DTHEllAMESHDIiASTI

•I)ISCEQMSI.SEHPEI1-YICTURTIS- ^

VOL. XXII. NOTRE DAME, INDIANA, FEBRUARV 9, 1889: No: 23.

Education without aesthetics is like a sonnet- The Real Meaning- of Esthetics. without metre,—a peach without bloom,—a thrush without a voice,—a woman withoutgentle BY PROF. MAURICE FRANCIS E CAN, A.M. manners. /Esthetics does not consist of the painting of a bunch of golden rod or a sumach . (CONCLUSION.) leaf on every available spot. The young woman IV. who in search of new worlds to conquer painted True aesthetics is the seeking of beauty in a pansy on her father's bald head while he, was the life around us. A Turkish writer has said: asleep made a mistake. She probably found it " If I had two loaves of bread, I would give one out when he awoke. It consists in using and seek­ for a hyacinth, for the hyacinth would feed my ing to use the gifts God has bestowed on us in soul." There is a great deal in that. Who that order to make our lives and the lives of our. has watched the bulb of the hyacinth in its neighbors more pleasant and beautiful; it glass, at first a mere brown, clod-like thing, teaches us to value the little pleasure of .life;, change, like a buried body, at the Resurrection, it helps to put sweetness and light into, dark - to a being replete with life and beauty and per­ and gloomy days. I use sweetness and light, fume, does not feel that it is worth some self- not because Matthew Arnold used them, but denial? The creature who would not do without because when used by a-great "theologian; cen­ some luxury to buy a great book, to read a great turies before Arnold was born, they expressed . poem, to see a fine picture, to hear the organ what I mean.- , .. throb or the voice of the violin pulsate under To be an-aesthete in'the common .meaning the force of genius is nothing but a Philistine, of the word is to be a fool. It.is to. loye art half a barbarian, for his best faculties are par­ because it is fashionable; or. rather to .pretend alyzed. to love it. Not long ago, every.second house ' ^Esthetics ought to be a part of our lives. It showed a spinning-wheel in its parlor decorated is a part of the every-day life of the Christian with orange, pink,'or blue bo%vs of ribbons.- Why. Church. The Church has drawn to /ier sevvice. wa's the old-fashioned spinning-wheel given such the great masters of aesthetics in all ages. She prominence? Not because it is beautiful; not made Raphael and Murillo possible. Botticelli because it" is old and the property of a mother and Fra Ahgelico could not have existed with­ or grandmother; for these spinning-wheels are out her. She created the music of Palestrina, made by the hundred in the.furniture factories, inspired Mozart and forced Hayd'en to join her but because it suddenly became fashionable to choirs. Her ancient stained glass is the despair have American ancestors. And the spinning- of modern artists. The carving in wood in her wheels and grandfathers' clocks, bought by the old cathedrals the unapproachable models for dozen in old farm houses or made to order, were carvers of the present day. Jewels, lace, flowers put for show in conspicuous and. inappropriate were drawn to her shrines. These sham aesthetes' places. Now this, was false aesthetics. It was may praise paganism and make paeans in its all sham. If I have an old cup, an old table, honor, but true aestheticism is essentially Chris­ an old sideboard which belonged to my grand-, tian. • - . mother, it is right that, I should value it, no 374 filE NufRE DAME SCMOLAsflC. matter how ugly it is. But if I buy an old thing, will be in a position, when you enter the world, not because it is beautiful, but because it is to distinguish between the true and the false fashionable to have it, I become part of a sham. aesthetics. To buy an old and beautiful thing is commend­ In order to make a good confession, one must able; but if I buy it because it is fashionable, have committed sin. In order to acquire good not. caring whether it be beautiful or not; I fall taste, one must know what bad taste is.' It is below the level of good taste. bad taste to prefer costliness to elegance,—to The rich man who comes from Europe bring­ imagine that costlj^ things are always elegant. ing with him a miscellaneous collection of things It is bad taste to admire things because they Avhich he has purchased for the reason that he are fashionable Avithout knowing why. As per­ has been told that they are fine, and for another haps you discovered from my last lecture, I am reason—that they are dear,—is a pitiable object. not an authority on the subject of ladies' dress, In his pretence and ignorance he reminds, one but I do know that no young lady with a tip- of the old Irish adage: "A well-dressed man tilted retrousse,—or, let us put it more gently,—a without education is like a boneen with a jewel snub nose should wear a Grecian knot. Why? in his ear." A bonec7i,xa.y friends, is a little pig; Because this fashion of wearing the hair was perhaps you know it in French as cochon. Riches invented by the Greeks, a people who were more cannot bu}?^ culture when the fine instinct does particular about the form and the fitness of not exist; nor can they obtain true aesthetics things than even the F*renich, who are the real through old clocks made last year in New Jer­ modern Greeks in spirit. You will find in the sey, or somebody else's old spinningrwheels. famous head of the Clytie an example of this To be" aesthetic," in the true sense, one must be style of hair-dressing now so fashionable. You honest and sincere; not afraid to confess that one will observe, however, that she has not a nose likes a simple and common thing, and not afraid "tip-tilted like a flower." The Grecian knot was to give one's reasons for such a liking. For invented to accompany the Grecian nose. And myself, I have been in houses which were pal­ the young lady with a Roman or a retrousse nose aces in which I was unhappy. And I have been who adopts the Grecian knot because it is the in little houses which were anything but palaces fashion errs against perfect taste. For the sesthet- and I have been very happy. The house which ics. of dress are worth considering if you con­ is like a museum, where a flamboyant copy of sider dress at all. And even in small things it is one of Rubens's Mary Magdalens jostles the best to be correct. Mercury of Praxitiles, where solferino-colored V. cushions bought at a "fancy" shop and Japanese screens, imitation armor and modern stained It is bad taste, when you are" permitted to glass make confusion,—where a goblet carved hear good singing, to admire and to think of by Cellini, a lion of Bar3'-e's and a tambourine the costumes of t\\e.prima donna, or at a-fine play painted with sunflowers repose side by side to consider the question whether the actress's near the, inevitable spinning-wheel, and where dresses are by Worth, or not, as of as much impor­ everything says: "All this cost money."—that tance as her delivery of the words. It seems to me is a vulgar house. to be bad taste not to choose religious pictures There:,are probably more rich sav^ages in and statues with some regard to the rules of America than anvwhere else, for the reason that art. It is a large part of the pretentious aesthet­ many of, our rich people have not yet learned ics of our time to dwell more on the effect than that one of the greatest privileges wealth gives on the cause,—to think more of the attitude of, them is that of exercising good taste to-the the Mater Dolorosa oi Carlo Dolce than of the utmost. .A rich woman can afford to be ele­ ineffable woe her face expresses,—to rave about gant and simple. But too often she does not the opaline color of Fra Angelico's angels and understand this. She glitters with diamonds in to think nothing of the fervent religious spirit the morning and walks in the streets in gowns which created them. But some of us Catholics that, in Europe, no decent woman would wear are prone to go to the other extreme. The unless she rode in a carriage.. But this will be gaudiest religious print is good enough for us. changed when we become more civilized; when And while we revere unspeakably the Passion we learn that the possession of riches does not of Our Lord, we keep in our. oratories cruci­ makeipeople worthy of respect and admiration, fixes whose workmanship the most.untutored but tha.t-they must deserve it in other ways. Tyrolean peasant would not tolerate. I have - With your advantages of home training and seen pictures of Our Blessed Lady which were the incomparable training you receive here, you positively sacrilegious. While we would not. THE NOTRE DAME SCHOLASTIC. 375

