The Mercury - March 1905 ; Gettysburg College Mercury; College Mercury; Mercury
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J'ift. mi pL.»,i.u r»4 CHORUS.-L'-pMee-i-dee-i-da! etc. ff •' i»75 Her voice is clear as a soaring lark's. jjt-J !i! A""herv,it is like those trolley-car sparks! tT'l ilvi i e" '""ss * """1'ly street she flits, >1- '. ft TI The boys u.l have conniption fits I M*- f tyjl Tlic turn of licr head turns all ours. too. ». > Ti TT There s always a strife to sit in her pew- *$>',* ."•Wt J l!! """I.'1' "> make a parson drunk, ftVfy To hear her sing old co-ca-che-lunk I jbf tiUu The above, and three other NEW verses to U-PI-DEE . .' TTTT "I'.'' "P WORDS, catchy, up-to-date, to manv ftb> ill 1! ".j" "' the POP'-'ar OLD FAMILIAK TUNES; be- TT if «Mf s,d"OLD FAVORITES: and also many NEW SONGS. UUi SONGS OF ALL THK COLLEGES. TTtf WV. Copjithi. Price, lr.so. postpaid. imi. jjk'i Jjuj HINDS & NOBLE, Publishers, New York City, it? ft tf Schoalbooks of all publishers at one stare W' MPT THE MERCURY. 9 a day long to be remembered. But when they marched down the street, when they sat on the stage and listened to their own praises, the boy was not there. No one had seen him. He was missing. His mother, in spite of all attempts to shield her, had heard of his troubles and was broken-hearted. But that night, silently as a thief, the boy crept home. Then while his tormentors listened to farmer politicians shout and rage heroic, the boy laid his head on the shoulder of a mother broken-hearted no longer, knowing and caring nothing for his so-called disgrace. The boy, kneeling at his mother's knee, wept, and she, also weeping, knew only now that she had her boy again. Here we leave them. A GLIMPSE OF LIFE. '07. DEATH follows life in every path ; Rest follows toil, peace follows wrath ; Spring follows winter, day follows night; Joy follows sorrow, wrong turns to right. Song breaks the springtime, life floods the earth. Buds fill the forest, flowers spring to birth ; Hope now abideth, hate turns to love, Clouds flee from sunshine, radiant above. Take thou a lesson, take it and go, Scatter thy sunshine, check not its flow ; Shape then your doings, mould them aright, Build thou with vigor, build with thy might. . - IO THE MEKCURV. I HOW DO WOMEN IN GENERAL INFLUENCE POLITICS ? •07. WHEN woman's influence in politics is mentioned imme-diately there comes to our mind the thought of the work of a Harriet Beecher Stowe or of the mothers of the men preeminent in our political history. Certainly the influence of these women was (and we may say, is) far-reaching and bene-ficial. But the woman in general seems to feel that she has very little to do with politics. She concludes that since the right of suffrage is denied her, she is totally absolved from political re-sponsibility. There are two classes of women who deny that they have any appreciable influence with respect to the politics of our country—one of which clamors for the power of the bal-lot as a means of securing such influence, the other does not deign " to bother about politics" but complacently lays the re-sponsibility of our national welfare upon the shoulders of the men. And yet as surely as did the mother of a Washington, a Lincoln or a McKinley, cast a positive influence over the poli-tics of our country, so surely does every mother, whether that influence be beneficial or detrimental. Character is the founda-tion upon which our national welfare rests. We need have no apprehensions of any lack of brains for carrying on our govern-ment, but brains are just as effectual in tearing down as in building up a government. We need men at the ballot-box and in office who are courageous to do what they know to be for the best interests of our country, and such characters are formed largely through the influence of women. Yet, frankly, if we wish to attribute the honesty, couraget and other essentials of noble characters, to the influence and training of women, then we must also admit that they are per-haps responsible for some of the indifference, cowardice, sloth, and greed that are menacing our government. May not a mother who receives into her home those whom she knows to be unworthy or even immoral, merely because they are " so talented " or "come from such a fine old family " or are " so influential," be held in a measure responsible when THE MERCURY. I I her son fawns and cringes to political magnates," at one instant considering the " Boss" the epitome