The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-05-10
ASBURY ANTICS.

NoBTH MANCHESTER, May 5, 1876.
ASBURY ANTICS.
LETTERoF COLLEGE GossIP-THE REVIEW
CONDITION OF THE soCIETIEs-JrSIoR
oRATIoNs-NBED OF AN INSTRUCTOR IN
ELoCUTIoN.
Occasional Correspondence Of the SentanelJ
GREENoasTLE, May 6, 1sE6.-We feel as
sured that 1t twould not prove uninterest-
ing to the many readers of the Sentinel and
friends of Asbury to hear some Of the
every day occurrences, as well as taose of
more prominent nature, that claim the
attention of the public. Asbury is repre-
sented In the world of letters by her Re-
view, Journal issued monthly by the
societies of Plato, Philo and Philomsthean,
and printed in the great city of Anderson.
Ii there is one feature above another that
should characterize college paper it is
that one which gives the public a true
living portraiture of the school ID repre-
sents, 90 that when read by strangers they
may form, at least, a faint conception of
the ability of the institution. We do not
wish TO assume the garb of q critic; but we
do want to say that the Review
might improve somewhat In this regs rd
as well as in some others. Asbury de-
serves better representation in the outer
world. We are at a loss to know who is to
blame, the editors or the patrons An ed
itor OF college journal should be willing
to do two things before he lifts pen or
the scissors; he should be willing to ex-
claim from his heart, "Hert's for glory
and my alma mster!" The students
should take keener interest in the snccess
of the Review, not only in a financial way,
but also in its literary excellence. II this
is done, other college journ ais will no
longer sneer at Us.
The students, 50 TO say, have been totling
over OF late. Plato has just closed three
weeks trial OF its president, charged with
hign crimes and misdem eaDors, p while
Philo is now in the tolls of
CONTESTED ELECTION.
Three evenings have already been. con-
sumed. The parties are evenly matched,
and have for their champions Will. L.
Wharton and John S. Goodwi of the
Junior class. To be president at COM
mencement is their vision by day and
their dream at night. It is said that one
OF them was so sapguine of success that he
daily went through the ceremony of giving
diplomas, etc., under the eye of his room
mate. Their various meetings have been
boisJerous and disorderly in the highest
degres, but last night seemed 10 be grand
elimination of all that was hideous.
The strife grew more intep Sc
speeches were loud and vindictive-
eyes flashed frF, the hot blood of war
mantled the cheek, ard doctors, lawyers,
preachers and bsrbarians were ready to
rush TO the outset, when, honor to the
goddess OF peace, the police came into the
nall. Both parties rushed to make the
first explanation, and q scene indescribsble
followed. The policeman lost his senses
amid the confusion, but after a time sue
ceeded in getting them TO vote ''peace'', and
slit" out. 'TWss only by the presence of
DR.. Martin that the hall was cleared of the
esger and hot-blooded contests ants The
forenoon of to-day was spent in attempt
ing to expunge the minutes of the election
night, but all to no purposs. Philo has
positive and dogmatic spirit, which
if used in some honorable cause
would insure glorious victory.
An hour and quarter was consumed
this morning by double division of the
Junior class on orstions. Mr.. George
Corwin was the first and gave us one of
his best efforts on capital punishment"
de said among other good thirgs, ga
hundred years hence we can look back
upon the gallows tree, as we now, look
back upon the rack and the fsgots OF the
| IlQuisition, exponents of a bigoted and be-
nighted people," Mr.. Crouch, the tall
pine of the class, exposed in cursory way,
the disreputsble
STATE OF POLITICS.
The arm of the law was nowhere COM
pared with Dicks in reaching after those
"whisky thieves" VIM. Doddridge took
his text from Shakespeare, snd right
well did he handle it. The thought
| he enforced upon his willing hearers
was that, where our talents pointed,
there should our field of labor be.
| Miss Madge Donnahue forced us TO believe
! that our prejudices, and not the author,
are responsible for the view we take of his
production. She also spoke OF Shake
| speere. Culture" by Miss Anna
| Downey. was listened to with attention
"a minute examination of flower aods
more to our real culture than a general
view OF landscape" ETC., was one OF tie
| many suggestive thoughts she set forth.
She passed by Shakespeare, but the next
speaker, Mr.. Farris, opened ont with the
quotation, THE babe mewling and puk-
ing in the nurses arms" ETC., and other
humorous sayings. His speech was well
received. Miss Agnes Fisher came last,
her theme being Mediocre Firma," or the
middle place as the safe one in all
things, and claimed that he is the
true hero who can maintain the mid
die ground amidst the eternal war
ring OF radicals and conservatives.
We believe that Asbury progresses in
everything else except her orstory. The
productions of the present junior class are
good, but they might be much better.
Five years seems to bring no change-no
higher excellence in that art Ut arts. The
literary societies are deficient; there Is no
teacher no model to pattern after. As.
bury should have an elocution master oi
the first rank, and her pupils should have
more exercise Ia public speaking. Prize
orations, extemporaneous puhAie discus
sions, anything at all to get ont of the OLD
ruts In tnis one thing. Asbury ranks higi
as an institution of learning. She ba
done mach for the youth Of the land, poo
and rich, but let her do more, and striv
harder to gain higher plane OF usefnlnss
{ and excellence.