Hobart College - Echo of the Seneca Yearbook (Geneva, NY)

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EDITORIAL. ‘iJTORCttl out hirk and time-worn rocks of learning and TlT sn v wisdom, with their strata tessellated and inwoven with w 3lW;:o youthful mirth and vigor, he it ours to form and sculp- ture with word-chisels and bright tools of intellect, the loved and living image of our bvgone thoughts. Sweet Echo, sweetest nymph that liv'st unseen, ours he it to mould in graceful folds thy lovely robes, so to fashion thy charming }°rm and features, that e’en Narcissus himself might love ; that cold skeptics, who uphold the darkest side and plunge into the stern realities ol lile ; that College Narcissi, who see nothing save their own perfection rellected in the glassy pool of self conceit ; that every one. “ from the old fogey in his dreamless sleep to the young tanatic in his sleepless dream. allured by thy surpassing charms, may e'en turn aside, il not with true admiration, still with awe and interest to peruse thv features, and perchance to spend a few pleas- ant moments in thy presence Distrustful of our ability to maintain an adventurous flight on winged words, and discouraged that we should have sought in vain a new and untrodden way through the dark editorial wilderness we turn at Iasi into the broad highway pressed by the sacred foot- steps uf a long line of noble predecessors ; we clothe ourselves in thi- traditional editorial mantle, and giving up vague phantasies, whi' h crowd our brain, coniine ourselves to stern and staid realities. Our wanderings, as painful perhaps tons as they have been to you, we pray you forgive. Grave Seniors, your approval. Gay Brother Juniors, turn for a few brief moments from a world of flirtations and lovely conquests. Wise and valiant Sophomores, lay aside vour canes, and for the while forget all paternal solicitude for lh« trembling Fresh. Freshmen attention ! learn sage wis- dom and dark mysteries. Hoiiart, with the golden halo of age surrounding her, stands forth a bright and glowing example of what the will and stirring energy of a few noble men can accomplish. True, we cannot point to elegant and dazzling structures, and say herein lieth our great-

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4 KCUo 'll- rill s.|.-skca. ness—in tins doth consist nur |imu'i ;iml ivumvn -hut every weath- er-beaten stone may tell of power and greatness : every scarred and well-worn stair may unfold the record of more than hall a century, on which, without a single hint or irange disfigurement. illustrious deeds stand forth. Arc we judged hy our buildings, nur wealth. floor are wc indeed. Are we judged I the merits ai.d high-stand- ing, hy the jfival deeds and nohle nanu s of those who have’trodden our beloved halls, we are rich beyond comparison. A lifrlit-hou.se is judged not h as structure, hut In its power of reflecting light ; still we do not mean to imply that the light-house would not be belter if improved or perfected. Owing to a ureal increase in the- number of students, and the impetus which that has naturaliv lent to college sports and duties the first term of our College Year has thus far glided imperceptibly along. A movement has been inaugurated by the students, which will place the College Reading Room on a permanent basis. Ye most sin- cerely hope that the marked and awakened interest in literature which has brought this measure about, may make its inlluence lelt upon the whole College, and, ;is in days gone by the good old Hennean and Philopeuthian Societies waged their wars of literature, so may we. their followers, renew the contest. Among the advantages which the reading-room may be said to possess, and yet apart from itself, is the connection of one or more rooms with it. This affords, as it were, a convenient and comfort- able place of resort for such students as have not rooms in College, and who by this means may, between recitations, avoid the long walk to the city. It is our most happy lot to chronicle, what has long been deemed a myth, as most notorious fact. Our boat-house is no longer a dream or idle boast, but a real anti substantial truth. The piers, one 90 feet in length, the other 70, have been completed, and the boat- house itself is soon to be finished. One of our professors, with great generosity and energy, has in co-operation with one or two students carried on the work, though we are stiriy to say not with- out some expense and trouble, to its present position. May the ladies of Geneva, who. in truth, by their own trouble and persevering ef- forts have brought about this great work, accept our warmest and yet most unworthy thanks. And, ere long, when the rippling waves shall woo and kiss the slender “shell,'’ and from our boat-house balcony fair faces beam encouragement, while ’mid shouts of victo- ry and splashing oars the race is won, we trust they will not feel