of all evil, and the next, worthy to fold his legs underneath his mahogany." Again, the woman who constantly excuses herself from her duties to church or society, on the ground that she will not be missed or that the organization will get along without her, would doubt-less be surprised at any suggestion that any blame accrued to iher when her sons neglect their privileges of citizenship, if the weather is bad or they are busy on election day or if their party is hopelessly in the minority, do not take the trouble to vote. But woman need not depend alone on this watchful and pains-taking upbuilding of a strong character for her political influence. She may directly teach her children the nature and grandeur of our government and their responsibility for sup-porting its best interests, in short instill in them true patri-otism. Futhermore she may, and very often does, teach them her own political views. Here also comes in the opportunity of the public school teachers, a majority of whom are women, for exercising influ-ence. They come in contact with the children before ignorant prejudices have entirely closed their minds to reason, and while their characters are being formed, so that if the opportunity is .seized no little influence may be theirs. Then too, the power of the pen and of the press is as freely granted to women as to men and the opportunity for influence thus afforded has been recognized and taken advantage of. Even the platform has not been denied them and the woman of hrains, eloquence and patriotism, need not feel herself seriously handicapped in her ambition for influence. Organizations too, exert a certain influence in politics. Il-lustrations of this may be had in the increased agitation of the slavery question by women's anti-slavery leagues, previous to the Civil War; and at present, by the material gain to the Pro-hibition party, resulting from the work of the W. C. T. U. And so, although so little power is granted them, certainly no woman need complain, or even take comfort in, her lack of political influence. For we hold that so great is their influence that we might well feel assured of the future welfare and pros-perity of our country, had we many such women as that Roman matron who was content to be known as "The Mother of the •Gracchi." 12 THE MERCURY. THE UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE. Ci T^fAN born of a woman is of few days and full of ■L JL trouble." Never was this better illustrated than today when life is so complex both in living and dying. Every day we read of some unfortunate hurled to his death by an agency strange and novel. But let us to our story and tell in a simple, straight-forward way how many and sudden are the forms of death. Several years ago in a town near Pittsburg four men lived together like brothers. All had seen life not as it is written in story books but the genuine unadulterated article as it is handed, out to men who toil. The four had seen their days of pros-perity, days of adversity, had been over this broad land from coast to coast and one at least had lived across the " Duck Pond" as they have so fittingly nick-named the Atlantic. Frank Valentine a man of probably thirty-five, slow of speech, quick in action, honest, hard-working and fearless, is the first we will mention. In his youth he had gone West, and there before the railroad had penetrated every hamlet, he had driven stage-coach over sixty of the roughest, steepest and most nerve-destroying miles in these United States. In summer the hot winds from the deserts swept across the plains scorching vege-tation like the hot breath of a furnace; in the winter he braved the blizzards which filled the gulches with snow until only the tallest pine trees showed their evergreen tops above the snowy waste. Many and stirring were the tales he told of privation and want, of men virile and strong. The hearer could see as he spoke the Rockies lifting their snow-crowned peaks thousands of feet in the air, could tremble as he looked into the abyss from the top of the stage coach, could feel the winds as they then swept the pines bearing a message of earth unfurrowed by plow, and forests virgin in their growth. The second of the roommates was Duncan, a Virginian, with his pleasant Southern speech drawling over his " r's," easy-going, gentle in thought and word. He had also wandered far from " Ole Virginy," and his eyes had gazed on much that is denied the stay-at-home. But far and away