Keuka College - Kiondaga Yearbook (Keuka Park, NY)

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THE COLLEGE RERORD. 17 up of papers, short talks, abstracts, and stories on China, the last to brighten the programs. They are also made more attractive by a few musical numbers, which are given by the members and friends of the Society. Entire control and management is in the hands of its mem- bers, who are led by the President and assisted by the Vice-Presi- dent. The Vice-President, with the committee of President, Secretary, and Musical Director, plan and assign the work. All the members are very much interested in the welfare of the Society, and willingly take all the assignments. They also take an active part in the business meetings which follow the literary program. With a pleasant Society room and a sum of money in the treasury for the purpose of furnishing the room better than at present, certainly the Athenaeums should be inspired to do good work, as they have done in the past years, and they are in hopes to make it even more profitable in the near future. — The Preside?it. JOHN RUSKIN'S TEACHING AND INFLUENCE. JOHN RUSKIN was born in London in 1819. His father was a wine merchant, who had grown wealthy in his trade. His mother was a woman of cultivated tastes ; a strict disciplinarian, vitally interested in the education and moral training of her son. Both parents were lovers of good pictures and good books. The boy read daily with his mother ; the Bible was the book most read, the influence of which is shown everywhere in his writings. By frequent excursions into the country with his family, the boy learned to love the flowers and the charms of landscape. On account of ill health he was kept under a private tutor until he entered Christ College, Oxford, at the age of seventeen. He was not an especially brilliant student, and was compelled to leave his college work after two years, on account of his health. In 1842, however, he received his degree. His parents intended him for the Church, but the narrcwness of the ministry and the shams of the people did not appeal to him, so he decided to give his life to art study and criticism, H e married a girl who later be-

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16 THE COLLEGE RECORD . zations in the machinery of the college. In the literary society, college credit is given for the work done. It is true that Keuka is a small college, but the arguments brought forward in favor of large institutions are overwhelmed by the advantages of small schools. In great colleges the student of ability loses his identity. He has no individuality. Only the occasional genius receives proper personal atten- tion. Students come into contact with their professors merely in the class room. They do not have sufficient opportunity for recitation, for the classes are too large. In Keuka each student has his own particular place, as in the home. Are not the advantages of Keuka College very evident ? The location is ideal, the environments clean and sweet. The expenses are so low that the school is open to everyone. A general college education is necessary before specializing, and Keuka offers a broad, splendid course. The Christian atmos- phere is wholesome, and the social life is pleasant. Keuka College is a college where are learned the lessons of true living, that living which produces ideal homes, honest busi- ness, and ultimate success. Keuka Institute. —M. M., 'op. THE ATHENAEUM SOCIETY. r I 'HE Athenaeum Literary Society occupies a spacious and ■ ■ attractive room on the fourth floor. It was designed especially for the society, and is furnished with seats, oak chairs, and table, and a new upright piano. Sash curtains at the windows, and a large hanging lamp add much to the attractiveness of the room. The object of this Society is the improvement of its mem- bers in parliamentary law, the art of public speaking, and literary composition. The student feels the need of these things, the first two of which cannot be acquired in the class- room. In order to make the work interesting and definite, this last term the Society has been studying the main features of China, and will continue to do so as long as the work is profitable. At the commencement of the program the devotional exer- are onducted by the Chaplain. The programs are made

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18 THE COLLEGE RECORD. came infatuated with Millais, the artist. This was a deep sor- row to Ruskin, but he bore it nobly, even allowing her to re- ceive a divorce from him, and he gave her away at the mar- riage alter. This sermon of forgiveness, together with many others he gave to the world, although they were not delivered from the pulpit ; and his influence is being felt in nations which he never expected to influence. Ruskin was a realist. The people up to this time had been looking into the past for the beautiful, but Ruskin believed that there was enough beauty in nature itself. The artist learned from him to study nature as it is, and not to idealize nature. He believed that one must be willing to see the beau- tiful, and by beauty he meant, to show sympathy to men, to be willing and glad to work for the joy of doing work well, and above all to keep clear our sight of the real mysteries and and nobility of life. He believed that there is enough in nature around one for inspection, if only one will see and study to understand it. The arts must be the true representation of the character of the people of the times, said Ruskin. One cannot truly con- ceive anything truly fine until one's character is right. The truly beautiful arts must come from the innermost thoughts of a sincere people. He believed that one's character was framed, to a great extent, by surroundings, and that pleasant surround- ings must be had if the people were to be raised from their lowly places. He was very practical in his ideas, and he did not believe in talking high ideals to a man who was hungry and cold. He believed that all humanity must be made com- fortable physically before they can be elevated morally. He realized keenly with what the working class had to contend. He knew that the great mass of men, and even women and children, were working with all their strength to keep the wolf from the door. This is all they were doing and all they could do, so something must be done for them. There were plenty of people who were playing with their horses and gowns who might a great deal better spend money on some useful thing, that is, something useful to humanity, and for these Ruskin had his advice. At the death of his father, Ruskin was left a large fortune,