Monmouth College - Ravelings Yearbook (Monmouth, IL)

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HAVE LINGS. 3 IN these latter days when truth is so ■T he falL term of college has almost earnestly, soug-ht, and yet so assidu- A passed away. Two more weeks cmsly assailed, great opportunities are usher in the examinations and the work afforded the inquiring mind for inves- of the term will be at an end. To the ligation. There is no privilege ae- Senior it will never come again. He is eorded to us so free from encroach- passing this part of life ' s highway for ment as the right to think and decide the last time. Whatever his feelings for ourselves. But this same freedom as he looks backward, whether of sat- of decision urges upon us the necessity isfaetion at the thought of work well of exercising great care lest we be done, or of regret for neglected oppor- found giving credence to what is false, tunities. the record is what he has To those who have not yet attai ned to made it. To the Junior there is yet a the methods of discrimination, error, year in which to benefit by careful re- yea even deception incarnate — if you flection on the mistakes of the pres- please — may come in such fair and in- ent. Sophomore and Freshman have sidious forms that it will be received found it a term of hard work; but if it almost without question. We have to- has been well done they will be day in the best society — and reluctant- stronger for the work of next term ly I say relig ' ious organizations are not and the struggles of the past will soon exempt — a would-be man, though bet- be forgotten in the enjoyment of a ter nomenclatured a hybrid. Why hy- well-earned vacation. The Preps have brid? Because nominally he is a for the first time been initiated into christian, in reality he is a poltroon, the mysteries of Latin, and a week or He comes to you as a wolf in sheep ' s two more will show how many can say clothing, ' and while in conversation with Caesar, Veni, vidi, vici. It has in- will artfully and strategetically lead deed been a pleasant term. Nothing you to drop a remark about a friend, has occurred to mar the pleasant rela- tor one whom you may have just met), tions of faculty and students, and the and then bidding you adieu he goes whole term has been conspicuous by post haste to your friend, and with the absence of those deeds of violence distorted facts and perverted truth he and vandalism which are so often the lays before him an infamous fabriea- disgrace of similar institutions, tion, citing you as the author. This monster lives in every community and ' Fhe opening entertainment of the while at large and unfettered, society A lecture course, Nov. 20th, was every is in danger. His diabolism is a men- sense a success. The large audience ace to Christ-like fellowship. The which greeted the Marie Decca Con- millenium will never dawn upon the cert Company listened to a rare musi- church until this monster is eradicated cal treat. Each member of the com- fvom the confines of religious domina- pany is an artist, and their coming tion. We may be deceived for a while fully justified the claims of the lecture by this would-be man, but truth will committee in their announcement, eventually come to light. His decep- Marie Decca has a voice of great rich- tion will not always deceive, and ness and beauty, which she uses with when once discovered let us concerted- wonderful effect. Mrs. Murray ' s selec- ly bring the culprit to justice, and jus- tions were rendered in a very pleasing tics will be ostracism. manner, and all were well received.