superior to these two both in age and experience, was the little old Englishman THE MERCURY. *3 Sammy Day. Born of parents who believed that all sport was) the invention of the devil, yet from boyhood up he' had evef. had an absorbing love of things athletic. Himself an athlete of no mean ability, a six day walker, one time champion of England, yet his great charm lay in the fact that for thirty-five years he had followed sport in all its forms. As a trainer of prizefighters, runners, boatpullers and cyclists, he had lived iotr thirty-five years knowing and known to all lovers of sport the country over. His reminiscences of the days when Heenam and Sayers pounded one another down to Fitzsimmons and* Jefferies, in San Francisco, would have filled a book and no small' book at that. Yet in spite of this strenuous life he was still at fifty five a hale and hearty man, ready and able to jump into a 9ix-day race and out-distance men young enough to be his children. The fourth member of the quartet was a boy of eighteen who had been a year in college and disappointed in that had started to see the world. Often of an evening would they sit the little old Englishman and the boy, and go over together the incidents of the Briton's strange career. Sometimes the story would be of England, land of roast beef and misplaced " h's," again of Milwaukee, perhaps of Frisco. But wherever it was there was a charm about the stories which has kept them green in memory and always will. Here on the banks of the muddy Ohio in that smoky, sweating town, they lived those four; not a square from their room ran the P. & L. E., the Little Giant of railroads, just beyond were the mills of iron and steel with their thundering rolls and ponderous hammers which knew not rest night or day, and the river a noisy thoroughfare with its coal barges and steamboats which made the night hideous with their " forty-wildcat-power " whistles Troubles they had none. Honest toil, however dangerous and unpleasant has no terrors; and they lived careless of what a morrow might bring forth. All were hourly in danger of their lives for their work was not the kind in which kid gloves were essential. Three of them never knew when they went in the morning whether they would return that night alive or dead. It was a time of unexampled prosperity and human life was J4 THE MERCURY. the cheapest commodity purchasable. Yet they drank light-hearted all except the boy whom they had nick-named "Johnny the Kid," and him they would not allow to touch, taste or handle. Now the besetting sin of " Sammy the Walker," was drink. Drink he would both to drown his sorrows and to in-crease his joys. While in this condition he fell down stairs one Hay and cut his arm so badly that he almost bled to death. A fjw days later while he lay in bed Duncan and the boy held a little converse with him which was as follows. " Ere's ow hit was" said Sammy. " Hi was going down the steps when they hups and its me hon the heye. The blooming bottles brake hand hi cuts me harm drefful." " Well Sammy" laughed Duncan, " you'll be up against it yet, you'll break your " bloom-ing" neck some day. "Yes" the boy said, "next pay day Duncan you buy a new black suit and I'll buy the flowers, and we'll lay old Sammy away to rest." "Aw me boy," said Sammy, "hi'll live to see ye both hunder ground." Sammy being fifty five and they being twenty eight and eighteen re-spectively, they laughed heartily at the old man's prophecy. But youth is not shielded from death any more than old age. For a few days after that they went about their work almost forgetting the joking prophecy. But one evening as the boy came in swinging his dinner pail he bucked right into Samrtiy at the side door of the hotel. " Ello Jack, ave you eard the news ?" he said " No ? Well Duncan is killed " he said, and the sadness in the old man's voice caused a choking sensation in the boy's throat. "Yes" Sammy said, and the tears welled up in his honest blue eyes, "E was struck by the 10.25 Flyer hand every bone in is body bruck, E just got hoff the freight to give them ha ighball when E was it." The news filled the boy with sorrow for only that morning he and Duncan had wrestled in bed to see which would get up first, and now Duncan lay in the morgue a mass of broken clay. His body was taken to his home in Virginia and never did these friends see his face again. But accidents such as this are common in the Pittsburg district and after a while he was