endure for a moment in our parlors a picture and magnificent history is suggested by a carved of Washington with a magenta "coat and a green cup of Benvenuto Cellini's. But when people hat, and a figure out of drawing, we contentedly begin to make the real purposes of life subser­ ,put a figure of St. Joseph painted in the crudest vient to decoration,—to consider the fold of and most vulgar manner in our oratories. And Oriental drapery, the marking of a teapot as this in spite of the fact that we possess a thou^ of more importance than virtuous and cheerful sand exquisite and poetical conceptions,—that living, it were better for them if all the pottery all the power of the genius of the most artistic in the world had suffered the fate of the great age of the world has burst forth in praise of Alexandrian Library and been burned in its own Christ, His Mother and the.Saints. While the kilns. " aesthetes " buyour old altar pieces for seemingly This false esthetics is a craze. I remember fabulous amounts of money, while their drawing- ad inner at which one of the apostles of this rooms and studies are filled with copies of \'&ry changeable religion was present. He was Botticelli, Raphael, Guido, and Overbeck, we an Englishman and an Oxford man. And the are content with wretched prints and statues humble Americans waited anxiously for" him, which make the judicious grieve.. There is one and the poor hostess went about with red flushes woman in all this land who has, in spite of the on her cheeks, fearing that everything would vulgarity and ignorance around her, preached ; not be up to his lordship's expectations; for ardentl}'- the aesthetics of religion. it was rumored that he once left a dinner-table This is Miss Eliza Allen Starr. Her name because the lights were not changed with every deserves reverence. course; and that he had no appetite unless - There are many houses throughout this coun­ the proper music was played while he dined. try where true jestheticism is understood; where It was said that, by some mistake, the band had serenity and peace dwell; where the spirit of once indulged in a gallop during the serving of beauty is cultivated; where the inmates have the soup. This had given him a fit of dyspep­ learned that costliness is not the measure of sia from which he never recovered. The house enjoyment. These are not generally the homes was decorated with the choicest bits of ceramic. of the rich, nor the homes of the very poor. It The talk was of the most "aesthetic" .kind: . is in the happy medium that.one generally finds "Oh," one lad}'-said,/'how intense,—how pre­ the truest refinement and culture. I call to ciously and utterl}'- intense is the unwritten mind ondnow: Its centre is the sitting-room of poetry of the unknown poet-who: never; even an .old-fashioned house in the country. There murm.urs the spontaneous, burning thoughts are always good books on the centre-table. The that -foam within him!" I was easily embar­ mother and daughters know "The Following of rassed then, so I said: "Yes, ma'am"—which Christ" by-heart. The few pictures are copies was not the proper thing at all. -When the of old* painters,—good prints and photographs. great festhete came, the ladies all gathered On the open piano, one sees, not the "Lullaby" around him. "How intensel" they said, "how from Erminie or a Valse Briiliante by-nobody quite-too utterly intense!" And one of-them knows who, but music showing that the brain put a wreath of lilies on-his head which hung and heart have been brought into practice as down over his left eye. When the dinner had well as the fingers. And the people there are begun, he. disappointed . everj^-body by asking content. -The lily and the tulip from their gar­ for roast beef and devouring three large slices. den, the daisy and the violet from their mead­ He shocked the hostess by saying, "when a man's ows-yield them renewed pleasure ever}'^ year. h.ungry, he wants something more than'am­ They try to have only beautiful things around brosia and nightingale's tongues, doesn't he?" thehi, and they succeed, though they-do not But the attitudinizing, the straining after effect, . search the old curiosity shops for Louis Sixteenth the insincere nonsense talked by these-people cabinet or Henry Second vases, and I doubt while they waited for the "aesthetic" splendor whether they know the. difference between the to: dawn, showed how hollow and worthless their ware of Satsuma and the ware of Limoge. sham aesthetics wa?. • : - -It is true that the history of each kind of pot­ .'There can be.no true-beauty in life unless tery is in part the history of the people who there is goodness as a foundation forit.r ;True made it. From that point of vie.w it is interest­ jesthetics must mean serenity and cheerfulnessl ing. The Wedgewood ware represents a crystal­ It is really zesthetic.to make the bestrof ev:er\>- lization of: enduring and'well-dire:cted human thing,T-rto look on the bright side,—to adorn the effort,; as you can-see iby reference to Samuel seajnylside of life with such ornaments as- are Smiles' "Self-Help!' and howmuchwonderful near-you. The old -Turkis.hwriter's saying comes 3776 . THE NOTRE DAME SCHOLASTIC,

back again: "If I had only two loaves of bread, I would exchange one for a hyacinth." Musing-s on the Mississippi. The highest authority says that we cannot live b}?- bread alone. And again: "Look at the BY J. J. B. lilies of the field." We cannot neglect the beauty of common things without losing much that is I.—( CONTINUED. ) good in life. If we want to find the loveliest Penetrating the vista of years, the muser fol­ example of a household frugal, simple, con­ lows Father Hennepin from the Illinois River tented, serene, let us glance back at that of Naza­ to St. Anthony's Falls, and the intrepid La Salle reth. There we see the Virgin Mother—" blessed to the Gulf of Mexico. This occurs in 1681, among women"—calmly, yet with joy singing but a few years after Father Marquette's earthly in her heart, doing her household duties. The labors are o'er. Then he asks himself: in what lily of the valley and the roses of Sharon bloom other religion can be seen such examples of around her. She did not live amid Persian stuffs, apostolic zeal and self-sacrifice as Pere Mar­ or the jewels of Solomon, or ancient and curious quette and the other early missionaries of the vases, and yet she lived the highest and most Mississippi present? Many of them were reared beautiful of lives. in luxury. The courts of Europe,—the highest The aesthetics of literature does not mean positions of honor and trust were open to them; what this new school would have us believe. We a life of ease and pleasure lay before them. shall not find beauty and consolation in authors Leaving all things, spurning these honors and whose only merit is the refining of trifles or the pleasures, bidding adieu to the allurements of deification of pagan vice. Swinburne and Ros- wealth, rejecting, even despising everything the setti, Villers and Rabelais, Gautier and Baude­ world holds dear, they devote their lives to the laire can only be adored by men of perverted alleviation of the miseries and the salvation of taste. As the drinker of whiskey cannot enjoy the souls of benighted strangers. Their charity the flavor of food or liquid less fiery, so our is as boundless as was the ambition of Napo­ aesthetes, partially from perverted taste, par­ leon; their humility as great as his pride; their tially from a desire to be perverted and singular, zeal for souls as remarkable as his greed for affect a liking of what no healthy-minded person power; their perseverance as wonderful as his can like. genius; their endurance as indomitable as his The aesthetic sneer at "The Rainy Day" of will. Their motto is. Ad inajorem Dei gloriam. Longfellow, at "The Lost Chord" of Adelaide Their object, the salvation of souls. To attain Procter, at much of the poetry of Words­ this object, no obstacle is insurmountable. Hence, worth, and at some of the" poetry of Tennyson. undaunted by the fear of ignominy, of suffering, They find that Sir Walter Scott is not "utter" or of failure, unmoved by the prospect of death enough; they can endure no music with a melody by martyrdom, those brave soldiers of the cross in it, no picture with a story in it. They pretend enter these wilds to fight the battle of the Lord that a mutton chop eaten from an ordinary —to make known to barbarians the word of God plate is hateful to them. And I have never be­ and the comforts of. life. Meek followers of the lieved that. But let us be content to know Crucified, they ''go about doing good." Walk­ what the science and art of true asstheticsmean. ing through the woods, they give divine lessons. Let us not be disturbed by these new English Examples of every virtue, the "black gowns" "fads." Let us like what we have good reason are loved by the Indian. for liking. The fonder we are of our homes They deny themselves bread and the com­ and our country, the more truly "aesthetic" we forts of life in order to feeid the needy and shall be. I can forgive the adoration of the break the Bread of Life to the famishing child sunflower and the field daisy because they are of the forest. If people honor.the statesman American flowers. Let us practise the art of vvho makes great sacrifices for his country's wel­ aesthetics by trjnng to find and to point out the fare; if they love the person whose teachings beaut}'^ that springs from American soil and make good men and women; if they admire permeates American literature. Do not let us the gallant young hero vvho fearlessly rushes become vulgar by waiting with open mouths and up to the cannon's mouth for love of fatherland; beating hearts for the latest British utterances. if they venerate the conquering hero to whom - Until we know the beauties of our own la nd^ let us they owe home and happiness; what should be not go abroad. If we do, we deserve to be counted their feelings of honor, of love, of admiration, among that vulgar herd who "go to Europe to of veneration: for those men who make such complete an education never begun, at home." unheard-of sacrifices, spend their lives in the THE NOTRE DAME SCHOLASTIC 7^11

