Free, Fhahk, and Fearless. Vol
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ft WEEKLY RECORD OF LOCftt AND GUBREKT EVENTS. FREE, FHAHK, AND FEARLESS. VOL. II., NO. 32. UNIVEKSITY OF THE SOUTH, SEWAKEE, TENN",, SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 187b $1 50 A YEAH A QUOTATION. something better is no new thing. relied upon than the oath of other Something is needed to check tin- Philosophers have attributed it to men—as years rolled by became but advance of corruption in this emm SELECTED. skepticism which is said to prevail as the polite intercourse of societ}". try. Legislation or bills passed if If all the hands that have clasped mine own in this age ; however this may be, Truth plucked from their midst was Congress or any external force c:u<- Had ceased from their tender hold ; the fact remains the same, and all j insensibly ivplue-<l ly falsehood, and not produce this much desired result: if all the eyes that for me have shone, we know is that with the progress j their fall and abolition was but the it must be an inner principle thxl Were averted now, and cold ; of science and civilization, with the inevitable consequence of their wick- clings 1o virtue and honor and can-, If every voice that has thrilled mine ear, new forms and customs of society edness and folly. So it is with not be huahed by the jingle of dol- Had changed in its fondest tone ; men have lost sight of that spirit every example which history gives lars or by the glamour of offered pro- 1 f every heart that has brought good cheer, which pervaded the society of the us. Nations are cradled in war, motion. Were turned away from mine own; "Middle Ages." That extreme- morality is with them at their high- We have been humiliated by tin- If every step that has come to me recklessness and the saeming desre- est point of elevation, corruption and scandalous acts of men whom the Over the Summer's soft grass, gard for every thing save fame and dishonor witness their decline and nation has trusted. Our in s. prom- Had chosen another way more free, glory has had its reaction upon the fall. ineut citizens have so iieq-ei.tly ami And I sat to hear it pass ; man of to-daj'. Taking an average The morality spoken of is not a openly committed crime, that it has Tf every soul that has learied to mine, man we find him a selfish, hard- puritanism or fanaticism, or a skep- been said that this nation is rotten; With its kindling touch so dear, hearted man, utterly callous to ev- ticism. The elements of all are com- that no man in this broad land can T Had dropped the cup with its rare, sweet eryone's w ants except his own, bined and that results which gives us be trusted. Th..' crimes committed wine, thinking that every one's pleasure the true Christian gentleman, and in this country have been many ami And left me athirsty here ;— or opinion should be subservient to the soldier that fights for his honor great. Let the slmnie rest on those 1 still would say—looking up to God— his and striving after pleasure and and his country, not for spoils or for who deserve it. But there are hot - "I thank thee for what has be_en ; gold, without reference to the means revenge. Not too much religion and est men here and every where. The For the joys that lie beneath the sod, whereby they are acquired, he pre- not too little, but a judicious use of government officials have general y And never may bloom again." sents a striking contrast to that the principles of morality. been for the last ten years (irtiw.ii spirit of self-denial, that deep, enthu- There is no doubt but there is a from the meaner class of society uiiii 'MODEEN" CHIVALRY." siastic spirit of religion, mingled happy medium somewhere, but be it these men, never acquainted with with valor and bravery, which gave far from me to presume to tell where honor, sought not after it; riches a lit! ORATION BY J. J. STOUT, OV THE SIGMA rise to the orders of Knight Hospi- that medium may be found. This self-aggrandizement have been their EPSILON SOCIETY. talers and of Knight Templars, who spirit does not abound in this coun- only aim, but thank God their reign figured so conspicuously in the try. What can be better evidence of has almost reached its culmination, ••To set this age to music—the great work "Middle Ages." These noble men the absence of it among Americans for good men have been aroused to Before the poet now—I do believe voluntarily bound themselves to sup- than the way they arc thought of do battle for the right and th.'y are- A hen it is fully sung its great complaint, port right and honor, bound them- abroad? It is true we are recog- coming nobly on with the wont- its hope, its yearning told to earth and :: selves to jeopardize life and limb to nized as a great people, great in "Honesty" and Reform" for their heaven, suppress wrong and dishonor. They watchword. We watch earnestly Our troubled age shall pass as doth a day science, literature and wealth, but That leaves the West all crimsoned with lived and they died that thej' might always the idea of shrewdness, of with abated breath to know whether the promise by their bright example instil a bet- sharpness is appended: and the we are to be bowed for another Of the diviner morrow." ter and purer spirit into the masses Yankee is known all over tub world. period. Vast and great have been the that surrounded them. This is what There seems to be but one thing that JSJO country on the face of thu changes which society has gone they called Chivalry. Although can successfully contend with local earth presents such an extended through, and these changes have, for these men might have been mista- prejudices and sectional hate, and field for personal elevation or debase- the most part, resulted in good. ken in the manner of effecting their this is a personal chivalry—a chival- ment as the United States. The Looking around us to-day we behold purpose, yet was the principle on ry that will beat down the bigotry nation generally merits where merit a polish and an elegance that has which their orders were founded the and prejudice that keeps this wide is due. Any man may enter tin- never before been witnessed. Forms highest that, man can aspire unto. land divided There is too much of course for honor and entertain :.. of etiquette have been established In looking over the history of the envy and hate. Bickerings and reasonable hope of success. Ante- which make the intercours J man has chivalry of* the past, we find the criminations and recriminations tear cedent history or religious belief are with man graceful and easy. The record of a man whose deeds were open the healing wound, »nd blood not stumbling blocks in the road steam engine and the telegraph, so bright that he has been appropri- is spilled that will be avenged here that leads to renown. Tn the bustle which men of the past have not had, ated by every notion for an ideal, or hereafter. The coals of hate are and stir of business, men h.venot make our duties pleasant and cer- and their young men are told of the blown upon until they burst into time to g/id about, or to scrutinize tain. But with all these conven- great and valorous deeds of the flames, and consume what surrounds closely what others do or say ; they iences and additions one must admit virtuous chevalier Bayard. His them. give credit only for what one chooses to reveal; the choice, therefore, of lhat there is a continual jarring and fame does not consist in his The public press presents us a men for high places should be atten- liarshnes which appears as a blemish temerity or in his personal prow- good example of the absence ded to with particular care, for >; upon the otherwise beautiful picture. ess; if this had been all he would j that spirit which should char- man without honor as a deep-seated This blemish is daily growing larger never have held that place in history acterize public as well as private principle in his being will not lon^ and larger, and it is to this the poet or in the hearts of men that he now life. A great man says ''One act honorably. has reference when ho says holds. His high-toned sense »f hon- of the heaviest weights that lies on •:To set this age to music—the great work or, his practice of the severest virtue, the hearts of all good men is a sense What has been said with reference Before the poet now"— his solicitude for the wants and cares of the fact that the press of the coun- to public men will apply equally we)! to private life. The prize that may and being a poet he naturally gives of those around him, and above all try, as a -whole, is rioting with the be obtained at the firseside and i>< the great and good work to the poet. his noble ^elf-denials, have placed heart,s heads, and the best interests the private walks of life is just an It is true the poet has his share, but brighter jewels in his crown of glory of the people, without apparently | desirable as that gotten from i\\f it is not bis alone; it belongs to than ever did all his exploits-in aims.