ability preserve, protect, and defend the con
stitution is a tolerably easy thing to do ; but
the seal of that oath bears the symbol of a
supreme responsibility, and it is this respon
sibility that gives his prerogative a graceful
and legitimate dignity.
Again, if we behold the grand developments
in science and art, the stately march of history
the emanations from the centre of learning
and philosophy, all the brave and manly works
of man, they will strike us with wonder and
amazement, and they in themselves actuate
us to exclaim, yes, life is worth living.
Hence being satisfied with the universality
and importance of these three acts, to grasp
opportunities, to assume responsibilities and
to do brave and manly work, it is only in pro
portion as we accommodate ourselves to them
that we can fairly realize that life is worth
living. And lastly, behold in Gethsemane’s
gloom that sublime personality, overcome with
agony inexpressible, fall on his face and pray,
“Not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” Not long
after we hear of Him being ridiculously ac
cused in the triumphant cries of a king defy
ing mob whose frenzy is only checked by his
crucifixion on Calvary.
And what does all this mean ? It means
that life is worth living inasmuch as God
through His infinite love saw fit to institute
a means for its salvation on the merits of His
Son.
Oh, would that we could persist in living as
we ought. Then and then only could we ap
preciate the worth and the blessings of this
life. He who bears the cross of virtue shall
win its crown. The “wise” shall inherit life,
not here, not this, but life bereft of limitations
and corruptions, in that incarnal, eternal, ulti
mate Eden whose glories no mortal sense or
faculty has ever uttered or conceived.
W. B. N. Hawk, ’B9.
Our new Armory and Chapel are great im
provements over the old accommodations.
THE FREE LANCE.
In the year 332 B. C., after Alexander th 6
Great had taken possession of Palestine, he
proceeded to Egypt, where on the most west
ern branch of the Nile, he founded a city which
he named Alexandria, and of the eighteen he
founded by this name Alexandria in Egypt
proved to be the largest and the most im
portant. In this city the most learned men
were gathered : Zenodus, Aristophanes, Aris
toninius, Aristarchus and Pappus were among
the most noted. Aristophanes who lived
during the third century attained considerable
eminence as a literary man, and to whom is
given the honor of the invention of accents
and marks of punctuation. Aristarchus who
lived in the same century, was the ablest of
ancient critics. To Pappus, the celebrated
mathematician, who lived in the fourth cen
tury, is ascribed the first idea of the principle
of the centre of gravity for the dimensions of
figures and we also owe to Pappus the solution
of the tri-section of an angle. Hypatia, the
daughter of Theon, is worthy of mention as
a student and learned woman in philosophy
and mathematics, many of the most learned
men sought her for instruction.
We ask why so many of the learned men
were gathered at Alexandria ? Because many
NOCTURNE.
In perfect rest the garden lies;
The heavy tree that fills the skies
Is silent os the tiniest flower;
And only on the stillness dies
The honeyed chime that tells the hour.
Ah! would at yonder casement bright
That shade might flit so dear to me,
Or swiftly glance athwart the night,
To give me greeting tenderly,
Here in the dark, where none could see.
Alas! those panes but strangely glow,
Nor cast my soul a joyful ray;
The eyes of distant friend or foe
Are cold and comfortless as they,
And she I love is far away.
AN ANCIENT SEAT OF LEARNING.