Monmouth College - Ravelings Yearbook (Monmouth, IL)

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RA VELINGS. 29 Much as we regret her decease, we Has there been no progress during the would not for an instant disturb the interim? Or is deterioration the shib- repose of her departed spirit. We boleth? This is a very remarkable in- would not call her back if we could, dictment. It is the more so coming Our stony grief will not permit tears, from the source that it does — a Chris- and nothing is left for us but to write tian minister. It means that Chris- a suitable epitaph in honor of her tianity, as well as civilization, has memory. In the fulfillment of this been a failure, for Christianity, while task we can think of nothing so appro- it is not to be given credit for the sum priate to the subject as that used by total, is still an important factor in the young man in memory of his de- this progress. The allegation falls ceased aunt. Wishing to fittingly ex- flat upon a moment ' s thought and press his love and veneration for her reflection, and doubtless emanated virtues, he prepared a lengthy epitaph from one insensible to the beneficent ending with the wdrds, let her rest influences surrounding him. The in peace. Not having sufficient divine has failed utterly to grasp the space for the whole, the sculptor was grand possibilities of the present, forced to use only the initial lettei-s of This generation is as strong as any the last three words. It then read, that has preceded it. There is as let her r. i. p. This abbreviated much courage, as much patriotism, as form so nearly expresses our senti- much virtue in the present as there ments in the present instance that we was in the generation that achieved gladly borrow it for the occasion, and the victories of the civil war. All say of Phoebe, The dear old g-irl has these years the world has been going gone, ' let her rip. ' ' forward not backward. It has been s moving upward, not downward. Not IT matters little where one goes only is human nature as strong now as thoughout this wide world, for the it was a third of a century ago, but truth is everywhere the same, that man has called to his assistance all men with peculiar ideas and contracted the forces of nature. Intellectually, brain live and proclaim strangle doc- the human race is stronger today than trines. While out of town during the it has ever been since the present civil- holiday vacation we heard a prom- ization began. Morally, there has inent Congregational minister lecture been equally great progress. But on Political Equality. Among the this is nothing new. Every passing- many good things he said was this generation has had the same bad opin- one egregious blunder: The genera- ion of the succeeding one. The pre- tion of young men who saved the diction has every time proven a failure. Nation and freed the slave was a mag- Men come and men go. When Lincoln nificent one: they were equal to the was assassinated Gen. Garfield quieted occasion. The present generation of a New York gathering with the pro- young men is not morally or intellec- phetic words: The government at tually competent to save our country Washington still lives. The king is from the evils which threaten it. dead: long live the king. There will The divine is evidently ignorant of the be a great void in France when I am advancement of the world and misap- dead and gone, said Victor Hugo. prehends the age in which he is living ' . The following lines from Charles

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T 1 28 RA VELINGS. students we look forward to the time that always has, and we trust always when our college untrammelled by fin- will, characterize Monmouth College, ancial retardation shall take front x rank with other leading colleges 1i FHAT has become of our esteemed throughout the land. We are brought » » friend, who for the greater part and kept here by the expectancy of of the past term, has been masquerad- sueh a realization. Our future destiny ing in the columns of the Daily Review is largely bound up in the future of as the college correspondent? For Monmouth College. To make this as sis long weeks the pen of the irrepres- great as possible, we must act as be- sible Phoebe has been silent. We can comes persons of good sense and never only account for this in the supposi- don the garb of the thoughtless and tion that death has claimed the dear imprudent one. old girl for his own. For some time we have been aching for an opportun- HE three-hour system has been ity to pay our respects to this unique given a practical test during the and unapproachable character, but the past term, and the results thus far are old proverb, Never speak ill of the eminently satisfactory to both profes- dead, forbids it now. Twice a week sor and student. When the change she reg ' aled the readers of the Review was first made, the lengthening of with the choicest tidbits of college lessons, consequent upon the decrease gossip, served in a style and with a in the number of studies to be pur- luxurience peculiarly her own. j sued, caused some murmurs of discon- Nothing was too trivial for her notice. c tent; but after four months ' work Like the g-ood woman of Proverbs, she I under the new system, but few would brought her food from afar, but we care to return to the old. While the have yet to hear of any one who has plan is new here it is not an experi- risen up to call her blessed. It has L . ment. Many of our larger colleges been suggested that the present cor- ' and universities, after trying it sue- respondent, Betsy, is only Phoebe K cessfully, have permanently adopted under an assumed name, that tiring it. The change has much to recom- after a time of the commonplace name mend it. It avoids that distraction of Phoebe she adopted the more pic- incident to the pursuance of many dif- turesque alias of Betsy. But we are ferent subjects simultaneously. Where unwilling to believe these rumors, the student formerly had his thoug-hts Rather would we think of Phoebe as divided among ' four or more subjects, having completed her career, — as a C he now has them concentrated upon maiden lady of uncertain age, who K — three. The power of concentration, so having by the use of complexion beau- necessary to success in every vocation tifiers, hair restorers and false bangs, in life, is thus cultivated in a much long and valiantly resisted the en- greater degree than befoi ' e. This will croachments of time, has at last yield- secure greater and better results in ed to the inevitable and given up the fit t our school work, and its influence will struggle. As a character in journalism be felt in the calling we elect when Phoebe stands alone. She is, or was, our college days have ended. The something new under the sun. Before adoption of the new system is but an- her there was nothing her like, neither other evidence of the progressive spirit after her shall there be another such. JM

