xt7sxk84nj8k_138 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7sxk84nj8k/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7sxk84nj8k/data/L2021ua019.dao.xml Kentucky University 18.26 Cubic Feet 32 document boxes, 5 flat boxes, 21 bound volumes archival material L2021ua019 English University of Kentucky Property rights reside with Transylvania University.  The University of Kentucky holds the copyright for materials created in the course of business by University of Kentucky employees. Copyright for all other materials has not been assigned to the University of Kentucky.  For information about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Special Collections Research Center.  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Transylvania University Library. Record Group 5:  Collection on Kentucky University The Collegian, volume 1, number 11 text The Collegian, volume 1, number 11 2024 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7sxk84nj8k/data/L2021ua019/Box_5_26/Folder_12/Multipage5812.pdf 1873 April 1873 1873 April section false xt7sxk84nj8k_138 xt7sxk84nj8k  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

 

Published bv the Literary Societies of Kenfuckv Universit

 

EDI/W00

6’. Z’. Efififlfi Eda'z’or~z7z_- Clzzflej

J. E .MYEfiS, f6? checm Socz'eiy, ~

M J. 19167263 0290/16 6/27 2.9207720421266572 Socz'ezfy,

J. 2. 3.712190% jolzflotlzeafl Socz'eiy,

\

JA 0. 7f". flflflzfi’l’; Um’on Zz'termy Socz'egy,

WM M16415, Cecropz‘an Society.

 

TERMS:

- $1.50
1.00

Single Copy, one year, in Romance, -
Single Copy, six months, in advance, -

To the getter-up of a. Club of ten, one copy gratis.
Single copies. - - - - - . ~ ~ 15 cents.

 

 

VOL. 1.

-___.._.__.——

APRIL. .2873. '

‘— 1'

N0. 11.

 

 

- mauve-Mrs:

A LOST OPPORTUNITY .................................... 1'61
REPUBLICANISM ......... , ...................... . .............. 161
IMMORTALITY. ——II. M. J. Ferguson .................... . ..... 163
THE PRIZE SYSTEM. -_.J. H. Myers ........................ I. 164.
1‘ HERO WORSHIP—Jhm Miau ......... 166
"DEATH OF SAMUEL R. FLOWER ......................... 167
TO THE ALUMNI .............................. , ................ 168
TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY.——0. B. Edgar ............ 168

Lexington, _

 

THE OLD BACHELOR—J. H. Myers ., ....................... m
LETTER FROM BETHANY COLLEGE ..................... 171

OER BOYS...._ ................. ....... j .............. 173

UNIVERSITY NEWS ........ ....... L .......... ’ ........ 173

AMONG THE COLLEGES ........ . ...... _ ..... ' 175
AMONG OUR EXCHANGES ............................ ' ..... 1 75
MISCELLANEOUS ................................ I ............. 1713

Kentucky.

 

  

 

l. P. STRAUSS. JO. STRAUSS. M. KAUFMAN.

(r. r. STRAUSS .v BRO.)

"ONE PRICE”
Clothing House.

53 MAIN STREET,

LEXINGTON; KY.

Always the Largest Stock,
the finest Goods, the latest

Styles and Lowest Prices 0

in Kentucky. Wholesale

and Retail.
bLO'I'HxN—E;
' .. Gentsi Fur:::hing GOOdSl

e. s. RANDALL & co.
M I'Siiccessorsto J.‘W.Berk1‘ey &> ,. ,. .

 

Who want clothes made to fit, and in the best

 

tion, the gift of the charming and remarkable oil— .

STUDENTS---REMEMB ER
—THAT——

YGUNG’S GALLERY

Is the place to have your pictures made,

as he will make you better work for less

money than any other artist.
Reductions made on clubs of 12 or more.

 

All kinds of gentlemen’s boots and shoes
made to order, in the most fashionable
styles, at low prices, by

JAMES GEORGE,
No. 12. South Upper Street.

mg“ Repairing neatly executed.

