it may be safely stated that glaring errors have
been left to live their time in kind fear of fatal•
dismay to the novice who utters them. This how
ever is new ground and resistance to the delight
or Adamite sin of pouncing upon a fresh advo
cate in some forensic hole is exceptionable. Surely
there needs must be beginners now as formerly.
The literary unions of to clay give to these the
chance of a reading or recitation as an aid to ad
vancement. Quite a number of fathers, mothers,
daughters and sons are members of a society which
meets near our home semi-monthly and has suf
fered but a loss of two meetings during a period
of more than sixteen years. The society is large
ly literary and during all these years not an in
tentionally unkind, unfair word has been spoken
so far as remembrance serves me. The young
members generally present us with readings, reci
tations, dramas, music, and join with the older in
essays, solutions, discussions aided by our libra
ry of over Soo volumes. The drama at our recent
meeting gave something to remind the seniors of
old times. Then as pertinent, the choir sang
"Sweet Memories of Departed Days. " Still
again "Hard Times Come Again No More." Our
society so enjoyable, cultivating, refining in its
literary social work is I hope a true type of litera
ry societies generally or at least an evidence of
progress. We all know so pleasantly that discus
sion is not now totally a " Manly Art" but a
womanly as well as manly, void of the ill grace of
mental pugilism.
There should be more discussion upon ques
tions that may be forced into dangerous interpre
tation and result by loud, deceiving brawl. There
must be wider protective knowledge. How can
the mass be led to healthier thought, discussion,
action more than by organizing and maturing
true discussion. I have desired and still earnest
ly hope that some conscientious, brainy student
in or out of college from his or her knowledge of
what is best to urge for the consideration of our
common happiness and prosperity would, or as
yet will, publish a series of timely economical
THE FRE
LANCE.
questions for the use of lyceums, lodges and asso•
ciations where discussions can be introduced.
Such a series would be in demand as are periodi
cals containing dialogues, select readings and
that from the simple fact that it would fill a need.
Then too, the young senior• leaving college so
fully equipped, so responsible because of his
splendid endowment, should not place his light
solely under the bushel of selfish ascendancy. This
should not be esteemed by him as •the entire mo •
tive in education. The pleasanter accomplish
ment after all is what is done for all. The senior
is equipped for a generous mission. Thus he
cannot rightfully pass haughtily by the humble
lyceum that may be ambitiously struggling to
make all happier,more learned, better. 1 am glad
to think that the students of our State College
will agree with me in this.
The personality of the references involved in
this paper may be forgiven upon the plea that
what is here respectfully offered is the result of
personal observation and rJmembrance.
The leaders to-day of all the movements
of mankind, political;religious, literary, scientific,
and all departments of active and profiable out
come, have received a college training. The
majority of our Presidents have been college grad
uates, Fifty men of the alumni of one college
have served in the United States Senate. Bis•
marek, Gladstone, and Blaine, three political
leaders of the world, have had the advantage of a
collegiate course. The leading pulpit orators,
such as Spurgeon and Talmage, together with such
literary and scientific lights as Emerson, Tyndall,
Tennyson, Herchell, and numerous others who
might be named, all have their college alma
mater. Thus it is evident that collegians sway
the sceptre of power and genius. If the college
WEsT CHESTER, PA
COLLEGIANS THE LEADERS
OF TO-DA Y.
S. R. DowNING