almost forgotten. Nevertheless the boy remembered Sammy's prophecy, and was mighty careful around trains and the like after that. Today the old man is living, so is the boy and time alone will show whether the old man was right in his prediction. - II; ill: THE MERCURY. I 5 SHE was a Christian maiden fair, He was a lad of courage weak, And though he longed, he would not dare To kiss her rosy dimpled cheek. "What would you do," at last he cried, "If I should kiss you on the cheek ?" The flushing Nazarene replied "Like Him, I'd turn the other cheek." B. A. S. '06. MORE FORTUNATE ENDING TO ROMEO AND JULIET. STROHMEIER, '06. SCENE : Churchyard ; Tomb of the Capulets ; Juliet lying in an open bier. Enter Paris and a Page bearing a torch and flowers. PARIS—Give me thy torch and flowers; go and watch. If any man come hither, signal word. {Exit Page.) O fairest maiden of a fair found race, O Venus incarnated Juliet, Thou hope of Paris, pride of Capulet, Lift up the drawbridge of thy eyes and let Me look into their limpid, profound depths; Move thy sweet lips to their delightful office, And charm me with one long divine embrace. My love, my all, O hear me, Juliet; O vain and agonizing fancy, hold. Methinks I ne'er saw death so finely housed. Would I were death that I might live with thee ! Thou'rt made of more celestial clay than man, And death, love-smitten, can not injure thee. Faint roses struggle still upon thy cheeks And dewy freshness lingers with thy corse, Here will I strew these flowers o'er thy form, Intended to bedeck thy bridal bed, turn. I L. 16 THE MERCURY. That they may learn of thee what beauty is And by thy sweetness be alway preserved. {Page signals) A signal that. What interruption now ? Enter Romeo bearing a torch. By the Eternal! It is Romeo, That bloody leech, detested Montague! What makest thou here, thou loathed midnight ghoul? Art thou not satisfied with killing Tybalt ? With driving to her grave fair Juliet ? With striking anguish to a noble house? With stabbing to the heart Verona's peace ? But must thou from thy place of banishment Crawl like a serpent to this sepulchre To mutinous practice on these lifeless forms ? By Heaven ! 'tis too much. I'll have thy life. A churchyard. Ah, thou walk'st to thine own grave. Out upon thee. Montague, thy time has come ! {Draws his sword) ROM.—Peace be to Paris, and put up thy sword. What cause have 1 to free thy surging blood ? I love thee, though thou scorn'st my love, I love thee. Prithee, get thee hence; let me alone; Test not my full endurance. I am mad With desperation and am like to rend Both friend and foe, all who my way oppose. PARIS—Base coward; thou vile sneaking coward, thou ! Thy blade cries shame to thee— I'll hear no more. ROM.—Thy cloak is dearer to me than thy shroud; But since thou put'st a thorn into my flesh My nature strongly bids me pluck it out. {Druws his sword) Lay on. If fight thou wilt, then fight I must And no cessation till the one be dust! (Theyfight{ Juliet awakes. Enter servants to Paris and Romeo. Fighting still. JUL.—O dismal purgatory! Where am I ? What confused noise is this ? {Paris is wounded) i THE MERCURY. 17 Hold, Paris ; marry, what strange freak is this ? Is't judgment day that coffins spew their food ? Behold! see how the living dead arise, Art thou a spectre born of flesh and blood Or art thou what thou seemest, Juliet ? PAR.—Tis Juliet! 'tis she, my life, 'tis she ! Not dead! alive ! Run, boy, tell Capulet; If e'er thou ran, run now; be gone. Exit Servants to Romeo and Paris. JUL.—O, Romeo, thou'rt come and Paris, too, O frightful dreams of death and solitude, The narrow house, black night, vast boundless space. Methought that Paris too had died and sought My soul. Why, Romeo, why stand'st thou dumb ? PARIS.—Dear Juliet, say'st thou thou dreamt me dead ? O dire presage of this fatal night. O agonizing thought; my love returns Arid I must go! My wound, my wound. Tis not o'er wide nor deep, Yet through this mouth death drinks me up apace. 0 Juliet, my precious virtuous one, Permit my waning strength to succor thee. Ah, now thou stand'st in perfect loveliness. Would in the contemplation of thyself 1 could forget away grim Atropos! ROM.—Art thou real Juliet ? Give me thy hand, 'Tis warm and has the touch of Juliet! By heaven, doubting Thomas now believes ! Thy death was but a sleep, and God has tried The deep and concentrate devotion of My love. This dark, damp vault as vile as blackest hell Is now become a paradise to me. Foul smelling vial, spill thyself on earth. My Juliet lives, she lives, she lives ! JUL—O Romeo, that was my all in all, O Paris whom I pledged to substitute, _>-". I 18 THE MERCURY. How can I speak! My mind is but a blank Whereon my future must be writ in blood. 