE Gettysburg, Pa. | - LIBRARY - I THE MERCURY. THE WRONG OF WASTE. DAVID M. CRIST, '10. jO the contemplative mind one of the saddest things in the world is the waste that is going on, and has gone on ever since civilization dawned. Much of this waste is wretched, needless, wicked; it means human efforts thrown away; it is one form of homicide for it sacrifices life and the material that life thrives on, and thus it hampers progress. What does a grain of corn amount to? Nothing, we hear the wasteful man say. Yet the secretary of agriculture of Missouri computes that one grain on every ear of corn grown in his State alone would add one hundred thousand dollars to the wealth of the State each year. We have all been told what a large sum the saving of a few cents a day will amount to, if allowed to roll up for a period of years, yet we all go through life really unmindful of the possi-bilities there are in such little things. A Kansas statistician has recently figured that the men of that State are constantly wearing on their coat sleeves eighty thousand dollars worth of buttons which serve no earthly use. It is easy enough, of course, to over do economy and make it ridiculous, and it is often most difficult to say whether a given policy is wasteful or economical. In this country our railroads work their locomotives very hard, and wear them out in a few years, whereas in England locomotives are used very carefully, and are kept in service several times as long. The English blame our railroads for being wasteful in this, whereas our au-thorities hold that it is better to get the best wear out of any ma-chine in a reasonable time, and then scrap-heap it, and replace it with something newer and better. Large scale producers such as the Carnegie Steel Company of Pittsburg, have owed their success in no small degree to their lavish expenditures, or industrial experiments, and for the in-stallation of new machinery as soon as its superiority to that in use has been demonstrated. So ideas to what is waste will differ. Unquestionably we are wasting our coal, oil, natural gas, and THE MERCURY. 6 timber supplies in this country, but under the conditions it does not pay to husband these material resources. A few years ago the world became alarmed because its fuel supply seemed to be coming to an end. Now, we are harnessing the rivers, water-falls, and even the glaciers, and making them do much of the work that coal hitherto has done. There is no small doubt that before the coal supply is ex-hausted the world will be so completely electrified that the use of coal will have become obsolete. The waste of timber is more serious, and yet as lumber rises in price other materials will be developed to take its place, witness the present rapid introduc-tion of concrete for building purposes. This country would not be what it is if it had been developed UDcler such a saving policy as has necessarily dominated the rise of European nations, so it would be well for us to remember the words of Benjamin Franklin when he said: "What maintains one vice would bring up two children. Eemember many a little makes a nickle. and farther, beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship." FRESCOING A LOST ART. ELMER STOUFFER, '11. EW people realize that the frescos which they see on the walls of buildings are the remnants of a once great art. An art which for the number of men who were engaged at it and scope of application never had an equal. The history of this great form of art is long and of itself interesting to read. It is not the purpose in this article to give the history beyond what is necessary to the illustration of the subject in hand. It shall be our purpose to discuss the art as we know it, and the methods of the frescoer of to-day. It is claimed by many that the art of frescoing was known to the ancient Egyptians, but this is doubtful. If they knew any-thing at all about it, it could not have been more than enough THE MERCURY. •to cover the walls of their houses with the crudest and coarsest kinds of earth colors mixed with water. True one can find buildings decorated in patterns which are supposed to be genu-ine reproductions of ideas found on the walls of Egyptian ruins, but the methods of getting these actual designs are never told. The whole is fanciful and not certain enough to receive much consideration. The Greeks were familiar with the art of fres-coing but the extent to which they developed the art is uncer-tain. The excavations of Schlieman have brought forth some old decorated pieces of walls which were thought to be frescoes, but careful examination has shown them to be mere earth colors applied in various designs. The Hebrews it is certain knew nothing of frescoing. It was not until the beginning of the Christian era that the art rose to its fullest development. The Christian artist wanted an art which would properly express the emotions. The stirring scenes of the early Christian times were the subjects for the •church decorator to work upon. The art which he would use must be able to express faith, hope, joy, sorrow, grief, pain and things of that nature. Sculpture, the art of the Greeks, would not answer his purpose for that is essentially an art of repose. Frescoing seemed the only one capable of answering his purposes so he employed it. Even then the early decorator was held in check by ecclesiastical interference. In decorating the churches he was not permitted, even though he had the impulse, to use any type not traditional. For this reason we find nearly all the fres-coes of this period consist of the gaunt, pinched bodies of an-chorites and saints. In the sixteenth century this art reached its highest state of development. In this period some of the world's most famous frescoers lived, and some of the most noted frescoers were executed. Several of the works produced in this period are extant to this day. The wave of Iconoclast fanaticism which swept over Europe in the sixteenth century struck the art a blow from which it has never wholly recovered. In England nearly all the paintings were destroyed. In some churches they were merely defaced, hut in those churches where the frescoes could not be destroyed without permanently injuring the buildings, the despoilers cov- THE MERCURY. «red them up with lime. On the continent of Europe the hatred was not so intense, and it is doubtful whether any works of real value were destroyed. It is true, however, that when the Icono-clastic wave had swept away, the art was practically dead. In America very little is known about frescoing. Our near-est approach to it are the distemper paintings with which we decorate our theatres and churches. Several reasons might be mentioned for this, but the most reasonable seems to be that Americans are too impatient to apply themselves to a trade in which the first and chief requisite is painstaking precision. The Americans as a class are too much in a hurry to take the time which it is necessary to do a good work of frescoing. The aver-age American does not care what a piece of work costs but he invariably does want his work done at once. So little interest is taken in the art in America that not one color manufacturer is to be found who so much as manufacture the kind of color which mural decorators use. The American decorator must depend upon the shops of Germany for the colors which he uses. German workshops also supply America with her supply of deco-rators. Frescoing as clone in former times required a great deal more skill than it does to-day. The work was all done while the plaster was still soft. The decorator decided in the morning just about how much surface he wished to cover that day. The plasterer, who worked right with him, then finished that much. With a sharp pointed awl or some other instrument the deco-rator then marked the design in the plaster, and proceeded to his task. Sometimes a small design of the work in hand was made and kept lying by to refer to in case the decorator became puz-zled as to how to proceed. The necessity of this can readily be seen when one remembers that some of the great works of this kind were fifteen and sometimes twenty years in the accomplish-ment. If all which was marked could not be done in the day the plasterer cut the unfinished portion off and they began all over again. An almost perfect knowledge of pigments was ab-solutely essential to the decorator of the old time. Lime in dry-ing causes many colors to fade and some to become darker. It was necessary for the mechanic to know just what effect the lime tf**ftiufvrxv GETTYSBURG COLLEGE * Gettysburg, Pa. LIBRARY 10 THE MEBCURY. "An unlucky spot," sighed Proud Patrick. "He ain't the first, nor thirteenth to be tuk tar." Hattie came running in with the holy water bottle and Mis-tress Proud Patrick eagerly bathed poor Oiney's head. As the cold drops fell showering upon his face Oiney winced in spite of himself. "The color is comin' to his cheeks," said Hattie as she knelt over him solicitously. "The fire is warmin' him. He's comin' roun' all right." "God be thanked for holy water bottle said Mrs. Proud Pat-rick. "Let's raise him up a bit," said Del. "An' a drop of nice warm sweet milk with a pinch o' ginger and sugar might do the poor fello' good," said Hattie. "Bether couldn't be," said Del. "An' a bowl o' tea," added Chris. "An' a drop o' spirits," said Joe. At this insinuation a perceptible glow over-spread the features of the unconscious one and to the delight of Del and eve^one there, a sigh escaped his lips. "God be thanked," said Hattie. Del bent over his patient and softly whispered, "Oiney." Oiney slowly opened his eyes and looked wonderingly and in-quiringly about him. "Del—is—is—thet—you ?" "Yis, yis, me darlint." "Del—where an' where can I be?" "Make yer min' aisy, ye are in a dacent house an' with dacent folks. Mister Proud Patrick and Mistress and Hattie McPher-son. Del then asked for a drop of whiskey and tried to persuade Oiney to take it but he refused. "Just a drop," said Del. "Only a toothful," said Mrs. Proud Patrick," and take it as medicine. It'll send the blood through yer veins." But Oiney looked gratefully at Mrs. Proud Patrick and ten-derly at Hattie, but still refused to touch the whiskey. The patient grew rapidly stronger on the beef tea which was THE MEKCURY. 11 tendered by loving hands and thanked the whole family for the trouble they had gone to in his behalf. "But ah, ye knows I can't be kapin' ye dacent folk out o' bed all night—it's almost mornin' now." "Oh, that's all right," volunteered Hattie. "It's no bother an' as to me uncle an' aunt, there, they can go to bed any time now seein' ye are on the fair way to mendin' yerself; an' me an' Eosie-an' Matthew 'ill tarry a while an' git ye somethin' to eat." "Uncle," she continued, "you an' me aunt can now take yer-selves off to bed seein' poor ill Oiney here is gettin' along bet-ter. Myself an' Eosie an' Matthew 'ill take care of him jes as good as if you was here." So with more thanks Oiney bade them good night and wished them a sound sleep and pleasant dreams, and assured them he would never forget their timely generosity. Then Hattie warmed some sweet milk and supported Oiney while he drank it. He was soon sufficiently strengthened to make his way to the fireside with the help of Hattie and Eosie, where he and Hattie sat down together. Oh, I'm ever so glad you're comin' roun' so fast," Said Hattie. "Faith an' I know the doctor I'm thankin' for the same," re-plied Oiney, his eyes beaming upon her. "Och, don't bother me Oiney, it's a poet you should a' been born—you've a tongue as sweet as any poet's." "Well, it's no poet you should a' been born, darlin' but in the Garden of Aiden." "Array, go way with ye." "Yis. in the Garden of Aiden, when man was alone an' com-fortless." "But the Bible never mentioned Adam takin' 'fever gortach," and Oiney reflected. "Oh, Adam would a' got it some how if he had a thot that it would a brot you in its wake." "Houl on Oiney. Take yer arm away out o' that. Take it away. Tre' ain't no danger o' my takin' waikness—no fear of it." "An' thr' all blamin' poor Adam 'cause he ate the apple"— went on Oiney, philosophical!}', gazing into the fire, still keeping ^■^■i^^n^^^^^^^^^^^H 12 THE MERCURY. his arm across her as if absentmindedly. "I know well if I was Adam an' some people I know was Eve, an' that if this partick-ler Eve offered me the same size o' rat pizen and sayed, Here Adam, my sweet, take this, its good, I'd swallowed it an' swared it was honey." "My, what a nice fellow you'd make for the lucky woman that gits ye," said Hattic. "But will ye take away yerself an' take yer arm out o' thet." "Oh," said Oiney in surprise. "Is that where my arm is?" Yet absentmindedly he went on philosophizing upon man's lonely lot had not God given him lovely woman to be a joy and a blessing forever. Del whiled away the early morning hours for Eosie, the maid, and poor Chris and Joe Eegan smoked their pieces of pipe. When the gray dawn began to filter through the blackness of the night, Hattie and Eosie who now had to begin their day's work, bade their sweethearts a merry good-bye after promising to meet them on Sunday evening at the Crooked Bridge. THE VOTER'S DOMINANT PRINCIPLES SHOULD BE. WHAT THEY ROY V. DERR, '10. .NDIVIDUAL right of franchise is the heart of a demo-cratic government. The stability and perpetuity of a nation such as ours depend upon the righteous use of the ballot-box j while corruption and dissolution are the fruit of its abuse. The right to vote becomes a cherished privi-lege by the young man as he approaches twenty-one. At this point a searching question confronts him. Will he be influenced by seductive tradition and paternal inheritance? Will he con-tinue to cast his vote as father always did? Or will he permit his privilege to be directed by certain guiding principles? This is the vital question. When one thinks of the untutored multi-tudes who become the prey of scheming politicians, it becomes an THE MERCURY. 13 important question. But what should these dominant motives, of action be? If our voter is a man of any education or good judgment, he will seek to have a general knowledge of the country's condition and needs. He aims to know the issues at stake, and the plat-form of his chosen party with regard to them. Why ? That he may decide whether the candidate in question is fully qualified for the position. In other words he will endeavor to vote intel-ligently. Not merely boasting a long ancestry who were stal-wart Democrats or life-long Eepublicans. Very often such a spirit is but ignorant pride and betrays the lack of intelligence and reason. The voter should not only be able to state his party,, but also to tell why it is his preference. But the careful voter will not stop with an investigation into the ability of the candidate to fill the duties of office. He goes further and deeper. He will seek to know the aspiring office seeker as a man. What is his character? A man of self-con-trol and integrity ? Will he prove faithful to the trust ? These questions must be answered affirmatively by the conscientious voter. Strict sense of civic duty demands nothing less. The loyal citizen will not cast his vote for incompetent or unworthy men out of mere favor or friendly acquaintance. To do so weak-ens the dictates of his moral conscience. The highest motives should control our franchise; the prosperity of the State, the-welfare of the community, and the best interests' of all concerned. This is true loyalty and genuine patriotism. Above all, for the thoughtful man the dominant principle will be party subordinate to the man. Some one may ask would not such universal independent voting destroy political parties? They are essential to counter-balance one another in government. In answer the true voter will use his influence in securing the best men on the party ticket of his preference, if for some reason these are not chosen, but undesirable nominees instead, the strict sense of civic duty will compel him to refuse to vote for those men. Partisanship must bow before right and duty. Prejudice and tradition must yield to justice and intelligence. It is bet-ter to cut one's ticket and prove traitor to one's party than to iise one's franchise in voting for incompetent or unworthy men. Then he will have nothing to regret. L GETTYSBURG COLLEGEI Gettysburg, Pa. LIBRARY ^^^■^^^^B^^^H 14 THE MERCURY. Who is to blame for corruption in politics? For partisan legislation and bad government? Those holding office we say. But our nation is a democracy! We boast of the rule of the-people! The boomerang springs back upon the voter himself. Corrupt legislation reflects itself upon the public at large. If office holders prove unloyal to their country's trust, it shows that the voters were not careful enough to elect the best men. This situation is but a practical application of the fable in which the indulgent master gives shelter, under his tent, to the imploring ass who in turn ungratefully kicks him out! What, then, should be the voter's dominant principles? To serve his country and State, not only party and self. To know the needs and conditions of his nation or community. To elect the man best fitted to fill the position, that is the man of capabil-ity and character. The former involves the ability to discharge his duties well and efficiently. The latter includes those quali-ties of honesty and integrity as will enable the office holder to stand fearlessly against bribery, partiality or injustice. Such is the type of man whom the true voter will strive to elect. So long as the right of franchise is jealously guarded and highly prized, there will be no need to fear the downfall of our repub-lic. But she shall ascend higher as a moving power in the eyes of the civilized world. Her destiny will not approach soon, but with the oncoming years, she shall exert an untold influence-among the nations of the world. THE MERCURY. 15 IS GERMANY A MENACE TO THE WORLD'S PEACE ? C. M. ALLABACH, '11. T can hardly be denied by those who have noticed the trend of international politics that Germany is the greatest obstacle to the world's peace to-day. This has become strikingly evident in recent years. Diplomatic relations between the English and Germans have been strained for more than a decade. The famous Kruger tele-gram of 1896, the intense commercial rivalry, the hostile attitude of the German people during the Boer War, the biting criticism of the press, and finally, the manifest intention of Germany to wrest from Great Britain her maritime supremacy, have all com-bined to make the situation critical. To England, this mari-time supremacy is a matter of life and death; to Germany, it is an object of mere desire or ambition. Examples of German aggressiveness are numerous. The first American experience of it was in the Samoan Islands in 1888, and a second in 1898, when Germany sent a powerful fleet to the Philippine Islands. Japan felt it in 1895 when Germany joined Russia and France in forcing her to recede from the Liao-Tung Peninsula which bore no small weight in furthering and hasten-ing the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War. All Europe and America was unfavorably impressed by the attitude of the Ger-mans in the Boxer uprising. Then, too, it is generally known that Germany took the initiative in the Venezuelan blockade in 1M2, and since the power of Russia has been considerably les-sened by the Russo-Japanese War, the Germans appear to be even more aggressive than before. These actions truly speak louder than words, but the words are not lacking either. The German Kaiser's speeches are teeming with expressions which clearly reveal the German attitude. Among many others he said at Cologne in 1897: "We have great duties in the world. There are Germans everywhere whom we must protect. German prestige must be preserved abroad. The trident belongs in our hands." In 1900, upon delegating to Prince Henry the command of the Oriental fleet, he said: "Im-perial power is sea power. The two are mutually dependent. 16 THE MERCURY. Should anyone infringe our rights, then use the mailed fist and earn your laurel wreath." To departing soldiers he used such terms as these: "Spare nobody." "Take no prisoners." "Give no quarter." Such expressions are not the mere workings of an individual's maind, but are the sentiments of a nation expressed through its chief executive. It is true, too, that Germany is the greatest obstacle to the policy of limitation of armaments and obligatory arbitration. It was with great difficulty that the German government was per-suaded to consent to the establishment of the permanent Court of Arbitration. She opposed nearly every policy advocated by England. She held strict views of belligerant rights and voted against every specific proposal of obligatory arbitration. The Germans have rejected the advances since made by the English to enter upon an Anglo-German understanding concern-ing the cost and extent of their naval programs, claiming that no formal proposal has been made and therefore no official transac-tions have followed. Since Germany was not in harmony with the proposals of the Hague Conference, there seems to be but one remedy to check the steadily growing martial spirit of the sturdy Germans, namely, an alliance between the two greatest branches of the Anglo-Saxon race, England and America. Unless some such alliance is formed, the law of "the survival of the fittest" will be the outcome; of which the fittest is the strongest, the best or-ganized, and the most unscrupulous. A NARROW ESCAPE. R. L. MCNALLY, '13. JHNEAKEY was feeling blue that night as we sat together in the lobby of The Eoyal. He awaiting the arrival of a certain well-padded person, whom he pleased to call his victim,—and very impressibly informed me would be his last one,—while I was trying to pass away the night of idleness. Sneakey started to tell me all about his intended re- THE MERCURY. 17 form, and was in the midst of a "profound resolve" with his fist in the air intending to bring it down on the handle of my chair, when the arrival of a ponderous white steam car arrested his at-tention and without a sign or signal he arose from where he sat walked over to the door where the fat and hearty autoist would have to enter. Only once did he glance back at me, and then very quickly. I thought 1 noticed a shade of distress in that glance, but dismissed the thought of the fact that Sneakey, above all, would ever shrink from a job. Sneakey followed this particular individual over to the desk and watched him register, lighting a cigarette in a cool and un-interested fashion, but carefully noticing in his mind the rooms to be occupied by this person. He didn't return to where I was sitting, a very wise thing on his part, but strolled over to the bil-liard room, where fifteen minutes later, I found him actively en-gaged in a game with a stately looking, shifting-eyed sport. I walked on through and out on the street, took a car, and was soon in my room snugly seated in my large chair, planning, and thinking I had spotted a large elegantly finished mansion across the park, occupied solely by an old gentleman of eccentric habits. his brother, two house maids, and a general utility man. Next morning after breakfast I strolled across the park to in-vestigate my intended loot and map out a course that would be sure to bring me safely to my goal. I bought a paper afterwards and nothing could be printed clearer, nor more prominent to me than the little three-lined announcement that Sneakey, the one and only friend I had to depend upon, had been intercepted in an attempt to enter the rooms of a wealthy guest and was being held for trial. Of all the news, this was the most distressing. But what could I do but accept it as a present from our dreaded enemies, the plain clothes men. I did not know what to do for tools, and to attempt such a task alone would be almost fool-hardy, and Sneakey's presence was an excellent solution to both of these quanderies. But, since he was taken into the strong arms of the police, I could do nothing else than depend on luck. It was now 10.30 A. M., and I thought I might run across an old acquaintance, but there was none I could think of, let alone trust as an accomplice. After dinner I made a list of what I t^^^m^^^m 18 THE MERCURY. was in need of and among the things I needed most was a pair of wire nippers in case I would need them. Now I knew that Sneakey had a pair so I walked over to his room, having to pass the seat of my night's work, and picked the lock. Hanging across the back of a chair was a coat made up with the lining of a smoking jacket. I quickly realized its value and took it over to a tailor's and ordered it pressed, and put into proper shape. In the pocket of this coat I found a cigar which I took as a charm for my safety because I found it in the pocket of the most valuable tool I could have possibly came across. Placing the cigar carefully in my pocket the next thing to do was to get a mate at all hazzards. Scotty kept a rather notable pool room where I had been in the habit of spending some time and where I knew I could find a collection of choicest men of my profession. On entering I could hardly believe myself when who should step up and shake my hand but Harry Musser. I hadn't seen him for years, and why, I'm sure, is not because he had fallen into the same ill luck as Sneakey. I told him all of my plans and asked him to go along and help "cinch it," but woe for my hopes; he had a job on hand at White Flains, and was leaving that night on the 11.30 boat to ge to White Plains about 2 A. M., and be safe from all view to carry out his aim. Well, this was the last hope, and I decided to go alone. I saw Harry off and returning to my room put on the coat nicely tailored, and walked across the park and on around to the rear entrance of this house. Just as I entered the hedge I heard West Hall Hedge clock strike one. Walking up to the porch I started operations by climbing the vine, since I had to dispense with Sneakey's excellent tact of pitching a rope ladder. Gaining the level of the window sill I swung across and caught hold of the sill and hung suspended until I could grasp the shutter and pull myself up so that I could place my foot against the opposite side of the window frame and gradually work myself up inch by inch until I was standing on the sill holding on to the shutters. I was starting to work on the win-dow when I heard somebody walking on the pavement. When he got opposite the place where I was he stopped, lit a cigar and gazing aimlessly about, turned his steps and walked up the gravel walk and sat down on the porch almost under me and smoked. THE MERCURY. 19 After about fifteen minutes I did not see or hear him stir, and concluded he was asleep. Much was my chagrin when I found the window pulled up tight against the upper frame. To get in was almost impossible, and to get back to where I came from, was impossible. I had to decide some way. I knew that it would be safer to get out through the house than to get past that night watchman below, so taking a small finger-nail clip from my pocket, I dig two crescent shaped holes in the window frame, and placing my fingers in them bent all my effort toward pulling it down. It yielded, and carefully lowering it, I climbed in, down on the floor and I thought noislessly over to view my room in general, when all of a sudden, the lights were turned on brightly and a small buz sounded on the wall which I knew was a signal. Then locating the door, I made for it, but was barred by a huge porpous of a man whom I concluded was the butler. I had to pass him to liberty, and being much smaller, knew a struggle would be useless. I waited until he charged, then side-stepping I gave him a lucky stroke in the stomach. He wasn't long in the fight. Throwing my hat in a corner, I ran my fingers through my hair, put the coat inside out, the cigar in my mouth, ran down to the front door, to escape, preparing lest the police should arrive before I got away. Two officers were coming down the pavement at a good speed. I did not know what to do in so-tight a place. I decided to use strategy, so assuming a horrified expression, I called to them that here was the place, and ex-plained that the old gentleman had became suddenly worse, and that I was sent by him to bring his son, who lived some distance-from the house. That story wasn't believed in full by them, and! they decided to go along with me to bring his son. The two fol-lowed me for a square, and then stopping, I reasoned that two of them should go back to the old man, and assist the butler in car-ing for him, while the other officer and I went for the son. To this they agreed, and we two sped, where, I did not know until, reaching into the pocket of this coat, my hand fell upon the wire nippers. I just happened to think of Sneakey. I knew he wouldn't be in his room so I made a short cut there and pound-ing on the door received no reply, until a doctor next door put his head outside the door and informed us that that gentleman mi^^^^^^^^^^^^mwg^^^^^^^^^^^^^m 20 THE MEECUET. had left yesterday morning and had not returned yet. Now I knew to go along back to the house would mean my arrest so I told the officer that he should go on back to assist the other officer and the butler, while I awaited until this doctor would dress and go along with me, that we would follow in a few moments. When the officer left, I feigning that I intended to wait, followed after him down to the street level and proceded over by a back street to my rooms. Next day I learned of Sneakey's sentence of two years and went around, packed up his furniture to store it. In the pro-cess of this packing I was assisted by this doctor who told me of the very strange call he had last night. THE "BACK HOME" BOY. EDWIK C. HOBBOW, '12. EE we, the great American people, interested in the farmer boy? "We are. Why should the attention of the richest, most commercial nation of the earth turn to the humble youth of sunburnt face and freckled nose "back home ?" There are several conspiring reasons which cause the lines of national interest to deflect from their normal course toward that obscure spot on the map where is growing to man-hood the average country boy. One of the first reasons, perhaps, is to be found in the fact that he is "the boy back home." Somebody has said, "God made the country, but man made the town." Well, what man made the town? It was the man from the country; and it is the man from the country who is making the town grow and prosper to-day. It is from the hay-field rather than from the gutter; from the garden rather than from the crowded quarters of the town, that men are being drafted to fight the great battle of the world's market place and public halls. The bulk of brains, the brawn, and the character of this country has come from the country; and from the country will come at least many of our big men of the succeeding gen-eration. THE MERCURY. 21 The country boy is running America to-day; his name is legion. Abraham Lincoln, the greatest monument in American history, has established a standard of idealism for all American frontier boys. President Eoosevelt was a western rancher. William Jennings Bryan, who, despite conflicting views and re-gardless of politics, is an international character, wears overalls on his Nebraska farm. Anthony Comstock, one of the greatest and best moral forces in America to-day, came from a New Eng-land farm. Homer Davenport, one of the best known political cartoonists in the country, grew up on a far western farm. And so the list may continue down along the directory of the "Who is Who"—including United States senators, merchant princes, economic, scientific and philosophic authorities; light of the bar and pulpit; writers, artists and musicians; there is no seat of the mighty where the farmer boy has not sat. If there is anybody in this whole country of ours who is a free citizen, it is the country boy. He is as free as everything about him,—the air, the sunshine, the birds, the snow. Out here in God's own country, a boy can not help growing to manhood brave and strong and clear-minded. Simple taste, simple appe-tites, a simple home, these are a wholesome curriculum for a boy's individual education. Plain food, regular hours, and plenty of healthful exercise,—these create a strong body, the only fit setting for a strong mind. The farmer boy grows up away from the atmosphere of riotous vice. He is not bred in the shadow of corporate domination and "higher ups;" he recognizes no "higher up" in this world than his Father. He is imbued with the faith that a man who dares can, and that a man who can should. He has confidence in himself, and belief in his future. That is what we by times call by one of several names: Energy, backbone, enterprise, jasm, initiative, perseverance, grit, gump-. tion. Whatever it is, it is a winnig quality,—it is power. The thoughtful men are realizing this to-day as they never-did before. Employers know it and want young men from the country; educators feel it and rejoice over the country bred scholar. The voter knows it; and the politician knows that he knows it, with the result that we get in office to-day some honest and fearless men, who stand for the best in American polities,, though tied until almost powerless. 22 THE MERCURY. It is no disgrace to have come from the country, and the boy from the country need not be afraid to apply for a job. His record is good, and nothing need stand between him and success. THE EVOLUTION OF THE BEAST. EDWARD N. FRYE, '10. |OWJST from the mountains came two beasts into a plain upon which grew a few blades of grass; they stood facing each other with snarls. Finally the battle be-gan to rage as to which should get those few blades. It became a life and death struggle, and the turmoil was great. It was a case of the survival of the fittest. The strong one con-quered and the grass was his. The other lay in the dust and gore with his life slowly ebbing away. Thus as I look out over this great country and see the strug-gle of man for life, for liberty and for progress, and then think that he is called beast and materialist, I am reminded of the story of the beasts. The charge is not wholly untrue. Man is a materialist, but a materialist by necessity, a materialist because he is a creature of society and society is warring to keep him bound. His materialism is a bread and butter problem. His materialisms are the necessities of life, nourishment of the body and a life with its comforts. The problem is how shall he pro-cure those necessities upon which his life depends, and how can he add to his daily life those comforts. These are the foremost thoughts in his mind. His hunger must be satisfied and his body clothed, likewise he must care for his wife and his children. Of course he is a materialist and what else could he be. What would give him existence? Surely not spiritualism. The life of man is made up of more or less materialistic wants. And he has been called a materialist because he is forced to center all thought on these wants. He has been called a materialist be-cause he is demanding that which by right is his and which so-ciety will not grant. He has been called a materialist because the other big beast, capitalism, is contending with him for the THE MERCURY. 23 last blade of grass. He is being driven to the very brink of de-spair with only one thought: "How can I live," and with one problem to solve: "How can I procure bread and butter." He is forced further and further to the point of starvation and still that mighty hand reaches out to grasp more from his little to swell its fortune or fill its coffers. Thus the working man is forced to lift up his voice and cry for his rights when the Ameri-can aristocracy consider him nothing more than a machine to further their interests. Whentheworkingman is reduced to a thing he becomes a materialist by necessity. He cannot lie back on the oars and pray that the Almighty God may give him bread, for then he would starve. He is therefore compelled to concentrate his energy, to rise up against such conditions and let his voice be, heard in order that he may receive that which by divine right is his. Then only when he receives that right can he turn his at-tention to the other phase of life, the spiritual side. To bring this about there must be an evolution of social condi-tions, not a revolution as the one who stands without the turmoil describes. The working man must rise up out of his present condition and let it be known that he is not a mere beast for the purpose of serving capitalistic interests and when of no more use to be turned off to starve or to be an object of charity. The capitalist, who is the real materialist, and in a sense a pragma-tist, must realize that the so-called brute is his social brother, born with all the privileges of a human being and with a soul that is equally precious in the sight of God. The capitalist must recognize that life is not a mere dream for the other fellow, but that it is a reality demanding a certain share of this world's goods to make it a joy and to prepare that soul for its rightful inheritance. This will take place when he ceases to say of his social brother: "Beast, beast," and in turn shows him his love. If the capitalist would change his perspective what a change would surely be in human affairs and in human lives. How much strife would be eliminated and how much deeper would be the spiritual life. Then man could think more seriously of things that are spiritual. The stomach of the working man would be filled and his physical wants attended to. You must satisfy those physical wants before you can hope to have him seek the wants of the soul or to develop him spiritually. 24 THE MERCURY. THE SPIRIT OF THE PLACE. HARVEY S. HOSHOUR, '10. S the autumn twilight closed in upon the old Thomaaton campus, so fraught with traditions and memories of a century's existence, there seemed to be an element of discontent, quite foreign to the place indeed, which per-meated everyone. Grant Hilsey, if the conversations which were conducted in low tones throughout the quadrangle were correct, the cause of all this discord, was throwing off his football togs in a room luxuriously furnished in every appointment. He then took a quick shower and dressed thoughtfully. Yes he was right. Something would happen tonight. Something must happen. What should he do ? Should he go to the mass-meeting or stay in his room? What was best for the college? All these ques-tions played havoc in Hilsey's mind while he was dressing and while he ate a late supper at the training table: The old chapel on the hill was that night the scene of the largest mass meeting Thomaston had ever known. Tomorrow-was the day for the "big" game with Greenvale, and the slogan of the meeting was, "Thomaston expects every man to do his duty." After speeches short and to the point by various mem-bers of the faculty, the 'Varsity men were called for one by one, and responded with short talks, promising their best efforts on the morrow. "What's the matter with Captain Hilsey?" shouted the cheer leader. The answer was an irresolute, "He's all right," amid a hubbub of hisses and jeers. The cheer leader looked aghast. "Let's see him. We want Hilsey," clamored the crowd, seem-ingly ashamed of its first action. Every one turned to the rear whence they expected Hilsey to come but there was no answer. Hilsey was not there. The captain had come into the meeting late and had sat in the rear, listening to his men as they spoke. He, too, would do his best to win. How could he lose, leading men with such spirit? Then came the jeers. He had known they must come, but he could not check the hot tears that kept swelling to his eyes. There was still one chance. He was in the rear seat and had not THE MERCURY. 25 been noticed in the excitement of the evening. H suited his ac-tion to the thought, and when the crowd turned to look for him, he had gone forth, unseen and alone. The leader shook his megaphone for silence and said in a voice that quivered just a bit, for he was a friend of the captain, "Pel-lows, tonight we have insulted one of the best captains Thomas-ton has ever known. He has picked the team with the best in-terests of the college at heart, regardless of what his enemies may say. For four years we have seen Grant Hilsey fighting for Thomaston honor. Where is the man who ever saw him betray the college. We have elected him captain, and upon him our hopes of beating Greenvale depend, and yet we hear criticisms, "improvements," and even jeers on the eve of our gratest game. It's mighty fortunate he isn't here to see this, for you know the Hilsey pride and its hard to tell what any one of us wouldn't do under his circumstances. Now fellows, lets make it so he can hear it. "What's the matter with Hilsey?" "He's all right," came back witht the roar of thunder. The dissatisfaction over the picking of the team and the captain himself seemed to be go-ing fast. "Who's all right?" Hilsey," re-echoed the crowd. "We want Hilsey," they yelled, but none appeared. The leader again motioned for silence. "Boys," he said, "one more rick-etyax for Captain Hilsey." The yell was given with a lust. All feeling was gone now in the spirit of the place which gripped every man in a way which was irresistible. With a "last long ray for the 'Varsity," the most successful mass meeting Thomas-ton had ever seen was over. When Grant Hilsey emerged from the building all seemed a confused mass. He had been publicly insulted and even jeered at. Last year, after the season which had ended by "sweeping Greenvale off the face of the earth," as the Thomastonian had it, he had been the hero of the college. He had made the run that had won for his Alma Mater, and it was quite natural that Hil-sey should be elected captain of next year's eleven. The election had been unanimous. He had come back this fall eager to pro-duce another victorious team, but the material was new and hard to get into shape. He had done his best, fairly and squarely, with the result that his associates characterized him as a deserter, for he had not chosen the, team entirely from his own "clique." 26 THE MERCURY. He was too fair for that. He was also criticized by that class of students—all too common everywhere—whose chief concern it is to kick, who are too good for everybody, yet whom nobody wants, and who still, somehow or other, exercise an influence,—probably only due to their persistency,—on every college community. The result was that Hilsey had become the most unpopular man in the college. As he walked through the campus he had grown to love, his mind was crowded to overflowing. What should he do? The Hilsey pride asserted itself. He would show them. No Hilsey could be played with in this manner. They had said that his team was "crooked." Let them improve on it. They would see that they couldn't do without Grant Hil-sey. Eevenge would be his and sweet would be his revenge. Instead of going to his room Hilsey went across the campus to his fraternity house. It too was deserted. He would send for his trunk after the game. As he sat musing on the porch the old walls loomed up before him. How he longed to graduate. But he was a Hilsey and a Hilsey never gave in. What did he care for the place anyhow? There were surely others just as good. The night train for Watauga was almost empty that night. All traffic was turned toward Thomaston for the morrow's big game. It was too late for Hilsey to go home when the train got in, so he resolved to stop at the hotel till the next day. Through-out the night and the morning his mind was in one vast whirl. He would wait till evening before going home. He remembered that all his people were at Thomaston to see the game. Some-how or other he felt that he was shirking something. Maybe he ought to go back to Thomaston even though his fellows had de-serted him. What did these unworthy sons have to do with old Thomaston anyhow ? He remembered a little essay of his on college spirit, on which he had been complimented highly. He was a Freshman then. He remembered the past three years, their ups and downs, their fortunes and misfortunes. Yes, they were happy years, all too happy but they were gone for good now. The Hilsey pride had shown itself. But that essay on college spirit kept forcing itself into his mind. That was theory he knew, rather sentimental at that. Was there such a thing at Thomaston as real live college THE MERCUKY. 