recesses "of forests, die painful deaths, often of He related to us many of the afflictions of his life con­ martyrdom, and all for the benefit of others, to cerning which he spoke without a murmur, still less with pleasure, but yet with serenity. Never did we behold a save the souls of savages? They well know that more placid smile than his. He frequently and aptly re­ the soul of the humblest savage of the forest is cited verses of Virgil and Homer, which he applied to as precious in the sight of God as that of a king. the enchanting scenes that successively presented them­ The beneficial influence of these early discov­ selves to our view or to the thoughts with which we were erers and missionaries on future generations is engaged. " He seemed to possess great attainments of every kind inestimable. That they left their " footprints which he scarcely suffered to appear under his evangeli­ on the sands of time" is evident not only from cal simplicity. Like his predecessors, the apostles, though the saintly names scattered all through the knowing everything, he seemed to know nothing. We •Mississippi Valley, but also from the veneration had one day a conversation on the subject of the French in which the names of these "black gowns" are Revolution, and we felt a secret pleasure in talking of the troubles of men amid the most tranquil scenes. We were held by all classes of people. The good seed seated in a valley on the banks of a river whose name sowed by them yielded abundant fruit. It would we knew not, and which for a long series of ages had have been more productive of good were it not poured its refreshing waters through this unknown re­ for the actions of many adventurers. They are gion. On making this observation, we perceived that our aged companion was affected. His eyes filled with of the immortal few that were not born to die. tears at this image of a life passed in the deserts in con­ The page in American history recording the ferring benefits unknown to the world." labors of the missionaries of the Mississippi Valley is the most glorious in our annals. Such was the missionary of these regions. Humble follower of the Man-God, he was a Had the people of other religions but fol­ pattern of every virtue. He was poor, chaste, lowed the example of these pious Catholic humble, temperate, charitable. He loved God missionaries; had they always treated the abo­ above all things and his neighbor as himself. rigines with fairness, honor, uprightness, honesty, Knowing that the disciple is not above his Mas­ charity; had the Spaniards and others always ter, he thought that it was not becoming that followed the teachings of the priests who ac­ the path of the disciple should be covered with companied them; had the early settlers been roses while that of the Master was filled with actuated by zeal for God's honor and glory in­ thorns and sprinkled with His own Precious stead of by an unsatiable desire for their own Blood. Hence his mortified life. Where are aggrandizement, honor and glory, the labors of those outside the Catholic Church, who, claim­ these missionaries would have been more pro­ ing to be followers of Christ, would separate ductive of good and the Indian problem, which themselves from such comforts to associate with has been the source of so much trouble in the ignorance, wretchedness and barbarism with the past, would not have been so difficult of solution. prospect of receiving for all their sacrifices the A Breboeuf, a Lallemant, a Jogues, who watered ingratitude and hatred of those for whom they with their blood the frozen wastes of the St. are made? The true follower of Christ looks Lawrence had faithful disciples and imitators in for his reward hereafter. many of the missionaries of the Mississippi Valley. (TO BE CONTINUED.) Chateaubriand paints the following charming picture of a later missionary of the Mississippi: Was Hamlet Mad? " I myself met one of these apostles of religion amid the solitudes of America. One morning, as we were slowly pursuing our course through the forests, we per­ A SYMPOSIUM BY THE CL.ASS OF CRITICISM. ceived a tall, venerable, old man with a white beard approaching us. He was dressed in a long robe, and That Hamlet was not mad seems to be the walked with the aid of a staff, at the same time reading general, if not the .accepted opinion. Hamlet attentively in a book. He appeared radiantly illumined merely feigned madness to effect a purpose— by the rising sun, which threw a beam upon him athwart to avenge his father's death; and this could be the foliage of the trees. done only in this way; for if he had not feigned "Fancy would fain have believed him to be Thermosiris madness, his purpose would have been quickly issuing from the sacred wood of the Muses in the deserts detected, and he would have paid for his rash­ of Upper Egypt. He proved to be a missionary of ness with his life, as he eventually did. Hamlet's Louisiana on his way from New Orleans, returning to the country of the Illinois, where he had the superintendence speeches with Horatio are the soul of good of a little flock of French people and Christian savages. sense; but Horatio was his friend, and was privy He accompanied us for several days; and however early to his design of wreaking vengeance on his fa­ we were up in the morning, we always found the aged ther's murderer. If Hamlet only feigned mad­ traveller risen before us, and reading his breviary while ness, does it not follow that he would have ->valking in the forest. This holy-man had suffered much. acted naturally towards Horatio, who was al- 78 THE NOTRE DAME. SCHOLASTIC, ready the keeper of so many of his secrets that stand the true nature of his insanity, if we may it would have been folly to attempt to play the so call it, we must bear in mind the various cir­ fool with him? If he was really mad, why did cumstances of his life, and their effects upon he not talk and act like a madman towards his mind. When we first meet Hamlet, he is Horatio, and the queen-mother whom he up­ a fiery, energetic young man at the university braided for her disloyalty to his father's honor, of Wittenberg. He loves sports and all the ex­ as his father had directed him to do? ercises, of a student's life. He is the idolized No, taking all in all, Hamlet was not mad. and only son of a loving father and mother. He formed a design to kill the king, pretended He inherited the old Danish quickness for ac­ that he was mad, and would have executed his tion, which, when it had assimilated itself to the design but for his blamable indecision of char­ thoughtfulness and reflection caused by study, acter. "Think well before you act," was Ham­ formed in him a brooding and indecisive disposi­ let's rule of life. The sequel shows that he stuck tion so fatal to him in his after life. Whilst to it too closely. absorbed in study and surrounded by kind com­ R. ADELSPERGER. panions, the summons of his father's death calls * him back to Elsinore. His grief knows no limits; and had this been his onl}^ affliction, we could Shakspeare has given us a wonderful study easily imagine that it would have soon worn in the character of Hamlet. It is like an inex­ away. haustible mine of great treasures. We may take fragments from this storehouse of nature, and But another more crushing event, the source assay and analyze them as often as we will, there of all his woe and miser\'-, now occurs to drive is always precious metal left in the residue that him mad. For the time hail not yet come for him to la}^ aside his "sable" garments when has escaped our scientific and critical analysis. "the funeral baked.meats did coldly furnish But though Hamlet is an enigma, it does not forth the marriage tables" at the wedding of his follow that he is insane, nor even does his gen­ mother with his uncle. His mother's incestuous ius partake of that character which is akin to act, and the consequent disgrace of his own insanity. To call him mad only the more mys­ name, pre3^s heavily upon his mind. He falls tifies his personality, and envelops him in a into a kind of stupor; he.reflects upon the late darkness so deep that even the strongest light mysterious death of his father, and begins to of German students could not penetrate. That suspect foul pla)'. at times he feigned madness, when it best suited his purpose, we can readily see; and so well did Thp ghost in the first scene of the tragedy he play the part of a madman that we can say was not a product of a distracted brain, and of him in these moments with Ophelia: moreover was not seen by him alone but by several soldiers on two previous occasions. In •' That noble and most sovereign reason Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh." " the fifth Scene of Act I, after the ghost has deliv^ered his message and urged Hamlet on to We should understand Hamlet's position as immediate revenge, Hamlet foretells his future that of a cultured person amongst semi-barba­ course of action. For, when speaking to Horatio, rians. Had Hamlet been of the .same nature as he tells him not to divulge anything of what he his uncle, he would hav^e slain without further knew to others if he "shall think it meet to put ado the murderer of his father, and we would an antic disposition on." This declaration alone not drop the curtain on a stage strewn with shows that Hamlet intended to feign madness. dead bodies. But.the German university had We next witness the conflict of the Danish made of him a metaphysician and a thinker, and Christian spirit within him which thus bursts and then the.intej-view.with.the ghost makes forth: him a sceptic. Henceforth the world to him " The time is out of joint;—O cursed spite; wears a mantle of sadness and darkness; the in- That ever I was born to set it right!" izxay of his mother and the villainy of his uncle ,make a rough sea of his sensitive soul, and fhe Had he immediately obeyed the command of ebb and rlow unfit him for action. He stumbles revenge enjoined him by his father's spirit, the and stutters between enthusiasm and inactivity; play would have been brought suddenly .to a onseeinghisuncle at prayer he reasons with him­ close;.but his thoughtful and dilatory nature self, and spares the murderer of his father; then kept him in a painful state of suspense. in. a sudden spasm he thrusts his sword through Hamlet was not really mad, even though he the arras and slays Polonius. did appear so to those about him. For who can believe that an insane man could make such "Nor what he spake, though it lacked form a little, speeches as the one which'begins: "What a Was not like madness. There's something in his soul O'er which melancholy sits on brood." piece of work is man," or many others full of sound sense and wisdom which could be pointed J. B. MEAGHER. out to prove the same assertion? Even Polonius himself, in Act II, Scene II, is conipelled to , -The question of the real.or pretended mad­ admit that "though this be madness, yet there ness of Hamlet is a subject open to much dis­ is. method in't" which seems to be an evident cussion. -JBefore we can ever hope to obtain an defect of Hamlet's deceit. accurate kn9\yledge of his character, or under­ Another proof that" Hanilet was not mad is THE NOTRE DAME SCHOLASTIC, 379 easily seen in his cunning device to find out the show anything but madness. When Hamlet guilt of the king and of testing the ghost's kills Polonius, and his mother says, veracity. Such a scheme would never be con­ " O, what a rash and bloody deed is this!" ceived by a crazy man. The play had its de­ he answers: sired effect. Harnlet is thoroughly convinced "A bloody deed; almost as bad, good mother. of his uncle's crime, and declares to Horatio: As kill a king and marry with his brother." "I'll take the ghost's word for a thousand pound." When his mother says, And yet though Hamlet knows that he is en­ " What have I done, that thou durst wag thy tongue titled to revenge and is certain of the right In noise so rude against me? " person, still on account of his indecision he fails Her son replies: to inuster courage enough to strike the blow. " Such an act He broods and thinks but never acts. A spark That blurs the grace and blush of modesty; of ienergy and strength flashes up and enables Calls virtue, hypocrite; takes off the rose him to kill Polonius, and again the spirit of From the fair forehead of an innocent love. hesitation gains possession of him. Of this his And sets a blister there;" ' father's ghost reproves and reminds him when the affrighted queen asks: he appears to Hamlet in his mother's closet: " Ah! me, what act "Do not forget: This visitation That roars so loud, and thunders in the index?" Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose." Hamlet replies to her last question in a man­ Thus I might go on enumerating instance ner which proves the soundness of his mind. In after instance in order to show that Ham­ a vivid word picture he brings before .the eyes let's madness was not a reality, but feigned in a of the guilty woman, her two husbands, the liv­ great measure, and thrust upon him by the force ing and the dead. He shows the manly beauty of circumstances, and, as he himself asserts in and goodness of his father, her first husband, Act HI, Scene IV: and the physical ugliness and moral corruption of his uncle, her present husband. An insane " That I essentially am not in madness, But mad in craft." man would not make such comparisons, nor T. A. GOEBEL. reason in the calm, collected manner of the Danish Prince. * * Hamlet's great failing was his want of de­ 1 cannot believe that Hamlet was mad, this, cision. He was the possessor of many noble I know, is the generally accepted opinion; but qualities, but liis fatal indecision brought dis­ I cannot conceive a man—one downright mad aster on himself and others, which could have as Hamlet is supposed to be—who can make been avoided had he promptly taken steps to such pregnant replies, as the Danish prince does punish his father's murderer. to Polonius in Act H, Scene H, of Shakspeare's H. A. HOLDEN. great tragedy. Hamlet calls Polonius a fish­ * monger; and when the latter denies the allega­ tion, the former answers him with "Then I We are inclined to adopt the opinion of the would you were so honest a man." majority of writers on this subject. A man's san­ • It may be said that this is one of the subtil- ity or insanity must be judged from his words ties of madness, which often find vent in such and actions; and a careful perusal of Shak­ replies, but no one who is not far gone in in­ speare's masterpiece tends only to strengthen sanity can say, with a show of truth, that such our opinion that Hamlet, at times, possessed* wisdom as "To be honest as this world goes is the peculiarities of an insane person: the deep" to be one man picked out of two thousand," is melancholy, the animal-like cunning, the vacil­ the raving of a madman. An insane man is lating purpose, is quite evident. But cannot characterized by a certain subtleness in acting these characteristics mark the individual whose and speaking, but his actions lack method. reason has not been impaired? Now, Hamlet is thoroughly methodical. Take Hamlet's words and actions are not the jar­ as an example his instruction to the players. gon and freaks of a madman! A keen logic, If a madman is capable of giving such instruc­ a deep sense of right and wrong, and a desire tion as this, it would be well for the country if to reason and reflect before acting, are nianifest • there were plenty of such "lunatics." We would in all his acts and utterances. A person un­ then have fewer madmen on the stage and lec­ sound in mind does not reason, cannot reason, ture platform. Again, do these matchless words, as the very seat of the rational faculty is de­ breathing the fire of divine inspiration, sound stroyed or at least diseased, he cannot judge like the speech of a madman: between right and wrong, nor is he capable of "What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! mature and undisturbed reflection.. How infinite in faculty! In form and moving, how express That Hamlet feigned insanity during, some and admirable! In action, how like an angel! In appre­ hension, how like a god! The beauty of the world! The of the dialogues with Claudius, the queen and' paragon of animals! And yet to me what is this quintes­ Ophelia, in order that he might more,easily sence of dust? ^ carry out his plans, is quite probable. Could In Act HI, Scene IV, in the interview between Hamlet haye been partially insane? Could he Hamlet and his queen-mother his replies to her have had lucid intervals at times, and again 38o THE NOTRE DAME SCHOLASTIC.

