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

Page 8 text:

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

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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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ECHO OK THE SENECA. 3 altogether unrepaid, t )ne or two boats have already been promised us, and by the beginning of the next college year we fully hope to see several crews upon the lake. ['he Gymnasium is to be connected with the boat-house, and will be yen' handsomely titled up and most liberally supplied with all needful apparatus. We feel assured that immediately this great want has been supplied, its good effect will be perceptible not only physically blit intellectually. It is the old and homely saying over again : J cns sono in corpore sono.— Mental culture the offspring ol Physical, and both combining to make the perfect scholar. Then, perhaps, before long we shall have those contests of strength and skill between the classes, which are ever so beneficial to both stu- dents and college. Our base ball nine has this year been unusually successful, and indeed we may say has carried everything before it. Matched against the superior forces of Cornell and Syracuse Universities, she has still come forth victorious. While bearing with becoming modesty the honor we have thus gained, we do not feel it overbold or improbable to say, should the ensuing Spring evince such mark- ed improvement in base ball as has this season been shown, that beyond a doubt Hobart will be represented at Saratoga next Summer in the contest tor the intercollegiate championship. To the citizens of Geneva, who have with such open generosity con- tributed toward the expenses necessarily incurred throughout the season, and who have moreover at different times so kindly extend- ed their courtesies to the Nine, we would express the gratitude and esteem which is so justly due them ; and to repeat an old toast—• may our success in the field be commensurate with their liberality.” The new College Hall, in what was formerly the Medical College, which is to be used for till College exercises and gaities, will be commenced in the Spring. It remains forus but to point to the growth and welfare of the College and we are done. More eloquent than I might tell of future greatness which is hers, of the great achievements which Hobart has already performed, of glory which is due her, ot strength and wisdom which years have given and shall ever give. Ami now as we close, sadly we fall into a reverie, and muse- how as Freshmen and Sophomores we looked forward with awe and reverence to the time when it should be our duty to publish this lime-honored annual; how, now that duly is over, we are two years nearer the goal which we have hoped to reach, and yet which