 

GO TO
G. M. ADAMS 8a 00.,
15 East .Mwin Street,

—'-FOR--

CHEAP FOR CASH.

Shirts & all Kinds of Furnishing (touts

 

J. W. Whitney & (.30.,

Druggists 8L Apothecaries,

. Corner Main and Mill Streets,
LEXINGTON, -

Invite the attention of the public to their
"stock of ' Drugs, Medicines, Toilet Articles
and Druggist’s Sundries. Brushes

. , .of all, kinds.

Inks; Pens and Paper,
Cigars and Tobacco,
Best Coal Oil, .
Lamp and Lamp F" .tures,

Combs,
Baskets,
Perfumes,
Soaps,

And everything usually kept in a. first-class ‘

Drug Store.
R. EAGLE,

Tailor and. Renovater,
N0. 55 Short Street,

 

IKENTUCKY,\ ‘

W I would be pleased to have the ,_

boys call at any time.

Tinware and Stores !

A large stock always on hand for the

 

I Stuents--Very Cheap... 1

L. P. MILWARD,
No. 3 West Main Street, next door to Wilgguséocir

Co,’s Bank.

 

  

 

 

 

l3 COLLEGIAN

OF KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Educate your children and your Country 2's safe.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vol. 7. lexz'uyiou, ’10., 3419727, 7873. W0. 7/.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sh: . rm“... .f,. .c. ‘

_,.a-..._‘\.....V

a.“ >M.___._ A I ‘ .2 l
t

.751 [082' OffWflfUfl/‘IZ 2".

“We need poetry. We must have poetry. We
need a poetess (five, of course). Will not our
young lady friends come to the rescue and thus
relieve’the suspense under which we labor?”——00l-
legicm of June, ’72.

Alas! alas! why should it fall

Into my hands so late—

This rare Collegian of June,

Which might have changed my fate?

The wish its Editors expressed
L For poetesses five,
I might, for one, have hearkened to
And told them I would strive ,

To brew them nectarous ale to drink,
Sweet as they could desire,

And feed them with Ambrosial bread,
Baked by Promethean fire!

That I my thimble-finger, fair,
With darkest ink would stain;_
Let my brown eyes in “frenzy” roll,

And never once complain;

That I would cast my slippers off
And withlmy dainty feet

Attempt, for them,'Olympian hights
Where all the muses meet:

E’en tho’, in doing so, I should
“A stocking F‘blue” disclose,-

At sight of which, no doubt, would turn
Up some poor prudish nose!

' That I would dip my poet pen
In fancy’s sparkling stream,
And make the prosiest things appear
Enchanting as a dream—4

That I would say poetic things
Just in poetic time,

And make them each feel proud of me,
My reason and my rhyme!

Yes, this, and more, I might have said,
All in my sweetest way,

This June Collegian had I found
Upon the proper day. .

And who can tell, if this had been,
What from it might have risen?

Or doubt that these five Editors
Would have wished me * ...-

‘7

 

And knelt, enraptured, at the shrine
Of my poetic grace,

The while my “frenzy rolling” eyes
I hid in dainty lace; '

And coyly turned my ear away
From their impassioned strains,
Tho’ secretly rejoicing much
O’er five enamored swains;

Each one of whom had much to say
Of his “society”—

Pleading its honors and its hopes,
With proud propriety;

Imploring my most gracious aid
In winning for it fame,

And tenderly entreating me
To share his and its name!

Yes, this, and more, might thus have been,
. In leafy, joyous June, ,
When all the birds sweet singers were,
And my own harp in tune!

But now, alas! I am a lass,
’ Whose doomis sealed by fate;
. Else had not this “Collegian”
Have come to me too late!
SUSIE.
We hope our fair poetess will reconsider the matter.
it is not yet too late. We still need her services, and
if she will ascend the hights for us, we will promise not
to turn up our nose at sight of the blue. The editors
are still single men and, so far as we know, not one of
them is engaged. EDITORS.

Z’ETUfi’LlCflfl/‘ISflf.