27 spirit? He had done his best but did he have the spirit which could endure all for the sake of the college. Anything but gibes, he thought. But what else had he endured. He had failed at the first trial. He was a failure, a quitter, and Thomaston had expected every man to do his duty. Again the college walls loomed up in his mind. Yes, he loved them, he loved their •every stone, he loved their traditions and their lore. He looked at his watch. Could he make it? The Thomaston spirit asserted itself. He signalled a passing car, which he recognized as one of his father's. "Fast as you can to Thomaston," were his orders. It was a long ride but never for an instant did Hilsey's intentions change. There was such a thing as college spirit, Thomaston spirit. He was completely in its spell. As the car neared the campus he heard the cheer leader call, "Now then Thomaston." It thrilled his very heart. That was Thomaston, his Thomaston. "To my room," he fairly yelled to the chauffeur. The campus was de-serted. Over the green hedge which surrounded the athletic field, he could see a mass of crimson and gold. That meant Thomaston, the Thomaston he longed to fight for. It was the work of a few minutes to jump into his togs. Never was he so proud of the hugh "T" on his sweater. To think that he was so near forfeiting the privilege of wearing it. As he neared the field he heard a count—one-two-three—and then a long drawn out —nothing, all from the opposing side. His heart gave a throb. There was a chance yet. He flung off his sweater. He would show them that the Hil-sey pride was swallowed up in his college spirit. A great shout arose as the wearers of the crimson and gold saw Hilsey. They forgot enmities. He, their only hope, had come back to make them win. His judgment had been vindicated for his team had played wonderfully, and, but for a beautiful kick would have held Greenvale to no score. "Ten minutes to play," announced the time-keeper as Hilsey took his place at quarter. The team had been holding well be-fore. Now with a leader they played an aggressive game. Slowly they marched up the gridiron. Once they lost the ball, only to regain it on downs. Thomaston enthusiasm knew no bounds. There were no spectacular runs, ten yards being the greatest 28 THE MERCURY. single gain. With one minute to play a touch-down was made and the goal kicked. "What's the matter with Hilsey?" again shouted the leader. Never was such a yell heard as when they cried, "He's all right." The game was over. Again the colors of Thomaston flew high. Hilsey was late for supper again that evening. The sun was setting beyond the chapel hill with a blaze of crimson and gold, which seemed to him to be in honor of Thomaston's victory, his victory. The old chapel looked dearer than ever. In a few short months he would receive his diploma there. "It's the spirit of the place," he murmured as a crowd of students came down the street, wood in one hand and oil cans in the other. "There he is now. We want Hilsey," they cried." Yes," he muttered, as he was being hoisted upon the shoulders of his ad-miring fellows, "its the spirit of the place, the college spirit, the Thomaston spirit." I H E HE RCU RV Entered at the Postoffi.ee at Gettysburg as second-class Matter. VOL. XVII GETTYSBURG, PA., NOVEMBER, 1909 No. 6 Editor in-Chief SAMUEL FAUSOLD, 'IO. Exchange Editor G. E. BOWERSOX, 'io Business Manager PAUL S. MILLER, 'IO Ass't Bus. Managers C. M. ALLABACH,'ii S. T. BAKER, 'II Assistant Editor RALPH E. RUDISILL, 'IO Associate Editors E. J. BOWMAN, 'II C. M. DAVIS, 'II Advisory Board PROF. G. F. SANDERS, A. M. PROF. P. M. BIKLE, FH. D. PROF. C. J. GRIMM, PH. D. Published each month, from October to June inclusive, by the joint literary Societies of Pennsylvania (Gettysburg) College. Subscription price, one dollar a year in advance ; single copies IS cents. Notice to discontinue sending THE MERCURY to any address must be ac-companied by all arrearages. Students, Professors and Alumni are cordially invited to contribute. All subscriptions and business matter should be addressed to the Business Manager. Articles for publication should be addressed to the Editor. Address THE MERCURY, GETTYSBURG, PA. EDITORIALS. fore, his duty to cultivate it. THE CONYERSA- What a world TIONALIST. of meaning this word contains! What a flood of memories it brings to us! Un-consciously there leaps to the im-agination the pictures of talkers who have given us many a pleas-ant hour. The human voice is probably man's greatest gift. It is his dis-tinguishing feature. It is, there- Indeed this should be his ambi- ^■■■^^^■H 30 THE MEECUEY. tion: to be affable, clear, optimistic and pleasant; to develop a ready wit and the happy accomplishment of speaking the right word at the right time. Indeed to keep silent always is as great a fault as constant babbling. Franklin expressed the idea as follows: "As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence. Conversation is not a wooden thing; it is elastic, happy and free; it runs, hops and skips. Indeed man's greatest asset is speech and harmonious conversation between two or more should be made the supreme pleasure of life. Conversation costs us nothing in dollars and cents; it com-pletes our education; discovers friends for us and can be enjoyed at all times and in all places. Although conversation is common to all ages, we believe the golden age of youth makes most of it. The young man or woman—particularly the college man or woman—uses the gift of speech to give expression to the bright-est hopes for the future. The collegian, in fact, lives in the fuT ture and oh! what a loss it would be to him to be deprived of the pleasure of building castles in the air. Talk is the great instrument of friendship. By it as Steven-son says, "Men and women contend for each other in the lists of love like rival mesmerists. By it friends can measure strength and enjoy that amicable counter-assertion of personality which is the gauge of relations and the sport of life." Conversation generally drifts to the two great subjects, "You and I." Of course the third party may be given passing consid-eration but vain humanity can not long escape the subjective. This fact is quite noticeable in the chat of two college chums. It invariably has to with the welfare of the speakers directly or in-directly. This being the case the conversationalist should be careful to clothe his old subjects in new garments and to bring them forth from the mint, as it were, with new and ever delight-ful aspects. Yes, let us continue to talk! Let us enjoy our talks, but let us seek to find more and more ways to benefit from them. THE American business world is a rapidly flowing river. To get into this rapidly moving stream, man must hustle and not be slothful. The competitions of modern life have become so keen THE MERCURY. 31 that there are no opportunities for the lazy. Man must either work or go to the wall. In every community this fact is under-stood but too often not believed. Should not these student days be hours of industry and benefit ? Many a night is spent in folly and the following day suffers. The only real and lasting enjoy-ment in life is to be found in work. Everything which man creates decays when neglected, but nothing in nature goes to pieces so fast as man in idleness. The conditions of all our faculties and enjoyments are found in the full exercise of all our powers to the limit of their capacity. There are examples of college men ad inflnitissium whose voice touches no sympathetic chord in the activities of to-day. Their thoughts never got beyond college politics and rivalries of secret societies. They have always been idlers and now are hopeless failures. As in the lower life the busy bees have no room for the drone, so in a college community the diligent students have no room for the dilatory. Let us conscientiously answer the ever-present question would our parents approve of their money's time and benefit ? and give tireless attention to our own work and advancement and when the commencement clock strikes we shall all be ready for our liberal professions. EXCHANGES. | GAIN it becomes our pleasant duty to examine and com-ment on our exchanges. We are gratified to see so many of the former papers again appear this year; as well as many new ones. A few of the former ex-changes have not yet made their appearance, but we trust it is only a matter of a short time until we shall again have the pleas-ure of receiving them. The matter of criticism is quite a relative one; some papers choose to tear every thread of good out of productions by hostile criticism; others are too apt in praising. It has always been our custom to act the part of appreciative critics in dealing with our friends. Of course there is often a necessity to make the harsher 32 THE MERCURY. kind of criticism, but in so doing we shall always do it with a friendly spirit and trust no offense is taken. Of the few exchanges to reach our hands this year one of the best is "The Gilford Collegian;" its departments are all well ordered and literary contributions are of a high order. The ora-tion, "The Solid South," is a very pertinent production; it deals in a broad and sensible manner with the reasons of southern solidity and shows how the causes for it no longer exist and that the idea belonging to a past time should be relegated to its pro-per place by the thoughtful citizens. The story, "The Heart of a Woman," in the same issue is very clearly written and not only causes much amusement but some serious thought. The October issue of "The College Student" is filled with well written articles. "The Crime of the Congo" and "The Crucible of Life" show much preparation and skillful arrangement of material. "We gratefully acknowledge all exchanges received. PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. IN this Drama of Four Year's Course, Play your part without dad's horse ; This to do is up to you With just a little tact between each yearly act, In some domain take a stroll And sell ALUMINUM for next year's Role (roll). Every summer hundreds of students make BIG MONEY selling Aluminum Cooking Utensils. For particulars address LOUIS HETZEL, Gettysburg College, GETTYSBURG, PA. THE STEWART & STEEN CO., COLLEGE ENGRAVERS, 1024 Arch Street, PHILADELPHIA. MAKERS OF INVITATIONS, PROGRAMS, MENUS, VISITING CARDS, DANCE CARDS, MONOGRAMS, CLASS AND FRATERNITY STATIONERY. P. S. MILLER, '10, Representative, Who has a full line of samples. EDUCATION The times an .1 the Schools demand that the best things shall be done and in the best manner. Watermans^FountainPen accomplishes everything that can be required of a good writing in-strument. Made to last for years of service and give its owner the satisfaction which comes with owning "the best." From all dealers. The Globe trade-mark i» our guarantee .742 Market St. San Frm 136 St. Jftinei St., Moi.trenl 12 Golden L*n«. ton-ton G Ru« A* lUnovm Paris PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. FUIOTTU^E Mattresses, Bed Springs, Iron Beds, Picture Frames, Repair Work done promptly. Under-taking a specialty. - Telephone No. 97. H. B. BENDER. 37 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, Pa. EDGAR C. TAWNEY BAKER West Middle Street. J. B. WINEMAN, DEALER IN CHOICE FAMILY GROCERIES, PROVISIONS AND FRUITS, BOARDING CLUBS A SPECIALTY. L. WEIGAND, DEALER IN FRESH AND CURED MEATS OF ALL KINDS-Boarding Clubs a Specialty. §003^5 f^e5tQUPQDt, No. 7 Chambersburg Street. PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. EMIL ZOTHE, College Emblems, Engraver, Designer and Manufacturing Jeweler, 722 Chestnut St., Phil delphia. Specialties: Masonic Marks, Society Badges, College Buttons, Pins, Scarf Pins, Stick Pins and Athletic Prizes. All Goods ordered through G. F. Kieffer. Charles S. Mumper, DEALER IN FURNITURE, PICTURE FRAMES OF ALL SORTS REPAIR WORK DONE PROMPTLY I will also BUY or EXCHANGE any SECOND-HAND FURNITURE No. 4 Chambersburg street, Gettysburg, Pa. D. J. Swartz, DEALER IN COUNTRY PRODUCE, GROCERIES, CIGARS AND TOBACCO. GETTYSBURG. —IS— OHLER BRO.'S RESTAURANT, First National Bank Bld'g. The place to eat the best Ice Cream. QUICK LUNCH and Oysters in season. Your Photographer, If not, why not? 41 Baltimore St., Gettysburg. FLEMMING I BAIR'S LIVERY, Baltimore Street, First Square, Gettysburg, Pa. Competent Guides for all parts of the Battlefield. Arrange-ments by telegram or letter. Dock Bock 257. PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. WINDSOR HOTEL, W. T. BRUBAKEB, Manager. Midway between Broad St. Station and Reading Terminal on Filbert St. A convenient and homelike place to stay while in the city shopping. An excellent restaurant where good service combines with low prices. BOOMS $1.00 PER DAY AND UP. The only moderate priced hotel of reputation and consequence in PHILADELPHIA. The Modern Steam Laundry . . OF YORK . . Offers the COLLEGE STUDENTS first-class work at Special Low Prices. E. C. STOUFFER, Local Agt. C. D. SMITH, Prop. The Baltimore Medical College Preliminary Fall Course begins September ist. Regular Winter Course begins September 20th. Liberal teaching facilities ; Modern college buildings; Comfortable lecture hall and amphitheatres ; Large and complete equipped laboratories; Capacious hospital and dispensary; Lying-in department for teaching clinical obstetrics ; Large clinics. Send for catalogue. Address DAVID STREETT, M. D., Dean, N. E. Cor. Madison St., and Linden Ave., Baltimore, Md. COMPILER IMPRINT ON JOB WORK MEANS TASTY WORK CAREFULLY DONE. MENU CARDS WINDOW" POSTERS LETTER HEADS ENVELOPES DANCE CARDS TICKETS Programs of all kinds. Everything the College Man wants in Paper and Ink. Specially designed work. Latest Effects in Paper, done in Colors along lines of College Men's Associations. Catalog and Book work. The Gettysburg Compiler will keep old and new students in touch with town and college life.

(rphe bettysbttf Metcufy. OCTOBER, 1897. ©OJSfTEJSTTS: [ILTON'S "COMUS," . ->IRT, IIGHER EDUCATION IN GERMANY, DURNALISTIC EVOLUTION AT GETTYSBURG, 'A LEARNED PROLETARIAT," MEMORIAM—HARRY SMITH, EDITORS' DESK, . ATHLETICS,. . SUNSET, 15 16 19 25 27 30 32 33 GETTYSBURG: STAR AND SENTINEL PRINT. I News Depot & Subscrlptiorn Agent MAIN- ST., QETTYSBDBO, PA. : Sole Hmtficturer of Dr. Tylor's Coogh :•: SAMUEL FABER. FlBB SlGA^S -AINJD-SMOKER'S A$TK Chumbersbur;/ Si., OETTYSBVl R. H. j EM- H. BfllNNlCH, l^FlNI^NCl El^ Manufacturer, Wholesaled Retail Dei.- ^ —— *v? CONFECTIONERY AND ICE CREAM, Merchant l | not surprising then, but rather to be expected that a certain| unity of ideas become apparent in Milton's poetry. Dealing asil does with moral truth, we may naturally look for a single chiefl tendency, a permanent presence of one dominant conception ij all his poetical self utterances, epic, lyric and dramatic. Milton's inner life, of which his poetry was the expression,! was an unceasing tendency from evil to good, from base or coral mon to noble; a perpetual aspiration and struggle towards moral greatness. Mr. Dowden in the Fortnightly Review has drawn il most interesting and truthful comparison between the ideals ol Milton and Goethe. "Not less than Goethe, Milton studied self-1 culture. But while Goethe with his deliberate Hellenism ma man an end to himself, Milton, over whom the Hebrew spirt! kept jealous watch, considered man as the creature of God. 1 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. the hierarchy of human faculties, Milton assigned the place of supreme authority, as Goethe never did, to those powers which lie upon the Godward side of our humanity; to those perceptions md volitions which are concerned with moral good and evil. 1he impartiality of Goethe's self-culture was undisturbed by any vivid sense of sin. No part of his being seemed to him in ex-treme peril from spiritual foes; no part appeared to him the ob-ject of fierce assault. It was easy for him to transfer his atten-tion serenely from this side of his nature to that, while with reso-lute and calm persistence, he strove to attain completeness of self-levelopment. To Goethe the world was a Gymnasium or Acad-emy, and life a period of higher education. The peculiarity of lilton's view was that before him the world lay as a battlefield; ife was a warfare against Principalities and Powers, and the good nan was a champion of God. The sense of sin never forsook him nor that of a glorious possibility of virtue. What Milton [feared above all was disloyalty to God and to him nature in its aost significant aspect was but the scene of an impressible, un-jceasing antagonism between good and evil. In spite of his classical culture, and his renaissance sense of beauty, he not less than Bunyan saw as the prime fact of the world,—Diabolus at odds with Immanuel. He as well as Bunyan beheld a celestial ity, and a city of destruction, standing remote from one another vith hostile rulers. Milton added, as did Bunyan, that final vic-tory must be on the side of good and right, that is, he asserted eternal Providence. There is a victory which is God's, not ours; it is our part to cleave to the Eternal One; His part to achieve the triumph on our behalf. Here it is that we pass to the dominant idea which governed ae inner life of Milton, and the dominant idea around which re-volved the cycle of his poetical works, as that of his prose works revolve around the idea of liberty. In illustration of the noble idealism of Milton we have chosen jfor a brief analysis, his "Comus," the work of his young man-hood, composed when he was 26 years of age. From its first scene to its last, the drama is a representation of the trials, diffi-culties and dangers to which man's, self-restraint and purity are ex-posed in this world and of the victory of the better principle in jthe soul, gained by strenuous human endeavor aided by the grace THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. of God. The glory of virtue tried and triumphant is its motivJ and theme. That form of drama called "The Masque." to which Conrol belongs, was introduced from Italy and England early iu thJ reign of Henry VIII, and found great favor among the nobilittl and royal family. Its characters were taken by lords and ladiel The performers wore peculiar costumes and also covered theij faces with masks. Conms was first produced on the 29th of September, 1634, ill the great hall of Ludlow Castle, where then resided the Earl i Bridgewater, who was then Lord President of Wales. The masquel was intended to celebrate his entrance on his official residence! A large concourse of the neighboring nobility and gentry were! present. The younger members of the Bridgewater familvl thought that among the hospitalities of the occasion, there shoul!| be included some striking musical and poetical entertainment-masquerade in short. Milton at the request of his friend, Hennl Lawes, who taught music (at the Castle) in the family, wrote tlit| poetry, and Lawes set it to music. Of course there were nvi and shepherds and enchanters in the machinery and the plot.I The two sons, aged respectively 9 and 12 years, and Lady Alice,! the daughter of the Earl, took the principal parts in the Masquel —the incidents of which were drawn from a recent adventure oil their own. Passing through Haywood forest on their way | Ludlow Castle they were benighted, and the Lady Alice was I a short time lost. The incident related to Milton became the! foundation of the beautiful Mask he composed, in which he was true to the highest sense of his vocation as a poet, while he satis-fied all demands on his skill. The masque must include music! with a special song for Lady Alice—dances and entertainingI masquerade. It must appeal to local felling, must refer, also,I with direct compliment to the new Lord President, and must pro-1 vide fit parts for the three youngest children of the family, the! Lady Alice and her brothers, John and Thomas. Ludlow Cas-J tie had in former years been a seat of much wild revelry, adl something of this Milton may have known when he madel his masque a poet's lesson against riot and excess. The rev-1 erence due to youth, Milton maintained by causing his childI actors to appear in no stage disguise but simply as themselves.! THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. There was on the stage a mimic wood, through which the childred passed on their way to their father and mother who sat front, and to whom at the close of the mask they were pre-sented. As they traversed this wood, typical adventures rose about them, and gave rise to dialogue, in which the part given to Lady Alice made the girl still speaking in no person but her own, a type of holy innocence and purity, while the elder brother fersomfied faith, and the younger distrust and doubt. The whole framework of the poem is most skilfully designed ! meet its purpose, while the melody of the verse and the beauty ' thought, have excited the highest admiration of the most udicious critics. "Comus," says Taine, "is perhaps Milton's nasierpiece and is simply a eulogy of virtue." "In Comus,"says Shaw, "Milton has given us the most perfect and exquisite speci-nen of a masque, or rather he has given a kind of ennobled and glorified masque. The refinement, the elegance, the courtly ■ace and chivalry -all are there, but there is something in Comus better, loftier and grander than all this—something which no other masques with all their refined and scholar-like, and airy ■egance have ever approached, a high and philosophic vein of Tiorality : "Divine philosophy. Not harsh ami nigged as dull fools suppose, Bin musical as Apollo's lute." Jpacaulay says-"Comus is the noblest performance of the kind vhich exists in any language. He made his Masque what it ought to be, essentially lyric, and dramatic only in semblance. The speeches must be read as majestic soliloquies, and he who reads them will be enraptured with their eloquence, their sub-limity and their music." "I should much commend," says Sir Henry Wotten in a letter to Milton, "the tragical part, if the yncal did not ravish me with a certain Doric delicacy in your ongs and odes wherunto I must plainly confess, I have seen yet nothing parallel in our language.'' | It is high time that we let the poem speak for itself. "We are n Heaven at the first dash," says Taine. A spirit descended in « midst of the wild woods opens the drama with a prologue of great dignity. This ode : "Before the starry threshold of Jove's Court My mansion is, where those immortal shapes Of bright, aerial spirits live ensphered In regions mild of calm and serene air THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. Above the smoke and stir of this dim spot, Which men call earth ; and with low thoughted eare Confined, and pestered in this pinfold here, Strive to keep up a frail and feverish being, Unmindful of the crown that virtue gives, After this mortal change, to her true servants, Amongst the enthroned gods on sainted seats , Yet some there be that by due steps aspire To lay their just hands on the golden key That opes the palace of eternity. To such my reward is, and but for sucli I would not soil these pure, ambrosial needs With the rank vapors of this sin-worn mould." —Liim 1-lt. And thus the soliloquy of the guardian spirit of innocence in thisl dangerous neighborhood continues, until it hears "the tread ofl hateful footsteps," and then makes itself viewless. Comus enttiJ with a charming rod in his hand, his glass "of pleasing poison"! in the other. With him a rout of monsters headed like suiidnl sorts of wild beasts, but otherwise like men or women, their ap-1 parel glistening. They come in making a riotous and uiiruhj noise, with torches in their hands. The Enchanter Comus, so: of Bacchus and Circe, the sorceress is the inheritor of a two-fok vice; a personification of sensual indulgence. His haunt anil palace is in this dreary wood, and the night is the chosen seasonl for his revelries and drunken orgies. It is the hour Comus sings:[ "When the sounds and seas with all their finny tribe Now to the moon in wavering morris move And on the tawny sands and shelves Trip the oert fairies and the dapper elves." The son of Circe dances and shakes his torches amid the clamorl of men transformed into brutes. The noisy dance is interrupted] by the sound "some chaste traveller benighted in these woods. At their leader's word the attendant revellers retire from view,| and the enchanter awaits the approaching wanderer. It is a noble and beautiful lady, separated from her two broth-1 ers, who now strays "Thro' the perplexed paths of this dreary wood The nodding bower of whose shady brow Threats the forlorn and wondering passenger." (Lines 38-39.—The figures, nodding, bowet and brows give a intensity to this passage that makes it hyperbolical. It is intel-| lectual rather than imaginative. An analysis of the thought wil develop its vagueness.) She hears from afar savage cries and turbulent joy and at first til troubled by a sense of loneliness and danger. wama^m THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. "What might these be? A thousand fantasies Begin to throng into my memory Of calling shapes, and beckoning shadows dire And airy tongues that syllable men's names On sands and shores and desert wildernesses." But against her thronging fears she is doubly armed in her sense I of innocence and heavenly guardianship. "These thoughts may startle well, but not astound The virtuous mind that ever walks attended By a strong siding champion, conscience. (> welcome, pure eyed faith, white handed hope; Thou hovering angel girt with golden wings, And thou unblemished form of chastity ! I see ye visibly, and now believe That He the Supreme (food, to whom all things ill Are but 11* slavish officers of vengeance. Would send a glistering guardian, if need were. To keep my life and honor tmassailed." _ /.,■"," ;"_.,,, KThe sounds of revelry have died away, and the Lady thinks how ■best she may signal to her absent brothers aud call them to her Bide. Her voice is not strong enough by ordinary sound to pen- Kate the depth of the woods, but perhaps some soft, sweet notes ■f song may awake the echoes and reach the ears for which they are intended. The song that follows is a call to "Sweet Echo that lives within ■ier airy shell," and is a lyric gem of the finest mould : "Sweet echo, sweetest Nymph, that liv'st unseen Within thy airy shell By slow Meander's margent green And in the violet embroidered vale Where the love lorn Nightingale Nightly to thee her sad song mourneth well Canst thou not tell me of a gentle pair That likest thy Narcissus are? 0, if thou have hid them in some flowery cave Tell me but where, Sweet queen of parley, daughter of the sphere, So may'st thou be translated to the skies And give resounding grace to all Heaven's harmonies." Lines 230-21,3. (Note the melodious construction of the song. The trochaic verses 234 and 239 are very effective. There is a continuous flow of imagery.) The watching spirit afterwards describes the music of this song. "At last a soft and solemn breathing sound Rose like a steam of rich distilled perfumes Aud stole upon the air, that even silence Was took ere she was ware, and wished she might Beny her nature." -Lines B55-S60. THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. Compare the first three lines of this beautiful passage with the| following opening lines from Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night:" "That strain again : it haund the Gettysburg MERCURY." The true ing ! It can be done, it should be done, it must be done. The proper development of superior literary taste among the students requires stimuli additional to those ordinarily applied in formal courses of study and creditable manifestations of literary effort need every possible practical encouragement. The successful publication of a college literary journal would assuredly present ;i ftnstant incentive—and one of the best—to careful expression of [original thought. The annual Spectrum has been taking excel-lent care of one form of college representation and the Gettysbiug-wi is admirably adapted for the dissemination of college news. Each of these publications requires considerable literary taste and ability in its successful arrangement and management, but, after all, its editors are not called upon for the manifestation of special literary attainment. The same may be said in respect to the MERCURY as it was. 1 The MERCURY certainly should be the journal above all others :o particularly encourage the production of a literature worthy of the student body and the college. "There is a feeling abroad " quoting from Prof. Klinger's call to arms, "that the failure to write is an indication either of a dearth of ideas or a want of the power of expression; perhaps of both." If this general surmise 1 to be changed to a necessary, universal acknowledgment of the fact, to which all of us can bear witness and which has recently been formally attested by such a high and impartial authority as Dr. Stuckenberg, that Gettysburg College students, "in thought power are the equals of those in any other college in the coun-try ' surely some material expression of the literary ability our students do undoubtedly possess must constantly as well as pub-licly be made. Nearly all of our sister colleges have literary journals, but Gettysburg has had none. "Why not?" may be ne query and what answer can we give? If the mistaken belief ows that we can not maintain a literary journal, that the college oes not stimulate its students to genuine literary expression, can words m necessarily half-hearted explanation of conditions at ^ettysburg satisfy those who note the continued lack of material ry eV1dences? The conclusion suggested, on which of course 24 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. "'the college must suffer from a suspicion of blame," is indeed a natural one and one we cannot allow to prevail. It points us earnestly to the fact that, if our college is to grow not only at Gettysburg but also before the world, this stumbling block in the I way of a public opinion destined to be more and more favorable to her must be entirely removed, some "medium for the expres-sion of creative thought" must be supplied, some direct incentive I to student literary endeavor must be furnished. A journal dedi-cated to the literary idea, and that idea alone, ought to succeed. deserves to succeed, and the MERCURY, we predict, will soon take a leading place on the list of Gettysburg and general college I publications, steadily growing in excellence, in usefulness and in I popularity for years to come. The Spectrum devotes itself largelyI to illustrating what may be seen among the students at Gettys-1 burg. The Gettysburgian is concerned mainly with what alumni and the students do. May the MERCURY ever be theI special medium for expression of Gettysburg student and gradu-ate thought. Each journal thus assumes a recognized sphereo its own. Each advancing proudly the most praiseworthy am lofty aims. All devoted earnestly and constantly to Gettysburg. | A noble, worthy, laudable trio—prosperity to them all. The students, in the emergency which lately has arisen, haveI acted in a way to deserve the strongest commendation. TheI greatly desired consummation of one project has not been heed-lessly enforced to the annihilation of another. Student clelibera-1 tions, in which college loyalty has been the one and the control ing spirit, have resulted in patriotic conclusions, Instead i planting thorns in the path of the Gettysburgian or, on the othi hand, of giving the swelling literary wave full sweep to thede truction of the tottering MERCURY with a substitution of "some-l thing else," the weekly receives the plaudits and the support that! all positive endeavor in Alma Matet's name deserves, whilst netl blood has been transfused into the veins of the senescent montlil)'| and its existence thus continued on indefinitely. The arrival" is nourished, greatly strengthened—rejuvene sprightly as the old. Nothing is lost, each is saved, progress" lumes and brightens both. Negative spirits, with all * "negativism" implies, have fallen to the rear, while all """I boys," grouped loyally around the banners of the Spectrum ml THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. the Gettysbmgian, are earnestly beckoning to alumui and to friends, and calling all to "Rally round the Gettysburg MER-CURY, rally round the Orange and the Blue." A happy time, in-deed for Alma Mater. All honor to the students and their grand endeavors. Improvement ! Advancement! Progress ! The gladdening in-luence is seen and felt on every side. Earnest endeavor in the name of Alma Mater has come to be the general theme of student thought and talk, and aroused, awakened, truer loyalty, the spirit of alumnus and of friend. Graduate, student, friend—be true to Gettysburg College now, be hers most constantly in all the days i come. Let's all unite in one, long, perpetual "Rally round the Orange and the Blue," each of us striving always to carry orward with all our might her every interest, her every aim, her hopes, her claims, her all. WILLIAM J. GIES, '93. New Haven, Conn., October5, i8gj. "A LEARNED PROLETARIAT." The increase in the number of colleges and of students who at- •nd them has alarmed some persons with the idea that we are bout to have a "learned proletariat," by which they mean a ass stuffed with the love of books but helpless to supply itself vith the means of life. Unquestionably there is a limit to the number of those who can am a living in the three learned professions. If these increase ' the same percentage as the growth of population, the supply will be equal to the demand; but there is large room even here for thoroughly educated men so long as these professions absorb the large proportion they do of the imperfectly trained. Every movement to require a more liberal culture of those who aim at ie ministry, the law, and medicine conduces to the security re-spectively of the church, the state and the physical welfare of society. But there is an ever-growing demand for broad-minded, well-rained men in the editorial chair, at the teacher's desk, and in tne various lines of business. Here we need an increase far be-oncl the percentage of increase in population. College graduates 26 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. as teachers in high-schools should be the rule rather than the ex* ception. Many kinds of enterprise profit by having men of lib-1 eral in addition to specific training, and especially from our larger colleges an increasing number are devoting themselves to what is loosely called "business." There is consequently a very fair prospect that an educated man will be able to use his knowledge to gain a livelihood for himself. Of course foresight will always! be needed to keep out of crowded places and professions,; great wealth or high office can by no means be promised; but toI a man of character and good sense competence is almost a cer-1 tainty. If education unfits a man to earn a living, causes him to des] the humbler grades of service and makes him a burden on hisl family or the community, then he is better without education. Better that he should be an illiterate toiler than an impracticable! dreamer, unable to take care of himself. The clearest evidence I that a man is meeting the end of his creation is his usefulness to| those about him. It by no means follows, however, that a man must use hisac| quired knowledge directly in procuring a livelihood, or that i less he does this such knowledge is of no service to him. Man's| highest function is not to gain a living but to make a noble useo life. And yet, unless he can get a living, there is nothing be yond. If his whole energy is absorbed in getting a living, there| is likewise nothing beyond. But the conditions of life arec often so hard, and the necessity of supporting it may be made in-l cideutal to the attainment of intellectual and moral excellence.! The former of these will enable him to understand the purposed his creation, the latter to adapt himself to that purpose. Tol know the meaning of life, to feel the sublimity and beauty ofmj hire, to appreciate the majesty of the human soul and its adapt! edness to the great universe is what we should make our affll Whatever will aid us in this should be pursued with all energyj Is a man to be shut out from this higher life because heis>| farmer, a mechanic, or even a more humble laborer? Are Ik subtleties of mathematics, the wonders of science, the beauties' classic literature to be the possession only of certain classes, a»i theirs only for the sake of getting an easier livelihood ? Are toes! merely the tools of certain workmen, as the saw, the plane ami THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 27 the chisel are the tools of the carpenter ? If so, let us lay aside 3ur cant about the nobility of knowledge and admit the wisdom Df the lazy student who is unwilling to carry about with him an ■muce more of learning than will serve his immediate purpose. But if there is something good and divine about knowledge, let as assume that it is an ornament to the hearer as well as to the preacher, the laymen as well as the lawyer, the patient as well as hie physician, the pupil as well as the tutor. If "fifty years of Jurope" are better "than a cycle of Cathay," they are so only to ie man who knows how to get out of the life of Europe what is there. For this let every youth strive to acquire the best training finds possible. Encourage every one who is intellectually apable to take a college course and expect happiness instead of .isaster as the consequence of such a spread of learning. H. IN MEMORIAM. "I sometimes hold it halfa sin To put in words the grief I feel; For words, like Nature, hall reveal And half conceal the soul within.1 it is impossible for one who has known Harry Smith constantly ' intimately, and has had the delightful experience of his riendship, not biased activities tlso in his short, M Seminary, to | words the high-sweetness of depth of a Df the rose's predicate certain ftt susceptible- to Wise, was Har-lad its own pe-only in the multi-of college life, but though earnest life enfold in suitable born thought of his character and personal grief. fragrance, one can qualities, but it is analysis ; so like-ry's character. It .1 • I, - \c_umliiaair iqjuuaciliiituieeas. 1I.n11 ■nis vacant chaff well meant for grain," we would epitomize the story of his life and pay our tribute to his noble nature Henry Rouser Smith was born at Thurmont, Md., March 14, 74- Ten years later his family moved to Chambersburg, Pa., ere Harry was graduated from the public schools in 1890. In 2g THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 1891 he entered the Chambersburg Academy, from which he was graduated in 1893. He entered college with the class of '97 and was graduated last June. A month ago he enrolled himself as a divinity student in our Seminary. On Saturday afternoon, Oct. 2, he died suddenly while returning from a picnic held at the Springs Grove by the Belmont Sunday School, of which he was superintendent. This summary, with a change of names and dates andacir-cumstance or two, might be all that could be written of many a life, but not so with Harry Smith. His life in its formative period was influenced and shaped into its later beauty by devoutly Christian parents, (only those who have been permitted to experience the rare spirituality of his home life know its impress on his life) and when he came to col-lege, he, too, exerted an influence for good upon those who were attracted to him by his uncommon personality. This influence has not ceased with his death, for like the tulip tints of an Octo-ber twilight that linger long after the sun has gone down and makes the earth beautiful, so it will linger in the lives of those who knew him best—only it will never fade away, but merge into a hoped-for radiance of an eternal dawn. Bright, cheerful, good, he was all these and more. During his college course, he held positions of trust in his class, Philo So-ciety, Y. M. C. A., and other college organizations. He was elected president of his class and business manager of the class annual published in their junior year. He was chairman of last year's successful Y. M. C. A. lecture committee; an enthusiastic supporter of athletics and, without disrespect to his predecessors, he was the most successful business manager THE COLLEGE MERCURY ever had and his loyalty to it never fagged. Asa student, he labored with the keen consciousness of his opportuni-ties and obligations. He was fitting himself exceptionally well for the work which he had chosen. The successful termination of his college course—-for he was a commencement platform speaker—his deep sympathy for men, his enthusiasm for the life-work he had planned, his affectionate disposition, his pure per-sonal character, his life of deep, earnest faith in Christ—these and other qualifications promised a successful service in the Masters vineyard. THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 29 t While a senior in college, he became interested in country Sunday school work, and faithfully and acceptably taught a class in the Belmont school, two miles from town. He was the only college man who attended this school and often when the snow lay deep, or the cold rain fell, or the cold wind blew in gales, he would yenture a journey to his friends in the Seminary who had charge of the school, in order that he might not be absent should they make their usual journey. Sometimes too, when they wen willing to remain indoors, he, with fearless faithfulness, would urge them to perform what he considered a blessed duty. When upon returning to school, a month ago, the Sunday school was re-organized for another year's work, Harry was elected superin-tendent. As we walked to the picnic the day of his death his heait was filled with happy anticipations of the work for the year, fend his mind busy with plans for strengthening the school * Fidelity to every interest intrusted to him, he considered a acred duty, and it is inexpressibly sad that he should be called away so early in life. We may, after years of intimacy, say of ferry Smith. "He was without pride; without envy; without selfishness ; without vanity ; moved only by good will and spirit-ual amb.tions ; responsive even to the touch of God and every nobk impulse; faithful, fearless, magnanimous." W. A. K., '95. KESOUTIONS. Jng our lasting love and / iendshi? '™°W"00 made our lives happier win- 1 exceptionally ZLnlfvT^? ° b>' "" taIents^e promise of becoming vates us uy the powor IZZZSfSZZS Vmeyard; aUd Wh°- 6Ven ta WS death e" m:BT::x^^^^^owo 8ineere sympathy a,,d ** be publisn dX^^T*"* t0 th S- J- Miller, Committee. 3° THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. EDITORS' DESK. THE proposed memorial statue of Dr. S. S. Schmucker is a I worthy recognition of the services of the leading spirit among a number of enterprising citizens engaged in the founding of Penn-sylvania College. Such memorial is evidence of our pride in our | history and in the development of the life of our college, honoring Dr. Schmucker we honor our college and its work give ourselves an incentive to larger and better work. A general participation and prompt contributions willgiveal speedy success to this enterprise, which has originated with the| Gettysbwgian. It has the best wishes and support of the MER-CURY. * * * WITH this number of the MERCURY, we attempt an advance step in the history ofjournalism in Pennsylvania College. We | have had in our midst since last February, a newspaper, Tk Weekly Gettysbwgian, a bright, attractive, up-to-date publication, which has absorbed the former news function of the MERCURY, and leaves it free to enter more full}' the field of literature, science! and art. * * * THE Alumni of Penn'a College are an honorable and learnedI body. Her students, young men and women, are eager for cul-[ ture and knowledge, such knowledge as her Alumni can to a large! extent supply, knowledge of the kind of education and training I needed for life, knowledge that will aid, quicken, couusel and de-light us. * * * THE student bodies in Stevens Hall, in College, in Seminary, need some means by which they may get their literary productions | before a critical public. What brighter idea could be conceived than the publication of a magazine, purely the product of theseI several classes of men—students, faculty, alumni, all united by the common tie of love for Alma Mater. * * * THIS is the idea that impels us. We believe that our under-1 taking will supply a want. Will you do your part to meet by«l a hearty approval of the merits of the paper and a personal »J operation to remedy its shortcomings. THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 31 ALUMNI, have you in the crucial times of your life discovered ■the element of your mental or moral make-up which has preserved you intact and unchanged ? Have you a thought that may sug-gest a happy solution of the political, social and economic ques-tions of to-day ? Can you add to the sum total of human knowl-edge? Have your senses been delighted, your mind ennobled, your soul sanctified by the beautiful, the true, the good, in nature, in literature, in art, in the experiences of your own inner self? Let not these things perish, but give them to each other and to 111. Student, are there not in you ideas and powers of expression latent, unknown, which by an attempt to exercise them will be nade manifest ? Is there not in you a yearning, yea a high re-solve, to acquire as far as possible mastery over your mother tongue, sufficient to express clearly, easily, and elegantly the unhackneyed thoughts of your vigorous untamed intellect in no-i) le English—the medium of the world's advanced civilization ? * * * I THE October-November issues of the MERCURY will be sent to nany alumni who have hitherto not been subscribers. We trust they will find that they cannot afford to be without it and will be-come friends and supporters. While your contributions and aid as-sist us directly, everything which advances and enlarges the in-fluence of the College, increases the value of her diploma and heightens the honor of those who hold it. Contributions earn-stly solicited. Merit is the test of publication. _ WE hope the changed form will commend itself to all. This fact and the recent change in the editorial staff account for our delay. We expect to publish hereafter soon after the first of the month. Our November issue is well under way and will be an excellent number. Watch for our announcement of contributors ! The two surviving members of the class of '39 show their loy-alty by a contribution to the first number. Rev. Harris, now past "e eightieth mile-stone, writes briefly, but promises more in the u ure. We hope to have some reminiscences of Penn'a College in its early days for publication soon. 32 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. ATHLETICS. The record of the foot-ball team up to this time has not beena good one, and yet considering the causes of such a record, we cannot find fault with the work of the team. Playing again-t teams averaging twenty to thirty pounds more in weight, having better training, and our team being without a coach, and having men injured at critical times or who could not accompany the team, are in brief the reasons why the games have not resulted in our favor. Of the three games played, the team showed up the best in the game with State. The first half, State scored twenty-six points and in the second but six points. This score shows Gettysburg's characteristic way of playing a loose game during the first half and of putting up a strong game during the second half. The game with the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia was a surprise to all college men. No one thought the Univer-sity would score over forty, and a number believed that the score would be about the same as the last year's score of 32 to o. The reason it was a surprise was because no one realized that the University has such an excellent team this year. From the smallness of the score which Penn'a had run up against Bucknell and Washington and Jefferson, we supposed that our score would also be small. But it is a noticeable fact about the Penn'a team] that it does not round into form until the season is well on, since our team met them when they were almost up to their usual | standard, the large score of 57 to o, resulted. On the same day Princeton defeated Rutgers by the score of 53 to o, and the fol-lowing Saturday, Oct.-g, the University beat Lehigh by the score I of 58 to o, scoring 46 points in the first half. These large scores | against other teams in our class show that we should not be dis-couraged on account of the score against our team. The Susquehanna game was the most disappointing of That we could beat Selinsgrove everyone was sure, and it was I only a question of how large a score our team would make. Con-trary to expectation Susquehanna University beat us 4 to 0. This [ touchdown was made five minutes after play had been started n the first half. The remainder of the first half the contest wasicI the middle of the field. In the second half our team would Iiave| THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 33 scored had it not been for a fumble. Our team was at a great disadvantage. Captain Dale who was injured in the University \ of Penn'a game was unable to play, and this was a serious blow to the team. Losing the captain is a more serious circumstance than losing any other player, for on the captain great responsi-bility rests, as he is supposed to know the ability of each player, the best method of advancing the ball and of resisting the oppos-ing team. We were also handicapped by the loss of Lawyer and Hagerman who had to be carried off the field after the first few minutes of play. Yet against this crippled team Susquehanna was able to score but one touchdown. Now that we have as coach Mr. Roy Thomas, who played 'quarter on the Orange Athletic Club's foot-ball team last year, we are sure that the team will develop quickly and win the majority of the games yet to play. The result of the game with the York Y. M. C. A., was dis-couraging. We thought that the team would win by one touch- . down at least, but when the score of 28-0 was heard, everyone wondered what was the cause of such a large score. It was on account of the holding of one man by the York players, when York had the ball ofwhich holding the umpire took no notice, and I also the careless and indifferent playing of our team. Captain Dale is now at Jhis old position, and Manges is now playing right guard until Hagerman is in condition to play. White will play his old position at half back. The team will be strengthened by their old players and we are sure that Saturday's lame with Maryland University will result in our favor. AT SUNSET. Above our heads the clouds are dark and gray, But in the distance, where the purple hills Rise up to meet the sky, the dying day Has left a glow that all the evening fills. The clouds are parted there; a bit of blue, A streak of crimson and a touch oi gold, A flood of sunset glory streaming thro' The cloudy curtain looping fold on fold. The wearied sun is lost in viewless rest, But all the clouds, aglow with after light, Reflect his image in the mirrored West, And flash across the hills a glad "Good night.' 34 THE GETTYSBURG MERCtTKV. What tho' above our heads the clouds be gray ? What tho' the shadows deepen into dark ? We gaze upon the sunset iar away And from the glory catch a faint, dim spark. Perhaps around thy life the shadows are, Perchance no brightness cheers thine onward way, Oh, turn thine eyes unto the West afar, The glow of sunset comes- at close of day. A. R. W., '99: Young Lady (on the grand stand—The umpire calls a foul, but I don't even see a feather. Her Escort—But you must re-member that this is a picked nine. We contemplate additional departments some of which will ap-pear in our next issue. Subscribe for the MERCURY. 3/ott u>t'// /i'nct a fu/f f/rto o/~ ZPure *Drutjs dc 3*ene ^Stationery ^People*s %)ruy Store, J. A. TAWNEY fs ready to furnish clubs and boarding houses with at short notice and reasonable rates. Cor. Washington and Middle Sts., Gettysburg, 'David TJroxetj DEALER IN.«. FINE GROCERIES AND NOTIONS. M?York Street.^) (gO TO^ ^ *M0TEL GETTYSBURG-* M«I mm. Centre Square. B. M. SEFTON. -^TIPTOK & BARBEHENN* In the Eiglo Hotel, Cor. Uais and WuMigtn Sli. MUMPER & BENDER, FURNITURE, Cabinet Making, Picture Frames, Baltimore St., - - GETTYSBIT.I;, 1'A SIMON J. €OD0fif —DEALER IN— BEEF, PORK, LIMB, VEAL, SAUSAGE. York Street, Gettysburg .^-Special rates to clubs. Subscribe for SZ> Settysburg Vhc penury. A6GUMULATED WEALTH. Laying up of riches isn't the only thing n life, for frequently a sour disposition is he result. You want to take comfort in life as you to along, one of the best ways to take com-fort is to buy well-fitting clothing. My Fall Styles are now here and the selection is large and varied. > Suits made to your order from $12 up. : Pressing and Repairing doiie at short no" Jtice. J. D. LIPPY, Merchant Tailor, . 43 Chambersburg St., - - BoHyabarg, Pa. ©.E.SF>AJYQLEF?, Successor to J. W. Eicholtl & Co. DEAI.KIt IN PIANOS, ORGANS, MUSIC, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, STRINGS, Etc. YORK STREET First Square, Gettysburg. iios CHESTNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA ''right's Gngraving Jfouse £AS become the recognized leader in VPV , ■ n l'"N«RAVIXHS MV\ STATION- »r"J. i' f''11'"1 ('"'»ss-IJayInvitations,en- ?ruierl and printed from steel plates; Pro- •,ti;S; ;"""■ Weddil nutations, Announcemen>8ts,anetdc ReetcceptEioxn K'hcrc1CeS ft',Ul MyleS bef0re orderin8 OViniting Cards from New Engraved Plate $1.00. ERNEST A. WEIGHT yehestnut Street, - PHILADELPHIA. JOHN L. SHEA 1),S, NEW CIGAR STORE Next doot to W. M. Depot, Gettysburg, Pa. P- F. HENNIG, 0EHU.R \n— Bread, Rolls, Pretzels and Crackers YORK STREET, GETTYSBURG. I ^-Reasonable Rates to Clubs. L. D. N|ILLEit 19 Main St., Gettysburg, Grocer Confectioner f and Fruiterer. ICECREAM and OYSTERS IN SEASON. GETTYSBURG, I'A. Main St. '-''—■' ■ - MO4IIUj^PEF?, Pfi©t©gr©ntp© Square. The Carlisle Street Grocer, Who always has on hand a full line of fine Groceries. HOTEL * gETTYSBOK I Locate.! on Centre Square where K^J Ian Houae formerly stood, OETTYSBVSG, /'A.V.V.i RATES $2 P£TRD/|y It is the acknowledged Lea* Hotel of Gettysburg Hal throughout with S eold Baths; corni I in- : Dinin ity, aX); has excellence. Head League of American n'Mri Headquartei elers. Headquarters, itiilitan civic societies. Kn from till trains. H, 4 D. K. MILLER, PROPI E

(J^JLMJAU!**-- MARCH, J899 oeTtneoo Qettysbmr erciury .CONTENTS. The Old Campus 1 Extracts from "Honor in Stu-dent Life" 4 A Page from Prof. Brede's Diary 6 Henry Louis Baugher 7 A Compiled Thanatopsis 10 Thy Speech Bewrayeth Thee 13 The Favorite Sport of Rome IS The Cultivation of the Dramatic. 18 Concerning the Inhabitants of Porto Rico 20 The Reconciliation of Orlando and Oliver 24 Editor's Desk 26 Kee Mar Reception 29 Success in Art 31 The Trip to Chambersburg 33 Athletics 35 jBURGreOLCEGE^LIiRARY GETTYSBURG, PA, r\Hiimmmmitimmmmsmm. FAVOR THOSE WHO FAVOR US. J. R. STINEk-> •*nd SON, Gents' Furnisher, CHAHBERSBURO STREET. C. B. Kitzmiller, Dealer In Hats, Caps, Boots and . A.—Shoes GETTYSBURG, PA. J. H. Myers, Fashionable Tailor, Clothier and Gents' Furnisher. The best place in town tohayeyourCloth-mg made to order. All workmanship and Trimmings guaranteed. No charge for re-pairs and pressing for one year. Dyeing and Repairing a specialty. Ready-made Clothing the largest stock in town. Up-to-date styles. Bicycle Suits and Breeches Headquarters. 11 Baltimore St., Gettysburg, Pa. S. B. ALCOTT, .Agent for. Browning, King 6c Co., Merchant Tailor, N. Y. Suits *12 up; Overcoats $12 up; Pants $4. r it and Workmanship Guaranteed. R. A. WONDERS, Corner Cigar Parlors. A full line of Cigars, Tobacco, Pipes, Etc. Scott s Corner, Opp. Eagle Hotel. GETTYSBURG, PA. EPH. H. MINNIGH, Manufacturer, Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Confectionery and Ice Cream. Oysters in Season. News Depot and Subscription Agency. Sole manufacturer of Dr. Tyler's Cough Drops. flain St., Gettysburg:, Pa. EDGAR 5. MARTIN, .Fine CIGARS AND SMOKERS' ARTICLES. Chambersburg St., Gettysburg. JOHN H. MINNIGH, Confectionery «*- lee Cream: Oysters Stewed and Fried. No. 17 BALTIMORE ST. .COLLEGE OP. Physicians and Surgeons BALTIMORE, flD. TIT The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, Maryland, is a well equipped school. Four sessions are required for graduation. For full information send for the annual catalogue, or write to THOMAS OPIE, M. D., Dean. Cor. Calvert & Saratoga Sts. .THE. GETTYSBURG MERCURY Entered at the Postoffice at Gettysburg as second-class matter. VOL. VIII. GETTYSBURG, PA., MARCH, 1899. No. 1 Editor-in-Chief. J. FRANK HEILM AN, '00. Assistant Editors. LUTHER A. WEIGLE, '00. SAMUEL VAN ORMER, '01. Alumni Editor. REV. F. D. GARLAND. Business Manager. JOHN K. HAMACHER. Assistant Business Manager. CLARENCE MOOE. Advisory Board. PROF. J. A. HIMES, LIT. D. PROF. G. D. STAHLEY, M. D. PROF. J. W. RICHARD. D. D. Published monthly by the students of Pennsylvania (Gettysburg) College. Subscription price One Dollar a year in advance, single copies Ten Cents. Students, Professors and Alumni are cordially invited to contribute. All subscriptions and business matter should be addressed to the Business Manager. Articles for publication should be addressed to the Editor. Address THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY, GETTYSBURG, PA. THE OLD CAMPUS. HE was old. The snows of sixty winters had silvered the raven locks of sixty years ago. His figure tall and erect showed scarcely any signs of his four decades. Yet the expression of those sad brown eyes had hidden in them an experience rich and varied. The secrets, that those firm lips had guarded, surely were worthy of so kind and noble a character. But interest, sym-pathy, even love could not rob that soul of its hidden secret. The story of his life as known by his associates was without the touch of a romance. His parents having died when he was young, he was educated by his relatives. His course at College was very ordinary, with exception of a great interest in athletics. He was not exceptionally bright and did not graduate among the first ten of his class. There suddenly developed within him after his graduation a strong determination to make a name for himself in his profession. Then there was exhibited the strength of his will and ability. Gradually he rose until he stood at the head of GETTYSBURG COLLEGE LIBRARY GETTYSBURG, PA. |U,olM THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. his profession. Now, however, after having attained this much desired position there seemed to influence him, not that former spirit of determination but rather a mechanical direction of his powers to a certain end. He was never married and his life seemed to be very lonely. A peculiar fondness however for a small boy, whom he had employed about his office, grew up within him. The boy was sent to College and each year, as his strange benefactor came to visit him, a stronger bond united them. So then we can understand the feelings of these two men as they stood together upon the Old Campus on the eve of the young man's graduation day. It was early evening. A gentle breeze was playing among the the leaves of the trees. Sometimes they seemed to whisper of the days of happiness that were passed beneath their shade and then suddenly a low wail of sadness issued as a moan from their shadowy depths. To our two hearers the}' brought different feelings. Yet they had one desire in common and it was to unfold to each other the thoughts stirring for supremacy within them. The younger man was full of glad expectancy. All the world lay before him in which he might achieve great deeds. No longer would he be bound by the narrow circles of college walls and authority, but he would now be able to take his place among men. Everything would be sacrificed until he attained his high-est ambition. Life was long and sweet. He would make the most of it. The older man listened to his companion's enthusiastic re-marks with fast dimming eyes. After the youth had ceased speak-ing the older man said, "Listen my boy to the story I have to tell, and if you can profit by any of its lessons, do so. Men have called me morose and perhaps they are right. Women have said that I am heartless but they know not the depth of my love. Years ago I entered this institution with all the future spread in a glittering expanse before me. I was by no means a hard stu-dent. I was however an ardent lover of all kinds of sport. My means were limited so that I was not among the richer class of boys. My life passed along in its ordinary course until my com-mencement week—and then a change so sudden, so vast burst upon me that even to this day words fail to express it. I was playing on our ball team. How vividly it all comes back to me to-night, as though it were but yesterday. It was the THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 3 last inning with the score a tie. Was it chance that enabled me then to be the means of winning the game for our team? I do not know. But as the boys were carrying me from the field, my attention was called to a group of ladies who wished to congrat-ulate me. Suffice it, my boy, that among that group there was one, whose modest appreciation of my chance was more wel-come to me than the compliments of all the others. That night, just a few decades ago, I walked with her under these same old shade trees, which to-night whisper their sweet old secrets to me. Then I learned for the first time that my ideal of womanhood was approaching reality. I can but marvel at the depth of thought and feeling, at the richness of mind and intel-lect which existed in so beautiful a form. My child, words to-night are inadequate to express my feelings as they were then. I said farewell with the intention of realizing all the possibilities of her ideal of manhood. It was a chance acquaintance but it influenced my life. I entered the bustle of the busy world and was amply re-warded for my labors. But the originator of all my strongest ambitions and the shaper of my character had passed from my life altogether. For years I tried to trace her but all in vain. Then my profession seemed to lose its former glamour and I grew more reticent. I thought that so many years ago it might be but a passing fancy for the fair girl by my side, but all the years of my life since, have shown me the wonderful depth of my love and affection. So sacred has her memory been to me, that never would I enter society, and so have been misunderstood. I tell you this because you are the only one in all this wide world whose affection I believe is mine. To-night after long years of separation, I met her brother. He told me of her beautiful, con-secrated life. Numerous as were her suitors, she rejected them all. Could it have been possible that she cared for me, and I missed my happiness by delay? Those swaying leaves, which whisper to you in the fulfillment of your fondest dreams, murmur to me in an undertone, that she loved me as I loved her, with all the wealth of our new-born affections. Such are the memories that rise within me upon this dear old Campus to-night. Could these trees tell the tales that they have heard, could those rooms in yonder dormitory re-echo the thoughts of their many occupants, then truly could they reveal t THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. : secrets more joyous and perhaps more sad than mine. Go forth, my boy, and meet the world with that bright smile of yours. Keep that pure spirit untainted by any wrong to your fellowmen and God. But remember, by the moral of my life, this lesson, New hope may bloom, and days may come of milder, calmer beam, But there's nothing- half so sweet in life, as love's young- dream. —S. W. H., '99. EXTRACTS FROM "HONOR IN STUDENT LIFE." A WISE college president recently declared, after an outbreak of rowdyism in his college. I am of the opinion that unless the common tenden-cies toward irresponsible conduct in college life are checked, parents will begin to doubt whether it is best to send their chil-dren to college. The older I grow the more deeply I feel that it is the duty of all people charged with any responsibility for the guidance of youth to co-operate with all others having any share in that responsibility, to the end that the young may make the most of themselves. I know of nothing which would contribute to that end more largely than to require them to respect others and the established institutions of their country. I would permit the largest freedom of individual action, on the assumption that it would be within legitimate bounds. I would not only tolerate, but I would sympathize with, and, when agreeable to them, I would join with young people in all activities in which they may properly engage. The theory upon which university authorities commonly ab-solve themselves from all responsibility for offenses committed by students away from university grounds or not in the immediate presence of the faculty, is a very convenient one, but, in my judgment, it is a very unsound one. And they are particularly charged with doing all that in them lies to help parents attain the higher ends for which they sacrifice much in order to send their children to college. It is sad to see the extent to which college students think it unmanly for them to reveal the gravest offenses committed by their associates, and even to lie in order to shield them. Tattling about ordinary shortcomings, or any of the small affairs of college life, is to be scorned. But when an offense stains the character t^mmmmmmmaammm THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. ofan institution and violates the law of the state, the time has come for every true man's hand to be raised against the offender. And student and community sentiment upon this, as upon other matters, must be much influenced by university action or univer-sity indifference. The curse of college morals is a double standard—a shifting for the convenience of the moment, from the character of a respon-sible man to the character of an irresponsible boy. The admini-strative officers accept without question a student's word; they assume that he is a gentleman and that a gentleman does not lie ; if, as happens now and then, he is not a gentleman and does lie, they had rather, nevertheless, be fooled sometimes than be sus-picious always (and be fooled quite as often). Frankly treated, the student is usually frank himself; our undergraduates are, in general, excellent fellows to deal with; yet so much is done for them, so man}' oportunities are lavished on them, that the more thoughtless fail to see the relation of their rights to other people's, and, in the self-importance of early manhood, forget that the world is not for them alone. Students of this kind need delicate handling. They jealously demand to be treated as men, take ad-vantage of the instructors who treat them so, and excuse them-selves on the ground that, after all, they are only boys. This double standard is seen in both theme-copying and sign-stealing. Its moral effect is probably more insidious in the former than in the latter; for whereas persons more or less mendacious pass muster in all society but the best, no decent community outside of college will put up with a thief. In college, both offenses have been tolerated, through the pernicious doctrine, held by some re-pectable persons, that the life of every young man—or at least of every young gentleman—takes in a period of engaging anarchy, during which period almost anything short of murder may be winked at as boys' fun. Fun, and not crime, is doubtless the motive; and the fault is no more in the young men than in those staid citizens who boast their own early escapades, and are con-tent that their sons should behave no better than they did. Yet wherever the blame lies, the real nature of these acts is so plain to anyone, however young, who suffers himself to open his eyes, that the usual slow processes of education may, perhaps, be ef-fectually discarded. I 6 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. The rolls of our higher institutions contain our selected youth; and it should not be possible to say of them what Bismarck said of the German students, that "one-third destroy themselves by dissipation, one-third wear themselves out by over-work, and the rest govern the country," or as put by a distinguished educator, one-third go to the dogs, one-third to the grave and the rest are the strength of the republic. It is the supreme function if school and college discipline to merge the first two classes into the third —not, as we are all too prone to think, to eliminate or ignore them. The chief end of education should be to transform weak-ness into strength. If in a republic the man must outweigh the majority, then in a deep sense the whole body of our educated youth must outweigh the mass of our people. —JAMES C. MACKENZIE. A PAGE FROM PROF. BREDE'S DIARY. A VIEW from one of the peaks of the Black Forest of the whole chain of the Alps, reaching from Mt. Blanc, 140 miles away, to Tyrol in the east will not soon be forgotten, but the view from the Rigi, on Lake Lucerne, while restricted to the Bernes Alps, has probably no rival in the whole world. But the weather must be propitious. Our party ascended by the Rigi rail-way, which makes you feel as though rising in a balloon, so quickly do lake, and city, and lower hills recede; but as we neared the summit, a cloud enveloped us, a steady mist began to fall, and all hopes of having a view the following morning were apparently shattered. But let the traveler in Switzerland never despair, rise early, make the best of all his time, and carry out his programme, for when he least expects, there will be a rift in the clouds, and as ifby magic touch they will be gathered up, leaving him face to face with some sublime view, such as he had hardly hoped to see. We retired despondent, but rose to witness a glorious sunrise. The whole range of Alpine peaks stood out boldly against the blue sky, but dull and gray, when suddenly here and there a lofty peak, touched by the warm rays of the rising sun, glowed with the rosy hue of life. The snow-clad mountains, though the nearest was twenty miles away, seemed so near as to make one think the voice could reach them. The view to the south was bounded by this wall of Alpine peaks, to the west were the rugged outlines of the MMnonmaM THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. j Tura, while northward one hundred miles away, the outlines of the Vosges and Black Forest peaks could be traced, and to the east the Suabian and Bavarian ranges ; cities, towns, and villages were visible without number; the great lakes of Lucerne lay close at our feet in wonderful hues of emerald, blue, and purple, while at a greater distance on every side appeared other well-known lakes. From Lucerne we may explore the lake, or rather the series of lakes, and pass the places made illustrious by Schiller's drama of Wilhelm Tell. At Fluelen we take the railroad and pass, within the next hour, through the finest scenery of the whole St. Goth-ard route, climbing the mountains, winding about in looping tunnels, until it is utterly impossible to be certain of the direction. At the town of Geshenen we are near the head of the valley, and after seven miles of tunnel through the St. Gothard we speed along the banks of the Tessino to the shores of Lake Maggiore and the plains of Northern Italy. If we leave the railway at Geshenen, however, and go a-foot along the turbulent Reuss a few miles farther, we shall come to a wall of rock which the stream has pierced for itself—the Hole of Uri—and where the road has emerged from a tunnel, we hardly know whether to be-lieve our eyes, for before us opens a charming plain shut in on all sides by lofty mountains, this is the valley of Andermatt, and we are here at one of the most interesting points in the Alps. To our left, that is to the east, a road in sweeping curves climbs the mountain over the tunnel, which in a few hours would take us to the sources of the Rhine; opposite, a few miles along a similar road takes us over the Gothard Pass to the Rhone glacier. This rises in terraces a distance of six miles, and seems like an immense frozen cataract, while from beneath it rushes a lusty stream, the Rhone. HENRY LOUIS BAUGHER. ON the founding of Pennsylvania College in 1832, Rev. Henry L- Baugher—the father of our Prof. Baugher—was elected Professor of Greek, being transferred to the Presi-dency of the college in 1850, he continued his valuable services to the college and the church until his death, April 14, 1868. The third son of President Baugher, Henry Louis, was born August 6, 1840, and entered the Preparatory School of the college 3 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. in 1850, graduating with honor in 1857, being assigned the Greek Oration. During the next two years he taught in the schools of Uniontown, Md., Quakertown, Pa., and Washington, D. C, and in 1859-60 in the Preparatory School of Pennsylvania College. In i860, he was in the office of the Sergeant-at-Arms of the United States House of Representatives. During this troubled period in National affairs his duties required various journeys to the border and southern states. The year's 1860-1863 were spent in studies in the Theological Seminaries at Gettysburg and Andover. In 1863 he was licensed as a minister, serving for the next year as co-pastor with Rev. S. B. Barnitz in "Home Mission Work" at Wheeling, W. Va. From 1864-7 he was pastor of the Lutheran church at Norris-town, Pa. On leaving this charge he spent six months in travel in Europe, returning to take charge of the pastorate at Indian-apolis, Ind. From this work he was elected in 1868, about four months after the death of his father, President Baugher, to the Professorship of Greek Language and Literature in Pennsylvania College, entering on his new and congenial duties January 1, 1869; he continued in the professorship till 1880, when he resigned to enter the active ministry. At this time his Alma Mater in recog-nition of his services and abilities conferred on him the honor-ary degree of Doctor of Divinity. He served the Kountze Memorial congregation at Omaha, Neb., during the year 1880-1, when he returned to Gettysburg. After a short interval he was elected Professor of Greek in Howard University, Washington, D. C, serving in this position 1882-3. In x883 he was again elected Professor of Greek in Pennsylvania College, continuing till June 1896, thus completing twenty-five years of teaching service in his Alma Mater. During the periods he was teaching in the college, he also temporarily filled positions in the faculty of the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, teaching New Testament Exegesis, 1870-4, and Sys-tematic Theology, 1883-4. For a number of years he was Vice- President of the alumni association of the college and served as chairman of the obituary committee. In 1874 when Dr. F. W. Conrad established the Augsburg Sunday School Teacher, he selected Prof. Baugher to prepare the lesson comments. On the transfer in 1875 of this publication, to the Lutheran Publication Society, Prof. Baugher was elected edi- ■H THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY tor of the Augsburg Series of Sunday School Lesson Helps—con-tributing the lesson comments and preparing the questions and aids given in the Scholar's Quarterly, continuing in this posi-tion till January i, 1894. He was a member of the International Sunday School Lesson Committee, from 1879 to 1897; and of the Board of the Lutheran Publication Society, 1877-1880. He was a trustee of Carthage College 18 80-1, and at the time of his death a director of the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, hav-ing been continued in this position from his first election in 1889. Dr. Baugher was elected President of the General Synod in 1895, and of the Luther League of Pennsylvania, in 1896. In 1897 he was chosen editor of the Lutheran World, resigning this position in 1898, he was quietly residing in Gettysburg, having declined several pastorates and a Professorship in the Theological School of the United Synod of the South. During recent months his health failed rapidly, and he passed into rest at Philadelphia, at 10.30 P. M., February 11, 1899. Dr. Baugher was frequently elected by the West Pennsylvania Synod as a member of the General Synod. He served his Dis-trict Synod and the General Synod on many important commit-tees, he was a member of the committee which prepared Augs-burg Songs, Number One; chairman of the committee 011 the De-velopment of Luther's Smaller Catechism ; was for many years a member of the committee of Beneficiary Education of West Pennsylvania Synod ; a member of the Executive Committee of the Parent Education Society, and at the time of his death a member of the committee on revision of Hymns of the Book of Worship. The publications of Dr. Baugher consist of his editorial work. Numerous contributions to the church papers, several articles in the Lutheran Quarterly and the volume on the Gospel by Luke in the series of Lutheran Commentaries. April 3, 1872, Prof. Baugher was married to Miss Ida Smith, of York, Pa., who with one daughter, Miss Bessie, survive to la-ment a loving husband and father. The strong personality of Dr. Baugher was felt in every rela-tion in which he was placed, having strong convictions in the many matters in which he was interested, his urgency and forci-bleness in advocacy of his views always commanded attention and respect. In all public utterances as a preacher, teacher and writer IO THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. he was clear and impressive. As a teacher he was enthusiastic and deeply concerned for the welfare of his pupils. As a churchman he was interested in all Christian work—but specially in all things Lutheran—in her institutions, her missions, her theology. He was an advocate of central, responsible gov-ernment in the church and a leader in the recent movement for a more uniform and more extended liturgical service. He was strongly desirous of a union among the various Lutheran bodies in the United States, believing this could be attained by a con-formity to certain views as to historical Lutheran Theology. The large number of persons who had been attracted to Dr. Baugher in warm friendship will miss his genial company and his sympathetic interest in their welfare. —E. S. B. A COMPILED THANATOPSIS. "Pallida Mors aeguopulsatpedepauperum tabernas Regumque turris." THUS Horace (Odes I. 4, 13,) tells us that "Pallid Death with impartial tread at the hovels poor does knock and at palaces of kings," and echoes Solomon's words (Ecc. 3:20,) then centuries old, "All go unto one place; all are of the dust and all turn to dust again." Death above all others is impartial, laying low rich and poor, young and old. Nor does he long warn, nor is the day well known. Alfred Tennyson beautifully expresses this in the sixth poem of "In Memoriam:"— O father, wheresoe'er thou be, Who pledgest now thy gallant son, A shot, ere half thy draught be done, Hath stilled the life that beat from thee. O mother, praying God will save Thy sailor,—while thy head is bow'd, His heavy-shotted hammock-shroud Drops in his vast and wandering grave. Ye know no more than I who wrought At that last hour to please him well ; Who mused on all I had to tell, And something written, something thought. HMMMHriH I THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. II Expecting- still his advent home : And ever met him on his way With wishes, thinking-, here to-day, Or 'here to-morrow—will he come.' O somewhere, meek, unconscious dove, That sittest ranging golden hair ; And glad to find thyself so fair, Poor child, that waitest for thy love ! For now her father's chimney glows In expectation of a guest; And thinking 'this will please him best,' She takes a riband or a rose. For he will see them on to-night; And with the thought her color burns; And, having left the glass, she turns Once more to set a ringlet right. And, even when she turn'd, the curse Had fallen, and her future lord Was drown'd in passing: through the ford, Or kill'd in falling from his horse. "In an hour when thou thinkest not," thus he comes as Juvenal also shows (Sat. Ill, 261-267) in telling of the death of a father while his household was preparing for him the cena. We translate the passage in verse as follows:— * * Now his household secure the pans and the dishes Wash already, and kindle the hearth-flame by puffing their cheeks up, Flesh-scrapers oily they clatter, in placing by oil-flask the towels. These things among the slaves are hastened variously, but he Sits already upon the bank, as a newcomer hateful Charon he dreads, nor hopes for the boat of the muddy, dark river In his unhappiness, nor has the coin in his mouth there to offer. "The young may die and the old must," we, too, all say, yet feel an added pang when Death takes the life while in the bud or when its first soft petals are opening. He claims this right how-ever, says Longfellow in "The Reaper and the Flowers :" There is a Reaper, whose name is Death, And, with his sickle keen, He reaps the bearded grain at a breath. And the flowers that grow between. "Shall Ihave nought that is fair ?" saith he; "Have nought but the bearded grain ?" 