0 Paris, marvel not that Romeo, Should seem so kindly dispositioned toward My welfare. I will tell for thou shalt know; My husband stands before thee, Paris, he And I vowed mutual life devotion ere That fiery Tybalt fell in deadly fray Slain by 'th unwilling hand of Romeo. And this my death was but a drugged sleep To 'scape—O Paris thou art pale as death, 1 cannot tell thee more— PAR.— Enough ! enough ! My reeling brain will bear no more. O death Come quick and end this agony that tears My body and my grieved soul apart Stitch by stitch. (Sinks to the earth) ROM.—O joyous woe, O happy cursed night! Man's freedom is fast bound to fate like kite To boy ; and when th' ecstatic breath of joy Lifts him to soar the azure sky above, Some monstrous woe of fate pulls on the string. Fair Juliet renewed—there is my joy ; Another murder charged to Romeo— There is my grief. JUL.—But, Romeo, remember that the kite Sails only by the strong resisting hand Of him who governs it. And this our life, Were woe unknown, could never feel true joy. ROM.—Thou say'st well. I still hope there be good. But come ; let's hence away. If I am found Within Verona's limits I am nought. Come quick, I hear a noise ! Enter the Prince, Capulet, Lady C, Mantague, Lady 21. and Servants. LADY C.—That cheats the grave. O Juliet my dear where, where is she. My precious daughter, never knew I how --»-»ptf— --■ t -»- THE MERCURY. 19 *> I loved thee till thou failed my presence late. My child, my child, my precious child ! (Embraces Juliet.) CAP.—By Heaven ! Tis a fact. We'll take her straight To church. Where's Paris? Zounds ! upon the floor All bathed in blood ! By God, here's Romeo! That damned Montague. Hi! close the door, We'll keep this rat awhile. PRINCE.—Have peace, good Capulet. Compose yourself. Content thy feelings with rejoicing o'er Thy daughter, Juliet. Let's probe this strange and mystic scene. Who's there? (Enter Friar Lawrence with iron rod.) How now, good friar, wherefore art thou come So oddly armed to this unusual place ? FRIAR.—Good prince, my lord, let me defer reply To a more fitting place. I heard you speak Of probing this mysterious affair. Grant you me hearing and I'll dissipate The mist. This Romeo and Juliet are man and wife And wife— CAP. What sayest thou ? PRINCE. Peace, Capulet. FRIAR L.—Joined in my cell by me in marriage bond The very day that Tybalt met his doom. Then Romeo to banishment was sent, And Juliet pressed hard to marry Paris In sore distress to me came for advice. The matter was indeed most delicate And called for subtle treatment. Wherefore I Proposed a sly concoct of artful drugs' The taking which o'erpowers the drinker eight And forty hours, in which time she must Perforce of custom to the vault be borne. Meantime the news to Romeo I would send Jp- . 20 THE MERCURY. And he by night should come and take her hence Upon the hour of her awaking time. The maiden liked the plan and so 'twas done. But I failed in my word to Romeo And of myself came to unprison her. How Romeo and Paris happen here I know not. This is the truth of Romeo's fair wife And I will answer for it with my life. PRINCE.—Thou hast a name for truthfulness, good friar; Thy story seems a likely one and needs But only be confirmed. y ' I He speaks the truth. Paris.—(faintly) My kinsman, and my friends, give ear to me, Hear what a dying man has to request. First to the prince: my lord, bear no ill will To Romeo that he has here slain me, 'Twas in defence 'gainst my attack he drew His sword. And pardon him ofTybalt's death. I have whereof I know his cause was just. Would'st thou please me, restore good Romeo. O Capulet, O Montague, heads of Two feudal houses, let my last dull sight Behold how enemies can full forgive ; Entomb your grievances where Juliet Has left a casket unemployed. O Romeo and Juliet, my breath, Hard gasping, scarce will drag out slow my words. You have my benediction—fare you well! Friends all, good friends, do not my plea reject. Forgive, forget, love, cherish, and protect. ROM.—Beseech you, father, bury this vile hate. JUL.—For my sake, father, do what Paris bids. MON.—What say you, Capulet? CAP. Good, Montague! They clasp hands. The ladies embrace. Romeo embraces Juliet. 