 

.751 mega/a (26267614662 by Z’eauc/‘z {imp Claw/t”,

of [feniuc/qy, 072 2/56 mmzremmy/ of

Was/zz'uyion’s firm-(25g, (12‘ fleZ/zmzy
College.

 

The experience of centuries, as well as an analy-
sis of the human constitution, fully attests the
fact that man’s inclinations and wants, both phy—
sical and psychical, irresistibly impel him to as-
sociate with his kind; for in no age or country has
he ever been fountl in any state other than the
social. But, while this is undoubtedly true, man
is at the same time highly selfish; in fact selfish-
ness, somewhat modified by education, is the over-
ruling principle ot‘ his nature. This trait, per-

 

 

 

 

 

  

I62

vading as it does, the whole animal kingdom, is
essential and indispensable; for upon it rests the
great law of self-preservation. , .

This supreme selfishness inevitably leads to
endless conflict between individuals, and unless
prevented by some controlling power produces a
state of universrl discord and confusion, destruct-
ive of the social state and the ends for which it
was ordained. This controlling power, wherever
vested or by whomsoever exercised,is Government.
Man’s entire history proves conclusively that gov-
ernment of some kind is absolutely necessary to
the preservation, improvement, and perpetuation
of the human race; still there is great diversity of
opinion as to the particular form which bestows
the greatest good upon the greatest number.

There are now two distinct and popular theories
engaging the mind of the political world: The one
in favor of Centralization; the other in favor of
Republicanism, or Representative Democracy.

No man can conceixe of any government’s con-
ferring greater happiness upon its members than
by securing to them perfect liberty and safety.
Liberty leaves man free to pursue the course he
may deem best to promote hisown interests so
far as may be compatible with the primary object
for which government was established, the pro—
tection of .individuals, while safety gives assur-
ance to each that he shall not be deprived'of the
fruits of his exertions to improve his condition.

In what do these two great political blessings
consist? Liberty is the freedom of any people
from any interference with their natural and in-
alienable rights. Safety is. power; power sufficient
to repell all foreign invasions, and to quell all do-
mesticinsurrections. This, and this only is na-
tional safety. .

It is now considered axiomatic, other things
being equal, that that government will be the most-
powerful which has the greatest unity in its exec-
utive. The lack of this unity is, indeed, the prin-
cipal objection urged against republics; but the
argument has no foundation in truth. Despot—
isms, such as Turkey or Russia, may, perhaps,
possess more power; but the concomitant of such
absolute power is mere absolute slavery. Power
sufficient to accomplish the nation’s weal is all
that is wisely entrusted to rulers. Any surrender
ofthe people’s liberty beyond this is absurd, im-
provident, and unwise. Woe betide.the corn-
monality when every whim and caprice of the
sovereign becomes inexorable law.

Although governmentis intended to protect and
preserve society, it tends incessantly to an abuse
of its powers, since these must be executed by
men, men in Whom the selfish and individual feels
ings predominate. It is but natural that these
rulers should seek personal aggrandizement, there-
by subverting the sacred principles which they
should maintain. It must be apparent that the
only meansot‘ restraining the authority of rulers
within due bounds, is by making them directly
responsible to the people for their every public
act, and by making them dependent upon the
people for their tenure of office. Let these be the

THE COLLEGE/1.7V

 

flpril, 187a

relations existing between the rulers and the

ruled, and there will be little or no oppression. 4

But let these restraints be removed, and the peo‘
ple may bid farewell to hope and liberty forever.
Thus potent is the right of suffrage, which, when
exercised by a civilized nation, enables the "masses

to preserve their freedom against all the intrigues

and chicaney of ambition. .