"been depiived of his reason? Could his so- But what was Hamlet after he had suffered called insanity have been the highest form of the caresses of the critics? No Englishman genius? surely, but a Dane, "who fails to act in any defi­ The answers to these questions would require nite line of consistent purpose; neglects what a more xareful stud}' of the play and its sur­ he deems a sacred &^\.y\ wg.stes himself in tri­ roundings, and a more extended knowledge of fling occupations; descends to the ignoble part medical science than we possess. of court jester; breaks the heart of a lady he " Defend me, therefore, dearly loves; uselessly and recklessly kills her From reveries so airy, from the toil father, with no sign of remorse for the deed; Of dropping buckets into emptj' wells, insults a brother's legitimate grief at her grave, And growing old in drawing nothing up." and finally goes stumbling to the catastrophe D. E. DWYER. of his death, the most complete failure, in the direction of the avowed purpose of his life, ever recorded." The question of Hamlet's sanity has given rise of late j'^ears to much hard feeling among This is the Hamlet of critics. Now, it seems commentators, and to no little dispute between to me that no man who had not taken up the critics. Indeed it is hard to say that the quer}' play with the grim determination that Hamlet will ever be answered to the complete satisfac­ should be mad could thus conceive this charac­ tion of the contending parties. ter. Of course Ophelia exclaims: "O what a noble mind is here o'erthrown!" But let us not It may, therefore, seem nothing less than misinterpret her words. Hamlet is playing a madness for one not deeply versed in mystic part, and his success as Jiistrio is evident through­ criticism to attempt to withdraw this bone of out the entire play. contention from the province of the critic; and yet I believe this very state of ignorance Surely nobody but a stupid Shakspearian to be the best preparation for the conception commentator could fail to appreciate the legal of this unique character. Until men learn to tendency of Hamlet's mind. He has seen a accept the masterpiece as it comes from the ghost (no rare visitor in Shakspeare's day) hand of the master; until they learn to disregard and the testimony of his senses is corroborated the absurdities of Belleforest's, "Hamblette" by three witnesses. But, like a true lawyer, he and the "Amleth'' of Saxo Grammaticus there is still incredulous; he still declares: will be no possible solution of the problem. " I'll have grounds To every disinterested reader it must appear More relative than this." that the Hamlet of Shakspeare differs widely Then the players are announced,and the "Mur­ from the Hamlet of his critics. Flamlet, when der of Gonzaga " is changed to suit the tragedy the brush of Shakspeare touched the canvas, of the elder I-Iamlet's death. Horatio is asked was a young Englishman who had a purpose in to watch the bearing of the king while the life. It was not so much the character of a players recite the lines inserted by Hamlet. man who had been, but rather was it that of a Claudius is overcome and thus betrays himself. man who, as Shakspeare foresaw, would soon Surely these are "grounds more relative," and be. He suspected the fratricide of his uncle; only now is Hamlet fully convinced. From his he knew the incestuous second marriage of his last speech to his faithful friend Horatio, it mother. Disgusted with the depravity of the would seem that Hamlet foresaw the shadows , court, half-crazed b}- grief and hidden shame, that would linger round his name, for with his his life took that melancholy, listless, half-uncon- last breath he sighs: • scious turn which was necessarily the result of " O good Horatio, what a wounded name, his fits of brooding. Hamlet's early life must Things standing thus unknown shall live behind me! have been happy. He had, apparently, bestowed If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart. his love upon Ophelia, as she had certainly given Absent thee from felicity awhile And in this harsh Avorld draw thy breath in pain . her heart to him. But now he knows the un­ To tell niy story." speakable crimes of his household, and his heart thirsts for vengeance. M. CAVANAUGH. The speech of Laertes fits him very well: " How came he dead? I'll not be juggled with " THEY also serve who only stand and wait!" To hell, allegiance! Vows to blackest devil! And if, dear Master, such must be my fate, Conscience and death to the profoundest pit! Teach me before Thine august will to bow. I dare damnation. To this point I stand And face the future Avith unruffled brow. That both the worlds I give to negligence. To wait while others serve, to stand aside! - Let come what comes; only I'll be revenged My small beginnings in the dust to hide Most thoroughly for my father." Hast Thou decreed? Let me contented be: He cares not for his love; he cares not for his Even this poor service may be done for Thee. life; only one thing he wants: revenge, as deep The gift I have so prized, it is all Thine: and as black as the grief in his soul. He begins Thou needest not or"work or word of mine.'' -to work in a systematic manner, accomplishes Patient I bide Thy time, or soon or'late; his end, and seems to find supreme consolation. Thy servant still, though I but stand and wait. - in his own death,- - - :. . —'AngeliqueX)eLa7ide:in"A"je_Ma7-m,'\ THE NOTRE DAME SCHOLASTIC. 381

for upon the manner in which they are attended to, much depends. A less mature person derives greater advan­ ^uiilisfjrti £&crn ^aturtan Tjurfng STcrnx Eimc at K. D. Snibcrsftg. tage from simple studies than from those of the more advanced grades; because for such a Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office, N'otre Dame, Ind. one the power of understanding must, to a certain degree, be developed by elementary Notre Dame, Feltmary 9, 1889. training, growth, and advancement in age. The attention of- the Alumni of the University of Notre These elementary branches should also be of Dame, and others, is called to the fact that the NOTRE such a nature as not to ^w'Q. a wrong bias to the . DAME SCHOLASTIC has entered upon the TWENTY- understanding, nor to prove detrimental to the SECOND year of its existence, and presents itself anew as a candidate for the favor and support of the many old moral character: for no study, be it religious or friends who have heretofore lent it a helping hand. scientific, in which simple truth is assailed or Students should take it; parents should take it; and above all, distorted should ever be allowed the young; OLD STUDENTS SHOULD TAKE IT. early errors take deep root, and those who have Terms, $1.^0 per Animm. Postpaid. had but little experience in the knowledge of Address EDITOR NOTRE DAME SCHOLASTIC, right and wrong, of truth and falsehood, are Notre Dame, Indiana. incapable of guarding themselves against de­ ception. : A person of mature age, whose power of —Our esteemed contemporary, the BostonPilot, understanding has been adequately developed appears in a complete new dress of type, which by primary studies, who has commenced at the gives additional attractiveness to the pleasing very beginning, and gradually advanced in the and instructive variety of contents which it pro­ scale of scientific investigation as he advanced vides weekly for its readers. The Pilot is one in age, may pursue, without danger to mind or of the oldest and foremost Catholic papers in body, studies of a more difficult and abstruse the country, and the best conducted in all its nature, and reap advantage from them. Philos­ departments. For years it has held a command­ ophy may be taken up as a study by him; for by ing position in the field of journalism by reason means of his keen intelligence he is capable of of its timely and able editorials on subjects discerning between right and wrong, truth and pertaining to religion and all the great questions falsehood, where a person less mature might of the day, together with interesting correspond­ be liable to attach himself to that which is wrong. ence from far and near, instructive literary By studying, and using his judgment between articles, choice poetry, etc. We wish the Pilot them, he would attach himself more firmly to' many long years of usefulness and prosperity. the truth, which he would the better perceive We extend our congratulations also to the by the very contrast; for a thing is never so Catholic Citizen of Milwaukee upon its new and well seen into as when contrasted with some­ improved appearance which gives evidence of thing directly the opposite. \¥hite, for instance, the success so deservedly attending its career. never appears so bright as when bordering im­ It is doing a good and noble work throughout mediately on black; and truth is never sooner the West in behalf of religion and society, and discovered than when placed alongside of its merits the patronage of a large circle of Cath­ opposite, error. olic readers. Its editorials are well written and instructive, while the other departments of the Then, again, we .must make a little distinction paper are filled with a variety of useful reading. between strength and weakness, which may be We hope the Citizen will meet with continued either of mind or body. The strength of the success. one is the strength of the other, and the weak­ ness of the one the weakness of the other. While a youth possessed of but a weak mind Physical Development and Study. and body would injurehimself by pursuing such studies as would overtax his mental powers, It is certain that there are advantages to be "another possessed of a strong mind and body derived from all studies, whether sacred or pro­ could pursue the latter studies not only without fane; but these advantages are not equally de­ detriment, but with all the advantages that rived by all; and all studies are not to be taken could be derived from assiduous application to up without distinction of' age, mental and cor­ them. A necessarj'- requisite for every study is poral strength, natural disposition,'etc. The mens sana iii corpore sano—"a sound mind in a latter should be taken into serious consideration, sound body." These two are inseparable; one •382 THE NOTRE-BAME SCHOLASTIC.