1 '* 1 W*Jf-< ■ - , -. - - THE MERCURY. PAR.—Now heaven take my soul; farewell, farewell! PRINCE.—Our blessing on you tor this deed of good. Like poisoned arrows in our heart have been The feuds of Montague and Capulet. And in the whirling vortex of your wrath That spread to fair Verona's utmost part, Two of our kinsmen perished ere their time. But if that now your peace be well performed The death of Paris is a blessing to our soul. This solemn charge I utter, then adieu : Let Romeo to Juliet be true And likewise Capulet to Montague. 21 (Dies.) WHEN ADAM AND EVE WERE KING AND QUEEN. B. A. S. '06. The Lord made Adam in a day, He did the best he could, And when he hung him up to dr3' He looked and said "'tis good." But Adam was a lonely chap, He pined all day at best, And even when he took a nap He found but little rest. Dame Eve to cheer him up was sent, His helpmate fair and tall, But then where'er poor Adam went He found no rest at all. JL 22 THE MERCURY. DEMOCRACY CAN EXIST WITH SOCIAL DIS-TINCTIONS. H. M. W., '06. IT is rather difficult to determine just what we mean by democracy, which is a term used to denote very many things, or rather very many degrees of the same thing. There are almost as many ideas of what really constitutes democracy as there are people in this grand product of it. We have it defined as "political and social equality in general;" as "a state of society in which no hereditary differences of rank or privilege are recognized." As to the latter part of the defi-nition there is no trouble in verifying it from our own experi-ence or observations. It is the law of our land and virtually rings true. The first part of the definition seems to be more concerned with the spirit of democracy than with the state or condition itself, as is the latter part, but even it slips over the vital point by adding " in general." The " political equality" we pride ourselves as a nation upon having, but the "social equality" is another question—in it we have the spirit of de-mocracy, and that is really the point at issue, for that this nation, the greatest example of democracy, is democratic in every letter of the law, and also that social equality does not really exist in the land, are two indisputable facts. Therefore, shall we conclude that the spirit of democracy cannot exist along with social distinctions simply because of the seeming contradiction in terms, especially when in this su-premely democratic nation two such apparently antagonistic conditions are calmly flourishing side by side ? Yes, this nation is supremely democratic in every letter of the law, but how about the spirit of the law ? Can such a thing exist, or is there such a thing as democracy, pure and simple? And are social distinctions in the way of an ideal state of democracy ? Is there such a thing as democracy—real democracy ? In answer, we may bring up all the so-called democracies of our day and those of the past as illustrations. They all have, or had, broad democratic principles as the bases of their constitu-tions— their foundation, equality in all things. For the posses- "MW" ~*WT- ■'»'/ ^*m •i WtiH1#*M THE MERCURY. 23 sion of which privilege and blessing, men sacrificed their all— home, dear ones, life. But in the very beginning of things there were social distinctions. No movement can progress without a leader. Leaders are men in some degree superiors of those they lead. They are made leaders because men recog-nize their superiority, which their elevation does not dim, but accentuates. It is in the very nature of things—they are made of finer clay than some other men—and " porcelain remains porcelain, and earthen, earthen" whether in democratic or aristocratic surrounding. Environment and heredity are always at work, and while they work, social distinctions must follow as an inevitable re-sult. Would men pay with their life blood for a thing which does not really exist, a mere idle sound, an empty symbol for equality ? What would citizenship mean in our nation today, if it were not for the democratic spirit and life at the very foun-dation ? The inward harmony, the result of real brotherly love, and the outward strength and glory, must have their root in the true democratic spirit at work in the heart, in spite of the superficial, social distinctions which nature herself has drawn. 