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30 BAVELINGS. Kingslej ' aptly expresses the truth of the matter: Who will say the world is dying? Who will say our prime is past? Sparks of heaven within us lying, Flash and will flash to the last. Fools who fancy Christ mistaken ; Man a tool to buy and sell; Earth a failure, God forsaken. Ante-room of hell. Still the race of hero spirits Pass the lamp from hand to hand. Age from age the world inherits. Wife and child and fatherland. He will dare as dared his fathers Give him catise as good. THE necrology of the year 1894 will have more than usual interest from the number of distinguished men in the various walks of life who have passed away, as well as those within our own little circle of acquaintance who have crossed the dark river in one short twelvemonth. And so the great procession is continually on the march to the unknown country from whose bourne no traveler returns to tell the story. These observations are but warning ' s and should admonish us that we too may shortly be summoned. Like good soldiers, if we have our knapsacks packed and our arms and accoutrement in g ' ood condition we need not fear to receive the summons. As the long train Of ages glide away, the sons of men. The youth in life ' s green spring ' , and he who goes In the full strength of years, matron and maid, And the sweet babe and the g ' rey haired man Shall, one by one. be gathered to thy side By those who in their turn shall fol- low them. ' We herewith publish the thirteen names of the most distinguished men who died during- the year ' 94. The irrevocable hand That opes the year ' s fair gate, doth ope and shut The portals of our earthly destinies: We walk through blindfold, and the noiseless doors Close after us forever. George W. Childs, editor, Philadel- phia, Feb. 3, aged 64. Norman L. Munro, editor. New York, Feb. 24. aged 51. Louis Kossuth, Hungarian patriot, Turin, Mar. 20, aged 91. Rev. Dr. William M. Thompson, Denver, Apr. 8, aged 89. John Jay, ex-minister to Austria. New York, May 5, aged 77. Francis E. Bartlett, author, New York, May 7, aged 82. Prof. David Swing, theologian, Chi- cago. Oct. 3, aged 64. O. W. Holmes, author, physician and professor in Harvard. Boston, Oct. 7, aged 85. James A. Froude, L.L.D., celebrated historian, London, Eng., Oct. 20, aged 76. Alex III., Czar of Pvussia, Lividia. Nov. 1. aged 49. Ferdinand de Lesseps. constructor of Suez Canal, Dec. 7. aged 89. Pierre Jules Cavelier. French sculp- tor, Paris, Feb. 9, aged 79. Hans Guido von Bulow, Uerman pianist, Cairo, Feb. 12, aged 64. The stone of Mrs Ammery Hunt has this stanza: A sister of Sarah Lueus lyeth here. Whom I did love most dear; And now her soul hath took its flight. And bid her spightful foes good-night. That of Mary Huntley, the follow- Stop l ■ friend, and cast i r, so once was I, As I am now, so you must be, Prepare for death and follow me. A visitor added these lines in chalk To follow you I ' m not content Unless I know which way you went.