12 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. Even more than we, the ancients felt this sad fate. They thought the old ought to die, and in their unmitigated selfishness urged them to die in behalf of the young when their death was necessary and even slandered them for not doing it. Just such a case occurred when, in behalf of King Admetus after all others re-fused, his dear wife, Alcestis, endured the pangs of death. Then when Pheres, the father of Admetus, brought love-tokens for the last rites and ceremonies he was met with some such gauling, shameful words as these from his son (The Alcestis of Euripides, vv. 629-672),—"Neither do you come to this funeral-feast invited by me, nor do I count your presence among the friends. These adornments of yours she shall never put on ; for she shall not be buried having any need of these your gifts. You ought then to have sympathized when /was just perishing. But you, who stood aside and let another die and she a young lady although you were an old man, do you bewail this death? Indeed you were not truly the father of this body, nor did she, alleging to have borne me and called my mother, bear me. * * Most certainly you ex-ceed all others in soullessness, you who, although being so far advanced in years and having come to the limit of life, were not willing nor had the heart to die in behalf of your son, but together with my mother let this strange woman die. * * Short for you at all events was the remaining time worth living; and I and she might have lived the remaining time, and I being left alone should not have bemoaned my misfortunes. * * But in vain are old men willing to die, finding fault with old age and a long period of life." Compare also Juvenal, Satire X, vv. 246-247. "The Stoics," said Bacon, "bestowed too much cost upon death, and by their great preparations made it appear more fear-ful." Yet how have men approached death, how should we ap-proach it? The ancient looked with greatest dread upon death. Alcestis died in a mad frenzy, heightened by Admetus' grief for his loss. Then too, it was very necessary that they die feeling as-sured of Horace's thought as found in his Odes I. 28, 36 : * * * licebit Injecto ter pulvere curras. How the old customs remain ! Thus died the ancient Greek but Juvenal again has something better. Among the things that man should desire above all others, above pleasures of time and THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 13 sense, he names a strong resolve, void of the fear of death, that reckons the closing period of life among the boons of nature. Fortem posce animum, mortis terrore carentem Qui spatium vitae extremum inter munera ponat Naturae. * * Sat. X. 3S7-3S9. Yet we would rather hear Bryant's injunction : Go thou * * "not like the quarry-slave at night, Scourged to his dung-eon, but, sustained and soothed By an unfaltering- trust, approach thy grave Like one who wrappes the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams." We all would know that '' the spirit shall return unto God who gave it," (Ecc. 12 : 7), and that as Milton says,— Weep no more woeful Shepherds, weep no more, For Lycidas your sorrow is not dead, Sunk though he be beneath the watery floor ; So sinks the day-star in the ocean bed, And yet anon repairs his drooping head, And tricks his beams, and with new spangled ore Flames in the forehead of the morning sky. So Lycidas sunk low, but mounted high, Thro' the dear might of him that walk'd the waves, Where other groves and other streams along, With nectar pure his oozy locks he laves, And hears the unexpressive nuptial song. In the blest kingdoms meek of joy and love, There entertain him all the saints above, In solemn troops, and sweet societies, That sing, and singing in their glory move, And wipe the tears forever from his eyes. Or as Jesus said of the maid, "she is not dead but sleepeth." —C c. G., '00. THY SPEECH BEWRAYETH THEE. Long years ago, one doleful night By pallid light of taper's dim, Our Savior faced a lawless trial Before the Sanhedrim. And while it took its course, there stood Behind the pillars of the court, A bosom friend, who now disowned A knowledge of his Lord. H THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. "I do not know the man," he said, With lying- and stentorian lip ; And e'en denied with cursing tongue, His own discipleship. But all his cursings went for naught, They would not listen to his plea ; A damsel stepping forth declared : "Thy speech bewrayeth thee." Ah, truant man ! art thou surprised, When through thy polished surface peer The deadly vices of thy heart, And conscience hard and seer ? Art thou surprised because thy word Is disbelieved by friend and foe ; While those of lesser learning find A fertile soil to grow ? Be not confused as to its cause, It is not difficult to see ; For, while thy culture hides the stain, "Thy speech bewrayeth thee." Thy smooth exterior may conceal The fount of stench that lies within, But through the labial orifice Will gush the streams of sin. Thou canst not hide from critic man The full abundance of thy heart; For out of it, the mouth we're told, Its issues will impart. Like as the pendulum, which makes From side to side its measured peace, So does the tongue of man explain The works behind the face. It is the signet of our God Upon his human beings placed, And gives them sure ascendancy O'er all beneath them based. If used with love, it yields a balm More healing than on Gilead grew, And will restore the saddest heart To life and health anew. When used against a wicked foe From Satan's vast and mighty horde, It's finer than Damascus steel, And sharper than a sword. IHMHHIIi^H THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 15 But rest assured, when secret sins, Their taints upon the owner leave, His tong-ue will not belie his state, His lips will not deceive. Ah ye, with records yet unstained By baneful blots of sin and doubt, Be sure before you step awry, Your sins will find you out. And thou with vain deceitful heart, Which thine own maker best can see ; Remember that by man thou'rt known, "Thy speech bewrayeth thee." —J. B. BAKER, 1900. THE FAVORITE SPORT OF ROME. THE favorite form of athletic amusement of every nation is usually characteristic of its populace. The United States has her "baseball," England her "cricket," and Germany her "bowling,"—games showing a tendency in these nations to encourage that which will develop strength of body and alertness of mind for the purpose of performing the duties and enjoying the blessings of life. Russia's great love for fast driving indicates the excitable natures of her people. The occupation of the "kite-fly-ing" Chinaman well portrays his sluggishnes of both mental and bodily action. Until recently "bull-fighting'' was the chief amuse-ment of the Spanish, whose bloodthirsty and treacherous nature is evidenced by the delight with which the spectators behold such torture as is inflicted upon each other by the matador and his mad-dened antagonist. And just as modern nations have their characteristic muscular pursuits, so also had the ancient nations. Greece and Rome both attained to great excellency in the sports of the arena. But the character of the games of each betrays the difference in the char-acters of the two peoples. The Grecian government endeavored to increase the love of its subjects for such sports as foot and chariot-racing, boxing, wrestling, discus-throwing, and such other friendly contests as would increase not only physical strength, but that grace and perfect form of body for which the Grecians were noted. But Rome, on the other hand, fitted her youths only for military service, forgetting to pay atttention to human grace and i6 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. beauty. For she committed the serious error of adding to her en-nobling and health-producing sports that of the' 'gladiatorial show.'' This institution had its origin about two centuries and a half before Christ, when two young men arranged a series of mortal combats at the burial of their father, a prominent Roman. They believed the spirits of the departed delighted in the shedding of blood. These combats were called a ' 'gladiatorial show,'' and the combatants "gladiators;" that is, "sword fighters." For many years these contests took place only at funerals, the deceased often having willed a sum sufficient to defray the expenses of the show. L,ater, they were held in the "Circus Maximus" of the "Forum" at Rome ; but as these places were inadequate, amphitheatres were built especially for the purpose. Of these amphitheatres, the most nearly perfect one extant is that at Rome, called the ''Coliseum.'' It is an elliptical structure consisting of many rows of marble seats built in tiers, to a height of over one hundred and fifty feet. The space in the centre, called the "arena," where the contests were held is also elliptical, and over two hundred and eighty feet long. The Coliseum is still com-plete enough for us to observe how magnificent it formerly must have been, when it had so many dens for holding animals to be slain, so many attendants, such beautiful decorations, cushioned seats to accommodate eighty-seven thousand spectators, and its arena large enough for ten thousand participants and large enough when flooded with water to hold many war-ships. This building has since been damaged by lightning and by being used as a for-tress in time of war and a quarry in time of peace, several large palaces have been built of the marble taken from it. The Coliseum has been called one of the "seven wonders of the world." Those who fought in the arena ofthis amphitheatre were formerly slaves who were condemned to die, or malefactors who were allowed to earn their liberty by fighting. But later, Roman citi-zens and even senators went into the arena. Commodius the Ro-man Emperor fought in a contest. These gladiators, however, did not enter combats without training. For this purpose they had schools or gymnasiums where they were trained in a similar manner to that in which gymnasts are to-day trained, and their diet was regulated just as the diet of our modern football players is regulated. But unlike our practice, everything was done at the schools to increase brutality and thirst for blood. Before entering THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY 17 here each gladiator was obliged to take an oath, which lowered him to the rank of a slave as long as he remained there. From this fact arose the rebellion of Spartacus, which threatened for a time to overthrow the Roman Empire. For, fifty-seven gladiators, escaping from a school, took him for leader, and with the help of other slaves conquered almost the whole of Italy. Crassus, how-ever, came to the rescue of his state by defeating Spartacus. So, the show-bills being posted and the gladiators so well pre-pared for their dreadful work, the contest began. The person giving the show, or "editor," held a place of honor at the middle of one side of the arena. The combatants entered from doors at the sides. Animals to be slain were raised by elevators from their dens beneath the seats and urged into the arena. The men fought each other in different manners and with different arms. Some wore full suits of armor, frequently without eye-holes, to amuse the spectators with their ill-aimed thrusts. Some were entirely naked and carried swords. Others were on horseback and often pairs of men fought against each other. The chariot combats were very exciting. A noose was sometimes used by one gladiator to catch another. But the most interesting was the con-test between those who carried the net, tridens, and dagger, the first to entangle an opponent and the last two to kill him when caught in the net. Having cast the net and failed, the gladiator would be obliged to retreat to a corner and try to gain time in which to readjust his net for another throw, at the same time warding off the blows of his antagonist. When a gladiator was overpowered, whether he should live or be killed was determined by the wishes of the spectators. If he had fought nobly, they held up their thumbs, and he was set at liberty, If not, thumbs were turned down and he was put to death. Unlike the Greeks, besides the customary wreath ofpalms, they presented prize money to the conqueror. With the abolishment of such barbarous practices ended the greatest of the degrading influences upon the Roman mind. By these practices the people were fast becoming idle, lazy, licen-tious, and dangerous, and when Spartacus needed persons to carry out his plans, he found them among that class of people who were habitual attendants at the gladiatorial show, a class whom the Roman government had unwisely been feeding and furnishing with free amusement. Such was their desire for games THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. that they cried in the streets, "Give us bread for nothing and games forever!'' With the discontinuance of such sport came a lessening of im-purity in politics. It cost at that time about thirty-five thousand dollars for an office-seeking politician to give a show respectable enough to bring him popularity and votes. Such a sum very few men could afford to spend, and so in order to obtain such re-sources they were obliged to practice extortion upon their poor rural tenants, and to undermine the Roman government by profit-able intrigue in the city. The effects of such an institution as the gladiatorial show cause us to be glad that in our times and in our nation there are no such abominable practices to be done away with, no athletic sports that degrade to such an extent as did this Roman folly. Truly, the character of a nation may be known by the character of its athletic pursuits. c^, -D. C. B. '01. "THE CULTIVATION OF THE DRAMATIC." 1. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.—2. THE EXTENT TO WHICH IT IS CULTIVA-ATED.— 3. ITS INFLUENCE UPON SOCIETY.—4. REMARKS ON AMATEUR PLAYERS.—5. SHOULD WE TRY TO CULTIVATE THE SPIRIT.—6. CON-CLUSION. THE drama is one of the most interesting and instructive productions of the Literary Art. Its origin dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. A large portion of their literature is connected withthedrama. In its two forms, comedy and tragedy, it covers a large range of subjects. It seems to have grown up naturally with the people; and while it has changed somewhat from the original, yet in its fundamental principles and meaning it is still the same. The drama represents the pursuits and events of daily life, and when these are studied, and acted, they are made the more interesting, because they are then brought more vividly before the mind. We may inquire now : "To what extent is the dramatic spirit cultivated at the present time? " I cannot say whether or not it is cultivated as much now as it was many years ago ; but it cer-tainly is cultivated to a large extent. We are continually receiv-ing new plays, which rank well with the older ones, although they differ from them in some respects. Such plays as those of THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 19 Shakespeare, Goldsmith and others, will never lose their place in literature. They are being played everywhere by the best pro-fessional troupes. During the winter months especially, the theaters are crowded, and people will go again and again to hear these plays. Many of the magazines give long accounts of the stage, including descriptions of the most famous actors, and an ex-planation of the plays that have been, or will be, given. It is evident that the people have not lost their love for the drama, which still holds a high place in literature. Some people are very bitterly opposed to the stage and will not allow any of their children even to see a play. They have some very good reasons to think as they do. In the early history of the drama, the highest classes of people took part in it. But later, many disreputable people went into the plays, and to-day we have troupes made up of that class. It is not to be wondered then, that many people are opposed to the stage. But in every profession we find people with whom we would not associate. Although the stage is a profession which I would not think of choosing, yet it is a profession that many very excellent people choose, and who attain to high hon-ors. There is a class of plays which have a demoralizing effect and these plays should not be exhibited. Besides the number of professional troupes, we have a number of amateur players. Almost all the colleges and smaller institu-tions have their dramatic associations. This has been done re-cently by many of the colleges. It seems to be a necessity, and both the students and friends of the institutions, take a great deal of interest in them. They give plays at home and in neighboring places, and some of them have been doing excellent work. Our association is just in its childhood, and it is making earn-est efforts to rise. It started about two years ago with but a few members and has kept on increasing until at this time it has reached a number which is able to do some good work. There seems to be a great interest taken in it, and it will not be long, if we do hard and faithful work, until we will rank well with the other colleges. This is something which should be of interest to all students, because, as some go out of the association when they are gradu-ated from college, others will then be ready to go in. s 20 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. But we say, "what is the necessity of cultivating the dra-matic?" It is of the utmost importance, for several reasons. Here one receives instructions which he cannot get as well any-where else. It is a splendid cultivation of the voice, because one is re-quired to articulate distinctly; otherwise the audience would lose interest. Then in order to become successful actors, every movement must be studied, so that we may be graceful and pleasing. We must get into the spirit of the play, and study it carefully be-fore we can render it correctly. It also gives one ease and grace in the society of others. Not every one has the ability to become a good actor, but those who have, should cultivate and use it. This is a part of our education as well as anything else. Plato says: "A good education is that which gives to the body and soul, all the beauty and all the perfection of which they are capable." Those who are studying to be successful actors, should al-ways remember that "they are playing/or the audience and not to them. They make a part of a living picture." We must for-get ourselves, so to speak, and enter into the plays withheartand mind. We shall have reached an advanced stage of development when we are able to please our audience. **&> CONCERNING THE INHABITANTS OF PORTO RICO. FOUR centuries of Spanish civilization seem to have done little for the uplifting of the primitive race of Porto Rico. Spain gave the island nothing, but took all. She pretended to administer a government, which was both arbitrary and despotic, with no thought of other than her own interest; but she demanded and required for this both the liberty and the land of the people. She corrupted their simple life and taught them vice and crime. It was seldom that they murmured. They endured their fate with scarcely a hope. They were more than long-suffering and patient. So that when a better day began to dawn, they were scarcely ready to realize it. But when the fullness of time had come and the Cas-tilian banner of oppression was forced to retire to make way for •Mam THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 21 the hallowed emblem of liberty, there was not found one to shed a tear, but a multitude to cry from the very depth of their hearts " Viva Americano." I never shall forget how an intelligent, gray-haired citizen of Ponce, with tears in his eyes, tears of honest joy, but several days after the surrender of that city, told me how seemingly impossible it was for him to believe that what he saw, was real ; then he told me how, when he was a child, he had been taught to cherish a hope of freedom and to look toward the United States for it. And how he had instilled that same doctrine of love of freedom into the minds of his own sons; and now how at last in a single night, when it was not expected, it had all come to pass,—the hope of ages realized. It was all like a dream to him, could it be and was it really true,—had God indeed heard their secret prayers ? And the tears trinkled down his careworn face. Nor less impressive to me is this instance, that when a school boy, fifty years ago, Mr. Rivera, (late one of the secretaries of the new autonomic govern-ment granted the island by the Sagasta ministry) should have written a poem, one stanza of which, translated, is that "Someday the great Eagle of Liberty from the north shall swoop down upon this island, and bear away the monstrous brute bleeding in his talons." And it was, strange as it may seem, Mr. Rivera's re-ward to have the honor as well as the privilege to be among the first Porto Ricans to swear his allegiance to that country in the North from which in time the "Eagle of Liberty" came. We might go on and multiply instances to show how the love of the Porto Ricans for our flag and nation ever manifested itself; we might continue to tell of mothers, who have brought their chil-dren miles that they might only see the flag of the free, and how reverently their daughters have tenderly caressed and kissed its folds, how also on the field of battle men and women have followed that flag with water for our famished soldiers, but are these not sufficient for the credulous ? But who are these inhabitants of Porto Rico ? They are of two classes, viz., the rich and the poor. The rich own the land and the poor live on it. The rich are of Spanish descent, and the poor are descended from the aborigines and the negro slaves, but still the rightful owners of the soil. The poor are indeed very poor and the rich very few. The poor were too poor and the rich too few to promote any enterprise of particular consequence upon I 22 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. ■ the island ; so that the condition of the people under the Spanish regime was most deplorable in every phrase. The little capital that did manifest itself upon the island was largely from without. For the few rich, who did by chance pos-sess any means beyond their land, were fearful to invest; because a successful business was only so much plunder for the unscrupu-lous agents of the so-called government. Thus were the inhabi-tants by the very nature of their government driven to and held in a condition solely dependent on the product of the soil. There-fore in the soil lay the hidden wealth of the island beyond the reach of the Spanish vandal. And it was a great wealth ; for a benign Providence had made the island rich and fertile. I '00. EDITOR'S DESK. THE late staff of the MERCURY has done work worthy of Get-tysburg, and we cannot let the members of the staff pass from service without thanking them, in the name of the friends of the MERCURY, for their sincere, hard work. During the last year they surmounted disheartening obstacles and have given into the charge of the new staff, a paper which ranks with the best college publications in the state. The present editors and business managers take pride in controlling the GETTYSBURG MERCURY. THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 27 The committee in charge of the annual parade did not forget Washington—they simply remembered the blizzard. The condi-tion of the streets on the 22nd, proved the good judgment of the committee. As for the town youngsters who, had the parade been held, very likely would have caused some trouble, there is a gen-eral understanding in college, that the baseball and football men assisted by all other students, keep the youngsters where they be-long during the games on Nixon Field. We are glad to know that the parade was missed, for the celebration of Washington's birthday by a parade is an annual event of Gettysburg which cus-tom has made dear. During the recent blizzard, Gettysburg was practically cut off from the rest of the world ; but college work went on. It was not an uncommon thing, while the trees on the campus were wrestling with the raging storm, to see the form of some student or professor, bent at an angle of 45° to withstand the blasts, slowly wending his way over the pathless plain toward Recitation Hall, which, be-cause of the blinding sheets of snow, appeared in dim outline. Occasionally refractory hats would leave their accustomed places and accompany the gale; these would be hotly pursued by the owners, and sometimes by words "that would never do to tell." The storm passed by. Snow plows were welcomed at the de-pots, and mail trains were eagerly awaited, and when they came, many letters, long delayed, caused good cheer to return to the despondent hearts of numerous students. Soon the pavements of the town were cleared, leaving long channels through the deep snow ; and in due time we were permitted to walk on the concrete (?) avenues of the campus. On the evening of Feb. 21, Mr. Beck, a Lutheran missionary from Siberia, delivered an address to the students of Seminary. All pronounced the address interesting and highly profitable. On the afternoon of the following day, Mr. Beck gave a short but in-teresting talk to the "Volunteer Band" of college. The plain, child-like manners of Mr. Beck are a sure testimony to the nobility of his character. —,Ji:i,LJ.L:lii±i!li±LilJ^. 28 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. The staff is highly gratified at the readiness with which the contributors of this issue, offered their productions. We notice in college, a perceptible increase of what we might term, "literary-courage. '' Until last year our students were timid about publish-ing their work because they hesitated to face the guying of their fellow students. Now, however, no one is guyed for an honest attempt in the literary line, but he is rather commended by all for his "good work." Although some articles published by the MERCURY from time to time may not be the very best, the editors desire to publish them for the much needed encouragement of literary work. Heretofore the MERCURY has published home talent in preference to other, and the present staff intends to pursue the same course. As for this issue, although there was but a week to prepare it—we have endeavored to turn out a GETTYSBURG MERCURY. The late trip of the College Musical Clubs was an exceedingly pleasant one in more ways than one. Despite the bad weather, which interfered materially with the audiences, the boys express themselves as having the most enjoyable trip in the memory of any man on the club, and all are loud in the praises of the yonng ladies they met in the different towns of the Cumberland Valley. The college girls especially seemed to appeal to these college boys of ours. There is a quick twinkle of pleasure in every man's eye when Irving is mentioned. By far the best concert of the trip was given there, and it certainly must have been the inspira-tion of so many charming hostesses that enchanted the boys, even to the extent of falling up the steps, and losing some other fel-low's pennants. Then there was the reception afterwards and chapel the next morning, and finally the matinee in Harrisburg on Saturday, and many large square envelopes at the post-office after the blizzard was over. The Glee Club men will not forget Irving soon, and wish for some pretext to go back this year. We bespeak a big audience for the Irving Club if they ever come to Gettysburg. 'Rah for our sister ! THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 29 KEE MAR RECEPTION. GETTYSBURG has many excellent young people but not enough to go around. As a result many of the college boys fail to secure the social culture they are expected to have when once graduated. A consciousness of this lack of social training added double interest to our anticipations when we as a senior class were invited to Kee Mar college to a reception. Our most sanguine expectations were realized. A warm welcome was extended to us by members of the faculty and students and we soon felt that we were among friends. The spacious halls were decorated with the Maryland colors, and adorned with plants. And while the patter of light feet kept time to the sweet music, other lads and lassies strolled up and down the corridors, or al-lowed cupid to drive them into a secluded spot where the side-long glances of glinting eyes pierced the armor of the hardest heart. Appropriate toasts were given and responded to, refreshments served, when the laughing moon slowly setting warned us to de-part. His warnings were seconded by the college authorities, else some of the boys had been there yet. Saturday morning we college men were invited to a concert given by the College Glee Club. A very few minutes served to show how much easier we felt in this home of the nymphs. Formality was absent. After an extended program of excellent music which charmed us all, the boys from Gettysburg responded with a few impromptu verses and various yells which had a strange echo in those halls. But the unfeeling hands and expressionless face of the clock pointed to the hour of final departure, Kodaks, handkerchiefs, mementoes, were in evidence, and a fierce struggle between love and duty was fought in many hearts. But though the time was too short for one of our number to pay his respects to our land-lord, we all caught the train. It was a long way home, and many fellows have been longing ever since. A reunion is being wished for soon. Some of the crowd see nothing but Kee Mar to this day on every page of every book, while pretty faces are seen even when their eyes are closed. Not a little of the pleasure of the trip was owing to our hav-ing with us Miss Menges, formerly a classmate, now at Irving ; and Miss Welty, our class poet, who, though she never was a boy 3° THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. in all her life, yet gave expression to the common feeling of the boys whose thoughts were too deep to beset down even in poetry. This promises to be the only song sung around here until after June 15. TO KEE MAR. TUNE—"Jnanita." Swift o'er the mountain Speed the boys of ninety-nine, White gleam the snow fields In the bright moon-shine. To fair Kee Mar College Where the lovely maidens dwell,' As the train moves onward Hear the joyous " yell." Kee Mar, lovely Kee Mar, Full of hope we came to thee, Kee Mar, kindly Kee Mar, Thou wilt gracious be. Slow o'er the mountain Back returneth ninety-nine, Each eye a fountain Shedding drops of brine. For some hearts are broken How it happened none can tell, And the word now spoken Is a sad farewell. Kee Mar, lovely Kee Mar, All our heart we leave with thee, Kee Mar, loyal Kee Mar, Ever faithful be. When in our dreaming / Eives again that happy night, We'll catch the gleaming Of those eyes so bright. Hear the low, sweet music, Tread again the stately hall, With the girl we worshiped At the Kee Mar ball. Kee Mar, well-loved Kee Mar, In the years that are to be, Kee Mar, darling Kee Mar, We'll remember thee ! ma THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 31 SUCCESS IN ART. EVERY artist strives for success. But this word "success" admits of several definitions. In the mind of one artist it means money or fame or both; to another, it means a knowl-edge of his art and ability to enjoy it. Success, then, can be true or false. True success in art is attained when art is studied for art's sake and the product is real art. An essential in attain-ing such success is that the artist himself be true. That is he must be "heart, head and hand" an artist. The desire to create is natural, but besides this, knowledge and complete mastery of materials and implements is indispensable. An artist must first be completely grounded in every detail of his art before he should begin to produce. In every trade among artisans, ignorance under this heading is unknown; badly constructed articles of merchan-dise find no market. So it should be in art. Knowledge must be the absolute foundation or else the creation will be as faulty and unbalanced as a house of cards and will fall to pieces at the first shaft of intelligent criticism. In all good works on harmony the very last chapters are reserved for the treatment of composition of melodies. This in itself teaches a lesson, and one which is very evident; it says, "Now after you have the foundation laid you may safely attempt the superstructure." Technique and method guided by intelligence, are absolutely required. Then the successful artist must be industrious, patient, and persevering. We gaze in rapture at a beautiful painting or hear an exquisite piece of music and we forget that back of it all lay a long, steep and toilsome road, tediously climbed. Constant and tiresome was much of the labor. An artist must essentially have what has been called the "artistic temperament"—*. e. imaginative and sympathetic power. Ruskin says, "The qualities which distinctly mark an artist with-out which he must be feeble in life, forgotten in death—with which he may become one of the shakers of earth and one of the signal lights in heaven—are those of sympathy and imagination." Imagination is the strength of all art, of everything beautiful in architecture, sculpture, painting, poetry or music. The Venus of Milo, in all its beauty was seen in the rough marble shaft by the sculptor, long before the releasing chisel touched the stone. And sympathy, too. is necessary in order that the creations should 32 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. be properly interpreted and understood. So strong should this temperament be in every artist that the artist himself will lose sight of the "ego" in his work, while to others his individuality shines out in every one of his creations. How many engaged in some art have been so eager in anticipation of artistic success that they have forgotten the soul in the wealth of splendid tech-nique they exhibit in their works ! They do not live their art and hence are not true to themselves. Study well any of the classics in literature, painting, sculpture or music and see how easy it is to recognize the productions of the same brain. So every true artist will imprint on each piece of his work a certain indescrib-able something which makes each resemble the other and dis-tinguishes it from the creations of other artists. And then the artist must do his best. No half-hearted attempt will be successful. Simple productions should be attempted at first; nothing elaborate, as for instance, in music, a Grand March or an Overture ought to be undertaken,—but some little theme, well and faithfully worked out. These should be the characteristics of everyone engaged in art; and one of the reasons why this is not so is because so many of the art public do not understand art sufficiently to demand better creations. In the construction of articles used in everyday life, there is no necessity for especial education to detest frauds, it only requires common sense; but with art products, however, it is different entirely. One often meets with highly intelligent people who cannot distinguish between a colorless daub and an original work of art, filled with atmosphere and light. They have not yet educated their eye to see wherein lies the difference; again, we see many who prefer an everyday, popular song, superficial and light, to the beautiful melodies of an Abt, a Schubert, or a Verdi. Education in art is evidently not sufficiently general to enable everyone to make these distinctions. Ignor-ance of beauty of form, or structure, undeveloped imagina-tion, unappreciation of beauty of symmetry are too general. Suc-cessful attempts are being made to remedy this, especially in literature, by the University Extension Movement. People are discovering that they need not necessarily be college graduates to become cultured and appreciate the best. This is a condition, then, for which some allowance can be made but what shall be done for the individual—and he is one of a large family—who IHHH I THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 33 I while admitting his ignorance of the principles of art, yet cooly in-forms you that he can "tell a fine painting when he sees it, or a good piece of music when he hears it?" This is the class of peo-ple who open the way for those would-be artists who make "suc-cess" and "money"synonyms. They are both pretenders. The public, eager to be gullied, thinking that money will purchase everything, aims at seeming to be well-versed in art; the artist, with little real knowledge, and less imagination, too insincere and full of pretence to live his own life aims at the money or social position his apparent art productions will procure for him. Each deserves pity. They may gain their respective ends, but neither can ever know the delights of one who has developed a taste for art, or who has consecrated his life to it. They cannot, with all their wealth buy the wholesome, pure and rapturous thrill of delight, for one second, that another can invoke at will from such as Bach, Beethoven, Horace, Shakespeare, Raphael, or Wagner. Success in art, then, cannot be measured by the money one gains; a true artist will live in his art long after millionaires have passed away. Michael Angelo, Dante, and Palestrina still live while the names of their contemporary moneyed men are dead. And let us bear in mind, too, that the road to success is always one of toil and weariness. —P. '00. THE TRIP TO CHAMBERSBURG. ABOUT forty of the boys took advantage of the recent good sleighing and went to Chambersburg to attend a concert given by our Glee and Musical Clubs. The party was divided into three sled loads and got started after an hour's delay in waiting for our Proctor (who decided to accompany us about the time we were ready to start) to get a hair-cut and shave in or-der to be presentable to the sight of the Wilson girls. Soon after leaving Gettysburg it started to snow hard, so we had to break our own road, which soon told on our horses. When we reached the top of the mountain we were informed that we were favored if the horse would be able to get us to Chambersburg that night, much less bring us back. The boys got scared and decided to wade the snow when a steep hill was reached rather than spend the rest of l^uMmmmmmummMwmm 34 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. the night so far from friends. All the other sleds, which were lighter, passed us on the mountain except the fourth one, which was a cutter with two freshmen in it. They heard of the fellows going, so the}' went up town and after much persuasion, and many promises in case the horse and sleigh were lost, they started out in pursuit of the other three sleds. The heavy snow covered all traces of a trail, yet by the aid of matches and sign-boards they reached the top of the mountain where the road was rough, the trees close on either side, no full moon to light the way, in fact there was nothing there but a team and two scared freshmen. One was positive that there were bears in the mountain because he knew of one having been shot recently. The other tried to con-vince him that they were perfectly safe so long as they staid in the road, but after a few strange sounds were heard in the woods and a few dark stumps were seen in the direction of the noise, they were both positive of the presence of bears, so they turned and lost no time in getting back home, where they related their ex-perience to their friends. Our last through sled reached its desti-nation after a long six hour's drive. The only amusement on the way over was giving yells, singing songs and telling stories. We went immediately to the concert, where we were greeted by the presence of about thirty Wilson girls who showed their appreci-ation for our yells and songs by their innocent cousinly smiles. After the concert we had supper, a thing we looked forward to after we walked the second steep hill. About 11 p. M. we were informed that it would be impossible for the horses to make the return trip that night. Well, the common topics of conversation among the boys who went financially prepared to return the same night, were as follows: Where are you going to sleep? Have you any money to lend ? Do you have any relatives in town ? And do you think we can stand the proprietor off? It happened that some went prepared to stay a week, so the money soon became equally divided, and the boys spent a pleasant night but by no means a quiet one, if you can believe the report of the proprietor. The next morn-ing we were allowed the privilege of visiting the Wilson College and attending chapel with the girls, a privilege which seemed to be enjoyed mutually, judging by the interest they took in showing us through the college buildings. On our way back the only stop made was at the big hotel on the top of the mountain where we THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 35 did justice to a good dinner. The trip was enjoyed by all who took it and the same crowd could be easily induced to repeat the trip, especially if the Wilson girls were at the other end of the line. —H. M. C. ATHLETICS. THE Sons of Hercules have gotten down to systematic work, and expect to hold their exhibition about the third week in March. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings are devoted to this branch of athletics, basket-ball occupying the floor on other days. A number of old men are candidates, includ-ing Koser, who is leader, Traub, Bottinger, Stock, Straw, Brum-baugh, Smith, Smyser, Jr., and Bickel. These are all men whose work is well-known. Among new men who are showing up well may be mentioned Stock, Jr., McClean, Claney, Koser, W. W. Hartman, Smyser, Jr., and Ketterman. In general, the work is of a high standard and promises a good exhibition. Beside the usual features, it will include this year, boxing and wrestling ; and the programme will also be varied by performances of the glee and mandolin clubs. A game of basket-ball will close the evening, which is certainly one to look forward to with pleasure. There is plenty of good material yet dormant, however. Let every man come out and do his best to make this year's gym team a success. Manager Weigle has completed his schedule for the coming season with the exception of one date. It is as follows: April IS—Franklin and Marshall at Lancaster. April 20—Susquehanna at Selinsgrove. April 21—Bucknell at Lewisburg. April 22—State at State College. April 26—Dickinson at Gettysburg-. May 5—Susquehanna at Gettysburg. May 6—Indians at Carlisle. May 13—Dickinson at Carlisle. May 20 -Franklin and Marshall at Gettysburg. May 27—Indians at Gettysburg. June 3—Open. June 10—Bucknell at Gettysburg. It will be noted that we meet Dickinson again for the first time in five years and other old rivals are on the list. All the teams ^mmmmmmm 36 THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. are about our strength and there is no reason why we should not have a successful season. Let every man come out and get down to hard work and we will make the season of '99 one to be re-membered. EDITOR'S SCISSORS. That New Year resolution, Unlike most things of earth, Grows ever small and smaller; It was biggest at its birth.—Ex. HEARD AFTER THE BLIZZARD. " Don't you throw that at me, kid ! " " Gwan, I'll lick the whole college." —W. The boys came over the mountain, The boys came over the mountain, The boys came over the mountain, To see the Wilson girls, To see the Wilson girls, To see the Wilson girls, The boys came over the mountain, The boys came over the mountain, The boys came over the mountain, To see the Wilson girls. We won't go home till morning, We won't go home till morning, We won't go home till morning, For we've seen the Wilson girls, We've seen the Wilson girls, We've seen the Wilson girls, We won't go home till morning, We won't go home till morning, We won't go home till morning, We've seen the Wilson girls. -Sled No. 1. When you leave college without permission, always take the Proctor along. THE GETTYSBURG MERCURY. 37 Old Dorm to New Dorm ; "You may be pretty, but you're terribly cracked." New Dorm to Old Dorm ; " Cork it off ! You've been full ten years." I saw an old man in a funny old wig Go dancing- along-, jiggity gig. Behind him there capered and gambolled a dog And a donkey that ambled, joggity jog. They jigged and they jogged and they gambolled in glee To the tune of a fiddler, fiddle dee dee. They went till they came to the volcano's top, And down they went into it, hobbity, hop. And then I didn't see them any more. —Castalian. ,t^^ri:sjr~s->r-s5jr*sis->t4r-»r~s>jr^-> RINTING WE PRINT THIS BOOK ^ and BINDING MT. HOLLY PRINTING COMPANY. The Mount Holly Stationery and Print-ing Company does all classes of Printing and Binding, and can furnish you any Book, Bill Head, Letter Head, Envelope, Card, Blank, or anything pertaining to their business in just as good style and at less cost than you can obtain same elsewhere. They are located among the mountains but their work is metropolitan. You can be convinced of this if you give them the opportunity. MT. HOLLY SPRINGS, PA. ^«_r^_jr-M^--w~jr^r^:r^r^:kJc^jr"5^rT^r-^^r-5«j H. S. BENNER, ■-^--ib tEroxel. Dealer in ^irte (groceries anb Itottons *_x_4}orfc Street. Teachers. Union Teachers' Agencies of America REV. L. D. BASS, D. D., Manager. Pittsburgh Pa., Toronto, Can., New Orleans, La., New York, N. Y., Washington, D. C, San Francisco, Cal., Chicago, 111., St. Louis, Mo., Denver, Col. 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You can't expect to create the im-pression that you are well dressed unless your clothes are MADE FOR YOU. Equivocate as you may, the fact remains that ready-made g-arments lack that air of exclusiveness which custom work possesses. J. D. LIPPY, Merchant Tailor 39 Chambersburg St., Gettysburg-, Pa. G. E. SPANGLER, j» ( Successor to J. W. Eicholtz & Co.,) Dealer in Pianos, Organs, Music, Musical Instruments, Strings, Etc. YORK STREET, 1ST SQUARE. GETTYSBURG. II08 CHESTNUT ST., PHILA. Wright's Engraving House HAS become the recognized leader in unique styles of COLLEGE and FRA-TERNITY ENGRAVINGS and STA-TIONERY, College and Class-day Invita-tions, engraved and printed from steel plates Programmes, Menus, Wedding and Recep-tion Invitations, Announcements, etc., etc. Examine prices and styles before ordering elsewhere. Fifty Visiting Cards from New Engraved Plates $1.00. ERNEST A. WRIGHT, 1108 CHESTNUT ST., PHILADELPHIA. JOHN L. SHEADS, New Cigar Store Next Door to W. M. Depot, GETTYSBURG. P. F. HENNIG, DEALER IN Bread, Rolls, Pretzels, Crackers, YORK ST., GETTYSBURG. Reasonable Rates to Clubs. 1XX filler, Grocer, Confectioner and Fruiterer. Ice Cream and Oysters in Season . . . \9 TXlain St., ©ettusburg. City Hotel, Main St. Gettysburg. J* Free 'Bus to and from all Trains Thirty seconds' walk from either depot Dinner with drive over field with four or more, 51.35 Rates $1.50 to $2.00 per day. John E. Hughes, Prop. C. A. Blocher's Jewelry Store, For Souvenir Spoons, Sword Pins Etc. All kinds of Jewelry. Repairing- a Specialty. POST OFFICE CORNER CENTRE SQUARE .Photographer. No. 3 Main St., GETTYSBURG, PENNA. Our new effects in Portraiture are equal to photos made anywhere, and at any price.