24 THE MERCURY. MISTAKEN IDENTITY. •06. I. THERE was a small boy named Jeremy Brown, And he had a sister called Sue ; There was a young man named Levery Crown, The sister he came to woo. II. A brave little boy was Jeremy Brown, With burglars he wanted to fight,' So he bought a strong bow and sharp arrows in town, And slept with them every night. III. Young Jeremy's room was on the third floor, Right under was sister Sue's ; One night this brave lad had just started to snore, When a noise woke him up from his snooze. IV. He leaped from his bed, to the window he ran, With his bow and his arrows keen, Approaching the house he beheld a big man, And he wondered what it could mean. V. Something like a big squash the man held in his arm, With a stick stuck into the end, " With dynamite filled," thought the boy with alarm, " To blow up our house he intends!" VI. He fitted an arrow and drew back the bow, Then followed a twang and a whirr, " Ow ! Ow !" yelled the man who was coming below, For he thought he was jagged by a burr. VII. Faster and faster the arrows they flew, One cheek, then another was struck, And madder and madder the poor victim grew As he cursed his abominable luck. THE MERCURY. 25 VIII. He threw down his burden and started to run, Repulsed by his youthful foe ; When safely away he plucked one by one Thejarrows which pained him so. IX. When morning had come and the family had gazed On an object which they had found, This brave little lad was greatly amazed, For a guitar lay smashed on the ground. X. When Levery Crown came to call the next night, A plaster adorned each cheek, But Jeremy Brown did'nt think it quite right When Sue called him a " mean little sneak." ■ ODE TO THH PONY. Friend of our fathers, known of old, Steed of student of every clime, We fain would have thy praises told, Thy foot prints left in sands of tirne. Friend of our fathers, bear us yet, Lest we forget, lest we forget. The college halls grow gray with age, The president and profs depart; Few still live on, save thou and Page— Thou idol of the Freshman's heart, Pride of our course, trot with us yet, Lest we forget, lest we forget. The cribber bold that puts his trust In printed cuff, or pony's word— No tough exam by him is cussed, No vain regret fjom him is heard ; And ages still to come, you bet, Will ride on thee, lest we forget. —Knox College Annual.—" The Gali." THE lyrERcuRY Entered at the Postoffice at Gettysburg as second-class Matter VOL. XIII GETTYSBURG, PA., MARCH, 1905 No. 1 Editor-in-ch ief HARRIET A. MCGILL, '06 Exchange Editor MARY B. MCGILL, '06 Business Manager H. B. GALBRAITH, '07 Asst. Business Manager THOMAS FAUST, '07 E. VICTOR ROLAND, '07 Associate Editors H. F. SMITH, '07 CLIFFORD HARTMAN, '07 FRANK MOSER, '07 Advisory Board PROF. J. A. HIMES, LITT.D. PROF. 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 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 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. ALL HAIL. EDITORIALS. The messenger of the gods enters once more upon the race course of another year. We of a new staff greet for the first time those who will be favored by his visits during the coming months. It has been said that no man can serve two masters, but we have great faith in the ex-ceeding cleverness of the messenger. Through him we hope to please two classes of our patrons; those who desire an in-tellectual journal in which the essay is more or less prominent and others who are crying out for something " in lighter vein." That our task will be difficult cannot be denied. Pardon our inexperience it is against us, but we are going to do our best, profiting by the example of the out-going staff, to whom we offer most hearty congratulations. /- THE MEKCURV. 27 THE PEN AND SWORD. It has been suggested that the " Pen and Sword " prize be given in a dif-ferent way. The competitors handing in to the MERCURY as many contributions during the year as they desire, each man of course retaining the same nom de plume for every produc-tion, and the prize at the end of the year being awarded to him who has done the most satisfactory work altogether. This method would give the competitors as many chances for the prize as they desired and would also be a great help to the MERCURY. It seems worthy of consideration. The articles handed in under these circumstances would be varied, short :stories and poetry being especially welcome, while the only condition laid upon the contributors would be that of original work for the MERCURY. We desire to publish no productions which have been read before a class or the public; twice told