The advocates of monarchy have considerable
vantage ground in the present generation; :for
within the last few years we have seen our coun-
try distracted by civil discord, and o‘er Republi—
can Institutions woefully abused and" fearfully
corrupted by our own countrymen. But donot

abuse and corruption pervade every form of . gov-_

ernment? With all her faults, and they are legion,
the American Republic is today the happiest
country that the sun visits in his daily course.
Here office does not place a. man forever above
the resentiment and indignation of his country-
men. ~IIere the chief magistrate is as accessible to
reproaches of the multitude as the most insignifi—
cant laborer that plods the fields, Here the
splendor of no royal insignia and equipages causes
the people to shudder at the mention of their
ruler’s name. Here no dark plumes and glitter-
ing coronets of a titled nobility enslave the great
body of the people. No _ hereditary? Lords
and Dukes and ' Earls bid the yeomanry
crouch and cower beneath a tyrant's rod. No;
thanks to the founders of this Republic and-
thanks to the Providence that'guided them, they
preserved us, their posterity, free frOm the curse
of a titled, hereditary nobility—left us no nobility
save the nobllity of labor, the nobility of virtue,
and the nobility of the human mind. _

Can the enemy of Republicanism explain to us
the blessings of an hereditary nobility? Can they
unfold to us the superiority of a monarchy? How
can they secure to a kingdom a succession of
wise and patriotic Kings? Itvis simply imposibl‘e.
The oldest son must Succeed the father. Have we
any assurance that the scions of royalty are neces
sarily superior and distinguished men? “No; the
record of all the past teaches us that the descend-
ants cf great men are generallyineapable of ruling
powerful and enlightened nations. How many
hundreds of idiolic princes have disgraced the
world and oppressed their subjects by their
shameful follies? An imbecile, a debauchee, era
libertine is more likely to succeed to the throne of
an Empire than the wisest. and most virtuous man
on earth. Is this right? Is itphilanthropic? Is
it politic? In short, why shoulda man be con«
sidered. great because his father was? Is this in]
harmony with national greatness, national pro:
gress, and national glory? No; the voice of ex
perience condemns it as an absurdity. Myriads
of American freemen have rejected it as a usur-
pation of the rights of men: and the spirit of the
age repudiates it as the last lingering trace of the
blighting superstition of ,the Dark Ages. The
only way in which a nation can secure wise and
virtuous rulers is to elect them at the ballot box.
In vindication of this practice I . present the long

 

 

\
\ -,_7.—r~>. 2‘. An; A-

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

, April, 1873.

’ European continent.

.mountains, and the rivers!

‘list of American Presidents from Washington to
Lincoln, men illustrious in their lives, lamented
in their deaths, immortal in their deeds! Finally
I hold that Republics only are compatible with
the principles of true Christianity. Monarchies
are diametrically opposed to every element of the
Christian religion. Does not freedom of thought,
speech, and action lie at the foundation of all lib-
ertyjcivil and religious? Yet every monarchy in
existence has its established church, or national
religion. In many the established church is sup-
ported by standing armies; in these all dissenters
are unceremoniously put to the sword or burned
at the stake. In all other monarchies the national
religion is maintained by crushing, grinding, an-
nihilating taxation? Peasants suffering for bread,
are taxed to support a mode of "worship which
they believe to be an insult in the sight of high
Heaven! No escape presents itself. If they re-
sist, ruin inevitably awaits them. ‘ There is no
bright spot of religious freedom in the whole
There no enchanting fields
of free thought and free speech illume the dark
domaines of the State Religion! In the, Old
World, the Union of Church and State hovering
like a. damning spirit over its haunted victim,
everywhere spreads the [black wing of its desola-
tion! The American Republic shines forth as the
only bright star ot hope in the political Heavens.
The brillianCy of its glory is fast eclipsing the
proudest monarchies of Europe. Here every man
has the right to worship God according to the
dictates of his own conscience. Here the super-
stitious Chinaman may bow at the shrine of idola-
try! Here, the untutored savage may worship the
Great Spirit as he sees Him in the forests,‘ the
Here the wisest men
of earth, of every doctrine and of every creed, may
do homage to the God of Revelation. Never can
American peOple sufficiently thank our fore-fa-
thers for bequeathing to us the spirit of religion,
untrammeled by national legislation. Never can
we cease to regard this wise foresight as direct
inspiration from on high. Never can the world
forget that this is the favored land of God!