The Mercury December, 1908 HEEP THOSE WHO HEEP US. The Intercollegiate Bureau of Academic Costume. Cotrell & Leonard, ALBANY, N. Y. 2**£™°I CAPS AND GOWNS TII Gettysburg College. Lafayette, Lchigh. Dickinson, State College, Univ. of Penn s> Ivani i. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Wellesley, Bryn Mawr and the others. Class Contracts a Specialty. Correct Hoods _»»■ Degrees. The College Man's Opportunity. We offer the Surest Means of finding your right place. Hundreds of good positions open in business, in teaching and in technical work. Offices in 12 cities. Write us to-day. TUB JYMTJOJVJZ, OB»^JVIZJlTIOJV Of BXAIJV BHOXBJtS. Commonwealth Trust Building, Philadelphia, Pa. HOTEL GETTYSBURG, Headquarters for BANQUETS. Electric Lights, Steam Heat, All Conveniences. Free Bus to and from station. Convenient for Commencement Visitors. BATES $2.00 PEB DAY. £iver-y Cttad-ied. Jotin P. M^tifl- Proprietor. DEALERS IN All kinds of Fresh and Smoked Meats Chambersburg St., Gettysburg, Pa. WE RECOMMEND THESE FIRMS. Established 1867 by Allen Walton. ALLEN K. WALTON, Pres. and Treas. ROBT. J. WALTON, Supt. Hummelstown Brown Stone Company, QUARRYMEN and Manufacturers of BUILDING STONE, SAWED FLAGGING and TILE. WalioTwille, 33a.-LiprT.-Ln. -&o., Pa,. CONTRACTORS FOR ALL KINDS OF CUT STONE WORK. Telegrapn and Express Address, Brownstone, Pa. Parties visit-ing quarries will leave cars at Brownstone Station on the P. & R. R. R. For Artistic Photographs Go To TIPTOJV The Leader in PHOTO FASHIONS Frames and Passapartouts Made to Order. PATRONISE OUR ADVERTISERS Come and Have a Good Shave or Hair Cut —AT— Harry B. Sefton's BARBER SHOP. 35 Baltimore St. Barber's Supplies a Specialty. Also choice line of Cigars. SHOES REPAIRED -BY-Charles Hartdagen, Middle St., Opp. Court House, GUARANTEE ALL WORK. GETTYSBURG DEPARTMENT STOKE. Successors to the L. M. Alleman Hardware Co., Manufacturer's Agent and Jobber of HARDWARE, OILS, PAINTS AND QUEENSWARE, GETTYSBURG, PA. Vke only Jobbing House in Adams County. PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. 2 * * » | Seligniqi] I * % 1 ^ B^etim | !t ** 2 Are Gettysburg's Most * * * aV * « v. « «» V* t- * * * * -3 Reliable TAILORS #»»**###*#**#*****»*** PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. i^l^^^^i^^^^^^i^i^^i^^r'i^M^l^.y^yi^-^i^^i^: as ;!. .1.1I ■>!•■ II IIfI Essentially the instruments for criti-cal and discriminating- buyers. Super-ior in every detail of construction and superb instruments for the production of a great Variety of musical effects and the finest shades of expression. Close Prices. Easy Terms. Old Instruments Exchanged. WEAVER ORGAN AND PIANO CO., MANUFACTURERS, YORK, PA , U S A. \&i^iAtt%zi&Zfc5%'i$te*&*&M$',?¥:&& s Headquarters —FOR-HATS, SHOES, A*TD GENT'S FURNISHING. Sole Agent lor WALK-OVER SHOE EGBERT'S STORE. Prices Always Right Itje Lutheran Mlieirtloji Society No 1424 Arch Street, PHILADELPHIA, PA Acknowledged Headquarters for anything and everything in the way of Books for Churches, Colleges, Families and Schools, and literature for Sunday Schools. PLEASE REMEMBER That by sending your orders to us you help build up and develop one of the church in-stitutions with pecuniary ad-vantage to yourself. Address HENRY 8. BONER, Supt, THE KAERCURV The Literary Journal of Gettysburg College. VOL. XVI GETTYSBURG, PA., DECEMBER, 1908 No. 7 CONTENTS. A CHRISTMAS POEM 2 E. J. BOWMAN, '11. JUSTIFICATION OP THE BOYCOTT 3 E. E. SNTDER, '09. CONSTITUTION OP THE KEYSTONE DEBATING LEAGUE 7 IS THE GOVERNMENT COSTING US TOO MUCH?. 9 P. S. DENGLER, '09. OUR LITERARY SOCIETIES II.—PHRENA 11 WHY IS GETTYSBURG NOT WEALTHY? 13 ST. G. PHILLIPY, '09. THE JUNIOR "PROM" SOCIALLY CONSIDERED. .15 BIOGRAPHY OF SCHILLER 17 MISS BAUSCH, '11. CULTURE'S DISTRESSING FOE 20 G. E. WOLF, '09. THE ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE LINCOLN ROAD.22 G. L. KIEFFER, '09. THE "INDIAN STEPS." 23 E. C. STOUFFER, '11. THE INVESTIGATION OF THE FARMER; WHAT IS IT LIKELY TO BE WORTH? 25 MISS HELEN H. BRENNEMAN, '08. EDITORIALS 27 BOOK REVIEWS 29 EXCHANGES 30 THE MERCURY A CHRISTMAS POEM. E. J. BOWMAN, '11. .Behold the earth in solemn stillness lies! Again, his course traversed, the king of day Has sunk beneath the distant mountain tops. No longer glows in radiance the sky, But silent night enshrouds the wearied earth. No sound of man or beast comes forth to break The charm that over all has cast its spell. And far above from out the folds of heaven's Aetherial dome, the stars innumerable and Sublime are smiling on the earth below. All nature bows her head in reverence, thus- The God of Peace to laud and magnify. 'Twas such a night when from far Eastern lands, O'er mountains high, through valleys deep, Wise Men? Their way were tracing, guided by a star Outshining all the innumerable host That spangled all the heaven's majestic dome- When lo o'er Judah's city, Bethlehem, It stopped, and there, within a lowly hut, Behold, asleep within a manger lay The Holy One, the Buler of the Wise, By seers announced and prophets long before- 'Twas such a night when on the rolling hills O'erlooking David's City, Bethlehem, The humble shepherds, holy and devout, Their flocks were guarding from the hostile foe That roamed o'er hill and plain in quest of prey- When lo, the glory of the living God Around them shown, and, standing in their midst They saw the form of One divine in robe Of heavenly light, and in a tender voice The Messenger addressed the shepherds thus: "Fear not, I bring you tidings of great joy, THE MERCURY. To you, I bring them and to all mankind: In yonder Bethlehem is born this day A child, who is your Saviour and your Lord." Then while the shepherds filled with awe, o'er this Mysterious scene were meditating deep, Their gaze beheld a heavenly host in robes Of shining white around the Messenger Of love. Then forth upon the hallowed night The mellow strains of heavenly music broke, And there alone by God's own chosen few "Was heard the anthem of the Christmas-tide: "To God on high be glory evermore And upon earth goodwill and peace to men." JUSTIFICATION OF THE BOYCOTT. E. E. SNYDER, '09. JHE justification of the boycott is by no means an easy task. Its practice and its underlying principle have always been questioned and in view of the advanced and radical ground taken by both its advocates and its opponents, a careful study of the boycott, its history, its develop-ment, its modern forms, and its ultimate object, is necessary to enable us to pass judgment upon it, either favorable or unfavor-able. The term originated in 1880 when Captain Boycott, an Eng-lishman, who was the agent of Lord Barne in the Connemara district of Ireland, became so obnoxious because of his harsh treatment of the tenants, that they retaliated by inducing the people for miles around to have nothing whatever to do with him. They would neither speak to him, work for him; buy from him, sell to him, or in any way connect themselves with him. More than this they resorted to violence and even blood-shed, to prevent others from doing so. But this was not the ori-gin of the practice although it gave rise to the term. The prac- 4 THE MERCURY. tice extends almost as far back as history itself. In 1327 the citizens of Canterbury, England, boycotted the monks of Christ's Church. They refused to inhabit the houses of the prior, and passed an ordinance that no one should buy, sell, or exchange drink or victuals with the monastery. A severe punishment was provided against the disobedience of the order. The first use of the boycott in America was during the period just preceding the Eevolution, when the colonists boycotted several articles of British make. This culminated in the Boston Tea Part}', which was advocated and supported by our best and most patriotic citizens. Thus the advocates of the boycott claim that it was born in the cradle of American liberty. It was a great weapon, used by the Abolutionists against slavery, and it has often been used by ministers and others prominent in the social world against intemperance, immorality and other social evils. It has been used by the Manufacturer's Association against the work-ingmen, but here it is known as the "black list," and in this form it has ruined thousands of poor laborers. It has also been used by the laborers, in retaliation against the capitalists and it is this use which represents what we today recognize as the boy-cott. Thus from its history we might define boycott in its original usage, as meaning a combination of many to cause loss to one person by refusing to have any relations with him and by influ-encing and coercing others to treat him in like manner. In re-taliation for some wrong either real or imaginary, they withdraw from the victim all beneficial intercourse and even resort to force, in order to persuade others to do likewise. Today the term boy-cott means a combination of many usually organized working-men against an individual or a combination, through which they seek by withdrawing their support and services to secure redress for some infringement upon their rights. It,is this use that we would attempt to justify. The boycott, as has been mentioned, is but another name for the "black list," although it is usually practiced with a nobler end in view. The boycott usually seeks redress for wrongs, while the "black list" disregards the justice of its object and seeks only additional advantages by this coercive means. Yet the capital-ists raise a great cry of injustice when the boycott appears,, and shall be defined by the college that submits the question. THE MERCURY. lose no time in making their appeal to the courts for injunction and protection, although they are daily and yearly practicing the same principle against the laborer who can seek justice through no other means. But in this case it is the poor man's ox, that is gored instead of the rich man's, and if he would resist or seek redress, he is pointed out as dangerously affected by socialistic principles, and often suffers for trying to maintain a right guar-anteed to all by our Constitution. In practice, also, the boycott has changed, and few of the ob-noxious and injurious characteristics of the ancient boycott re-main. The boycott, as practiced at present, as has been stated, is simply the ostracism of an individual or organization, by an organization in order to secure, what they believe to be their rights. It may result in great pecuniary loss to the victim and because of this fact has often been restrained by injunction, but ■no violence attaches to it; no personal harm or injury, and in many cases individual bitterness has been eliminated. No force or coercion is used outside the obligations of membership in the contending organization, although, this fact is often changed, .and it is true that many organizations do take up the fight in sympathy. It is, when rightly used, but an effective weapon in the hands of the laborer by the use of which he is able to secure consideration and justice, when other means have failed, and as such its use is justifiable. From the laborer's standpoint its use possesses considerable economic importance, for it is only by its use, through the me-dium of his organization that he can battle, with any degree of success against the oftimes higher intelligence and more perfect organization of his employers, the capitalists. In this age, the tendency of each class, seems to be to gain wealth regardless of the loss, they may occasion. To the laborers, the boycott, is one of the few barriers that stand between him and a lower standard of living, which would be the inevitable result, were these barriers removed. Our eco-nomic welfare depends upon progress in every class. If the laborer is to share this progress he must advance and not recede. He must raise his standard of living, his culture and his edu- •cation instead of lowering them. To do this he must be in con-tinual conflict with the capitalist, who is his superior in educa- THE MERCURY. tion, and had an additional advantage because of his capital. The boycott has proved to be one of the few things which the •capitalists have not been able to overcome, and as its use enables the laborers to maintain his ground in the conflict for advance-ment, it is certainly justifiable. The boycott can also be regarded, as simply the practice of the right guaranteed to each citizen by our government, to say, write, or publish, anything he wishes, on his own responsibility. This is what the laborer claims for the boycott. He certainly has the right to govern his own words and dealings and to use his influence with others so long as he advocates a just cause and uses no coercive measures to secure adherents. This represents the workingman's idea of the boycott, and while it must be ad-mitted that it is here pictured in its most favorable form, and •that it is seldom practiced within the prescribed limits, yet the argument is founded upon a basis of justice and many decisions of higher courts have recognized this fact. As a last claim, we would advance the boycott, as the only ef-fective weapon against the "black list." No man has a right to work permanent ruin to another because of individual difference of opinion nor has an organization a similar right, and since the employer often uses this means against the employee, the laborer has a right to defend himself by the boycott. It is a hard and bitter solution to the problem. It is the Old Testament dispen-sation, "An eye for an eye." but when we consider that the con- 'ditions, from an ethical standpoint are far from normal, we must be satisfied if they do require abnormal means. Thus would we justify the boycott, from an economical view-point, but when we turn on our question the light of an ethical culture, we find it again questionable and we are compelled to ask ourselves the question, "Is there in the business activity of today, as represented by the masses on both sides, a point where ;an individual can retain pure ethical ideals and secure true eco-nomic good?" Perhaps in the masses there is not, but it is pleasing to note that here and there in the great business hustle of our age, we see sturdy advocates of a higher principle emerg-ing from the ranks of both contestants and when these shall have gained a majority the justification of the boycott will be impos-sible, but not until then. THE MERCURY. 7 CONSTITUTION OF THE KEYSTONE DEBATING LEAGUE. ARTICLE I. NAME AND MEMBERSHIP. This organization shall be known as the Keystone Inter-Colle-giate Debating League and shall have the following members: Bueknell, Lafayette and Gettysburg Colleges. ARTICLE II. PURPOSE. The purpose of this organization shall be to increase interest in debating in each of the colleges represented and to encourage inter-collegiate debating. ARTICLE III. ORGANIZATION. The executive committee shall consist of one undergraduate from each college represented and shall meet annually at the time and place of the final debate to transact all business of the League. ARTICLE IV. CONTESTANTS. Each college shall send to the contest in which it participates three representatives. Contestants shall be regularly enrolled students in the collegiate department taking at least ten hours of recitation or lecture work per week. The names of the de-baters and alternate shall be submitted to the opposing team at least ten days before the debate. No college shall protest the-eligibility of a debater later than five days before the debate. ARTICLE V. SELECTION OF QUESTION. The question for debate shall be submitted not later than six weeks and returned not later than five weeks before the debate is to be held. The college that receives the question shall select sides. No college shall submit the question to the other college twice in succession. Terms in the question, if not understood. THE MERCURY. ARTICLE VI. JUDGES. The college at which the debate is held shall submit to the visiting team at least four weeks before the debate the names of prospective judges. The visiting team may strike from the list any of "the names and shall return the remainder within one week designating the order of preference. No personal friend of any contestant and no one having had student of official relations with either of the colleges involved, shall be eligible for appoint-ment as judges. At the close of the contest, without conference-with his associates, each of the three judges, deciding for him-self, shall give his vote duly signed and sealed to the presiding officer who shall announce the decision. The judges shall base their decision on argument and composition and delivery; argu-ment to count sixty per cent., composition and delivery forty per cent. ARTICLE VII. CONTEST. The college at which the debate is held shall select the presid-ing officer. Each debater shall have fifteen minutes; ten min-utes for his opening speech and five minutes for rebuttal. The first speech in rebuttal shall be made by the negative, and the-affirmative shall close the debate. The order of speakers in re-buttal shall be left to the discretion of the respective teams. No> new material shall be introduced in rebuttal speeches. ARTICLE VIII. EXPENSES. At the annual meeting of the Executive Committee, each col-lege shall present an itemized statement of its expenses necessary for the year. This expense shall be born equally by the colleges-of the League. TIIE MERCURY. IS THE GOVERNMENT COSTING US TOO MUCH. F. S. DEX3LER, '09. F wo except the most active period of the Civil War, the total drafts upon the Treasury of the U. S. during the past Congresshavebeengreater than at any period in our history. The total appropriations made by Congress dur-ing the Civil War were $1,309,000,000 of which $1,030,000,000 was spent upon the army. The appropriations for the fiscal year 1909 reached a total of $1,007,000,000. In these days, when private fortunes sometimes run up to a hundred million dollars we are liable not to realize how large a sum a billion dol-lars really is. It would take an expert counter, working eight hours a day, over one hundred years to count a billion silver ■dollars. A billion dollars in twenty dollar bills would make a pile 13,750 feet high. What is all this money used for? The expenditures may be classed under three general heads: Postal Service, $225,000,000. Military Service, $500,000,000. Other Government Service, $225,000,000. The largest appropriation for a single department was that for the post office. The postal service is one of the greatest utilities which the government gives to the people and one which the peo-ple can appreciate every day. The post offices scattered all over the land turn into the postal department a large revenue each year but it is not sufficient to run the service. The quarter of a billion dollars is disbursed through many channels. The sal-aries of postmasters, clerks, carriers and messengers total in the millions. The railroads come in for a large amount for carrying the mail. The rural delivery was established in recent years at a cost of about $25,000,000. A bill was proposed at the last Congress to establish a rural parcels post, but it was not passed. The most significant feature of the appropriations during the year is the great amount of attention that has been given to the building up of the military branch of the government. The ex-penditures for the army and navy, if we leave out of account the years when the country was engaged in war, have been the larg-est in the history of the country. The army was granted $95,- 10 THE MERCURY. 000,000; the navy, $123,000,000; the amount $163,000,000 for pensions should be included. The remainder of the half billion dollars is spent for fortifications, military and naval academies, soldiers' homes, arsenals, armories,'navy yards and numerous other things of a similar nature. The total expenditures for military purposes, direct or indirect, is truly a colossal sum when we bear in mind that our standing army today is not over 70,000. The sending of our fleet around the world is an event in history—an event which cannot fail to have a good influence. While we may be a peaceful nation, it will show that we have strength enough to protect ourselves in time of trouble. Some people think that our navy is too large. They say that our ships have nothing to do and then they get into trouble as in the cap-turing of the Philippine Islands. The remaining quarter of a billion dollars goes for a great number of things. The Agricultural Department, the Diplo-matic and Consular service, the Indian Bill, the different bu-reaus and public works are all included. We have seen where the money goes. Now, where does it come from? The revenues of the government amount to about $800,000,000 and this will leave a deficit of about $200,000,000. The treasury has a surplus of $250,000,000 to meet this. If this is not sufficient bonds can be sold. The Speaker of the House and the House itself keep restrain-ing hands on the extravagant tendencies of the varioifs commit-tees. The tendency of Congress to spend money is increasing at an appalling rate. The money appropriated by last Congress would have run the government during the decade ending 1896. These periods are both far enough removed from the Spanish War not to be materially affected by it. The world has advanced and moved forward since 1896, but not to such an extent as to warrant the rate of increase of running the government. There seems to be a leakage somewhere. Congress should remember that even a million dollars does not flow into the treasury of its own accord but it is pushed in and that as a result of the sweat of many brows. This does not mean that a narrow-minded policy should be adopted. The American people are willing to pay well to keep their country in the front ranks of the army of THE MEKCUEY. 11 progress. The last Congress has made a record in appropriating, public money and it is up to Congress to make a record in the-spending of it. OUR LITERARY SOCIETIES II—PHRENA. N the account of Philo which was published last month we find much that is very similar to the history of" Phrena The Phrenakosmian Literary Society was founded Feb. 4th, 1831, in Linwood Hall. At the second regular meet-ing a constitution and by-laws were presented and adopted. We are fortunate in having the original copy in an excellent state of preservation. Although frequently modified and amended, this historic document retains its original and noble spirit. The whole aim of its authors and zealous defenders is admirably ex-pressed by this, the motto of the Society: Kocr/m T/iv peva. There also exists the minutes of all the meetings that have been held since the Society was organized. These also have been well cared for and may be found among the treasures of the li-brary. As for Phrena's library, it can be said that it contains 5,845 volumes, which are the results of the energetic exertions of our members. Various catalogues of these books have been made for the use of our members, but most of them are not suitable for reference work. The Society is now indebted to George Heintz. '09 for a complete card index of the library. This not only en-hances the value of the present, collection of books but insures to us the proper recognition, care, and usefulness of any works we may add. Other property of value has accrued to the Society. In 1837r when Phrena was given a large and convenient room in the new college building (Old Dorm.), efforts were immediately made to secure suitable furniture. Here again the characteristic as-siduity of Phrena's members was triumphant. Improvements have been made from year to year, and the present beautiful ap-pearance of our hall furnishes sufficient evidence of the energy 12 THE MERCURY. as well as the taste of those by whom it was accomplished. The-present apartment in Eecitation Hall is elegantly furnished. Busts of Franklin, Webster, Cicero and Demosthenes have appro-priate places on the walls. The walls are also decorated with portraits of those Phrenakosmians who have done honor to their Alma Mater by becoming capable to hold professorships in our college. The Society has helped men individually, and has contributed much to the health of college spirit. A literary contest in which much spirit is shown, is held each year, with our sister society, Philo. Formerly it was the custom of the two societies to join at commencement time and be addressed by an honorary mem-ber of each society, alternately. In earlier years, of those be-longing to Phrena, and Eev. E. J. Breckenridge, D.D. officiated in 1842, Eev. T. H. Stockton, D.D. in 1844, and Eev. George B. Cheener, D.D. Much time and labor could be spent in arranging the inter-esting events of Phrena's history, but the space on these pages-does not permit the presentation in detail of very much con-tained in the Society's records. Suffice it to say, the work of those who have gone before should be gratifying to us as presag-ing that like privileges and honors are in store for their succes-sors. With the same noble aspirations and unalterable determi-nation let us be true to our literary societies as were those who have gained so much by supporting them. At present, Phrena is wide awake, doing excellent work and living true to the spirit of her fathers. THE MEECUEY. 13 WHY IS GETTYSBURG NOT WEALTHY ? N. G. PHILLIPY, '09. N" treating this question we will consider the people as a whole, taking as broad a view as possible under the cir-cumstances. According to Webster, wealth means large possessions, opulence, riches. Of course we could not compare Gettysburg with a large city and expect the same amount of wealth, but should more properly compare it with smaller towns of its own size. One of the foremost reasons why Gettysburg is not wealthy is the lack of industries conducted on a large scale. We find no shops or anything of a like nature whereby the owners or entre-preneur can amass a fortune. The ordinary workman cannot collect a fortune as nearly all his wages are used to support his: family. As a rule where there are no large enterprises located we find little wealth. It is true the location of the town geo-graphically may be accountable for the lack of industries, but this does not demand consideration under the present question. The lack of employment for men accounts for the slow in-crease in population. An increase in the value of land and property depends largely upon an increase in population and as the values of each remain nearly the same from year to year, speculation and investments in this line are unprofitable and unremunerative in Gettysburg. The country surrounding the town is not so very fertile and agriculture is not as productive as we find in many other locali-ties. Very few agricultural products are put on the market by the farmers near the town in any great quantity. We do not find minerals profitable for mining in the neighboring localities so very little shipping is carried on. 'Eailroads depend on freight for their profits and when there is little transportation railroad facilities are usually poor. Being located inland the people have not the opportunity to carry on markets or any other pursuit which water affords. The people themselves, have a great influence on any town. If we make a careful study of the people and their pursuits we have partly, at least, the solution of our problem. In our study 14 THE MERCURY. we must take into account their likes and dislikes, their desires,, their ambitions and their doings. The people as a whole are of a retiring nature. There seems: to be little greed for money and little ambition to amass a great, fortune. Each individual is actuated by a desire to live com-, fortably and save enough to keep himself and family during old age. Judging from appearances everybody is contented and happy, a condition which is proof of the statement that the de-sire for riches is lacking. We find the population as a body, industrious, being em-ployed at different occupations. An unusual number are en-gaged in educational work who labor more for knowledge and the pleasure afforded thereby, than for the money received for their work. It is natural in a college town to have cultured people. Peo-ple of culture and refinement have their surroundings fashioned after their ideas and influence the whole community. This class has certainly added much to the community. The battlefield also attracts many well-to-do people who come here to. live a retired life and to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. In Gettysburg, if a man is not engaged in educational work, he is in sympathy with it and usually formulates his opinions accord-ingly. In conclusion, the people are interested in their personal welfare, mentally as well as physically, and do not have the de-. sire for great wealth as their sole ambition. THE JIEUCURY. 15 THE JUNIOR "PROM" SOCIALLY CONSIDERED. CLL consideration of the social significance of the Junior Prom naturally involves a taking into account the general social life of the college community. For it is obvious that the character and tone of this annual function must, to a large extent, be determined by the social life as it is developed throughout the year. And since the Junior Prom is just in its infancy,—in its formative period,—this pa-per shall be both critical and suggestive. The social life of our college seems to be the characteristic so-cial life of colleges in general. It is very different from the so-cial life that existed in earlier years of the college. New condi-tions in the social structure at large, together with the increased number of students, have all contributed to the existent social status in the college community. The present exclusive tenden-cies in modern family life, unknown to our forefathers, cannot fail to produce like tendencies among a body of students; the social product developed in our college is, in short, but an out-growth of the existing trend of home life. Though the number of students in any one college is really small, when compared with the number enrolled in a modern university, yet it has grown so that no longer can the authorities of even the small college boast that theirs is the privilege of easily acting in loco parentis, and of forming with the student body a well regulated family. Instead of one united family, thoroughly democratic in its workings and with a reasonably common purpose and as-piration, the student body has been organized by the fraternity into many little families, each with its distinctive membership making of paramount importance the promotion of its own inter-ests and those of its individual members. The college authori-ties have, in other words, failed to meet new conditions by their failure to provide a sane and invigorating college family atmos-phere for the student to grow in, and it should not be surprising, therefore, that the students have themselves provided their own substitute, inferior though it may be. The fraternity is not lacking in provsions for the diversion of 16 THE MERCURY. its members. Numerous social events are held during the year, and occasionally an inter-fraternity function is arranged. Be-tween the members of this organized portion of the student body, who are thus frequently brought together, there naturally is formed a rather strong attachment. But how about the unorga-nized portion, which is comprised, for any one of several reasons, of the men whom the fraternity has not attracted? The social opportunities of most of these men are not only more limited, they are also more individualistic. That there should be a cer-tain divergence, therefore, between the fraternity and non-fra-ternity element is not to be wondered at. The Junior Prom is a step in the direction of preventing this divergence. Every element in the student body is to be repre-sented as far as possible on a common basis. The possibilities of general good fellowship are on this occasion to be fully pre-sented and fostered. Men who are seldom to be found in com-pany of their fellows in a purely social way are to find in the Junior Prom an opportunity of seeing what such commingling means for a man and for the community. Men to whom this is not a new experience are to find pleasure in assisting the unini-tiated over the stony places. The realization of all this could not, of course, be expected in the two times in which the Junior Prom has been held. Indeed it may require several more years to accomplish the desired re-sults. It seems very apparent, however, that tendencies point in the right direction. Last year's Prom marked an improvement over the first, in that dancing was not the exclusive feature of the occasion. Provision was made, though not of a sufficiently definite and attractive character, for those who do not dance. This is not passing judgment upon dancing as a means of di-version; it does mean to imply, however, that to allow dancing or any other form of diversion to become the exclusive feature of a social event indicates a distortion that cannot fail to prove exceedingly narrowing. It implies, too, that it is altogether un-fair to expect those who do not dance to attend an affair which provides definitely only for those who do dance, and which gives dancing such predominant or exclusive place that real com-mingling is impossible. Dancing has become such a mighty factor in the social life of young people everywhere that it is not THE MERCUttY. 17 surprising that it has gained a considerable foothold in our col-leges, but to permit it to have the ascendency at an event, such as the Junior Prom, which contemplates the presence of a large number who do not dance, shows great inconsiderateness and means the blasting of the real significance of the Prom. The far-reaching influence of the Junior Prom, properly regu-lated, can hardly be appreciated at this early stage in its evolu-tion, but to behold its possibilities along the lines indicated should be sufficient to impel us to assist in its proper develop-ment. A. ± A BIOGRAPHY OF SCHILLER. MISS- MARY BAUSCH, '11. JOHANJST Christoph Frederick Schiller was born at Mar-bach, in Wurtemburg, Germany, Nov. 10, 1759. He was the only son of Johann Casper Schiller, an officer in the Wurtemburg army, who held an inferior position in the Duke of Wurtemburg's household. The elder Schiller is was a man of great strength of character. To him Schiller is indebted for his firm and positive traits. His mother, Elizabeth Dorothea Kodweis, the daughter of an innkeeper at Marbach, was just the opposite of her husband in temperament, of strong yet gentle demeanor, full of simple charm and wisdom. We can see deep traces of this mother's sweetness and gentleness in the life of the gifted poet. Schiller did not find it easy to choose a profession. He first attended school at the village of Loech, where influenced by Par-son Moser, his teacher, he prepared himself for the clerical pro-fession. These plans were thwarted by the Duke of Wurtem-burg. He next entered the public school at Ludwigsburg. At the age of fourteen, he became a student at the military academy near Solitude Park, Ludwigsburg, the Duke wishing to have his services for the state. There he pursued the study of law, which was very repugnant to him. After two years had passed he 18 THE MERC PET. gave this up, and began the study of medicine, and was subse-quently appointed regimental surgeon. During this time, however, he was engaged in. the study of lit- 'erature. He was especially fond of the classics and became very proficient in Greek. His knowledge of Greek philosophy is ap-parent in his writings. His first work of note, "The Eobbers," he completed before he was twenty-two years old. Schiller pro-tested in this work against the restraints which he felt the Duke had unjustly forced upon him. Fearing the Duke whose wrath he had thus kindled, he fled to Mannheim. There he passed through many hardships, one reverse of fortune followed an-other. But still he continued to write. Schiller's first play in verse was "Don Carlos,'"' which was pre-sented at Hamburg in August, 1787. The Duke of Weimar, whose interest had been aroused in the young poet, made him one of the counsellors of his court. Upon his arrival at Weimar, Schiller was introduced to Goethe. This acquaintance subse-quently ripened into a close friendship. Early in December, 1788, Schiller's "History of the Eevolt of the Netherlands" was published. This work brought the best results, financially, which he had yet received. It not only had a rapid sale but it aroused the attention of the intellectual world. Through the influence of Goethe, he was offered a professorship in history at the University of Jena which after some hesitation he accepted. On Feb. 22, 1790, he was married to Charlotte von Lengefeld, a most admirable woman who aided him greatly in his life work. A very busy life opened to Schiller while at Jena. It was not unusual for him to spend fourteen hours daily in lecturing and writing. But the strain of such heavy work was too great for a man so delicately constituted as Schiller. A dangerous pulmonary dis-ease overtook him so that he was forced to give up his position as instructor in the university. Then through a generous gift he was enabled to revisit Wurtemburg, where he remained almost a year. In May 1794, he returned to Jena much improved in health although never again entirely well. The period between 1796 and 1800 was especially rich in lyrical productions, of which "Der Taucher," and "Das Leid von THE MERCURY. 