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2 RA VELINGS. the death knell of this periodical may received. The price of this paper for cover a comparatively short space of the remainder of the year will be 75 time, but let that be as it may, it will cts., and we ask all to send the ever be a source of comfort to us to amount with their subscription. Al- know that ' we had the courage to low us in closing to say that we shall make the start, and the willing energy attempt to make this paper of equal to prosecute the work, if only the re- interest to all and the pulse of the fac- quisite assistance be given us. Mon- ulty and students, and to publish as mouth College at one time supported accurately as possible the whereabouts two papers and each was a pro- and doing ' s of the alumni, nounced success, both in the way of s literary matter and from a financial ' hvjs far throughout the year the standpoint. In the year ' 89 the two A mutual interest taken in college papers, hitherto known as the Cour- affairs, to the exclusion of partisan ier and Collegian, were consolidat- strife, has been a prominent feature, ed under the name of Annex. The Thus far work has been foremost in forces united nominally but divided in the minds of all the students. All reality, and the interest which had seem determined to make as much of hitherto been centered in the Cour- their opportunities as possible. This ier and Collegian kept waning un- is highly commendable. Nothing til the suspension of the Annex takes a student ' s time and dissipates from publication was a compulsion, his powers so much as factious strife. There are various theories advanced Friendly rivalry, emulation, is the as a solution to this fact which has best path to higher attainment, but just been stated. Some attribute the when bitter feelings are engendered failure to the students, others to the among a class of students, you may Alumni. After some experience in rest assured that foul play is lurking this line of work we feel competent to about somewhere and the bent of the say that no college paper can live student is to discover the cabal and without the unremitting effort of the expose, if not arraign, the culprit, editorial board and the hearty co-oper- Yet the student must not become too ation of students, faculty and alumni, lethargic to all things except lessons. From the great university in the East, There are many thing ' s he should car- with its 3,000 students, down to the ry as side lines if he wishes to leave small college in the West, with its 40 college a rounded out man. One thing ' and 50 students, comes the college especially, he must cultivate his social journal. Are we going to be out- nature. It is only by coming in con- stripped by these lesser lights? Each tact with all classes — sifting out the one must answer this question for good we discover and throwing away himself. With the initial number of the chaff — that we become broad- the Ravelings we bespeak for the aid minded men and women. Again, of each student, professor and alum- without this sociability we lose much nus. in every way possible, in order of life ' s pleasure. If you will but give that this journal may be a success and occasional thought to this and other an honor to our colleg-e. If any of our phases of college life, equal in impor- friends have some judicious sugges- tance, you will discover the grave mis- tions to offer, they will lie welcomelv take which vou and others are making.

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4 RAYELINOS. This was her second appearance be- THE PROVINCE OF THE AGITATOR, fore a Monmouth audience, and her re- w. E. carson. appearance but served to deepen the Napoleon once said, I fear three good impression made upon the music newspapers more than a hundred loving- citizens of Monmouth. Mr. thousand bayonets. History confirms D ' Almaine is a violinist of undoubted the great Corsicau ' s judgment, merit. The beauty of his selections Changed governments, fallen dynas- and his skill in their execution de- ties, and awful revolutions have pro- lighted the audience who recalled him claimed the all-prevailing ' power of after each piece. Mr. Weber is a mas- public opinion as the arbiter of na- ter of the piano. His rendering of tional destiny. To public opinion Mendelssohn ' s ' -Rondo Capriceirso, must king and statesman bow. It is and his work as an accompanist g-ave the court of last appeal, the ultimate great satisfaction. The program source of national life and activity, throughout was of a high order and Constitutional monarchies obey its dic- the ensemble free from that stereo- tates; the throne of the czars trembles typed form which we usually hear. at its power; and where the press is £ free and public halls protect debate, it When puzzled over the intricacies of is omnipotent. All true reform must some mathematical problem, or therefore rest upon a change in the struggling with the construction of opinion of the masses. Let this fact some difficult sentence in Latin or be ignored, and all results will be but Greek; when for any reason we are dis- transient. Public opinion disregarded couraged in our pursuit of knowledge, changes the affairs of states, and there is encouragement and inspira- hurls the despot from the throne of tion in the following passage from power. Sidney Smith: If any young man Though this power be recognized, has embarked his life in the pursuit of yet clearly the masses may be wrong, knowledge, let him go on, never Popularity is no test of truth. The doubting or fearing the event. Let sublimest truths ever uttered met him not be intimidated by the cheer- with opposition and the fierce resis- less beginnings of knowledge, by the tanee of the multitude. Witness the darkness from which she springs, by cry of Crucify Him! Crucify Him! the difficulties which hover around which echoed round the Roman judg- her, by the wretched habitations in ment hall. Ignorance and prejudice which she dwells, by the want and may cause an unjust verdict to be ren- sorrow that sometimes journey in her dered. Let public sentiment lie dor- train; but let him ever follow her as mant; let it drift where pleasing fancy the angel which guards him and as leads the way; or let its guides be the genius of his life. She will bring prejudice and passion, and the verdict him out at last, and exhibit him to the will be wrong. The people may at light of day comprehensive in acquire- times be wrong; but there is a divine ments, fertile in resources, rich in im- possibility wrapped up in human na- agination, strong in reasoning, pru- ture. To awaken this possibility into dent and powerful above his fellows new life is the province of the agitator, in all the offices and in all the rela- The public conscience, quickened and tions of life. aroused by the sacred voice of truth.