Yes, a Republican Government does advance the
happiness of’a people; Common sense teaches it,
wisdom inspires the thought; and the transcend-
ent splendor of the Republics of other days, cor-
roborates the facts. Standing upon the ruins, of the
once powerful Republics of antiquity, surrounded
by their shadowy ghosts, and breathing the spirit
of their patriotism, I would confidently assert
that a Republican Government promotes the hap~
piness of the, masses. With the knell of the
European Republics, of modern times still ringing
in our ears, telling to us their lamentable fate, I
would still, repeat to the enlightned nations of the
present day that Representative Democracies are
the great bulwarks of the people’s liberty and hap-
piness. Even if our 'own glorious Republic should
every die——yet, standing mid her broken shrines
and moldering temples, weeping o’er her shattered
glory and untimely fate, I would still proclaim
to all coming generations that Republican Insti-

 

OF KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY. 763’

tutions constitute the only permanent foundation
for a free, prosperous, and happy people!

[.MMOflZflZIZ'T. ~11.

The belief in immortality is the basis of all
morality, and the source of all the pleasing hopes
and secret joys that can arise in the heart of a rea-
sonable creature. This being true, we should ex-
pect to find the arguments supporting this great
doctrine, neither few nor feeble. Our expectation
is fully met. They are both numerous and con-
clusive. But to advance all'these, would hardly be
necessary, nor is it my present purpose to develop
what may even be strongest of them. It is grati-
fying to know that the weak arguments, if such
they be called,,in favor of this doctrine, are too
strong for its opposers. It will be remembered
that the original plan of this paper, as indicated
ina former number, was to ascertain what the
Scriptures directly teach on this} question, but
there will be a slight deviation’idfromthat, and the
present object will be to show that the wisdom,
justice, and mercy of God, are all concerned in
this great point.

It is a significant fact, that nowhere in the
Bible, is immortality predicated of the soul. This,
however, instead of being opposed to the doctrine,
is really an argument in its favor. There are fre-
quent references to the resurrection and glorifica-
tion of the body, but the body is not the man, any
more than the shell is the tortoise. Nor can it, in
any way, be said to include the soul. If, then,
there had been in the divine mind any such con-
ception as the death of the spirit, there certainly,
would have been some reference to its resurrection.
That there is no such reference, argues strongly in
favor of its living forever. While we accept the
Bible as true, this is the only legitimate conclusion.
To deny this would be to assert that the body is of
more value than the soul—that the house is more
precious than the inhabitant. For if the soul is
not immortal, there is no provision made for its

 

 

becoming s3; but if it is, there only remains to

prepare for it a fit dwelling-place. This is just
what God proposes to do. The glorified body will
be the abode of the purified spirit. .
Though the soul is not affirmed to be immortal,
statements are made by the inspired writers that
cannot be true, unless it'is so. To specify these
and clearly. exhibit the logical bearing of each,
would occupy many times the space of this paper.
I will only say, therefore, in regard to these refer-
ences, that it is doubtful whether the stoutest ma-
teralists have been able, satisfactorily, to reconcile
them to their theory, even in their own minds.
When Paul says it is better to be absent from the
body and present with the Lord, by nothing short

‘of a downright denial of the text are we able to

conclude that there can be no such separation, but
that they must live or perish together.

It will not be‘denied that the spirit is the essen-
tial part of man—the part by which he retains his
idenity—the rational, thinking part of his nature.
The body never thinks. It is not responsible, and

‘4' \.

 

 "‘:““-"\ .m' -

 

 

764 THE COLLEGMJV

hence, cannot be sinful. These facts are univer-
sally conceded. It must also be conceded that
where the body dies and is mingled with its kind-
red dust, it loses its idenity. Nothing can there

be predicated of it as a human, body, and even in

the resurrection, as Paul clearly. shows in the
fifthteenth chapter of first Corinthians, the body
given to the glorified saints of God, will not be the

identical body that died. He evidently includes.