1$ der Glocke " aTe prominent. The latter has been considered the best known of Schiller's poems. It deals with the most dra-matic events in the life of man. His great works, "Wallenstein" and "Maria Stuart" followed in close succession. Next came "Die Jungfrau von Orleans" in 1801, "Die Brant von Messina" in 1803, and "Wilhelm Tell," the last and perhaps greatest of his works, in 1801:. In this last great tragedy, Schil-ler portrays with wonderful power the Swiss resistance to tyr-anny. He causes the leader, Wilhelm Tell to stand elevated as a national hero. In all his writings, Schiller's love of liberty and hatred of despotism is manifest, but in none so much as in Wilhelm Tell. Schiller had now reached the zenith of his glory. His man-ners and appearance had improved. The timidity and conscious-ness of youth was replaced by the dignity and ease of more ma-ture years. He was overwhelmed with public honors and enthu-siastically received everywhere he went. But alas, when prosperity and fame seemed permanently se-cured to him, the dread disease which had undermined his health again overtook him. He endured this last trouble with great fortitude; though he had to pass through many trials yet his spirit seemed as it were to soar above them all. He continued to work until at last, his weakened powers being overcome, he passed away on May 9,, 1805, at the age of forty-five. The news, of his death brought universal grief to Germany. 20 TKE MEKCURY. CULTURE'S DISTRESSING FOE. G. E. WOLFE, '09. UST as men err in making happiness a distinct end, so do they err by putting culture in a similar position. And just as they deceive themselves by trying to pro-cure happiness as they would some commodity, so they deceive themselves by like attempts to gain culture. Life would indeed be a barren thing, if it were not enriched by our capacity for happiness and culture, but it is worse than barren where there is a false conception of these enrichments. That culture should be perverted to such an extent that men would make it a fad, seems almost inconceivable, yet that is what the intellectually curious and the socially idle made it some twenty years ago. What abhorrence must have been aroused in all who possessed true cultural instincts! For a fad is always a sham—a gross perversion—and a sham in the world of art ox-literature begets a peculiar offensiveness and hatred. The short-cut, superficial methods employed in pursuing this culture fad must have been entirely detestable to all serious-minded and sin-cere people. Could it be otherwise, with genuine culture possess-ing the rich qualities of ripeness and maturity in taste, intellect and culture ? How crude and defective the sham in the presence of the real! But this perversion, while more pronounced at certain periods, lias not been confined to one or two decades. Haste and arti-ficiality have always been employed by men, in their eagerness to possess the charming ripeness and greatness of soul which mark the truly cultured man. Recent years, however, have de-veloped a new condition, the recognition of which requires no unusual insight. There has developed a foe to culture which is distressing, not simply because it is aiming at culture by per-verse methods, but because it is entirely at variance with true cul-ture and lias so widely disseminated its influence that one may rightly inquire whether the true cultural instinct will not even-tually be quenched on account of it. "Smartness" is not a modern product by any means, but never has it captivated a people as it has the present generation; never THE MERCURY 21 has it held such predominant sway. Strictly speaking this spirit belongs to the world of mediocrity, but so important has it be-come that it claims recognition as the "real thing" from alL We have our so-called "smart sets," but the spirit of smartness in these days finds fruitful soil among all classes—as well among the wealthy as among the not-rich, as well among the intelligent as among the unlettered. And it is this, we believe, that today constitutes culture's distressing foe: it is this that makes impera-tive the loud calls, "Let Us Go Back"—in the direction of "The Simple Life." Not that there are no more who possess true culture, or who are eager to possess it. There are such indeed, but so effectually has the "sporty" microbe been doing its work in the rising gen-eration, that quiet people have well-nigh been driven to despera-tion, those with undeveloped cultural instincts have been tainted or entirely diverted and others never get a desire for cultural pursuit at all. One does not have to be a pessimist to be conscious of the fact that it is the fashion for everybody to be gay; that we are all called upon to persevere in a gala atmosphere. From the ex-treme solemnity of bearing that characterized our forefathers we have swung clear to the opposite extreme. It is impossible not to come in contact constantly with the cheap jargon that is everywhere afloat; with the lightness, cyni-cism and insinuation of immoral sentiment which marks the con-versation of popular young people. Fashionable clothes and jaunty manners never played as prominent a role as today. Plain, unassuming people, to whom this pertness and super-, ciliousness is extremely repulsive, are wondering when there will \ be a reaction toward the sane and rational. Surely the reaction-must come, and parents and educators have no more important duty before them than to seek to obliterate this spirit of sm^rt-. ness. THE MEECUEY. THE ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE LINCOLN ROAD. G. L. KIEFFEK, '09. JJST order to consider this subject properly, we must first inquire into the nature of the proposed "road." There-fore, briefly, "The Lincoln Eoad" is a proposed na-tional memorial to Abraham Lincoln. The "road" is to be a grand boulevard joining Washington, D. C, with Gettysburg, Pa. Its two hundred feet of width are to be occupied by green-sward plots, hedges, and trees, a speedway for automobiles, a driveway for carriages and wagons, two double-tracked electric railways, the one for express trains and the other for local trains. The very nature of the proposed "road" declares that it shall be equally open to both the rich and the poor. This being true it will be the means of bringing to Gettysburg, for at least a day, many of the hundreds of thousands of tourists that annually visit Washington. Hence with all this traffic, the very "road" itself might become an economic asset to the United States gov-ernment. To accommodate these people appropriate hotels would have to be maintained in Gettysburg. The present hotels and restau-rants would have to be renovated and enlarged. New ones also would have to be erected. A higher standard would be the order of the day for all Gettysburg hotels when official Washing-ton would be in the habit of paying them a visit at almost any hour. To meet this increase of business occasioned by the influx of people, Gettysburg herself would have to grow and increase the number of and enlarge all her business places in whatever line they might be. Naturally all property in Gettysburg would increase in value as would also all the property along the "road" from Washington to Gettysburg. To compete with the travelling facilities which would be af-forded by the proposed "road," the facilities of the present rail-roads would have to be bettered and new roads would be built— both electric and steam. All eyes would naturally be turned towards Gettysburg, which THE MERCURY. 23 with its historic surroundings, beautiful scenery, and medicinal springs, would naturally be expected to become the greatest sum-mer resort in the United States. The character and number of tourists would necessitate gov-ernment control of all guides. Thereby would undoubtedly be obliterated the blot of blots found upon the world. With gov-ernment control of all guides the tourists would be guaranteed just and equal treatment. For the guides themselves, better days would result. To Gettysburg's educational institutions would come greater publicity and a better appreciation of these institutions' rare sur-roundings. The result would naturally be manifested by an in-crease in the student bodies and an enlargement of the institu-tions themselves. All this resulting from the proposed "Lincoln Way?" Yes, more. With it connected to Gov. Stuart's proposed highway from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, "The Lincoln Way" naturally would become the backbone of a national highway system extend-ing all over the country. Then would all roads lead to Gettys-burg, which would be, in fact, the shrine of American patriotism, the Mecca for all Americans. THE "INDIAN STEPS." E. C. STOUFFER, '11. HE immense dam of McCalPs Ferry Power Company is nearing completion. As a result the slowly rising waters of the Susquehanna river are gradually cover-ing up one of the oldest and most noted landmarks of south-eastern Pennsylvania. The old "Indian Steps" are artificial shelves, cut no doubt, by means of stone hatchets into the face of a large round-pointed rock, which juts out from the west bank of the Susquehanna river. They were cut by the North American Indians possibly centuries before the discovery of America. These steps were used by the dusky inhabitants as a place on which to stand and dip the shad as they crossed the rapids on their annual journey 24 THE MERCURY. to the spawning grounds in the upper Susquehanna. Since the settlement of the country the white man has for generations used them for the same purpose. So far-famed were these steps that the Indians from the North, South, East and West came here to fish. Only the strong, vigorous and daring could fish from this rock for only such were able to endure the chill damp night winds which frequent the lower Susquehanna. As each contestant ap-peared a chalk mark or number was placed on his hat to desig-nate his turn. When his name was called he took his place, tied himself to a ring in the rock and cast the net. Each one was ■compelled to take his catch and be content. If there were a goodly number of shad, all was well; but if it proved to be a small catch he had to go away heavy hearted and take his place in the waiting line again. Year after year from these rocks hundreds of these daintiest ■of all fishes have been caught, some to grace the humble board of ■a poor riverman, some to please the fastidious taste of a city epicurean. The land around the "Indian Steps" was originally occupied by the Conestoga Indians and was preserved for them by the first proprietors of the state. Even Maryland, which was attempting to push her lines farther and farther north, respected the rights of the natives and made no attempt to appropriate this section. 'The land was held for the Indians until August 26, 1786, when a deed was granted to Joseph Eeed on condition that the "Indian Steps" should be preserved for a fishing place for the poor of the community. This charge has been faithfully kept until now. A few months more and the old landmark will have passed away and forever this curious specimen of Indian art will be lost to Pennsylvania. THE MERCURY. 25 THE INVESTIGATION OF THE FARMER; WHAT IT IS LIKELY TO BE WORTH. MISS HELEN H. BRENNEMAN, '08. EVEEAL months ago when President Roosevelt ap-pointed a committee to investigate the condition of the farmers throughout the country, it provoked quite a little amusement on the part of some people, while on the part of others it aroused sarcasm and anger. Many people regarded the President as a "busy-body" and failed to recognize the real aim in his interest in the farmers' condition. Never before has there been a man at the head of the nation with such broad and liberal views and one who has put forth such strenuous efforts in behalf of all kinds and classes of peo-ple. And it was such a motive that prompted him to take this action. The scope of this committee's work is not to ascertain the technical methods of farming and to inquire into personal matters, but to find out what are the general sanitary, social, educational and economic conditions of country life, to find out what is needed, what improvements can be effected, and in what way the government can help them. The commission was confronted with a task not only wide in its scope but comprising a large territory, and many people were to be dealt with. The President suggested that the farmers be called together in convenient meeting places for discussions, and that the members of the commission try to get in the closest touch possible with them and find out their needs. The commission has sent out circulars to professional men, business men, farmers and many others. These circulars con-tain a list of twelve questions with respect to the public schools in the vicinity and their efficiency; whether the farmers get rea-sonable returns from the sale of their products; whether they have good railroads, highway, telephone and rural postal service-accommodations ; whether there is a sufficient supply of labor in the neighborhood. These questions show what the commission are seeking to find out. It is their desire not only to ascertain the conditions but to get opinions and suggestions as to what needs to be done. Now the question arises, "What is the investigation likely to 26 THE MERCURY. be worth ?" In the first place it is very evident that almost the entire success depends upon the attitude of the people. If they continue to take it as a joke or with a feeling of animosity, cer-tainly the progress of the commisison's work is going to be checked and its ultimate success doubtful. However Dr. Bailey of Cornell University, the chairman of the commission, says that the public interest is increasing as the people come to under-stand the commission and its work. These words are encourag-ing and indicative of a very likely success. If this investigation is going to amount to anything, there must be co-operation of the people, especially of the farmers for whose benefit these efforts are being exerted. In a recent mes-sage to the commission the President said, "It is esssential that the farmers, the men who live on the soil should feel a sense of the ownership in this commisison, should feel that you gentle-men in very truth represent them and are responsive to their de-sires, no less than to their needs." If this committee receives the support of the people, it should effect some good results. There is a larger percentage of per-sons engaged in agricultural pursuits than in any other occupa-tion and it is only just that more attention should be given to their needs. The demands for better highways, better railway and trolley service are being universally agitated, and surely the commis-sion will concentrate, its efforts towards their accomplishment thus increasing the facilities of the farmer for better profits. At the Farmers' Convention held in Madison last October scientific crop raising and the need of teaching agriculture in the schools were among the principal topics approved by that orga-nization. It is just as essential that agriculture be taught in the rural schools as manual training and trades in the city schools. Here again if such a desire could be met by the gov-ernment it would not only benefit the farmers economically but the nation also. It remains to be seen just what this investigation will amount to, but nevertheless we can surmise that the educational advant-ages in some districts will be improved, that there will be bet-ter facilities for the transaction of business and that the social, educational and economic conditions will be bettered. T H E HERCURV Entered at the Postoffice at Gettysburg as second-class Matter. VOL. XVI GETTYSBURG, PA., DECEMBER, 1908 No. 7 Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editor P. F. BLOOMHARDT, '09 CHARLES F. V. HESSE, '09 Exchange Editor Associate Editors H. REY WOLF, '09 SAMUEL FAUSOLD, '10 Business Manager EDWARD N. FRYE, '10 CHABLES L. KOPP, '09 Advisory Board Ass't Bus. Managers PROF. C. F. SANDERS, A. M. G. U. KNIPPLE, '10 PROF. P. M. BIKLE, PH.D. PAUL S. MILLER, '10 PROF. C. J. GRIMM, PH. D. Published each month, from October to June inclusive, by the joint literary societies of Pennsylvania (Gettysburg) College. Subscription price, one dollar a year in advance ; single copies 15 cents. Notice to discontinue sending THE MERCURY to any address must be accompanied by all arrearages. Students, Professors and Alumni are cordially invited to contri-bute. All subscriptions and business matter should be addressed to the Business Manager. Articles for publication should be addressed to the Editor. Address THE MERCURY, GETTYSBURG, PA. such is often the case. EDITORIALS. THE question has often been asked how a small college, with a limited number of students and a corresponding limitation of tal-ent can successfully conduct nearly as many student enter-prises as the larger univeristies— and conduct them, too, in such a way that they frequently rival similar organizations in their larger sister institutions. But Our own college may be taken as suffici- "28 THE MERCURY. ent proof. Our five varieties of athletic teams, our three publi-cations, two literary societies, debating and oratorical teams, musical clubs, and dramatic society, etc., have often been re-spected rivals to similar teams of other and larger schools. But the mere fact of the numbers of these enterprises does not neces-sarily have to affect the quality of the results accomplished. We are inclined to think that men with just as great ability and as large capacity for work are to be found in the smaller college as in the larger ones,—not as many, to be sure, but the ratio is about the same. Furthermore, the smaller college offers oppor-tunities to every one of such calibre, while in the larger schools, •only a comparatively few can take part. LAST year Gettysburg was disappointed in not being enter-tained by her dramatic society, the Mask and Wig. Presumably this was due to the lack of time for rehearsals. Nevertheless the loss was felt. This year it has been decided that no musical club trip will be taken. It has been suggested that the time, talent, and energ}', usually devoted to this organization be turned into another channel; that is, into the perfecting of a good play or minstrel show which might be allowed to take a trip, similar to the Triangle Club of Princeton. IN a few days the first term of the present collegiate year will be closed. After an arduous week's work in examinations, the Christmas vacation will be the more appreciated and enjoyed. Its rest and pleasure has been anticipated by all, but especially has it been longed for by the Freshmen. Christmas has been written about so often, and from so many different viewpoints, that little that is new is left to say. To the college student it is a joyous season to be looked forward to, but in its actual enjoy-ment, he no longer thinks of college and its surroundings for it is a vacation season at home. So, with its last issue for 1908, the MERCURY wishes all its readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. THE MERCURY-. 29 BOOK REVIEWS. INDER the Crust, by Thomas Nelson Page, Phrena. This volume is composed of original stories. Each story has a philosophical side. They were evidently written to stimulate thought and the author has succeeded admirably. One of the stories, "A Brother of Diagones" is especially commenda-ble. In this story, great wealth is pointed out as a stumbling block rather than an aid to happiness. The simple life, too, is contrasted to the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. Other stories of the volume effectively contrast altruism and egoism. The Biography of Thomas Jefferson, by John T. Morse, Phrena. This biography is very impartially written. The au-thor gives us the facts indulging in neither unmerited praise nor criticism. He seems to have an insight into the man's very nature and thus vividly portrays the actions of the statesman both at home and in the blaze of public life. The biography not only enumerates the achievements of Mr. Jefferson with their causes and effects but also those of contemporary statesmen. The biographer shows Mr. Jefferson as a visionary, shrewd politician and a far-sighted statesman. The book is very readable and valuable. Tides of Bamegat, by P. Hopkinson Smith, [Philo 11:6.] This is a book which one can scarcely afford not to read. It presents a very impressive picture of life. It is an account of how one member of a noble and respectable family brought shame and disgrace to the family name There is seen the secret sufferings of the sister through false modesty. Her life would have been made happy indeed, if she had only opened her heart to her lover. It shows how one sister may give advantages and culture to another and instead of receiving gratitude, have her head bowed in shame while the other, seemingly soulless, is not af-fected. There is also brought out the yearning and love of a father for his son whom he has driven from home in a fit of anger for the evil he has done when he refuses to do right. The story is somewhat overdrawn, but otherwise one can find no fault. It is nevertheless very instructive. Although somewhat tedious at times it is generally interesting. The language is clear and wholesome. The Brass Bowl, by Louis Joseph Vance, [Philo, 11:8.] The so THE MEECURY. title of the book is somewhat fanciful as the bowl has practically the least connection with the story. Anyone wishing to read a book for entertainment and recreation will find this romance suited to his purpose as it is very interesting, simple and full of action. The thread of the story seldom breaks and the climax is near the end. The reader will be pleased with the happy ter-mination. No characters are used except those which are neces-sary to the plot. The principal parts are played by persons of high social rank, and they seem to be somewhat magnified. There is no place in the book that is tedious. The narration is clear, animated and well balanced. The language is simple and vigorous. The author has handled 'the plot very well. He shows broadmindedness, independence, the possession of a vivid imagination and a pleasant sense of humor. He has an ac-quaintance with high social life. The reader will be very much pleased with "Mad Maitland's" spirit as he makes his wild flights and also with Miss Sylvia Graeme who comes into Mait-land's life in a very peculiar way. EXCHANGES. JE are glad to have with us again most of our old ex-changes. There are a few that have not arrived yet. We trust that all will soon respond. It seems necessary again to call attention to the con-tent of the MERCURY. The MERCURY, we are trying to make a literary journal, and not a paper combining literary, athletic and the other departments of college activities. The "Gettysbur-gian," our weekly publication, contains the news of the various departments of college life. Among the good things in the "College Student" we would call attention to "Lowell's 'Biglow Papers'" and "Eelation of Diction to Character." The former is a critical essay which brings to notice many interesting facts concerning this import-ant contribution to American literature. The latter shows how the ideals and characteristics of the individual are reflected in hie writings. THE MERCURY. 31 We are glad to welcome "The Thielensian" to our exchanges. In the article entitled "Greek and Eoman Influences" the writer reminds us of some of the beauties of Athens and Borne. The beginning of philosophy was in Greece. Then from the Eomans we can learn the lesson of patriotism. Their motto was, "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori." The Eomans understood mili-tary matters, and we can also learn much from their sculpture and architecture. "Luther in the Eeformation" is also worthy of perusal. The character sketches of Taft and Bryan in the "Otterbein Aegis" are brief but very interesting. We all admire the teachings and doctrines of Socrates, the great Greek philosopher. He busied himself by trying to teach men the truth, and even though he greatly emphasized truth, he was especially eager that men should become happy and useful citizens. To be a good citizen he regarded the "summum bonum" of the individual's life. Indeed in our present age of political corruption, we can not over-emphasize high ideals of citizenship. "Making an American Citizen" in the'Thiloma-thean Monthly" presents this subject in a forceful manner. The writer gives some qualifications of the ideal American citizen. First, he must exercise the right of franchise. It is not only his right, but his duty, to vote. Secondly, he must vote intelligently and not allow himself to be bribed by a paltry farthing. Again, he must be a doer, and not depend upon party leaders. And lastly he must have strong moral convictions. As to the prob-lem of attaining this ideal, the author says, "If I were to offer a solution of this vital problem, it would be: the continual, untir-ing moral and civic training in home and school." All scholars have more or less knowledge of epic poetry. They all know something of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, Virgil's Aeneid and Milton's Paradise Lost, but often the epics of less renown are neglected. "The Sketch Book" contains an article entitled "Sita," which tells us of India's epics. The Eamayana and the Mahabharata are India's chief epics. "Sita" is the im-portant character in the Eamayana. She is to the Eamayana what Helen of Troy is to Homer's Ilaid. The article gives a brief summary of the epic and closes with a few ethical com-ments on the character of "Sita." 32 THE MEKCUKT. We wish to comment on two articles in the "Albright Bulle-tin." "The Character of Satan in 'Paradise Lost,'" and "Work; Man's Opportunity." The writer regards Satan as the princi-pal character of the epic, and speaks of him from that stand-point. In the latter essay, we have a very practical exposition on work and its blessings to the individual. Lovers of German literature will find pleasure in reading "Two Representatives of German Epic and Lyric Poetry" in the "Lesbian Herald." Of our High School exchanges, the "Eed and Black" (Read-ing High School) deserves special mention. The departments are well represented and as a whole the paper makes a pleasing appearance. We gratefully acknowledge the usual exchanges. "PXYK iKT2« r>rv. M3VSUT13ER5. There's no pen that gives such all-round satisfaction i Conklin's Self-Filling Fountain Pen. It's the best pen for College Men. When an ordinary fountain pen runs dry in the middle of a word, it means you've got to stop right there, hunt up a rubber squirt gun, fill your pen to overflowing, clean both pen and dropper, wash your hands, and then endeavor as best you can to collect your lost Crescent f'f train of thought. It's different with Filler Jr-l 9 FILLING "THE PEN WITH THE CRESCENT-FILLER" To fill, iust dip it in any ink, press the Crescent-Filler, and the Conklin is filled and ready to write instantly. You can't over-fill it. Hence no inky fingers, no loss of time, no ruffled temper. The feed of the Conklin is No waiting for ink to come—no jerking—no slips, blots. ng dealers handle the Conklin. IE yours does not, order direct. Look tor the Crescent-Filler and refuse substitutes. Prices, $3.00 and up. Send at once (or handsome new catalog. T3E OOHZLIH PEH CO., 31 Itiahattsn Bnildiag, Toledo, Ohio. PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. FUfOTTUfjE Mattresses, Bed Springs, Iron Beds, Picture Frames; Repair Work done promptly. Under-taking a specialty. - Telephone No. 97. 3=3L ZB_ 23eri-d.ex, 37 Baltimore Si., *-tttt/xhurg;, FA EDGAR C. TAWNEY BAKER West Middle Street. J. B. WINEMAN, DEALER IN CHOICE FAMILY GROCERIES, PROVISIONS AND FRUITS, BOARDING CLUBS A SPECIALTY. SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON HELPS AND SUPPLIES, P. ANSTADT & SONS, Publishers, Book and Job Printing of all Kinds ttrtte for Prices. YORK, PA. ■> PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. EMIL ZOTHE ^MEMS ENGRAVER, DESIGNER, AND MANUFACTURING JEWELER 722 Chestnut St., Phila. SPECIALTIES : MASONIC MARKS, SOCIETY BADGES, COLLEGE BUTTONS, PINS, SCARP PINS, STICK PINS AND ATHLETIC PRIZES. All Goods ordered through G. F. Kieffer, CHARLES S. MUMPER, MtKALER MJV TTTTTS "KFTTTTT? 15! PICTURE FRAMES OF ALL SORTS * W *■*" * * *» *fc*Hf REpA|R WORK DONE PROMPTLY I WILL ALSO BUY OR EXCHANGE ANY SECOND-HAND FURNITURE NO. 4 CHAMBERSBURG STREET, GETTYSBURG, PA D. J. SWARTZ DEALER IN COUNTRY PRODUCE, GROCERIES, CIGARS AND TOBACCO. GETTYSBURG. SHOES KEPA1UHI> —BY— 115 Baltimore St., near Court House. GOOD WORK GUARANTEED. -IS-Your Photographer ? If not, why not? 41 BALTIMORE ST., GETTYSBURG, PA. 8EFT0N I FLEMMING'S LIVERY, Baltimore Street, First Square, Gettysburg, -Pa. Competent Guides for all parts of the Battlefield. Arm »» Filbert St. A convenient and homelike place to stay while in the city shopping. An excellent restaurant where good service combines with low prices. ROOMS §1.00 PER DAY AND UP. The only moderate priced hotel of reputation and eonsequenee in > 3Pla.ila.cLe2pla.ISL • » J 1 i SQ *. • • » ,atindry . . OF YORK . . Offers tfte COLLEGE STUDENTS first-dass work; at Special Low Prices. E. C. STOUFEER, Local Agt. C. D. SMITH, Prop. MEANS TASTY WOEK SAEEFULLY DONE. MfcNU CARDS. LETTER HEADS, WINDOW POSTERS ENVELOPES, DANCE CARDS TICKETS, Programs of all kinds. Everything the College Man wants in Paper and Ink. Specially designed work. Latest Effects in Paper, clone in Colors along lines of College Men's Associations. Catalog and Book work. The Gettysburg Compiler will keep old and new students in touch with town and college life. HELP THOSE WHO HELP US. The Intercollegiate Bureau of Academic Costume. Cotrell & Leonard, ALBANY, N. Y. ™2li2^! CAPS AND GOWNS To Utttyi-buri? College Lafayette. Lehigh. Dickinson. State College, Univ of Penn sylviinin, Hnrviird, Yale. Princeton. Wellesley, Bryn Mnwrnnd the others. Class Contracts a Specialty. Correct Hoods i. Degrees. Mr. College Man We are already lining up our clients for nextSpring. With our National Organization of 12 offices we will need over 2000 college men for technical, office, sales aud teaching positions throughout the United States. We can also use at any time college men who are in the market for a position. Let us explain to you NOW. Write for the "College Man's Opportunity." It tells how Hapgoods, a great organization built up by college men has placed many thousand youngmen, has raised the standard of college meu as a business factor throughout the world. State age, education, location desired. THE JV\iTIOJVJIZ, OBGjrjVTZJlTjrOJV OF BIlJlIJV BHOHKBS. Commonwealth Trust Building, Philadelphia, Pa. HOTEL GETTYSBURG, Headquarters for BANQUETS. Electric Lights, Steam Heat, All Conveniences. Free Bus to and from station. Convenient for Commencement Visitors. RATES $2.00 PER DAY. -livery CLi'ta.c'ked. Jot]i] P. JV^tH Proprietor. BECKER & CO., DEALERS IN All kinds of Fresh and Smoked Meats Chambersburg St., Gettysburg, Pa. WE RECOMMEND THESE FIRMS. Established 1867 by Allen Walton. ALLEN K. WALTON, Pres. and Treas. ROBT. J. WALTON, Supt. flummelstown Brown Stone Company, QUARRYMEN and Manufacturers of BUILDING STONE, SAWED FLAGGING and TILE. Wa/l/fcoTwille, ]£)a.-u,pT-vlr\, ^o. Pa. CONTRACTORS FOR ALL KINDS OF CUT STONE WORK. Telegrapn and Express Address, Brownstone, Pa. Parties visit-ing quarries will leave cars at Brownstone Station on the P. & R-R. R. For Artistic Photographs Go To T{PTON The Leader in PHOTO FASHIONS Frames and Passapartouts Made to Order. PATRONISE OUR ADY$RTI$$RS Come and Have a Good Shave or Hair Cut -AT-Harry B. Sefton's BARBER SHOP. 35 Baltimore St. Barber's Supplies a Specialty. Also choice line of Cigars. SHOES REPAIRED —BY— Charles Hartdagen, Middle St., Opp. Court House, GUARANTEE ALL WORK. GETTYSBURG DEPARTMENT STORE, Successors to the L. M. Alleman Hardware Co., Manufacturer's Agent and Jobber of HARDWARE, OILS, PAINTS AND QUEENSWARE, GETTYSBURG, PA. Tb.p only Jobbing House in Adams County. PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. s * * » ** *»« * ft * «« « «»* ** « « * »* « * * « **«* ***« aa »« « ***** a »*« »* * *** Seligrqciq Are Gettysburg's Most Reliable TAILORS «* And show their appreciation of your patronage by giving- you full value for your money, and closest attention to the wants of every customer. ■ T' ■,f T &.WirX'z?&/&teM$&^.'^*fc?ttvte*&^ Students' Headquarters —FOR— HATS, SHOES, AVD GENT'S FURNISHING. Sole Agent for WALK-OVER SHOE EGBERT'S STORE. Prices Always Right T|e Lutheran PubliGOlioii Society No 1424 Arch Street, PHILADELPHIA, PA. Acknowledged Headquarters for anything and everything in the way of Books for Churches, Colleges, Families and Schools, and literature for Sunday Schools. PLEASE REMEMBER That by sending your orders to us you help build up and develop one of the church in-stitutions with pecuniary ad-vantage to yourself. Address HENRY 8. BONER, Supt