cannot fully exist without the presence of the studies as he may find agreeable. There are other. It is an undeniable fact that severe men­ others which, though they give not the same tal application seriously taxes the strength of pleasure to the pupil, are just as important; and the body, which, if not corresponding in strength if he neglect them, he is losing his time and or endurance to the strain upon it, will inevitably wasting the money of his parents. .We have give way. Therefore a person of a sufficiently seen such, students, who, though they were al­ mature age, and who possesses "a sound mind ways at work, neglected that which was most in a sound bodx'-," together with good natural serviceable to them. Others there were who dispositions, may attach himself to any study endeavored by cramming at examination time whatsoever, be it religious, scientific, or dog­ to advance a year, and when they succeeded matical; Avhile those who lack the "necessary they had found that the succeeding 3'ear's stud­ bodily strength should confine themselves to ies were beyond their knowledge to grasp. Too such lisfht studies as will not make them invalids proud to admit their deficiency and take their for life, or bring them to a premature grave. proper place, they struggled through the year By careful training, and reasonable mental and with difficulty, not comprehending qne-half of bodily exercise, the latter may in time acquire what was taught. They were losing.their time. such strength as will enable them not only to en­ But these are not the only ways in which time counter the more difficult and taxing studies, but is lost. We not unfrequently see students who may also become possessed of even greater pow­ do the work required of them in a manner so ers of endurance than those naturally gifted with negligent and imperfect that little or no good strength, of mind and body. . C. comes to them from it. A lesson is hastily skimmed over, an exercise dashed off, and not another thought is given to it. In a day or so Time Misspent. he has no knowledge of wdiat he has seen. Every­ thing has vanished from memory, and he has We doubt whether there is anyone who cares lost his time. Whatever it is necessary to do to lose time. Men, as a rule, would much rather should be done well. If it is not done properly make use of all the hours given them for self- it.were as well to leave it undone, since the improvement or in advancing their fortunes; 3^et labor is thrown awa3^ they cannot but find now and then that they Let everyone, then, engage himself in work have let many golden moments pass b}'- without steadily and faithfully; let the work be such as any profit. Then, again, there are othei's who, befits his station in life, and let it be done com­ though they would like to improve themselves, pletely and thoroughly. In this way alone can have acquired habits of idleness which they he improve the fleeting hours, and accomplish cannot shake off. Indeed idleness has taken such good for himself and all with whom he comes a hold of them that they cannot make the reso­ in contact. F, lution to commence anj'^thing. They have given themselves up to dreaming, and pass in reverie the hours which they should give to solid work. They dream of what they would do were certain Books and. Periodicals. contingencies to take place, and neglect to act with regard to the present. They dream of honor —The Art Amateur for February gives two colored plates, a charming little moonlight and glory without doing anj^thing by which it landscape and the first of a series of fern designs may be attained. They dream of the good which for china decoration. The black-and-white de they might accomplish were they endowed with signs include Easter decorations—lilies and "wealth, and neglect to do the good within their ecclesiastical designs for dorsel and banners; power. .Away with these dreamers, and those a large four-page design for a screen panel, the who give way to such reveries and freaks of first of a series representing the seasons; de­ imagination—they are losing their time. signs for a plate (orchids), two salad-plates, a fish-plate and a Royal Worcester vase, a strik­ Then there are other people who are busy at ing double-page wild-rose design for a carved all times, but only with such work as may be and perforated panel, and a pleasing tapestry agreeable to them. They work at things which decoration, after Boucher, "The Fountain, of do not belong to their state of life. This is not Love." The frontispiece is a specially .fine "Head of a Creole." The practical articles re­ what is demanded of man; the work which he late to still h'fe, flower, water-color and tapestry must do is that which his position in life requires, painting, Easter decoration and home adorn­ and he who neglects tb do this" is losing his time. ment. A second.useful letter is given, addressed If is not for a student to attend wholly to such to a 3'oung lady who asks if she "can learn TUB NGTIiE DAME. SCHOLASTIC. 3S3

china painting." Amateur photography, for Pennington. "Lassoing a Sea-Lion," by John beginners especially, receives great attention. R. Coryell, is a story of some very enterprising Articles of particular interest are the " Hints boys who sold a sea-lion to a circus manager; from Japanese Homes," Mr. Kunz's talk about in "A Rose in a Queer Place" Professor Stan- jade, the review of the Architectural League's shows what beautiful show-pieces are made by Exhibition "Greta's" Boston Letter, and, o( the ice-makers in Florida, who freeze flowers, course, " My Note Book." animals, "and other objects into huge blocks of —One of the most delightful of Susan Coo- clear ice; and the Bunny Family stories are lidge's stories, "Who ate the Queen's Luncheon ?" continued, with excellent pictures by Culmer opens the February Wide Azvake, with a beauti­ Barnes. Altogether the number is exceedingly ful frontispiece by Garrett. Another short story varied in its scope, pleasing and instructive in as singularly humorous, a valentine story, is a pleasant way, and, as usual, exceedingly rich entitled "The Apple of Discord," and will en­ in illustrations.. tertain all the grammar-school boys and girls; —^A remarkable feature of the Mid-Winter it is by Georgiana Washington. " Princess May- Centiuy is the opening article on "Gerome," the blossom" by Annette Lyster, with its eight pic­ famous French artist .and trainer of artists. tures, is a dainty fairy story. "Children in Gerome, of all contemporary French painters, is Italian Sculpture," by Mabel F. Robinson, is a best known in this country, not only because of model art-paper for young people, with interest­ the popularity of his works, but because so many ing pictures. The serial stories by J. T. Trow­ of our leading artists have been trained by him bridge and Margaret Sydney are very popular in the free national school, the Beaux Arts, or for family reading—a genial happy home ele­ else generously assisted by private advice and ment pervades both; Phronsie's "dragons" are encouragement. Gerome himself has helped in irresistible. "The Tupper Children" is a short the preparation of Mrs. Hering's article by per­ story of the old war-days by Miss A. G. Plymp- mitting the engraving of some of his most inter­ ton, full of dash and fun. "Forty-eight Hours esting pictures, which have not yet been seen in a Day", will interest all astronomically-minded America, as well as some of his studies for pic­ young folk and their elders as well. "Nonsense tures. He supplies also a sketch of his own life, Animals" is very amusing and affords a hint and has allowed the use of conversations and let­ for home-fun of an evening. "An Old-Fashioned ters. Particularly interesting is the frontispiece, Boat" is an interesting chapter in the progress which is an engraving of his master's " Napoleon of invention, by Ernest Ingersoll. Mrs Sallie Joy before the Sphinx," a picture which is a special White in her chapter on "The Use of the Oven" favorite with the artist himself and which re­ tells how potatoes are baked in the Boston mains in his own possession. Supplementary public schools. Mrs. Goddard Orpen gives the to this article there are published "Open Let­ history of the famous Spanish crown pearl, the ters" on Gerome by well-known American artists. Pelegrina. Prof. Starr, in his geological series, Other specially artistic features of this number describes some of the gnawings of "The Tooth are Mr. Cole's engravings from the originals of of Time." Simone Memmi, with accompanying articles by ^The frontispiece in the February Sf.A'icholas Mr. Stillman and Mr. Cole, in the series of "Old is a charming drawing by Mary Hallock Foote, Italian Masters"; also the fourth of Mrs. Mary having a quaint little remarque upon its margin; Hallock Foote's Pictures of the Far West, "The Joaquin Miller begins the text of the number Orchard Wind-Break." Two leading serial feat­ with a poem telling how "The Gold that Grew ures of the number are sustained in a particu­ by Shasta Town" was discovered by a little girl. larly interesting instalment of the "Life of Lin­ Arlo Bates recounts in verse the glee of Jack coln" and a Siberian chapter by George Kennan Frost over "The Snow Flowers." Then comes entitled "Exiles at Irkutsk." In the "Lincoln Noah Brooks's very timely account of "The Life" the authors give an account of the events White Pasha," telling in a plain and interesting leading up to the final removal of General Mc- way the thrilling narrative of Stanley's past Clellan. They fortify their account by citations achiev^ements and probable whereabouts. The from MSS. in their possession, and by "the paper is illustrated by a striking portrait of the President's own words, taken down at the time great explorer, and will give many of the older they were uttered." The same instalment con­ readers of the magazine their first clear idea of tains an interesting description of the financial the state of affairs in Central Africa. A well- measures in which the President supported Mr. illustrated article upon Japan is contributed by Chase, and a chapter of unsurpassed interest on Arthur L. Shumway, and this, with Mr. Alton's the relations between the President and Messrs. explanation of "The Routine of the Republic," Seward and Chase. In connection with the makes up the list of the more instructive articles story of the resignation of these two secretaries of the number. Of lighter papers we may note a striking incident is given from the diary of "A Modern Middy," by John IT. Gibbons, of one of the authors. In Mr.-Kennan's "Exiles the Navy, which describes Annapolis from a at Irkutsk" some astounding facts are narrated standpoint differing from that taken by a recent in the line of those already given, and which paper in St. Nicholas on the same subject. This have attracted the attention of the civilized paper, is well_supplied with pictures_by Harper world.. . _ .. 384 THE NOTRE DAME SCHOLASTIC,