in his premises all of man that is mortal, and con-
templates it as becoming immortal. If, therefore,
thesoul perishes, it follows that in the resurrec-
tion, it undergoes a like change with the body.
This, however, destroys man’s idenity. The man
raised up is not the man that died; for, clearly, if
the soul is subjected to the same change that is
predicated of the body, as it must, if it is mortal, in-

stead ofa revivification ofthe old man, there will be'

creation of a new. The process called the res-
urrection, in this View of the case, is precisely the
same as» that by which the first man was created in
the beginning. It is easy. to see, then, that this
materialistic theory, if true, would annihilate the
whole human race; for, if- the soul dies, man’s
identity is forever lost, and when that is lost, all is
lost. . . . . - ' '

Nor is this all. God has declared that He will
raise all men up, and reward or punish them ac-
cording to their deeds. In order to do this, the
identity of every man must be preserved. But if

the soul is mortal, this cannot be done. The soul

is the real man, and the body its dwelling-place.
The “house of this tabernacle” may be dissolved
and the man remain, but if the soul is dissolved,
the man is gone forever. It would be strange
justice, and stranger mercy, that would call into
existence a new race, to reward or punish for ex-
tinct humanity. To require one man to suffer for
what another has done, and for what he was in
no way responsible, and of which he even knew
nothing, is a course for which we have no terms of
condemnation sufficiently strong. Yet, this is just

.what materialism would have the Great God do.

Not only this, but they would have Him falsify the
very sta'ement, that He will judge all men accord-
ing to their deeds. He proposes to condemn the
men that have sinned, the same men have lived
and are now living in the world. But, as has al-
ready been showed. if the soul perishes, the ident‘
ity ofvevcry man is lost, and the kind of judgment
proposed is rendered impossible. Indeed, alljudg-
ment of any kind would be out of the question.
If, by any act of Almighty power, a new creation
is called into being, and a part condemned to eter—
nal torture for the disobedience of men who are
now extinct, the judgment could only be a sham,
instituted merely to satisfy an unreasonable desire
for vengeance. Of course, no one, who believes the
Bible, can, for a moment, entertain such a notion
of God. We must conclude, then, as in the
judgment the man condemned, will be the man that
sinned, that he has never died, that there is a part
of him that is immortal.

Were We to admit that a man once extinct, could
be recalled as the same that perished, there would

 

 

 

April, 7873.

be scarcely less injustice in punishing him for sins
commltted during his former life, than in con-
demning one man for what another has done.
Whatever debts maybe held against a penniless
man, they are canceled by his.death. He is no
longer responsible to his creditors. So it is morn
ally. God holds a great debt against every man,
of which he is unable to pay one iota. But if he
perishes utterly, his sins perish with him, and to
recreate him and his sins, merely to punish him
with an everlasting punishment, is too much for
our sense of right. Only on the hypothesis that
man is immortal, can thejustice of God be vindi-
cated. But as none will question His justice, none
can deny the immortality of the soul: '

THE @22ng 81452217.”.

 

 

Our proposition is that the prize system, the
awadingr of premiums and medals in our schools,
is productive of more harm than good; and, there-
fore, ought to be abandoned. This opinion, we
know, contradicts the common opinion of the edu-
cational world. This fact, however, is no satisfac—

tory proof of its correctness. Should the advo-

cate of this system urge that the awarding of prem-
iums and honors, has been the almost universal
custom of our ancestors, and therefore, is right,
and places us under obligations to perpetuate its
observance; we simply, in thelanguage'of another,
negative the assertion, “Temproibas hisci ratio non
congrm't.”

