Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-03-23
ANOTHER SURPRISE.


Yaless JunIer ExhibItion-WelchC Car.
ries OF the Prize.
When the large audience that attended the
junior exhibition fled ont of Battell chapel
yesterday afternoon probably large portion
of it thought the prize would be awarded to
Hubert Wetmore Wells of Louisville, KY,
whose mastery delivery of his Grafton on
Alexander Farnese, the Catholic League
and the Armada, "the last on the programme,
had created so recent and SO favorable. an
impression on their minds. The students
generally certainly thought that Mr.. Wells
would be the successful man. Bnt the college
faculty had its record of surprises to look to,
it saw its opportunity and sublimely did it
rise to the occasion. They awarded the prize
to Lewis Sheldon WEIGH, of Hartford. Mr.
WEIGH was certainly deserving of it, for his
review of Amiel's character and work was q
scholarly and finished effort. and his delivery
was easy and graceful. The award, however,
as such awards usually are, was great sur.
| prise to the student world, for Mr.. Wells had
impressed all with his excellent delivery of
| an able and paiRstaking Grafton. There was
not in it the depth of thought or the subtle
analysis of character that marked Mr.. Welch's
effort, and on this ground the prize was
doubtless awarded. The exhibition as a
whole was no better than it's predecessors,
and in some respects fell short of their STAN
| dard OF excellence, Notwithstanding the fact
that all the editors of the Yale Literary Mag
a fact which raised the general
expectation that the 'S9 exhibition
would be of unusual excellence. The
| choice of subjects was varied and fortunate,
| the speakers interesting and the audience
large. President Dwight introduced the
Storrs of Hartford, who in his address on
! "The Theocratic People" dealt with the past
and the future of the Jews, with their perse
buttons and suferings, in an able manner.
The Jews are in many respects the most
unique nation that ever came upon the stage
of history. They have taken part in the
entire drama of history and have played an
important part in the march of civilization.
In every stage of their existence they have
been a most obstinate people and have per-
sistently chung to their religious ties. The
great cause of their main tanning their peou-
liar international position is their divine re-
lstion. The influence of the theocratic prin-
ciple was not soon to be destroyed.
John Cornelius Griggs of Terryville was
| the next speaker, and ''Some Modern Uses
| of Mythology" was his subject. He told of
| the origin and growth of myths, illustrating
| with several examples from German legend
| the tales of the poets. In these times of
| OF glance the work of life time. Thus in
| mythology we may trace the growth of CEN
| turtles. The mythical tale coming to US from
| the researches of study or the pen of an old
| writer conveys different meaning from that
| which it conveyed to the ancient believer.
1t was a form of religion. Its literature is
that of an art.
Edward Lamb Parsons of New Rochelle
told of the early struggles of CLANS Chris
i tian Andersen" of his disappointments and
Il sorrows, of his success and the means which
brought it about. the spirit of change
| with which the opening of the 10Th century
lowered over Europe seemed to affect all
| things. 1t was in the fancy of Hans Christian
| Andersen that the most beautiful change
| found birth He found the soil I'M
| touched waiting for a hand that had
the courage to guide the pillow. There was
small chance for Andersen when he came to
Copenhagen, but shortly he stumbled into
| the upward path which brought him fortune.
| In his childhood days he had-a warm and
sympathetic heart, but above all steadfast
| trust in God. Success to him meant to be
always praised, never blamed; to have all
men for his friends. Hans Andersen was
| the first who could pick up blade of grass
/ and weave story about it. His childlike
simplicitp was the magic wand he welded,
the secret of his success.
The Grafton which contained the most pop
ular interest was that of Thomas Elliott Don
Medern OF Political criss in '0i the strue
gle of the Russian people of the
present day for freedom and a share in
the government. The struggle of the people
for their national freedom will ever be of
interest to us Americans. In Russia is now
going on strife between the people and the
government that is second to none. The
| history of Russia is that of q series of auto
cratic Cars The people have no share in
the nations government. The peoples
struggle is not SO much against the despot-
ism of the Gar as against that of his minis
tiers. The gymnasia of the universities
have developed a system of thought
and the government is disbanding
them. Without trial thousands are hurried
off into exile for slight expression of their
liberal principles. Russia is taxed and the
very demands for representation are punished
| by death. They demand only free press,
an established code of laws, a share in the
government not the destruction of their
monarch or the national system. The gov
ernment's own disregard of rights and laws
has set the example and the furious Nihilist
is the result. Whatever the outcome, the
crisis is at hand. I only ask your sympathy
for people who are to-day struggling for
their liberties.
"Arnold of Rugby, the Teacher" was ably
treated by New Ravens representative, Will
liam Adolph McQuaid. The influence and
power of the celebrated DIR. Arnold aud the
great secrets of his success with the Rugby
boys all passed in review. The story of Ar
nold's life possesses nothing of excitement.
becoming the master of Rugby, most
sponsible position. He had received his
education at just such a school as that over
which he was called to preside. His great
desire was to make Rugby place of Chris
tian education Promise rather than fulfill
ment was what he looked for, the sowing OF
the seed rather than the reaping of the har-
A 6ri1l NJ NV mat Had in
the boys by the feeling that they had a noble
work to perform under the lead of an able
master. TIE spirit of Arnold abides at Rug
by to day.
Hubert Augustine Smith of Worcester,
Mass, who took the Lit. medal, was the next
speaker, and he handled in a way that testi-
fed to his entire conversance with it his sub
iect, sThe Influence of Ruskin's Teaching"
He spoke rapidly but distinctly, and his effort
showed thorough appreciation of poor Rus
kins life work. It is always a mournful
spectacle to see man of genius alternating
from himself those who should have been his
friends. Such an experience it was the mis-
fortune of John Ruskin to encounter and
much more the misfortune of the world that
he did encounter it. In the beauties of ma
ture he saw the duplication of the divine at
tributes and any destruction of this beauty
seemed to him a sacrilege. His attempts to
bring back the English laborers to the peace
"a S~Ao
thing which brought upon him the illness of
ten years ago and from which he has never
fully recovered. The special causes which he
championed failed, but they were supported
by him with an earnestness with which
man of genius would support what he believ
ed to be right
Mr.. Smith was followed by the successful
competitor, Lewis Sheldon Welch of Hart
ford. "Amiel' was his subject, and the
Genevan thinker was placed before the audi
ence in a manner which enlisted its sympa-
thy. 1t was finely written and well de-
livered Grafton and well deserved prize.
The quiet death two years ago at Geneva af-
fected hardly more than the circle of Amiels
friends; the world took no note of it. The
story of his life is that of an intellectual ex-
istence almost unique. The sterility of his
genius is by no means the only important
feature of his life. The instincts of love and
duty were strong within him and family life
peculiarly appealed to him. The reflective
faculty was powerful and a sublime passion
within him. He dreamt his life away, yet
we must thank him that he left behind so
many of his visions.
A splendid effort was the one reserved for
the last when Hubert Wetmore Wells of