studies become more difficult each year and
his practicum consists of more work which of
itself helps to starve out his love for company
on account of lack of time. We do not say
that this is always true but we do emphatically
state that one who is an earnest technical stu
dent will possess a strong inclination which is
averse to society. It is an undisputed fact that
classical colleges always possess more society
element than a scientific college, and hence
it follows that the men who enjoy the sciences
must either naturally or from the change
wrought by the course, be dislikers of society'.
This but shows us that all scientific insti
tutions, should make especial efforts to sur
round their'students with the best of society
advantages and to endeavor to overcome the
tendency to conservatism as far as possible.
There is undoubtedly a great difference be
tween the men generally, who take a classical
course and those who a scientific, whether
it be a natural consequence of their prefer
ence of studies, or from the effect of their
course, and it is evident that if it is a con
sequence of their preference, that the extended
study of the same would but intensify the
desire to avoid meeting one’s fellow-man for
an evening’s enjoyment.
Prize oration, delivered by H, W. Humming, of Harrisburg, '9O, Junior
Oratorical Contest,
LIFE in its boundless immensity is the
most profound mystery of creation. Our
existence is unaccountable; why we live, for
what we were born, is as mysterious to us as
the existence of the universe itself. Yet we
do live ; life is not a phantasy as some would
have us believe. It is a vivid, glowing reality;
in every place of the civilized world and
among all classes of any civilized community,
the great struggle for existence is now more
keen than ever it has been in the history of
the world. In no metaphor, but in cruel truth
man is struggling for life <->own deep in the
THE FREE LANCE.
LIFE?
mines, seeking earth-hidden treasures; at the
furnace, battling fierce, raging fires; at pro
fessional duty, at law, medicine, teaching
within universities, colleges, schools, all about
us this strong fight for existence manifests
itself. What is there that occasions this great
tenacity of existence ? Life in its popular
sense is a merely abstract name embracing
the great number of concrete experiences and
their appropriate emotions. ’ This is only me
chanical existence; but there may be added ;
Life is the pursuit of happiness and then we
have our reason for desiring to exist. This
aim is unconsciously pursued by those who
do not consciously set it before them. While
the body is healthy and the appetites keen,
this aim of happiness is worth pursuing. The
, ambitious pursuing an ideal life have while
active and vigorous, a gain.
On the other hand, some slight constitu
tional disturbance may cause deep gloom.
Great disaster makes life no longer to seem a
blessing but a curse, many poor souls dis
tracted rush to seek, they know not what, often
to suicidal graves, rather than bear the ills they
have and feel so vividly. Prosperity bears a
human being along its gay stream ; roses
crown the banks and waft sweet perfume to
the cheerful navigator, who rocks joyfully in
his fragile bark (for oh ! prosperity is but a
fragile thing after all) singing merrily, when
adversity, disaster in terrible masquerade
seizes the bark, twirls it roughly among the
rapids. Crash! his hopes are gone, his
fondest joys are turned to deepest misery!
Strong must be the heart to bear such woes,
but our country’s history proudly lifts thous
ands of names of persons who have withstood
their overthows, struggled with adversities,
and triumphed o’er all their foes,
"When Life considered ; ’tis nil a client,
Yet, fooled with hope, men favor the deceit
Trust on, and think to-morrow will repay.
To-morrow’s falser thnti the former dny,
Lies worse; nnd while it snys we shall lie blest
With some new joys, cuts off what we possessed,”
DItYDUN,