Every question ought to be open to free discus-
sion by able and respectable disputants, and de-
cided according to the merit ofthe arguments. It -
is our right to mistrust the wisdom of: our ances—
tors. This. sacred veneration for the institutions of
our forefathers should "not form a barrier to refor-
mation. OtherWise, it follows that boys must con-
tinue to go to mill with a bushel of corn in one
end of the sack, and to effect a balance, rocks in
the other. We have but little fancy for those in—
stitutions too sacred to have their claims and priv-
ileges investigated in this age offearless inquiry
breathing, as it does, the spirit of progression.
Time‘honored custom has no acknowledged right
to hush the voice of reason, or lord it over the con-
sciences of men. That Goddess sits on a crumb-
ling throne among the discrowned shadows of the
past, with a broken sceptre in her hand. In the
first place, we are to offer a pecuniary objection to
the prize system. Educators are men generally in
limited financial circumstances. In choosing the
profession, he weds himself to poverty, if he do
not marry rich, and then, usually like divines .un-
der similar circumstances, makes it convenient to
have a spell of headache occasionally, and in con—
sequence of ill health, evacuates the arena of pub-
lic life. The favoring smiles of Plutus ruins the
prospects of men in more than one of life’s call-
ings. It seems to us unjust and unmerciful to ask
the teacher to spend a very appreciable part of his
small salary in purchasing premiums for the sons
and daughters of wealthy farmers. In the case of
colleges where a legacy is given to meet this ex-

 

  

 

flpril, 1873.

penditure, of course, our present objection has not
much force; but it is eminently applicable to our
00mmon schools.

Our second objection is that the honors are gen—
erally awarded to the most talented, and not to the
most meritorious. Brilliant success bears off the
palm, while patient, untiring, noble effort, receives
not one kindly smile of approbation, realizes no
reward except the mortification of a wounded
heart, the disgrace of a failure. A boy of fine
talent, quick perception, and retentive memory,
may spend but very little time and study upon his
lessons. and yet make better recitations, than one
less talented, who applies himself with greater as-
siduity, and puts forth double the exertion. Now
the highest authority says, “to whom much is given
much is requirec.” We cannot gainsay the cor-

‘ rectness of thisprinciple without derrogating from
the omniscience and infallibility of its author.
Still, this rule is practically violated when we re

rward success instead of effort. Some argue that
inasmuch as the God of heaven bestows his re-
wards, we cannot be wrong in imitating a divine
precedent. This, if their practice coincided with
their theory, would be a very cogent argument
against our position. God bestows his rewards in
harmony with the eternal principles of justice.
The man, who would make a proper use of one
talent, is as richly rewarded as the man of five
talents. Both alike hear the welcome plaudit,
“well done good and faithful servant,” etc. A
man‘iof humble intellect may wear as bright a crown
in heaven as the most gifted son of genius. But
the system of rewards as conducted by frail 'hu-
manity, gives the honor to him, who has the high-

’ est mark of scholarship, regardless of his sur-
roundings.

In point of age, one student may be several years
in advance of his class. In addition to this ad-
vantage, he may have been previously instructed
in that branch of literature, in which the hotly
contested race is to be made. In order to award a
premium or a medal to a boy who really deserves
it, quite a multitude of considerations are to be
taken in account. An accurate estimate must be
made of the natural endowments of the two com-
petitors, of their age and development, of their
previous knowledge of' the subject, of the oppor-
tunities they enjoy, and so on, almost to infinity.

’ One may be permitted to use the text books only,
'while- the other may have access to a well furnished
library, one may have educated parents to give
him a word of encouragement. or an older brother
to extend to him a helping hand while he is toiling
' up the “rugged hill.” All these and other circum—
stances, which we have neither time nor space to
enumerate, are to be considered in order to make
a just decision. Even where we ignore the relative
'0pportunities and abilities of the students, the
awarding of honors is often a very difficult affair.
Of two competitors, it might be hard to determine
who has the more literary merit. In this case we
may not unreasonably ask" the question, what jus-
tice there is in loading one with honors, and laud-
ing him to the skies, while upon the other, whose

 

OF KENTUCKY UJVI VERSI T Y ’. 1 6‘5

productions are fully as respectable, the shame of
a failure, and a heart brimful of disappointment
weigh like a. ponderous incumbus; and not unfre-
quently, as a wounded bird conceals the fatal ar‘
row beneath its wings, pressing it deeper and deeper
till it penetrates a vital chord of its heart; so the
defeated student concealing the sorrow of disap-
pointment from the apathetic gaze of' an unchari-
table world, presses his grief nearer and ne