tales are rarely interesting. Upon the night of installation the editor had a strange dream which when told in all kind-ness may interest the future friends of the MERCURY. In col-leges as in the best regulated of families we know that accidents sometimes occur, and of course it is but an accident that ours is sometimes used as a shelter for certain kinds of quadrupeds. Unlike all their predecessors however, were those which in a ghostly herd loomed before the eyes of the terrified editor. They were grey in color with eyes of burning fire, and for lack of a better name can be called " Night Mares." Upon these animals rode the editors of our MERCURY'S past, headed by the recent editor who led a riderless horse. The editors seemed to be in a pretty bad condition, their garments were torn and they were bruised from the missiles which an expectant crowd in the distance had only ceased to hurl dur-ing the time when a new editor should mount the waiting steed. On close examination these missiles were found to be produc-tions which the editors of the MERCURY had been forced for various good reasons to reject or re-write, and in dread antici-pation the editor-in-chief awoke. A story with a moral is generally tiresome, how much more 50 must be a dream, yet for protection from a like fate we of 28 THE MERCURY,. the staff want to begin the new year with a statement and s request. We are your friends, contributors; we are also your servants and desire to please you. If the productions which you yield us could be better, could do you more justice, will you not be willing to try again ? Do not be hard on us, for the steed is not easy to mount and the missiles hurt. EXCHANGES. We are glad to see so many exchanges on our table this-month, and have read them all with pleasure. Keep up the good work. We will always welcome you. In this month's issue, the Durry " Mirror" has an attractive cut in red and white. The " Buff and White " publishes an excellent story, " Fay's Crystal," also a good essay on " Sailor life, as it is." The reading matter of the " Juniata Echo " is good but is-not the exchange editor a trifle too critical ? The girls' number of the " Bucknell Mirror " is well gotten up. The poems are especially good. The " Yale Scientific Monthly " has an instructive article on " Modern Railway Signal Practice." We are always glad to-see the " Scientific American " on our table and read " The queerest of animals" with great interest. The "Touchstone" is good. The underclass men seem to be doing the work in this paper. " The Red and Blue " contains some excellent stories and' essays, as do the " Argus " and " Lesbian Herald." We acknowledge with pleasure the receipt of the following papers—" The State Collegian," " The Manitou Messenger,"' "The Dickinsonian," " Grove City Collegian," " The Ursinus- Weekly," "The Student," "The Midland," "The Vialonian " and " The Purple and White." I'ATKONIZE OUK Ain'KKTlSEKS. FURNITURE '.vlaUresses, Bed Springs, Iron Beds, Picture Frames. Repair Work done promptly. Under-taking a specialty. * Telephone No. 97. IS. IB. Bender 37 B tltlmore St., Gettysburg, Pa. THE STEWART & STEEN CO, Jollege Engravers and (Printers 1024 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa, MAKERS AND PUBLISHERS OF Commencement, Class Day Invitations and Programs, Class Pins and Buttons in Gold and Other Metals, Wedding Invitations and Announcements, At Home Cards, Reception Cards and Visiting Cards, Visiting Cards—Plate and 50 cards, 75 cents. Special Discount to Students. A Complete Encyclopedia of Amateur Sport Spalding's Official Athletic Almanac FOR 1905. EDITED BY J. E. SULLIVAN (Chief of Department of Physical Culture. Louisiana Purchase Exposition). Should be read by every college student, as it contains the records of all college athletics and all amateur events in this country and abroad. It also contains a complete review of Olympic Games for the official report of Director Sullivan and a resume of the two days devoted to sports in which savages were the only contestants, in which it is proved conclusively that' savages are not the natural born athletics we have heretofore supposed them to be. This is the first time in which the athletic performances of savages have ever been systematically recorded. This is the largest Athletic Almanac ever published, containing 320 pages. Numerous illustrations of prominent athletes and track teams. Price 10 Cents. For sale by all newsdealers and A. G. SPALDING