The Mercury May, 1907 HELP THOSE WHO HELP US. The Intercollegiate Bureau of Academic Costume. Cotrell & Leonard, ALBANY, N. Y. takers of CAPS AND GOWNS To Gettysburg College, Lafayette, Lehigh, Dickinson, State College, Univ. of Penn-sylvania, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Wellesley, Bryn Mawr and the others. Class Contracts a Specialty. Correct Hoods for Degrees. GOOD POSITIONS FOR COLLEGE MEN. Last year practically every college man on our lists was placed before September 1st,—over 1500 iu all. The demand is greater this year, the opportunities better! One Amherst man whom we placed in business three yeais ago is now earning $8^000 a year. Shall we take up your case with some of the 20,000 employers we serve? Write us today stating position desired, teaching, business or tech-nical work. Offices in 12 cities. H^p&©(9BS, THJK vVJT/O.Tjr/> HUUAJVlZJITiOJY OJ? Htt.lM.V \l UHtli lilts. HOTEL GETTYSBURG, Headquarters for BANQUETS. Electric Lights, Steam Heat, All Conveniences. Free Bus to and from station. Convenient for Commencement Visitors. BATES $2.00 PER DAY. . _wery Q.i-to.on.ed. Jol]i| P. ^ci^tiil, Proprietor. IF YOU CALL ON C. A. Blocher, Jeweler, CENTER SQUARE, He can serve you with anything you may want in BEPAIBUNIO or JEWELRY. WE RECOMMEND THESE FIRMS. Established 1SS7 by Allen Walton. ALLEN K. WALTON, Pres. and Treas. KOBT. J. WALTON, Supt. Hummelstown Brown Stone Companv, QUARRYMEN and Manufacturers of BUILDING STONE, SAWED FLAGGING and TILE. WaVtoTW-llle, ISco-ii-pl-i-ln, -&o. Pa. CONTRACTORS FOR ALL KINDS OF CUT STONE WORK. Telegraph and Express Address, Brownstone, Pa. Parties visit-ing quarries will leave cars at Brownstone Station on the P. & R. R. R. For Artistic Photographs Go To TIPTOE The Leader in ■ PHOTO FASHIONS Frames and Passapartouts Made to Order. R. A. WONDERS CORNER CIGAR PARLORS. A full line of Cigars, Tobacco, Pipes, etc. Scott's Cor., opp. Eagle Hotel, GETTYSBURG, PA. Pool Parlors in Connection. Come and Have a Good Shave or Hair Cut —AT— Harry B. Sefioo s BARBER SHOP. 35 Baltimore St. Barber's Supplies a Specialty. Also choice line of Cigars. SHOES REPAIRED —BY-Charles Hartdagen, Middle St., Opp. Court House, GUARANTEE ALL WORK. GETTYSBURG DEPARTMENT STORE, Successors to the L. M. Alleman Hardware Co., Manufacturer's Agent and Jobber of HARDWARE, OILS, PAINTS AND QUEENSWARE, GETTYSBURG, PA. The only Jobbing House in Adams County. PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. 2 * **. f*t * ft * ft ft ft ft f«t ft ft ft ft fftt ft ft ft ft a ft ft »« ft ft ft ft ft ft * ft « « ft a « ft « a ft «a ft ft ft ft * « « ft a ft « « ft « ft a « « « ««« ft «« *« SeligiTiqtl Ar* Gettysburg's Most Reliable TAILORS And sbow their appreciation of your patronage by giving you full value for your money, and closest attention to the wants of every customer. a^C Give Them Your Patronage. »« »»« «« «»«« »««« »« .»««» «» «» «««»» ««« *«» »«»»»« «»««« »« «»»»« «««» .»«»« «« »ftft«»»«»#»««##»*»«*»«************************* PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. i*iith^.^.^.^^r^^ir>&?fci^^ .i'. Ti .T t /f! i ;!. .•Is a 'i: i T'ii" ft '■i '!: ■f .a-I-. "K I"I: Weaver Pianos and Organs Essentially the instruments for criti-cal and discriminating buyers. Super-ior in every detail of construction and superb instruments for the production of a great variety of musical effects and the finest shades of expression. Close Prices. Easy Terms. Old Instruments Eschangel WEAVER ORGAN AND PIANO CO., MANUFACTURERS, YORK, PA , U S A. ■•A * '•!■■ :v. •i- 'j' ••!■■ * 'V. M- "•i*" Ti. M- ~v. ■•!; 'V. w "it 'V. •1' 'V. t Students' Headquarters —FOR-HATS, SHOES, AND GENT'S FURNISHING. Sole Agent tor WALK-OVER SHOE ECKERT'S STORE. Prices Always Right Tlje Lutheran Puilictttion Society No 1424 Arch Street, PH.LADtLPHIA, PA. Acknowledged Headquarters for anything and everything in the way of Books for Churches. Colleges, Families and Schools, and literature for Sunday Schools. PLEASE REMEMBER That by sending your orders to us you help build up and develop one of the church in-stitutions with pecuniary ad-vantage to yourself. Address HENRY S. BONER, Sup't. T H E HERCORV The Literary Journal of Gettysburg College. VOL. xv GETTYSBURG, PA., MAY 1907 No. 3 CONTENTS 'REVERIES OF A BACHELOR"—A Criticism FRANK W. MOSEK, '07 m THE VALUE OF ROUTINE—Essay G. E. WOLJE, '09 THE FLOWING TIBARE—Song REV. GEORGE C. HENRY, '76 80 POE ^WIZARD OR CHARLATAN W. WISSLER HACKMAN, '08 81 THE KING'S RESOURCES HESSE, '09 85 OPHELIA AND HER MAID AFTER THE PLAY GEO'. W. KESSLER, '08 89 THE AMERICAN IMMIGRATION QUESTION-Oration 91 E. E. SNYDER, '09 EDITORIALS EXCHANGES 95 96 66 THE MERCURY. REVERIES OF A BACHELOR. FRANK W. MOSER, '07. ^ITERATURE is a "positive element" of civilization, a keen reflector of internal conditions and passing phases. u In different countries it exists at different times in'va-rious ways, now as a "passive taste" and again as an active tendency toward new development. American literature arose amid the stern realities of an experimental republic and de-manded all the strength of the giant intellects that were guid-ing that republic. It was natural that the first development should be theologieal. For a long time the mental life of the colonies was identical with their religious expansion. At a later period oratory flourished and many illustrious names were enrolled under its banner. Then, after the new govern-ment had acquired a firm foundation and records were being made in civil and political life, history arose and occupied the center of the stage. Finally, amid an era of prosperity, when men's minds were no longer forced to dwell eternally on the struggle for life, a taste for the literature of daily life became prevalent. The unique characterizations of Queen Ann's time could scarcely help but have their influence on American minds. The "Spectator," the "Guardian" and the "Tattler" soon had American imitators and from the first this kind of production was eminently successful. "The Lay Preacher" was the first American venture along this line and this was quickly followed by such homely tales as the "Legend' of Sleepy Hollow" and Joe Neal's "Charcoal Sketches." Brought up in the atmosphere of these several evolutions and subjected continually to the influence of the men of belles-lettres of his age, it is small wonder that Donald G. Mitchell should turn to writing what he himself calls 'a collection of those floating reveries which have from time to time drifted across by brain." The inscription upon the title page (edition of A. L- Burt, New York,) is admirably chosen. "It is worth the labor— saith Plotinus—to consider well of Love, whether it be a God, or a divell, or passion of the mind, or partly God, partly divell, partly passion." It is in truth a delightful species, * Winner of the Graeff Essay Prize. THE MERCURY. 67 easier to define by negatives than by positives. It is not an autobiography, though portraying strongly the traits of the man, his freshness and vigor ; not a volume of essays, though it contains many utterances of that distinct type ; not fiction, though sometimes far more suggestive than fact. It is a book of revelations, but also a book of conditions, of subtle thought, keen observation, shrewd humor, and poignant pathos. With it all there is a perfect freedom that makes it seem, as Edward Quillian says, part of "Those sun-dyed fancies, airy reveries, Freaks of imagination, waking dreams, Ephemeral fantasies of playful hues," which may "Fade into nothing if uncropt, and die forgotten," or may 'Become heir-looms for after times." The first reverie, "Smoke, Flame and Ashes" was published in the "Southern Literary Messenger" and met with such suc-cess that he was inspired to write others and finally to publish the whole in book form in 1850. The success of the book is clearly revealed in the fact that from its issue in 1850 to 1854 more than seventy thousand copies were sold and in the first six months alone the author received royalties amounting to four thousand dollars. The style and language of the book are complex. The former fluctuates from sentimental musings on connubial joy to the most violent outbursts of grief and intermingled with both is a didactic element that made him scratch upon the "handle to the little bronze taper.holder that meaning passage of the New Testament—Nut yup lp\i rai—the night cometh." In language also there is a curious mixing of homely, ever5T-day words with classical expressions. He shows a wonderful power of word-painting and every syllable in some of, his pas-sages seems to blend to the nicest shade with the harmony of the whole. The reveries themselves are four in number. The first is over a wood fire ; the second by a city grate, filled first with sea coal and then with anthracite ; the third over a cigar, lighted successively with a coal, a whisp of paper, and a match ; the last a meditation over a rural scene concerning 68 THE MERCURY. morniug, which is Past ; noon which is Present ; and even-ing, which is Future. The reverie over the wood fire is marked by a mocking note that jars rather painfully upon one's sensibilities and makes one feel all out of sympathy with the phases of life as he de-scribes them. The ground tone of the whole, as made mani-fest in the climax,' is sorrow. The events stand out like a white steeple against a stormy cloud, which, like sorrow, per-vades the whole seen-. It almost seems indeed as if, like the pre-Raphael painters, he had fashioned the background and then filled in the steeple. The author makes himself pain-fully felt in the delineation of domestic sorrow, but he pro tracts it line upon line until the reader impatiently recoils from what takes the shape of a morbid anatomy, an almost wanton empiricism in matters of life and death. After a brief prologue, necessary to a proper setting of the reverie, he plunges boldly into the stage of smoke—signifying doubt—by exclaiming, "A wife? Yes, a wife: and why " Then in a bald "I calculate" spirit he proceeds to view the situation and lets his thoughts run broadcast into'all possible conditions, like the wanderings of Munchausen, which never-theless he disclaims as the proper way to secure the object of these dreams. He begins with a sordid and quite commonplace dissertation on wives in general. A possible Peggy, for example, is intro-duced, who immediately fills up your house witli her plaguy relatives up to the fifth degree who overrun the household and nose into everything. There is the maiden aunt, and the father-in-law, and dear "mamma-in-law," and the dirty-nosed nephews, and the fidgety old uncle, who may have promised his fortune to his dear Peggy. But this brings up an un-comfortable thought. Peggy will talk then of her fortune and her purchases. Awful ! But infinitely worse if 'there is poverty in the home. What could Peggy not do if only she had the means. And then behold by a sudden transformation she is metamorphosed into a fright who comes down to break-fast with an awful mass of uncombed hair and such infernal slippers. Your coffee is cold. No matter You should have been up before. And then such chops and nauseating butter, but Peggy hopes you have better sense than to raise a storm THE MERCURY. 69 ab >ut a little rancid batter. Or Peggy may be rich and care nothing for you, or she may love you but drive you mad with her continual chatter on "divine Dante and fnnny Goldoni." But the fire .suddenly blazes out and darts up the wide chimney in a cheerful flame. You have done it. Here you are, settled in a sentimental vein and ready to take a wife. How fine it would be to have a sweet girl seated in that chair by your side. She knows and loves your moods. Your joys and sorrows arc hers too. She understands them all. Your friend dies ; she will take his place : Your mother, sister ; she will be your all. In sickness it is her hand that soothes, and her falling tears that chase away for a moment the chill of death. It is her voice that bids you hope, and when hope is gone that tells your virtues. But as dies the flame and only ashes remain, so desolation enters the soul. How you watch her step lest it lose its vigor ! With what joy you behold her blooming cheeks or with what anguish view the quickened breath ! Then death strikes and you lay to rest your little daughter. The blow is hard, but she comforts. Again the fell reaper comes and your boy, your idol, is gone. Tears, aye and more tears, for the wife over whom your whole love broods is failing. She revives and you hope, but the spark soon goes and with it her pure spirit. Then the undertaker and the smell of varnish, the darkened room and the empty fireside, and it is over. There are the bitter ashes of despair and from the heart goes up the cry to the God who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb, "Oh God, be kind." The whole thing is treated in a manner that he ascribes to the undertaker, a man who has done his work very nicely, very nicely indeed, but has no heart for your feeling. There is an incongruous mixing of varnish odors with the cry that goes like incense up to God. In the preface he speakes of an "honest journalist" who avows that the reverie could never have been written by a bachelor. On the contrary it is full of the spirit of bachelorhood, a mocking spirit of insincerity that hovers about heart-moving scenes but never enters into their inner essence. It is not that the catalogue is not complete nor that it is of the washy sentimental type, for the author is without doubt a keen and sharp-spoken writer. But he asks 7° ' THE MERCURY. us to use yards of cambric when in reality he strikes the notes heavily and not like the soft hand of the master "wandering over the idle keys." The second reverie—by a city grate—partakes much of the nature of a classical essay and is full of fine thoughts and rounded, ringing sentences. A garret in the city furnishes the setting for the reverie, a garret with loose casements and shattered roof, swept by the bitter wind of the night, a deso-late place indeed for the pouring forth of such home thoughts. Yet such is the mood of the reverie that one instinctively rec-ognizes that its author is a man born with a feeling for atmos-phere. There is a delightful quaintness and originality about it, together with a picturesqueness that is distinctive and rare. Neither would you imagine the author of such healthy senti-ment a semi-invalid in early life, troubled with pulnion.iry diseases of a serious character. In the first half the flirt and the coquette are treated un-der the simile of sea coal, which burns so flashily, now dying, now flaming up, yet ever consuming quickly. So is the flirt, a pretty play of expression and make-up but lacking inner warmth and steadiness. Quite a number of love allusions from literature are introduced, apparently as an antidote to Bulwer's Caxtons where first heart flights are described as "mere fancy-passages—a dalliance with the breezes of love, which pass and leave healthful heart appetite " Shakespeare through Desdemon. and Cordelia ; Homer through Hector and Andromache ; Milton through Adam and Eve, paint the pic-ture of a love that needs no sea coal beginnings. Then under the spell of a quest for the Magisterium, not of gold or youth, but of life, he introduces a category of authors with the times for which and the persons for whom they are best adapted. This is worthy of a high place in literature for its interpreta-tions are most excellent. For every condition there is some work, from the time when you feel at peace with all the world and can read such good fellows as Sterne and Fielding, to the time when the soul experiences the uplift of a higher power and can soar with Milton and Isaiah to the very gates of heaven. But alas for this sensibility struggling under povertv of diseases, and worse far when such a soul is cruelly dis- THE MERCURY. 7' turbed. Then the flaming passions make the boldest dread. But the flirt "She dwells in proud Venetian halls. Midst forms that breathe from the pictured walls." But too late she finds that "When the Lamp is shattered The light in the dust lies dead." The heart sheds forth its beams to thrill and guide the life but let the heart grow coarse and cold, its radiance gone, the poor soul goes struggling blindly through the world, concealing the darkness within by flashings without, and woe to him who enters such a life. With cold and hollow smiles, life's bliss away, where sure he thought to touch the harp and hear the pealing anthem swell the note of praise, now hears but empty and discordant cries. A noisy laugh and then—Oh well read one of Jeremiah Taylor's sermons, as Marvel says, and you will cure. Yours not the first nor last. Great pity that. A little different is the coquette who adds,spice to the wine but knows when to stop and does not ever play. Quite a vision ends the first part, spoiled by the noisy entrance of the maid with the anthracite, the fuel for the second half' of the reverie. The atmosphere of the second part is different. Not now do chasm and abyss yawn deep with varied cries and tumultuous sounds ringing up their steeps, but now to music as "from flutes and soft recorders" arise the hymns of peace, the sym-phonies of home. There is an allusion, very brief here, to the Miserere at Rome which is later brought out more fully. This whole section may be considered as summed up in the single paragraph descriptive of the Clitumnus from the Tus-can mountain to the sea. Such is the spirit of the scene, a steady soul that goes from love to more love, tender and true, with the veil of modesty and the cheering eye. Years chill not the heart but only made its beating the more plainly heard. And then life too gone, and now that it is gone it seems to have been of a thousand years. Is it gone really ? Its skirts seem hovering on the horizon—and then that other life, no longer feared. Age, Old Age, Death, Life. Four- dreams within a dream-. THE MERCURY. "Childish, childish." do you say? But is it true that the child is father to the man ? Then must the man not lose a single vision of those dear, dim, delightful remembrances, far off and remote of objects quick or dead—whether instinct with love and intelligence or but of the dead sod that once was to him the light of life. Blended then was being with all it saw and heard of the beautiful and grand, "but as the same creation with the grass, the flowers, the streams, the trees, the clouds, the sky, its days and nights, bound by one invisi-ble chain," and this was life. To me this reverie, while on the style of the first, is vastly different from it, entering into one and thrilling as the other cannot. But he spoils it by adding at the end a doubt whether a married man with his sentiment made real is as happy as a bachelor. A cigar furnishes the motive for the third reverie. Cigars were made to be lit of course and so—here is a coal. Puff, puff ! But the coal is dead. No hope of lighting a cigar with a dead coal and no more hope of firing a life from a cold heart. Here—this time the coal is alive and soon the cigar is well alight. Its first taste is like first love. The 3111110° then de-scribes this first love stage with all its machinery of sighs and jack knives and moonlight and what not. Oh, but it passes? Certainly. As the cigar goes out without puffing, so love dies from neglect. Perfidious Louise. Next time be more careful. This time try a wisp of paper. It will light again surely, unless it is burned entirely away. So the heart will kindle again, more slowly perhaps, but soon in a full glow that puts to shame the first blaze of boyhood. This time it is Nellie, such a bundle of heart and charms. This time also love is steadier, with no "Jacques-like" meditations in the forest, but with a steady admiration that fights its way through crabbed guardians and wild oats recollections and heartless previous plans, fired with a love that makes every day bright and every one pleasant and satisfactory. Clandestine meetings for a.while and then—separation. Strange how a cigar does require con-stant puffing. A letter or two, discovery, prohibition, dark-ness, business and—Nellie has really returned, married and introduces her husband and two children. A bachelor for a second time ! Well, well, and the cigar is clear out. There is still some left, so try again. The skein is not all THE MEKCURY. 73 spun. This portion opens with the exclamation, "I hate a match" and the same spirit is manifested all through. Matches are only for use after coals are dead and tapers exhausted. And so he describes a match, quite a proper affair too, where everything is serene and orderly and every one says, "What a splendid match." Oh yes, apparently. But soon the se-renity and fineness of it get on his nerves and he wanders back to the old bachelor quarters to spend the time. His only joy is in the boy who brightens his home. Then sickness and nurses and finally one tear, one bound of the heart and then —it is out, wholly burned away and cannot be lit again. This reverie is quite an entertaining one, giving a faithful picture of too many marriages, but it has no great depth. It is indeed a "symphony of palatable notes" but not a 'grand triumphal strain." At a single bound one rises from the plane of the third reverie into regions high and grand. In the third there is the feeling present that the author is moving inanimate pawns about, so as to present a series of plastic poses for the delec-tation or instruction of the world. In this last one however there is an intense personality pervading every page, a keen sympathy that amounts almost to a psychic bond between au-thor and reader. But although thus intensely personal there is no sense of a human soul indecently laid bare, even to us who hide our emotions in every way. The difference between the third and this can be expressed in the single word life. One instinctively feels that here is something real. Did we not know the massive type of man the author is we might easily believe a woman's hand had penned many of the lines, so effective are they in causing our understanding to turn sympathetic somersaults. In this reverie he transports one into the midst of a Spring day, under the loved oaks of a once cherished home and there, within sight of the wild stream and the old hills, with the pleasant music of the bluebirds ringing in his ears he falls into a trance—"to sleep, perchance to dream," and hears anew the "rustling of Time's curtains." He reaches here a height far ■beyond any to which he has hitherto attained in the book. His wonderful genius for word painting comes out strongly •and every sentiment, whether of joy or grief, is more natural 74 THE MKRCURY. and moving. But this reverie owes not a little of its power to the influence of Dickens. The latter in his "Christmas Car-ols" introduces a retrospection of life through the forms of ghostly messengers called Past. Present and Future, who transport the dreamer from place to place, reviewing and re-visiting old scenes and hearing the well-remembered voices speak again as in the past; In a similar way Marvel divides his reverie into cantos of morning—which is Past, noon— which is Present, and evening—which is Future, His style too is very similar but he uses a classical, historical, and geo-graphical vocabulary that is distinctly his own. It is morning and the same golden sunlight that has moved the lips of Meinnon to song through the ages is flooding the valley. Morning brings up the past, that rich dream land where the once familiar figures move as of yore. Through the veil they seem to move so softly and so sadly—Bella, the seven year old cousin, and the gentle mother with her sweet smile, and the tall, hard-faced uncle who pores over his books and—yes that is surely old Tray following there. What a noble fellow he is ! Oh, the familiar faces ! What a holy world they form ! Childhood is the time of impressions and in confirmation the author illustrates boyish sentiment by several leaves from the past. Love, Pride, and Grief are described in simple, touching words with an incident illustrative of each. Then before you are aware he whisks you away from the old home and the cheerful fireside into the scenes of a cloister life, if such be a fit word to describe the "tall, stately building," with its moldy basement and box-like rooms. Here centers the ex-perience that furnishes a comparison for all the future. "Old Crikey," and the long row of boys, and the pretty Jane and Sophia and the exhibition at the term's end all flit by like a moving panorama and ere you are aware "with three cheers for the old school'' it is only a memory. At this point quite suddenly he carries you over the sea into scenes of foreign lands. First there is the Fatherland with its Great Charter and Charing Cross, and little cottages where the hostess brings out the best pot of jelly, long stored in some out of the way place. Then there is Scotland with its Castle Stirling and that highland gem—Dunkeld. The sun still T.HK MERCURY. 75 'moulds to beauty many a mouldering tower" but in the semi-darkness the ivy looms portentous and the rising wind sighs wierdly about the turrets. With an odor of new-mown hay and a farewell look at old Devon he is "over hill and dale" until the Eternal City rises to the view, with its great dome, wrung from the people's blood looming huge and black against the Southern sky. Eurica, the fair, is the theme at Rome and the carnival and then—the Appenines, the wild hills with the sound of floating vesper bells and the shepherd's call. The Praeneste of Horace is disposed of in a few words and then back to Rome and Enrica. At this point occurs one of the choisest bits of de-scriptive writing in the work, an excellent example of the emotional style. One can almost feel the rise and fall of the' singer's voice in the words of the passage. " the sweet, mournful flow of the Miserere begins again—growing in force-and depth, till the whole chapel rings, and the balcony of the choir trembles ; then, it subsides again into the low, soft wail of a single voice—so prolonged—so tremulous, and so real, that the heart aches, and the tears start—for Christ is dead. Lingering yet, the wail dies not wholly, but just as it seemed expiring, it is caught up by another and stronger voice that carries if on, plaintive as ever—-nor does it stop with this— for just as you look for silence, three voices more begin the lament—sweet, touching, mournful voices—and bear it up to a full cry, when the whole choir catch its burden, and make the lament change into the wailing of a multitude—wild,, shrill, hoarse—with swift chants intervening, as if agony had given force to anguish. Then, sweetly, slowly, voice by voice,, note by note, the wailiugs sink into the low, tender moan of a single singer—faltering, tremulous, as if tears checked the utterance ; and swelling out, as if despair sustained it." There is one remarkable characteristic of the past and that is its lack of vain regret. To most writers the past is a time full of things that might have been, a rather sad and gloomy picture. To Marvel on the contrary it is a bright picture of joy and only once does he speak of the "might-have-been" side. And so the past is past and noontide's blaze is in the-zenith. He opens the Present with a beautiful sentence, "the Past 76 THE MERCURY. belongs to God ; the Present only is ours." The action in this section consists wholly of revisiting old scenes and is characterized by his most composite manner -the alliance of sagacious raillery and pathetic sentiment. First the early friends are looked up and some are fouucTgoue and some broken. The culmination conies in the news of the death of Isabel which strikes like a cyclone shock. Passing on he di-rects his unused steps to the old school, only to find the old faces gone, save a few whom some peculiarity of appearance of manner discloses. The familiar haunts too have changed and the fence with the long list of names carved on it is al-most rotted away. The hand of Fate has scattered the col-lege classmates in many a clime but the old place looks almost the same, and the same sort of sermon to the same sort of sin-ners, delivered in the same way, makes a paradox of that verse of Dr. Watt's which likens heaven to a never-ending Sabbath. The tender letters composing the packet of Isabel are treated with a most sympathetic understanding and the trembling hand trails off into the silence of eternity at last like the passing of a wandering cloud. This section is a fine ex-ample of the author's chief forte, the delineation of a moving-sorrow. And so "noon wanes and the shadows of evening lengthen upon the land." The evening is truly "a great land," with its swiftly mov-ing lights and shades and into this future land he paints in bold relief "the hopes and fears of all the years." It opens with joy, entwined with just enough disappointment to fully bring out its happy character. A chance meeting with Carry brings to a center all the love that has long been striving in the heart for exit. But a condition of legacy interferes until all is happily settled by the introduction of Enrica, the Roman girl, again. Carry is his now, his forever and the cup of hap-piness is full to the brim. Travel is sweet now for you see old scenes anew through her eyes. The magnificent Juras, Mount Blanc, Geneva, Venice, and Rome are visited and de-scribed. Then home with its sweet memories, a calm, joyful quietude most welcome to the spirit. The substantial, wide-spreading cottage soon holds new forms and childish voices ring out- in glee. Under this division there is some fine healthy writing. Home, peace and sanctity are reverently THE MERCURY. 77 described—and so we come to the time when "the sweeping outlines of life, that once lay before the vision—rolling into wide billows of years like easy lifts of a broad mountain range —now seem close packed together as with a Titan hand ; and you see only crowded, craggy heights like Alpine fastnesses, parted with glaciers of grief and leaking abundant tears." Marvel cannot end without one more portrayal of sorrow in the death of the boy Paul, and so at last life reaches the end of the lane up there. Toil where we may in mill, or mart, or home, our lives close at the end of the lane up there. In my discussion of the book I have aimed to give expres-sion to the thoughts and feelings that have arisen within me as I read its pages. Others will doubtless disagree and see beauty where I can 011I3- experience a feeling almost of aver-sion. To me the alternate reveries seem vastly different, the second and fourth soaring high above the others in excellence of expression and reality of feeling. In depicting them I have endeavored to use a style corresponding to my estimate of reverie, stilted and unnatural in the first, real and impressive in the second and fourth, and light and frothy in the third. With this I close a long but pleasant task. ANTHONY. THE VALUE OF ROUTINE. G. E. WOLF, '09. SURELY there is no one who is not at once impressed, on reading the Mosaic record, with' the regularity and system that characterized the beginning of things. Upon noting the regular course of action continuously adhered to in all creation, who is there that can fail to recognize that routine is indispensable to highest attainment ? Manufacturers, merchants—business men in all lines—have found it. absolutely necessary, in order that the wheels of in-dustry may be successfully propelled, to make use of routine. Schools and colleges and universities, in conducting the great work of education, find routine essential. But how few comparatively the individuals who, in their 78 THE MKRCURY. private life, have made routine the invaluable asset that it is. On the other hand, how many there are who are ready to cry out against it. People speak of it as stupefying ; and so it is, if we do not apprehend its real meaning ; but if we should realize that through it we can do more work in less time, and have more time left for the development of our1 highest selves, then we would at least refrain from speaking of it disparag-ingly. As we look about us, we can readily see that the efficient people in the world's work are those who know their business and do it promptly and perseveringly ; who when one piece of work is finished can direct their attention fully to the next item, and perform that. The efficient student is the one who has as nearly as possible a definite time for every portion of his work ; who knows beforehand what he is to do at four o'clock or. at eight o'clock. He it is that has most time for work and most time for recreation and play. Some educators say, "Do not make a child read until he finds the need of reading, and learns for his own pleasure. Do not enfeeble his mind by forcing it." There are many students—and some of us may be among the number—who declare that the}' cannot learn geometry or psychology or any branch that requires severe intellectual processes ; and, with-out giving the subject a fair test, they prefer to take up some-thing more congenial, again a case of deeming it unwise to enfeeble the mind by forcing it. But one might well answer, "Do not enfeeble the mind by letting it go undisciplined." Very probably some of us here have had our eyes opened to the selfishness of our position, assumed because from childhood we have had our own way far too much, and not one of us relishes the consequent embitterment. Away with" the senti-ment that prompts a father to deal too leniently or lavishly with his son ! Away with the enervating luxury of the pres-ent that many an educator of today uses to atone for the un-fortunate conditions of the past ! Far better would it be to get into a child as early as possible the habit of doing things, and to teach him, whatever he does, to do it just as well as he can ; to get him into a habit of thoroughness as an end in it-self, of thoroughness for its own sake. ' 'Soon he would find being thorough exceedingly interesting, and that over against THE MERCURY. 79 the pain of working when he may feel sluggish can be matched the pain of failure to do what ought to be done." We are all agreed, I believe, that industry is an element of effective human life, yet alas, how many of us yield to the temptation of allowing industry to become a mere matter of caprice? If we are disciplined to routine the chances are that . we will be freed from this temptation ; there will be no desire to wait for perfect mental and physical conditions before we settle down to the work we may have to do ; much loss, through indecision, would be averted, and the valuable ele-ment of time conserved. If routine is not forced upon us it were best for us to force it upon ourselves, or we shall almost certainly find ourselves in a shiftless condition. "I know a person," says Prof. James, "who will poke a fire, set chairs straight, pick dust specks from the floor, arrange his table, snatch up the newspaper, take down any book which catches his eye, trim his nails, waste the morning anyhow, in short, and all without premed-itation, simply because the one thing he ought to attend to is the preparation of a noon-day lesson in formal logic which he detests, anything but that !". It is really surprising how per-sistent men are in their endeavor to get away from the train-ing that fits them for life, how they strive to persuade them-selves that what they long to do is nobler and of greater worth than that which it is their duty to do, and which they must do if they expect suceess in what they long to do. It has been said that the great thing in all education is to make our nervous system our ally; instead of our enemy ; that it is to fund and capitalize our acquisitions and live at ease upon the interest of the fund ; and that to accomplish this we must turn over to habit (through routine) as early in life as possible as many useful actions as we can. "There is no more wretched human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision." Some people say that the result of routine is precisely what we do not want, since it makes persons mechanical and robs them of that delight which should accompany a less exacting course. But there are others who think that our happiness is largely dependent upon our cheerful acceptance of routine— •on our refusal to assume, as so many of us do, that the daily 8o THE MERCURY. round of work and of duty is a sort of slavery. If we can pet ourselves to think of routine as an, invaluable "labor-saving invention," then we shall not despise it; we shall do more, we shall not fail to make use of it. %j^ t£&*^& H THE FLOWING TIBARE. Tune—"In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree." Dedicated to all Students of Pennsylvania College. GEORGE C. HENRY, '76. AIL ! Hail ! to thee our gentle loving mother, From near and far thy children greet thee true, Their hearts they ne'er can give unto another, They greet thee with the waving Orange and Blue. From westward where the Golden Gate is beaming, From eastward where old Plymouth Rock lies bare, From northland and from south with love's light gleaming, They cross with eager step the old Tibare. Chorus. Oh, pleasant :t was to be there By the side of the flowing Tibare ! Now we gather once more with the students of yore, And linger mid scenes rich and rare. Tho long are the years since the morn When as "grads" from thy rolls we were torn, It is pleasant to be in this good companie, By the side of the flowing Tibare. In boyhood's days when verdant, young and callow, We came upon this smiling campus green, Fond memory still those sweet, old days doth hallow And holds them steady in a light serene. For stretching miles of mountain, lake and river Can ne'er our souls from Alma Mater tear. Nor years nor cares effect our hearts to sever From days we spent along the old Tibare. THE MERCURY. 