life in the 92d year of her age. The deceased Personal. was the mother of the Rev. T. L. Vagnier, for­ merly of the Faculty of the University and now —Among the welcome visitors during the Rector at Earl Park this State. Her life, full of week was the Rev. F. R. Delane)'- of the Cathe­ years, was full of merits, and her last moments dral, Ft. Wayne. were the calm, peaceful ending of the present preluding the entrance into another arid a -rProf. John G. Ewing, of the University Fac- better life. The funeral took place from the ult3^ lectured at Kalainazoo, Mich., on Wednes­ church at Notre Dame on Thursday morning, day evening, the 6th inst. when a Solemn Requierii Mass was sung by —Mr. P. L. Hardenbergh, of St. Paul, Minn., Rev. Father Vagnier, assisted by Rev. Fathers father of W. Ad. Hardenbergh, '79, died at Balti­ Stoffel and Morrissey as deacon and subdeacon. more, Md., on the 31st ult. The deceased was a The remains were laid to rest in the cemeterj'- worthy citizen and a true, faithful Christian. The at Notre Dame to await the day of the glorious bereaved family have the sincere sympathy of resurrection. May her soul rest in peace! man}'- friends at Notre Dame in their great affliction. May he rest in peace! •^ • » —^The many friends of Mr.J. A. Ancheta, '86, will read with pleasure the following from the Local Items. Silver City (N. M.) Enterprise: " It is among the probabilities that J. A. Ancheta will —Snow/ra maloney. be the next Prosecuting Attorney of this district, under —News from the Punjaub. the-new act, which embraces only the counties of Grant —The "grand opera" will be produced on the and Sierra. Joe is not ambitious in that line, but his many friends are pushing him for the place. He is both deserv­ 19th inst. ing and competent." —Mancy Goke is now custodian of keys to —Col. Wm. Hoynes, recent candidate for Con­ the gym. gress in this district, was stopping in the city —^Washington's birthday will be the Gradu­ yesterday visiting with fi^iends. The Colonel's ates' day. defeat has in no wa}' fallen heavily upon him, —A number of saltatorial exercises will form and he is looking the ver}'- picture of health and striking features of the new opera. happiness. He made a gallant race in the re­ —^The various societies are busily engaged cent election, and his record is an honor to him. in electing officers for this session, He has man)'- warm friends. Democrats and —Thanks to Bro. Hilarion, the students en­ Republicans in Michigan City, who will always joyed a few extra hours of rec. on Saturday last. extend him the warm hand of friendship. He departed last evening for Notre Dame, where —"Birdie" worked off a quantity of fresh he -is still engaged as head of the Law depart­ jokes (?) on unsuspecting friends during the ment of that great University.—Michigan City week. News. —The entertainment on Washington's birth­ —^Very Rev. Father General Sorin was the day will be given under the auspices of the Class recipient of a number of congratulatory letters of '89. on Wednesda}'- last, the happy anniversary of his —^The Harvard quartette in a programme of birthday. Among those that gave him the great­ college songs are booked for the last of the est pleasure was the following from the gentle­ month. manly editor of the South Bend Tribime: —Gentle zephyrs working in scroll the name "SOUTH BEND, IND., Feb. 6,18S9. Dakota tarried in this locality for a few days "VERY REV. FATHER SORIN. of this week. "MY DEAR FRIEND:—^The older one gets, the more —The Minims return the Rev. President a he is inclined to forget his own birthday, for they come warm vote of thanks for the recreation granted all too fast in the later years of a long life. But it is impossible for me to forget that my birthday anniversary to them on the 6th. is Feb. 6, because it is also yours, and that is a fact I have —^The skating rink on the Juniors' campus is borne in mind for so many, many years, that I am almost a complete success. Excellent skating can be wondering if you are not deceiving the little Minims and ' the rest of mankind' by confessing to be only j6 years enjoyed at all hours. . instead of—say a full century. Yet, after all, it acems —"From the wiles of the orator and the but. a short time ago that I was a seven year old boy and thrusts of the fencer, deliver us!" is the prayer scrawled you a congratulatory birthday letter, printed of the pedestrian through the corridors. the characters with a pen because I had not yet reached the writing period in my education. No; I cannot hon­ —The birthday anniversary of a member of estly believe,you are growing old as I look back over the Class of '89 on Wednesday was the occasion those years. True, your hair and beard are silvered, but of one of Bro. Leopold's sumptuous "spreads." your heart is as young as Avhen you founded Notre Dame. Mayit ever be so, as long as life shall last, is the wish of —The opera with a grand spectacular scene, "Your true friend, in which the unique and startling feat of a human " "ALFRED B. MILLER." pyramid is accomplished, will be produced posi­ * - ' , . - tively on the 19th. . - -f-On the 5th inst. Mrs. E.H.Vagnier, for many -^An alleged blizzard struck us on Tuesday years a resident of Notre Dairie, departed this THE NOTRE DAME SCHOLASTIC. 385

and Wednesday, and most of the boys thought and bears; and I want you to compose a sen­ that the reading-room and gymnasium" were tence which will include all three words." the best places to stay during recreation time. Small boy—"I have it." —The "Grads" enjoyed a grand sleigh-ride Teacher: "John, you may give us your sen­ to the "Bend" on Thursday last. They were tence." just in time, for next day a general thaw set in John—"Boys, bees bare whin they goes in and has put an end to sleighing for some time. swimmin'."—Harper's Basaar. •—Since Prof. Lyman's lecture, many have be­ —Saturday evening, February 2, the case of come more fixed in the belief of their abilities Wm. Dowling vs. Jno. Newton was tried in the as elocutionists, and are devoting time and University Moot-court. Messrs. Albright and place to the practice of the art. Take to the Loin appearing for the plaintiff, and for the woods, boys, where your efforts will not weary defense, Messrs. Brewer and O'Hara. The case anyone. was well presented by the plaintiff's attorneys, —The Sorin Hall reading-room was- thrown and the jury, after a rather lengthy delibera­ open to the students on Thursday evening. tion, returned a verdict of S500 for plaintiff Although not as yet gorgeously furnished and The question of "Woman Suffrage" was the decorated in the Oriental style, it has a rich subject for debate on Wednesday evening, Feb­ store of literary matter which is appreciated by ruary 6, but on account of the numerous speakers the students more than things material. the same subject will be continued at the next meeting. —RANDOM RHYMES FROM ILLINOIS. There was an old man in Madras —^The members of the Philodemic Literary Who drank Mac Ewan and Bass; and Debating Society assembled last Saturday When he couldn t get these, evening to reorganize for the session which has He ate Limburger cheese, been so happily begun. The election resulted . _ Which killed the old man from Madras. as follows: Rev. T. E.Walsh, C.S. C, President; —The Juniors are in sight of the " Grand Pari­ V. E. Morrison, Vice-President; Wm. Larkin, sian Dinner" which is to excel anything in that Recording Secretary, and T". A. Goebel, Corre­ line ever given at Notre Dame. They now sponding Secretary. Owing to rare personal number 190. Only ten more wanting and the qualifications, Wm. Morrison was re-elected great festival is secured! Boys, see to it that Treasurer, and M.Dore,Censor. ThePhilodemics your ranks are increased by ten before the fully appreciate the importance of society train-, spring.closes. ing and the incalculable benefit to be derived —At a little entertainment given before a therefrom. Their promptness in reorganizing . select audience a few days ago, the principal shows a spirit and determination which promise performer requested the loan of a fifty-cent sil­ not only to sustain their past reputation but ver piece with which to make an experiment. also to keep them among the foremost of the The request was greeted with uproarious ap­ societies of the institution. plause as being the best and most humorous —On the evening of the 3d inst., the students featur-e of the exhibition. were entertained in Washington Hall by Prof. —rPerhaps it is best, in order to save the Walter C. Lyman of Chicago, who delivered a friends of the Lecture Committee any inconve­ very practical and instructive address on the nience, to announce that in the future donations advantages of the study of Elocution. The of cigars in return for "annuals" will not be speaker illustrated with the happy facility and received. This course is rendered necessary by power .of expression, which he possesses in the miscellaneous assortment of variegated such a marked degree, the thoughts that he weeds in their possession. set" before his hearers. He showed how valu­ —On Wednesday evening, the 6th inst, the able an acquisition the power of correct vocali­ election of officers in the Leonine Society of the zation would prove itself to one no matter what Seminar}'- resulted as follows: Rev. J. French, profession he may follow in life. This address C. S. C., President; John Cavanaugh, Vice-Pres­ was preliminary to the course which the distin­ ident; H. Holden, Recording Secretary; Jos. guished Professor is about to open. It awakened Hyland, Corresponding Secretary; M. J. O'Con- great enthusiasm among the boys, and we learn nell," 1st Censor; T. A. Crumley, 2d Censor; S. that a large class in this important branch of Mayerhceffer, Sergeant-at-Arms. study has been formed. . —The very graceful way in which some of. Very —BIRTHDAY CELEBR.A.TION IN HONOR OF VERY Rev. Father General's friends showed their af­ REV. FATHER GENERAL.—On Wednesday, Feb. fectionate remembrance of him on his birthday the 6th inst.. Very Rev. Father General Sorin en­ was in sending him exquisite cut flowers. One tered on his 76th year. The members of the of the baskets he sent-to the Chapel of St. John Sorin Literary and Dramatic Society have the Evangelist to be placed before the Blessed always claimed the privilege of honoring the Sacrament. May each flower bring new blessings natal day of their illustrious namesake by an on the patron of St. Edwaird's Hall!' entertainment, and all who were present at this —CLASS IN GRAMMAR.--^Teacher:. "Now, chil­ performance say that the Sorins not only honored dren, I will give you three words—boys, bees the occasion but themselves also by the man^ 386 THE NOTRE DAME SCH

ner in which they pla^'-ed their parts. The fol­ As the Rev. speaker resumed his seat there lowing is the must have been but one wish uppermost in every PROGKAMME: mind, that the picture so correctly drawn of the Birthday Song -...-... Lainbillofte hero of the feast may remain for long years true Vocal Class: H. Mooney, C. Koester, H. Connolly, F. Evers, F. Cornell, F. Wever, L. Minor, W. Foster, C. to the graceful coloring in which it had just been McCarthy, C. McPhee, H. Durand, P.Stephens, B. Bates, so beautifully depicted. F. Webb, A. Seidensticker, J. Finnerty, D. Goodwillie, F. Roberts, J. Seerey, and V. Washburn. Address T. Cudahy, C. McPhee, C. Connor Piano Solo—" Pleasant Hours " \Vy1na71 Roll of Honor. C. Connor. Dialogue—" Turned Him Out" Fenno M. Elkin, R. Powell. SENIOK. DEPARTMENT. Duet—"Blue Bird Schottische" -..Mers Messrs. Ahlrichs, Adams, Alvarez, Bunker, Brennan, H. Durand, F. Cornell. Bretz, Burns, Burger, Brewer, Barrett, Burke, Beckman, Dialogue—" Unwilling Patient," (adapted from) Molicre Brelsford, Blackman, Conway, Cassidy, Crooker, S. C. Kaye, M. Elkin, B. Bates. Campbell, Chacon, G. Cooke, Cusack, Cavanagh, Carney, Piano Solo—•' Carnival de Venice " Cseniey P. Coady, Chute, Combe, Draper, Dacy, Dore, Dough­ V. Washburn. erty, Dwyer, Davis, Eyanson, Foster, R. Fleming, Fehr, Song—" Kind Smiles for AH " Murray J. Fleming, Finckh, Franklin, Ford, Fitzgerald, Feck, Vocal Class. Grange, Goebel, Giblin, Gallardo,F. Galen, J. Galen, Dialogue—" Competing Railroads " Fowlc Garfias, J. J- Gallagher, J. J. D. Gallagher, Goben, Hep­ F. McDonnell, C. Kaye, C. Koester, R. Powell. burn, Houlihan, Healy, Hayes, Herman, M. J. Howard, Duet—" Rifle Gallop " T. Barbour, L. Downing Hempler, Hoover, Hummer, E. Howard, H. Jewett, F. Dialogue—" The Will" Feiuio Kelly, Karasynski, J. Kelly, Kenny, Kohlmann, Knob­ lauch, Louisell, Lahey, Lesner, Lozana, F. Long, E-. M. Elkin, R. Powell, F. Webb, B. Bates. Larkin, W. Larkin, Landgraff, McNally, McErlain, H. Song—" The Swallow Chorus " Vocal Class McAlister, Mackey, Madden, McAuliff, J. T. McCarthy, J. Cudahy, by his clear voice and graceful McGinnity, V. Morrison, W. Morrison, J. Meagher, W. gestures, did justice to his beautiful address Meagher, ll. Meagher, Melady, H. C. Murphy, Mahorney, which expressed so many good wishes for the Major, K. Newton, Nations, R. Newton, Nester, F. O'­ Brien, W. O'Brien, O'Shea, O'Donnell, Ohlwine, O'Hara, beloved Founder; among them that he ma}'- be L. Paquette, Prichard, Prudhomme, C. Paquette, Powers, long spared in his present health and vigor; that Robinson, W. C. Roberts, Rothert, Roper, C. S. Roberts, the new quarter of a century on which he was Stewart, Schmitz, J. B. Sullivan, Stephenson, G. Soden, entering may be as blessed as the passed three- C. Soden, Spencei", Toner, V. Vurpillat, F. Vurpillat, C. fourths; that he vciz.y live to win the centennial Youngerman, Zeller, Zeitler. race. The singing so much delighted all that JUNIOR DEPART.AIENT. Very Rev. Father General, in the course of his Masters Adelsperger, J.Allen, Hinkley, Aarons,Ad- ler, Ayer, Berry, Bates, Beaudry, Brady, Blumenthal, speech, repeated the wish so often expressed of Baltes, Bearinger, Bronson, Bryan, Bradley, T. Cleary, S. having the Minims sing in the church, and ad­ Cleary, Cunningham, J. Connors, Case, Cass, Chacon, dressing the pastor, Rev. Father Granger, he Collins, Cauthorn, Chute, Crotty, Clendenin,-N. Davis, said: "I will not sing High Mass any more in Des Garennes, E.'Du Brul, Devine, Dinkel, Ernest, Er- win. Elder, Flannigan, Falvey, C. Fleming, P. Fleming, the church until there is a choir built where Frei, C. Fitzgerald, J.. Fitzgerald, Greene, Goodman, the princes can sing at my Mass." In his own Goodson, Gappinger, P. Healy, R. Healy, J. Healy, Hel­ graceful and affectionate way he thanked all ler, Hesse, Howard, Hoerr,-Halthusen, Hughes, Hannin, who had taken part in the performance and Hanrahan, Hague, Heard, Hennessy, Hahn, Hammond, Ibold, Jewett, Joslyn, Krembs, King,'A. Ivutsche, Kearns, called upon the Rev. President Walsh for a Lainon, Lenhoff, Mahon, Maher, Maurus, Monarch," Ma- speech. lone, Morrison, Mooney, Mackey, Merz, McCartney, Mc­ Carthy, McGrath, McMahon, Mclvers, J. Mcintosh, L. " In substance the Rev. President said-he knew Mcintosh, McPhee, McDonnell, McLeod, F. Neef A. all were well pleased with the entertainment. Neef, Noe, Neal, G. O'Brian, O'Mara, O'Donnell, Popu- It was worthy the occasion, but the Minims had lorum, Pecheux, Prichai'd, F. Peck, J. Peck, Palmer, commenced the celebration of Very Rev. Fathei- Quinlan, I. Reinhard, Rose, A. Roth, E. Roth, Rowsey, Sheehan, Schultze, Stanton, Sullivan, Spalding, Sutter, L. General's birth-day early in the morning by as­ Scherrer, C. Scherrer, Shear, Smith, Sachs, Talbot, .Tet- sisting at Mass, and uniting their prayers with ard. Towne. Thorn, Wright, Walsh, Welch, Weitzel, all at Notre Dame that he may be blessed with Wood, WiUien, Wilbanks, Young. good health and spared long to direct the MINIM DEPARTMENT. Congregation over which God has placed him. Masters Ackerman, Bates, Blake, Bruel, T. Burns, J. The seventy-five years of Father General's life Burns, Bryan, Bearinger, Brown, Connelly, Cornell, W. teach many lessons, but he would point out one- Creedon, C. Connor, W. Connor, Crandall, Downing,' Durand, Doherty, Jas. Dungan, Dorsey, Boyle, J. Demp- —the secret of keeping-A'-oung. Years do not sey, F. Dempsey, Dench, E. Elkin G. Evers, F. Evers, always make a man old, neither does work. Eckler, Elder, Finnerty, Falvey, Foster, Fanning, Grant, Father General is seventy-five years to-day, and Greene, Goodwillie, Gregg, Goodman, Hendrj', Hagus, no one ever thinks or speaks of him as an old man. Hamilton; Hill, Henneberry, Jonquet, Kane, Kroolman, Kirk, Keeler, Koester, Kehoe, Lansing, Levi, Londoner, When a man has all his faculties as sharp, his Livingston, Lonergan, Lee, J. Marre, A. Marre, Maternes, step.as light, his mind as clear and as capable Marx, Minor, McPhee, Mattas, McDonnell, McDaneld, of adapting itself to circumstances andof grasp­ McGuire, Mooney, Montague, C. McCarthy, Miller, W. ing new ideas, when he is as sociable and cheer­ Marr, Morrison, C.Nichols, W.Nichol's.^^eenan, O'Neill, Oppenheimer, Plautz, Parker, L. Paul, C. Paul, Powell, ful, when his life is as energetic and enterprising OuiU, Roberts, Seerey, Seidensticker, Stone, Steineman, as it wa5 thirty years ago, that man isnot old, Stephens, Stange, Thornton, Taylor, Trujillq, Witkowsky, he is inthe vigor of youth, his heart is:young. Wever, F. Webb, R.-Webb, Wilcox,Wilson, Zengeler, THE NOTRE DAME SCHOLASTIC. 38