81 Three decades had thy history run unbroken Since first old Pennsylvania Hall stood white, While trained powers and high hopes were the token Thy sous took forth in moulded manhood's might. T'ward Susquehauna from Potomac's station War's tide in sixty-three had crept to thee ; Thy name is linkt forever with the nation Contending there for starry liberty. Farewell, dear Mother Gettysburg, thy finger Invites us oft to scenes once lightly trod ; With spirits loyal, faithful, fain we'd linger Who have made glad the City of our God. When on yon ridge our ways again will sever, Our gaze turns towards thy walls embowered so fair, Farewell, dear Alma Miter ! Live forever The days we spent along the old Tibare ! POE : WIZARD OR CHARLATAN. VI. WHICH? CONCLUSION. W. WlSSWBR HACKMAN, '08. _ T is with a sense of perturbation bordering well on appre-hension that I approach the obsequies of this venture. I would fain take refuge in Dr. Johnson's subterfuge and label this closing word : "The conclusion in which nothing is concluded." This custom of epiloguizing which is but a nice way of spelling apologizing, has fallen into sad neglect in these days of voluminous introductions and self-defensive prefaces ; so that it is with a genuine reluctance that I ap-proach a task which should have been discharged long ere this tardy date. Yet I embolden myself with the fond belief that, after all, most printed prefaces are written postscripts. Be that as it may, I cannot well pass by a last chance at self-vindication— at least to myself. As I contemplate the sub-stance and form of the five departments of this study, to which this is the conclusion, I am struck more and more by the vastness and difficulty of the task and the contrasting pettiness of the effort. There are extenuating circumstances. 82 THE MERCURY. Utter unpreparedness I will not admit ; for who that has given the matter of Poe any serious consideration and has sought after some solution has not been struck by the faucity of material, the uncertainty of data, and a general shrouding of mystery and conflicting rumor that—if they do not quite baffle research,—-at least seriously discourage it. ,• When I consider how really little we know about this singu-- lar figure in American letters, how distiuguishingly contra-dictory is that little we do know, how various are the inter-pretations put upon his literary phases, and how irreconcilable they all are, I well nigh dispair of ever arriving at any satis-factory or conclusive explanation. I vaguely foresaw this ; it has been driven home to me in a manner startling and ine-radicable as I have continued through these discussions. There was from the outset an alluring mystery about this man which courted investigation while it evaded examination. Following its beck it still, mirage like, hovers across the foot-hills. Shall we follow on ? It is for you to decide. Too long have we been gadding among the bones of Europe and the East; unearthing relics commiserating ourselves upon the baldness of our literary topography at home, not noting that whilst we have been pottering and snuffling among worm-eaten hierogliphs abroad our own geniuses have grown ancient in neglect. Let no one say with us commercial enterprise has throttled literary tradition, that we have no shrines without the market place. Let them turn to Poe ; a literary god wor-shiped abroad, weed-choked with neglect at home. It is well that we remember that here at our very doors awaits for so-lution a literary mystery as subtle and elusive as the most ab-struse unraveller could wish for. Nor will it long lie unattended : we are coming more and more to a realization that much of our literary devotions are clue our household gods ; there is a homeward tide of literary interest. Already are there unmistakable manifestations of this movement so long deferred. I joy to feel the throb of the new interest, to be in the van even if it be but as a dis-armed tenderfoot among the pioneers. I may at least escape by insignificance the arrows of the mighty and save my crest from envious scalping knife. This matter of Poe is not a trivial thing ; it is a problem grown beyond the idle tamper- THE MERCURY. 83 ing of school-boy essaying ; it is become a matter for men, men whose efforts may, I trust, end in greater certainty than mine. Nor shall I rest, nor I trust you, with this slight at-tempt at unravelling the mystery of the most unique perso-nality in our literary history. My efforts have been crude : forced to produce these arti-cles under circumstances uncongenial and averse ; they mani-fest too much the marks of a style immature, of over-hasty production, and a lack of that happy clearsightedness which may focus its vision on the very essence of a matter and point-ing clearly to the very kernal of difficulty say, "Lo ; here it is !" and you see. However, whatever accusations may be brought against me as to a certain overeffusiveness, overwording, or lack of charity, it will, I trust, be admitted that I have made a sincere, if not a happy effort, at solution. But what shall that solution be, what shall my decision be ? Poe ; wizard or char-latan? Which? I would gladly put off answer to some later and maturer time. The evidence is, I assure you, not all in-far from it ; whatever the decision be.it must be subject to a higher jurisdiction, which may confirm it and which may not. Yet in view of the evidence in hand we can arrive at some conclusion. I think we may safely say he deserved the title Wizard. I sincerely believe Poe was capable of a grandeur-he but gave glimpses of, but from the full attainment of which he was prevented by combinations of Fortune protract-ingly malignant : combinations often beyond Poe's control ; some of which lay in the law of birth, others in a faulting training from childhood, and again those arising from the pe-culiar conditions of unliterary contemporary America. For other misfortunes Poe himself was largely responsible—how much is hard to determine. Fate seemed ' to corrspire with the peculiar genius of his character to render his life a shrouded mystery. There is hardly a single other American man of letters concerning the personals of whose life we know so profoundly little ; and this is all the more striking when we consider the recency of his life, his lifelong association with men and women who should have been well able to preserve the details of a life spent—not in a hermitage—but among them. Even his death is a matter so dark and with details so uncertain that we might well take 84 THE MERCURY. refuge in the epitaph of that ancient leader whose bones may repose on lofty Horeb and say, "He was not." A life of tragedy, penury, and missappreciation, crammed with hunger and bitterness, the objects of his love blasted be-fore his eyes ; he is indeed not unworthy of our deepest sym-pathy. Let not however, pity bias judgment. I have en-deavored to try the case without prejudice ; let me conclude in like spirit. Middle courses are difficult, we are too apt to vap-orize into senseless and worthless eulogies or to descend to coxcombish c.rping. While I consider Poe capable of the greatest, I cannot but see that he, alas,'too often descended from the throne to the pedestal; to meanslight-of-handary ; or worse, to indulge in bursts of self-defiling mud flinging. Let us, however, judge a man by his best rather than his° worst. Read for yourself his works; following, if you please, the rough plan running through this series, and when you have done this ask yourself, is this man sincere? Clever he un-doubtedly is, but is he great, large ? Is his assumption of immen-sity, depth, intensity and mysticism part and parcel of a lit-erary genius of the highest and truest order of a Wizard, or the mere concealing skirts of a Charlatan wherewith to be-dazzle the common herd ? That it is the latter I 'can hardly admit. That a power which descends to turn water to wine may therefore not raise the dead is as logical an argument as to assert that Charlatanism or even buffoonery disproves Wiz-ardry, though I do admit it does discredit and in a measure degrade it. Thus I leave the problem with you. After all each should labor on his own conclusions. Predigested food is no doubt of service to invalids ; but if generally indulged in future ages should no doubt be left sans dents—a sad predicament for those who would feed direct from the tree ! I forthwith surrender Poe to the gentle mercies of your several judgments. As to a certain uncertainty in the last article concerning Poe's acquaintanceship with Leibnitz I beg to offer the follow-ing statement : Poe was conversant with the philosophy not only of Leibnitz and Plato, but with the whole Aristotelian and modern schools of philosophy and metaphysics, but his attitudes are disturbingly ecpaivocal. The subject is too in-tricate for discussion here. THE MERCURY. 85 THE KING'S RESOURCES. HESSE, '09. J7T THRONE is not the requisite of royalty. A king is JTA. not made by either crowns or the exigencies of states-men. A king is not made at all, but like the poet and the artist, he is born. Men crowned have been puppets ; men uncrowned have made the path over which the progress of the race has advanced. To call Chas. I a king and Cromwell a commoner is a paradox. A king is one who can, and the es-sence of royalty is will and character. To be royal of soul is to be king, whether the brow wears a diadem or is crowned with the grime of toil. It is quality of soul that determines a man's worth. The field of the king's activity is no longer the Garden of Eden, but the great broad earth. Here are the monuments of his striving, here are his unlimited resources, here is he master of bird and beast and every living thing. Here, too, does his will dominate nature, and he uses her forces as his servants. The warm sunlight flows in life-giving streams upon the earth, and she, in turn, responds to man's industrial touch. Great forests fall to serve him who is overlord of the wild beasts, they so long stood in grandeur to protect. Iron and coal, the king finds securely deposited in great mountains. The rich soil yields grain in abundance, and delicious fruits hang on bending bough. The rain falleth upon the just and unjust :ilike, for providence in no way discriminates. Even the rich fool has unlimited scope for his avarice, and can be thwarted in his purpose only by a power superior to nature. The amassing and centralization of resources makes kings of common men, kings who stamp their likeness on the char-acter of the people, and who perform Herculean projects, the building of colossal structures, or the marching with invincible forces against a hostile people. Does not the history of na-tions disclose men whose rank and power were vested in phys-ical force ? Do we not gaze in wonder at the sumptuous pal-aces of oriental sovereigns, and almost discredit the fact that an army consisting of millions was at the disposal of a Xerxes ? But, we have other examples of concentrated power in the 86 THE MERCURY. hands of military heroes. Cseser and Bonaparte rose to the dizzy height of renown, but, where are they now ? Down the well trodden path of fame they took their way, leaving but the ruins of great Empires, the destruction of the kings' ac-cumulations. However, by man's abuse the supply is not ex-hausted. Land and sea, mountain, plain, and forest yield an ever increasing and richer bounty. But over and above all this there exists another power that moves and actuates all truly kingly men, a power that limits the avaricious use of material and renders each and every man a true king in-a loftier and grander sense. Nor does history lack numerous instances which paint true pictures of this grander kingship. "The golden age of Pericles," reveals the character of the man and his people. Aspiring to the sublime in art, and fostering true sentiments of patriotism, they gained a wealth and perfection that has never been surpassed. Even the powerful Artaxerxes did not, in defiance to that little kingdom, dare to spread a single sail upon the waves of the blue iEgean. Leonidas is today admired by everyone whose heart burns with a spark of true patriotism, for he possessed that which is the prime requisite of all earthly power, a sublime and unflinch-ing fidelity to honest conviction and known duty. Moses showed these qualities by following with simple faith the voice of the great "I Am." During his forty years of training for a great work,' all nature was his teacher. Out on the rugged hilltops he heard the bleating of sheep and the song of birds, and through deep meditation discerned the meaning of the voice that spoke out of the burning bush. Gideon in a no less degree displayed resourceful ability. Was it other than confidence in a great cause that gave him heart to advance with the noble three hundred ? Could selfish instinct, backed only by physical power, ever have impelled a warrior to perform deeds so great ? No, the hand of the Un-seen consecrates to great tasks only those who can draw from resources greater than mere natural power. It is the realm within the man that furnishes this power, power that is in-finitely greater than the power of alliance with many nations. It has been a law through all the ages that the stronger are to rule the weak. But wherein lies this strength ? What THE MEKCURY. 87 constitutes the field of resources from which this power comes? While no two men can enjoy exactly the same en-vironments and achieve the same degree of success along a certain line there is the possibility of developing one, five, or ten talents, and a record is kept, for our growth in personality marks the efforts and conquests of the inner man. In this realm, high mountains, deep waters and pleasant pastures also lie before the king. They, and all they contain belong ex-clusively to him who cares'to conquer. David, the shepherd boy, was such a conqueror. Living the life of a shepherd, he early learned to play euchautingly upon the harp and to use with dexterous accuracy the shep-herd's sling And, with all accomplishments, acquired ascend-ency over self. With that perfect armor, a firm and abiding religious faith, he courageously and fearlessly faced the wiles of the desert, and as a mere youth dared to meet in single combat one who held at bay the entire army of King Saul. Where can you find a more noble example of true kingship? To him the earth yielded abundantly, and at no time did he oppress his people. While natural blessings were his, he failed not to conquer the dominion of his inner life, the most re-sourceful of all realms. Over the portal of the temple at Delphi the oracle was written, "Know Thyself," or,'in other words, so subjugate and rule thy faculties, that every function of self may become as familiar as the scenes of thy native land. This is wisdom at its highest ! It was through this acquaintance of self and its consequent self-mastery that the masters of the ages wrought this work— the sculptor, the painter, the musician—Phidias, Michaelang-elo, and Mozart. Every feeling and emotion of the great musician, developed into a vivid conception, was, after long years of persistent trial, given form. He, taking advantage of the physical realm, applied the natural laws of harmonious sound and left to the world that which is rightfully classed with the true and beautiful. As for Michaelangelo, we could as easily think of the sun sinking in the west hi the evening, never to rise in the east in the morning, as to think of his life's work ever losing its power. The aesthetic sense of all men is touched by the ^grandeur of the Olympic Zeus, but 88 THE MERCURY. Phidias alone reaped the triumph of personal struggle, triumph of which he left a record in gold, ivory, ebony and'precious stones. These men, together with countless others wrought their life's work in that light that cometh not from the natural sun. They, in so far as man's impeding earthly nature could be sub-dued, achieved permanent glory. But, in our admiration for these, can we evade the pitiful sight of other countless mortals gathering wood, hay and stubble, and striving to gain permanent joy from mother earth alone ? To perform a work that will live is indeed a noble ideal, but to rear colossal pyramids is to tell the simple story of material wealth. How tragic the story of Alexander the Great ! It presents us a man in profoundest humiliation. He wept for more worlds to conquer, but neglected the conquest of that most resourceful field, a conquest that would have made his kingship everlasting—the conquest of self. But the world has moved forward. Today the possibilities of what will come to the king are limited only by his willing-ness to loose self in the quest of knowledge of self and of things. The world of science and art.lies before him. It is for him to go up and possess the land and acquire thereby an immortal throne. When the heart of the king beats in harmony with the pur-pose of the Unseen Power, then will the work of his hand and mind abide across the revolving centuries. But these pur-poses of the Unseen Power make for righteousness and sur-vive through inordinate ambition, like any other evil thing, "Wounded, writhes in pain and dies among his worshipers/" Oh, that the king could more fully realize the vastness of the two realms that lie before him, realms unlimited in their resources, boundless in their prospective possibilities, inestim-able in the measure of bliss which they afford the earth in its fullness and God in His Omnipotence. THE MERCURY. OPHELIA AND HER MAID AFTER THE PLAY. (An hitherto unpublished scene from Hamlet.) GEO. W. KESSLER, '08. A ROOM IN POEONIUS' PALACE. ENTER OPHELIA. OPH.—Ala's-, poor world, what flower hast thou blighted ! A blossom so sweet, with color fresh and trim. How, as twinkling heaven by gaudy sun unlighted Hast scattered sweet reason that didst abide in him. Rich thoughts dwelling in his fervid brain, Like deep-sweet music flowed forth anew ; Till strongest passion blasting them in twain As stars ashamed of day, themselves withdrew. The fair sun illumines earth with whitest light, Yet in my soul dwells darkest night. Where now shall heart seek consolation, Resting once on trusty word Of lip's sweet treasured information Eucompass'd by wisdom's worthy lord. ENTER MAID. How now, world's precious comforter, Hast from the play thou lately come, Or didst to his recent illness minster And 'company the good queen at home? Maid.—O misery on't ! the wise gods seal mine eyes ; The king some violent passion doth endure. He hath onset Hamlet with two spies, To dispel his madness with some dreadful cure. Oph.—I fear disaster for this play's suggestion In the king's mind was deep imprinted ; His distempered act to quick commission, Thus provert wrath in him full vented. Passing strange he became afflicted, At Gonzago's death in stage set garden, As of foul murder he were convicted. Maid.—Thou shouldst have seen him harden ! 9°. THE MERCURY. Opli.—Such behavior did the king misfit, And for Hamlet it were worse yet That he did furnish-cause. Maid.—Thoughtst thou not his madness impert, When in thy lap Hamlet would have lain, Throwing himself before thee in the court ? Oph.—His mind was sadly overwrought In the court today. I would believe some fearless plot He wove into the play. Maid.—Be it so, if thou wilt so have it. Oph.—Saw you my lord after the play ! Maid.—No, my lady, 'cept as he did willfully sit With young Horatio, intent upon delay. Oph.—Get thee hence,— Convey this letter to the palace And wait answer to its contents. Maid.—Ay, Ay, most worthily, your grace. [Exit .Maid.] Oph.—Oh Prince Hamlet, heed this warning now ! Let heart be merciful, and too severe. Frown'st not with sorely troubled brow, When this, mine message, fall 'pon thine ear. The image I loved to view in thee, And for lack of trust neglect to say That thou hast all in all of me. In mine own love's strength, seems to decay. Me thinks my mind from sympathy Raves mad like't in thee doth live ; Wild upturned is reason's quality Vaiu beckoning Hamlet love to give. The sparks of fire lend thought no light, Madly toss'd by brain—sick rude desire, As reason's last flame turns darkest night. Avast! Mine eyes are blurred, my brain doth tire f [Exit Ophelia, deranged.} THE MERCURY. 91 AMERICA'S IMMIGRATION QUESTION. E. E. SNYDER, '09. al RUTHFULLY has it been said, that, "Westward the star of empire takes its way.'' Just as truthfully may we say, "Westward flows the tide of immigration." With a continually increasing swell, it casts its burden upon our shores in such great numbers that they almost threaten to engulf us. The number of immigrants is steadily and rap-idly increasing. From 1820 to 1850, the number was less, than 2 1-2 millions. The decade from 1890 to 1900 saw 5 1-4 millions coming into our country and more than five millions have come during the last six years, 1906 alone having fur-nished over one million. Thus they continue to come in ever-increasing numbers, filling our mines, slums and manufactur-ing establishments ; seeking homes, freedom and wealth ; and bringing with them ignorance, debauchery and crime, until the American may well say with anxious inquiry, what are we to do with them? Coincident with the westward course of the immigrant is the eastward movement of the center of emigration. From 1820 to i860 more than 50 per cent, of our immigrants came from the British Isles, while another 40 per cent, came from Scandinavia, Germany and France. The ma-jority of these people were near kin to the Americans. They compared favorably with them in general culture ; in eco-nomic efficiency and in moral and religious training. The process of assimilation was rapid and in a few years they be-came well qualified citizens of U. S. The great majority of the present immigrants are from Southeastern Europe, from Italy, Austria Hungary and South-ern Russia. Their native tongue is quite different from ours. Their economic efficiency is low and their moral and religious training is far below the American standard. Forty percent, of them are illiterate ; only two per cent are professional men whilst nine per cent represents the proportion of skilled labor-ers. This means that ninety per cent of this vast horde, pour ing into our social organism, represents a social poison of vile, uncultured and uncouth humanity. The gap between these people and the true American is great. They represent classes in culture and progress which are in glaring contrast to our 92 THE MERCURY. American spirit. Their modes of life are wholly unlike ours, and their aims and ideals are entirely different. Hence the process of assimilation is necessarily slow and difficult. These immigrants land in New York with an average of $16 per capita. They are unable to get far from port even if they should desire to do so, but very few desire it. Consequently they pour in large numbers into our great industrial centers ; into the states of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Con-necticut, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania. The percentage of foreigners in our country has increased less than one per cent, during the last half century, yet in the above named States, they comprise one-fourth of the entire population. In our own State today there are more than two million foreigners com-pared with one million in 1900. And of these two million, less than one per cent, are professional men and almost fifty per cent of them are illiterate. More than this, they settle in colonies or groups and thus certain portions of the country are completely controlled by them, while others have compar-atively few. They flood our mining districts in great num-bers. In many of our mining towns eighty per cent, of the population are foreigners. And their manner of life is so dif-ferent that few indeed are the Americans who care to remain in a colony of "Hunkies" or "Ikies." In their native homes they are clean and healthy. On board ship they acquire hab-its of filth and slovenliness. This mode of living clings to them, requiring many, many years of residence here before they become clean, respectable, desirable citizens. Why do they come, we ask, and the answer is varied and difficult. The prime cause is probably an economic one. Two-thirds of our immigrants come from farming communities. Their average wage is only about one-fourth what they can earn in our country ; their hours are longer and the work is more difficult. Again, as in the case of the Russian Jew, they come seeking freedom from the political oppression and unjust taxation of their own land. Some, especially the Austrians and Germans, come to escape the enforced military service de-manded by their respective governments. Many are ambitious and seek a country where life holds greater opportunities ; where labor is better rewarded ; and where caste and class are unknown. And a great number, especially the poor, the ig- THE MERCURY. 93 norant, and the weak are induced to come to this land of wealth and promise by the catching advertisements of the various steamship companies. Unfortunately the character of the immigrants, as a class, has a very dark side. As has already been stated, the ma-jority are low-born and illiterate. Wherever you find the im-migrant, especially the Slav, the Italian and the Lithunian, you find also saloons in great numbers ; in some instances one for every fifteen electors. Many of the immigrants spend al-most theii entire earnings for drink, reserving just what is necessary for a bare living. Beer and whiskey are to them what tea and coffee are to the American. Escaping from the restraints of the strict and rigid laws to which they were for-merly subjected, they, by continual use of intoxicants, sink into a condition that is akin to savagery. Again they are un-clean. Their houses are mere hovels. They are herded to-gether in great numbers, sometimes as many as twenty or thirty in one small shanty. They know nothing of sanitary conditions and the foul air and stench arising from such sur-roundings are sickening. A family will often have as many as fifteen boarders, and such homes are often, yea far too often, filled with scenes of drunkenness, profanity, and deeper vices. It is impossible for children born and reared amid such surroundings to take advantage of the opportunities for moral and physical development which America offers to every child. Thirty-five percent of the children die before they are five years old and decency and morality are impossible in such homes. But we would not describe the immigrant as entirely bad. He has, along with his numerous objectionable qualities, many commendable traits. With some exceptions he comes to us in the prime of life, having a strong healthy body, com-paratively free from disease. Physically, he is the peer, if not the superior of our average American. These people are sturdy, ambitious and brave. They willingly go into our mines, our furnaces, our subways and our ditches, regardless of the fact that daily they see one or more of their fellow-workers crushed, burned or mangled. True part of this may come from their ignorance and their stolid natural tempera-ment, but not all. They freely do the work that the respect- 94 THE MERCURY. able American will not touch and thus become a necessity in some departments of industry'. Then, too, it must be ob-served, that the immigrant as a class loves his home and family and seeks earnestly to provide and care for them. The)' send their children to school and ardently desire to see them educated that they may be able to start in life on a higher plane than their parents. The young especially study the customs and fashions of the Americans and seldom does it require more than the life of one generation to completely Americanize them. They will undergo hardships which the American could not endure. They will persevere, where we would be hopelessly discouraged. But all these traits com-mendable though they may be are overshadowed by the de-generating tendencies of the immigrant. Thus we haye portrayed the immigrant as facts and statis-tics have shown him. Crowding into our country they come in astounding numbers. They cluster together in"colonies for economy and company. They bear many noble and com-mendable traits, yet these are completely obscured by their many vices and faults. Their children fill our schools. Their men our streets, saloons and prisons. By their labor they have aided wonderfully in our industrial and commercial develop-ment. In the past, thousands of them have become good citi-zens. Thousands will doubtless become such in the future. Yet we have not and cannot answer the question, what must lie done with the immigrant ? Can we as a nation stand the strain ? Can our great industrial states assimilate them when they already form one-fourth of the population. Can we, a nation whose safety lies in the average integrity and intelli-gence of its citizens, continue to progress with the phenom-enal strides that have characterized our past, under such an incubus? Will we be able to maintain our pure and noble principles of government, founded on the freedom and equality of man, while Europe pours upon us, her ever increasing tor-rent of criminals and illiterates ? This is our question True, the wealth of the world is in our hands and her pro-ducts lie in profusion about our feet. Our hills and valleys teem with schools and colleges. Our country abounds in churches and Christian institutions. Our national spirit has fostered altruistic principles. On every side we find noble men and women, who are willing to sacrifice time and wealth, and even life, if necessary, to uplift their fellowman. All these have done and are doing a mighty work. But can even they assure us of the future. The question before us is ap-palling. National welfare, yes even national existence may depend on our answer. What shall it be? what will it be? T H E H[RCURY Entered at the Fostoffice nt Gettysburg as second-clans Mutter. VOL. XV GETTYSBURG, PA., MAY 1907 No. 3 Editor in-Chief EDMUND L. MANGES, '08 Exchange Editor ROBERT W. MICHAEL, '08 Business Manager HENRY M. BOWER, '08 Ass't Bus. Managers LESLIE L. TAYLOR, '09 CHARLES L. KOPP, '09 Assistant Editor MARKLEY G. ALBRIGHT, '08 Associate Editors PAUL E. BLOOMHARTM'09 E. E. SNYDER, '09 Advisory Hoard PROF. .1. A. HIMES, LITT.D PROP. G. D. STAHLEY, M.D. PROF. J. W. RICHARD, D.D. Published each month, from October to June inclusive, by the joint literary societies of Pennsnaylvia (Gettysburg') College. Subscription price, one dollar a year in advance ; single copies 15 cents. Notice to discontinue sending THE MERCURY to any address must be accompanied by all arrearages. Students, Professors and Alumni are cordially invited to contri-bute. All subscriptions and business matter should be addressed to the Business Manager. Articles for publication should be addressed to the Editor. Address THE MERCURY, GETTYSBURG, PA. EDITORIALS. WE wish to call particular at-tention to the coilege song in this issue of our publication. It is very often the case that by chance happenings we are forcibly reminded of some long felt need. This song comes to us as a very forcible reminder, not necessarily, of a need but of a branch of college activity in which we are sadly lacking. There are few colleges these days which do not have their book of college songs, yet we 96 THE MERCURY. must; say that we are one of the few. We more than hold our own among the colleges in other things, why not equal if not surpass in this too ? This fact does not prove that Gettysburg students lack col-lege spirit. To find the cause or the reason why we do not have such a book is a difficult task. We may attribute it partly to indifference. There is great wealth of talent among the various students, so why not become active and make this condition better. What few songs we have now, it is necessary to say, are of a high type and the only fault there is to be found is that they are not sung frequently enough. This latest song is an excellent one and we could in no other way show our kind appreciation of the author's effort than by singing it frequently. EXCHANGES. With our Exchanges this month came the advent of Spring, and it is evident in many of the Exchanges as the subject of this vernal season occupies quite a little space. "The Havefordian" as a whole is very good. The article entitled, "When the Colonel Lost" deserves special mention. It is well composed, and although the plot is simple, yet it is interesting. F ooling iu the study-room. L ate for classes. U nnecessary excuses. ~ N othing prepared. K now no lessons.—Ex. The MERCURY bids farewell to th^e retiring staff of the Al-bright Bulletin. Much credit is due the editors for the ad-vancement of the Bulletin. Character and Characteristics of Robert Burns as Reflected in his Poetry, advances its stand-ards still further. The Touchstone comes to our desk a welcome guest with its goodly number of fine articles. Uncle Hi's Wisdom is characteristic of "David Harum," with his coy ways and apt applications of homely principles. PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. Fl/fJNTTUFiE Mattresses, Bed Springs, Iron Beds, Picture Frames, Repair Work done promptly. Under-taking a specialty. - Telephone No. 97. IE3:_ ZB_ Bender, 37 Baltimore St., Getty*burg-9 Pa THE WINDSOR HOTFX 1217-2 FILBERT ST., PHILADELPHIA. HEADQUARTERS FOR STUDENTS THOROUGHLY RENOVATED, REFURNISHED, AND REMODELED. FKANK M XCHEIBLEY, Manas r. Graduate of Lafayette College 1898- D. A. Kuppo I. E. Enterline. THE "R k I" STORE 36 Baltimore Street, Next Citizens' Trust Company, GETTYSBURG, PA. SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON HELPS AND SUPPLIES, P. ANSTADT & SONS, Publishers, Book and Job Printina of all Kinds tortte for Prices. YOR K, PA, PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. Conklin's Self- 0011 Filling F Ol For busy people. No bother. Tills itself. Cleans itself. No dropper. Nothing to take apart. Nothing to spill. A dip in ink, a touch of thumb to nickel cres-cent and the pen is full, ready to write. All the best dealers everywhere— Stationers, Druggists, Jewelers—handle the Conklin Pen or can supply it if you in-sist upon having it. Costs no more than other fountain pens of best grade. 100 styles and sizes to select from shown in our catalog furnished free upon request. Any make or style of fountain pen repaired promptly. USE COIVKLHV PEN CO. 514-516-518 Jefferson Ave., Toledo, Ohio. Sole Manufacturers Conklin Self-Filling Fen PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS EMILZ0THECOLk^tEM3 ENGRAVER, DESIGNER, AND MANUFACTURING JEWELER 722 Chestnut St, Phila. SPECIALTIES : MASONIC MARKS, SOCIETY BADGES, COLLEGE BUTTONS, PINS, SCARF PINS, STICK PINS AND ATHLETIC PRIZES. All Goods •rdered through G. F. Kieffer, CHARLES S. MUMRER. IH. I hl.lt MJV FTTR1TXTT7RE, PICTURE FRAMES OF ALL SORTS REPAIR WORK DONE PROMPTLY I WILL ALSO BUY OR EXCHANGE ANY SECOND-HAND FURNITURE NO. 4 CKAMBERSBURG STREET, GETTYSBURG, PA. D. J. SWARTZ, DEALER IN COUNTRY PRODUCE, GROCERIES, CIGARS AND TOBACCO. GETTYSBURG. SHOES REPAIRED 115 Baltimore St., near Court House GOOD WORK GUARANTEED. -IS-J. I MUMPER Your Photographer ? If not, why not? 41 BALTIMORE ST , GETTYSBURG, PA. 8EFT0N I FLEMMING'S LIVERY, Baltimore Street, First Square, Gettysburg, Pa. Competent Guides tor all parts of the Batilefi.-ld. Arrange-ment* by telegram or !■ tter Lock Bex 257. PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. HENRY KALBFLE1SCH new line of all grades of CIGAKS, PIPESJOBACCOS, &C. Pool Parlors in Connection. Chambersburg St., Two doors above Eagle Hotel. GETTYSBURG . The Most Popular College Songs A "welcome gift in any borne. The Most Popular College Songs - - $ .50 50 New College Songs - .50 Songs of ALL the Colleges . . - 1.50 Songs of the WESTERN Colleges - . 1.25 Songs of the EASTERN Colleges - . 1.25 SCHOOL Songs with COLLEGE Flavor . .50 Songs of the Flag and Nation ,50 100 New Kindergarten Songs . 1.00 New Songs for College Glee Clubs . . .60 New Songs for Male Quartets . .50 Songs of the University of Pennsylvania - 1.50 Songs of the University of Michigan - - 1.25 Songs of Washington and Jefferson College - 1.25 Songs of Haverford College - 1.25 New Songs and Anthems for Church Quartets, (Eleven Numbers) each .10 to .30 HINDS, NOBLE & ELDREDGE, Publishers 31-33 35 West 1 5th St. New York City , COMPILER IMPRINT ON JOB WORK MEANS TASTY WORE CAREFULLY DONE. MENU CARDS, WINDOW POSTERS. DANCE CARDS LETTER HEADS, ENVELOPES, TICKETS, Programs of all kinds. Everything the College Man wants in Paper and Ink. Specially designed work. .Latest Effects in Paper, done in Colors along lines of College Men's Associations. Catalog and Book work. The Gettysburg Compiler will keep old and new students in touch with town and college life.