grand chorus, "Hear my Prayer," was sung with >6. Miii>Y'S AQademf. fine effect; the parts ably sustained blended into a whole that filled the hall with the sublime One Mile West of Notre Dame University. words of pleading. The soloist, Miss K. Gavan, showed her rich voice to advantage in her diffi­ cult part, and carried all hearts with her in her —Thanks are due Miss A. Gordon for favors cry to heaven. "I Know that my Redeemer received. Liveth," by the same young lady, was beauti­ —On Wednesday last, Mr. Williams gave a fully rendered, as was also the solo by Miss H. Shakspearian recital, much to the instruction Guise, whose sweet, flexible voice shows a high and pleasure of all. degree of cultivation. Miss M. Rend, in her —Mr. Maurice F. Egan's next lecture is looked instrumental solo, as well as in the accompani­ forward to with much pleasure. "Tenn^'son" is ments, ably sustained her reputation as a musi­ to be his subject this month. cian of no mean order. Miss Guise,_ who is —The Minims, in the name of all the pupils, following the advanced course of instrumental presented a handsome basket of flowers to Very music, executed Liszt's "Etude de Concert," Rev. Father General on the anniversary of his with fine effect. The literary part of the pro­ birthday. gramme also was indicative of improvement in —The names of Miss Annie O'Mara and Miss the languages, composition and elocution. D. iDavis were omitted by mistake from the At the close of the concert, Very Rev. Father music list last week. The latter was promoted General expressed his pleasure at all he had to first division of the 5th class, and the former seen and heard, and remarked with delight the to the 6th. evident onward march of St. Mary's pupils each 3-ear towards a higher standard in all the beau­ —The Graduates had a sleigh-ride last week tiful arts. The Rev. President of the University which was much enjoyed; the same day the next addressed the young ladies in terms com­ Juniors indulged in the joys of an old-fashioned plimentary and encouraging. Rev.Father Zahm, " candy-pulling," the Seniors in the meantime ever the friend of the pupils, also expressed had all the delights of class. pleasure at the success of the entertainment. ' —Promotions in studies are rare in February; There were also present Rev. Fathers L'Etour- but the semi-annual examinations showed the neau, Saulnier and French; Prof. Liscomb, who following pupils deserving of the honor: Misses spoke with special commendation of the music; Dora Spurgeon and Julia Zahm, from the Second Mrs. M. F. Egan, Mrs. and Miss Gregori; -Mrs. to the First Preparatory class; Misses M.Smyth Atkinson and Miss Byerly, of South Bend. The and P. Griffith, from the First Junior to the Sec­ weather was so severe that it was a compliment ond Preparatory class; little Maggie McHugh to have any one venture out. The Art Depart­ and Sadie Smyth to the Fourth Reader, and eight ment had on exhibition the work of "the session, of the First Juniors to the Junior Preparatory an account, of which will be given next week: class in Geography. ••-*

Mercy, Nobility's True Badge. The Soiree. Justice, with eyes blindfolded, holds within The close of the examinations is always at­ her hand a. balance, and weighs impartially the tended with a sense of relief;;and the semi-an­ nual entertainment given to mark the end of deeds of earth—equal the poise, though varied the first session of the scholastic year seems to the matters weighed;—and while .the crowds, breathe a mingled spirit of freedom and re­ jostle round and strive to turn the scales, inex-; solutions for the opening session. For years orable she stands. Noble justicel No quality, this occasion has been a red-letter day at St. is greater; and the heart that possesses it bears a Mary's, and has ever called forth the best efforts shield that can never be tarnished by the rust of. both musical and literary. 1889 forms no ex­ ception to this rule, for on Wednesday, Feb. 6, dishonor; and no virtue is a clearer reflection of a programme was prepared and rendered in a the Creator's chief attribute. As we contemplate manner not to be excelled. the picture before iis, behold! Justice is about As the concert was complimentary to Very to weigh a man's doings. : Into the scale are Rev. Father General, in honor of his seventy- tlirown his ambitions, his pleasures, his ill-got sixth birthday, perhaps special pains were taken; wealth, his-misused talents, liis deeds of evil;' but be that as it may, competent judges pro­ in the other side the little goo'd his life has held. nounced the music exceptionally fine. The Breathless we gaze-as slowly the good is out­ vocal class showed a degree of culture which weighed. -Suddenly we perceive a figure in the. promises much for the year's work. The sleighing chorus with its novel' accom­ background, and as it approaches we notice the paniment of sleigh bells, was well received; the the balance wavers; a gentle hand touches the. 388 fHE NOTRE DAME SCHOLASTIC.

light scale, and justice yields to mercy. The us, for mercy is a disposition to treat an offender proud, stern heart says: "justice should be betterjhan he deserves. How many of us could done"; the noble, generous heart says, "mercy pray as Pope did when he exclaimed: is sweet." While it is absolutel}' necessary that " Teach me to feel another's woe, those in authority should be conscientiously To hide the fault I see; active in rendering justice towards the trans­ The mercy I to others show. gressor, and in providing a punishment for That mercy show to me." crime, there is not an enlightened person who For examples of mercy we have only to look will not acknowledge the great truth that mercy to our loving Saviour; His coming on earth. is the nobler sentiment. The power of the latter His sojourn among men. His life. His death, all is increasing every day, and the world becoming preach mercy eloquently. Listen to His sweet more fitted to submit to its sway. words to Mary Magdalen; hear His whispered Of course, for the maintenance of general "go in peace and sin no more" to the sinner; good, for the preservation of unity among na­ see His gentle touch as He draws near the sick, tions, and for the defence of the people, justice the blind. True, He was God, we are but His must be exercised. Authorities could never creatures; yet we should remember that not a obtain submission from those under them with­ tear is shed, nor a sigh heaved, on behalf of the out a proper idea of equity; in fact, discipline afiflicted; not a kind look, nor a mite of charity among any people can only be found where given that is permitted, even in this world, to there is a high standard of justice which all go unrewarded. must recognize and respect. Inasmuch as this A spi'ing rises in the desert: in time, vegeta­ quality tends, in the main, to the genera] good, tion shows signs of life, and an oasis is formed it should be considered; but when it may be re­ with sheltering shades and refreshing fruits, placed by mercy and the same result obtained, where formerly nothing could be seen but certainly, should mercy be given the preference. parched sands and arid waste; so does the well- Does not a person derive infinitely more enjoy­ spring of a merciful and compassionate heart ment from extending mercy to a fellow creat­ freshen and brighten the selfish wilds around it. ure than from even receiving some unexpected Would that many such hearts beat, so that at favor? Our very act of clemency smoothes last the whole Sahara of human society might many of the asperities of .an offender's nature, be made green and fruitful of good! and disposes him to be compassionate in his turn M.^RY A. REND {Class '89). towards others. It is a fortunate circumstance that few are so hardened by erroneous educa­ tion, inordinate self-love and mammon worship, Roll of Honor. but they will be softened by a tale of true mercy, and imbibe from it a desire to go and do like­ [For politeness, neatness, order, amiability, correct de­ wise. A description of the direst misery may portment and observance of rules.] fail to rouse them, when a recital of a free, spon­ SENIOR - DEPARTMENT. taneous favor shown to the undeserving is suffi­ Misses Ansbach, Ansonv Ash, Burton, Beschameng, Bogner, Butler, Barron,.Bush, M. Beck, C. Beck,'Clifford, cient to make them wish that the hand that gave Currier, Caren, Compagne, M. Coll, J. Connell, Ducey, and the heart that melted had been theirs. Many Davis, Dempsey, Dorsey, N. Dunkin, M. Dunkin, Flan- nery, Fursman, J. Fox, L. Fox, M. Gibson, N. Gibson, Gor­ are pitiless, because no pit)'- has ever been ex­ don, Hertzog, Hammond, Harlen, M. Horner, I. Horner, tended them. Often when justice must be done Healy, C. Hurley, K. Hurley, M. Harmes, Hutchinson, and punishment inflicted, the heart hardens itself Haney, Irwin, Kingsbury, Koopman, Ledwith, Meehan,' McNamara, N. Morse, Marley, McCarthy, Prudhpmme, against all sweet influences, and hopelessness Papin, Piper, Quealey, Reidinger, Robinson, Roberts, banishes even the memory of joys; then it is Renfrew, Rend, Spurgeon, Sauter, Taylor, Tress,; Van Horn, Van Mourick, Wright, Zahni. that the hand of true fellowship, if. extended, is grasped with a fervor that shows the being JUNIOR DEPARTMENT. Misses Burdick, E. Burns, M. Burns, Campbell, A. stirred within, and mercy, that gentle spirit, fans Cooper, M. Davis, B. Davis, Daly, E. Dempsey, Dolan, into new life the spark of hope. Dreyer, Erpelding, Ernest, Farwell, Griffith, Graves, Goke, Hull,.Kahn, Kaspar, Kloth, Kelso, Lauth, Levy, Mercy may be exercised in relieving the poor, M. McHugh, Miller, Northam, O'Mara, Patrick, Patier, Pugsley, Quealey, Reeves, Regan, Rinehart, Rose, M. in alleviating suffering; but it has a. humble.r Smyth, J. Smith, Scherrer, M. Schoellkopf, I. Schoell- office; we may also call it into play when we kopf, Soper, I. Stapleton, Sweeney, Thirds, A. Wurz- feel disposed to condemn oUr neighbor for some burg, N.Wurzburg. ' real or imaginar}'^ wrong: if instead of passing MINIM; DEPARTMENT. Misses E. Burns," Crandall, Griffith, L. McHugh, M. a severe criticism or rash judgnient, we put a HcHugh, Moore, Palmer, Papin, Scherrer, S. Smyth, N^ gharitable construction on his actions .towards Smyth. . . - . _ r ", : • .