The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1892-08-27

1t is interesting to watch the en-
trance Of our University graduates
into the politics Of our State. We
may be as proud as possible Of West
Virginia, but 1t is a pride that rests
chiefly on her material resources and
natural beauties. Her people have
the sturdy virtues Of the mountain
GERS, but it is undeniably true that
comparatively few of them have had
the training given by higher educa-
ticn. The advantages offered by our
University are being better under
stood as her graduates are scattered
over the State, and taking leading
positions in the.callings they pursue.
Their influence in politics is not more
noticeable than in other things. /
mention it because of the prominence
Of the young University men in the
recent State conventions 1t has been
the habit of some successful, self
made men to sneer at college train
ing, yet we instinctively turn to the
literally educated men and women of
the country as leaders. The success
full, self-made men are the exceptions
to the great mass of people who need
every help and encouragement posi-
BILE to make life success. Every
college student who takes back home
with him love of literature, IAN in
terest in scientific progress, long
ing after the refinements of life is
helping to lift his people upon high
er plane. Our State has needed, more
than anything else, to have an inter
est in learning created. The college
students, better than any one else,
can accomplish this. They are the
leaven that must leaven the whole
lump. 1t is not such slow process
either, when once it gets fairly star.
ted, as West Virginia will show with
in another decade.
-
Some one was complaining the
other day about the constant use, by
writers, of the old, threadbare quota
tions, and dusty stories that have
done duty throughout the centuries
They are covered with honorable
scars and should surely he put on
the retired list, if one only could do
it. But they have to be taken some
time or other, and one is to be con
graduated if he can get over them,
like the measles, when he is going to
school. Scylla and Charybdis, Ashil-
les heel, the Rubicon, the Goths and
vandals, Pelion upon Ossa piled, Don
Quixote's windmill, the thunders Of
Jove and the eyes of Argus, with q
great many more ancient and musty
veterans must some time or other fall
into ones line of illustration. Hap
Ply is the man who has met them.
saluted, and gone beyond them.
he must encounter the 'darts Of
Cupid" the winter Of our discon.
tent" the few and far between angel
visits, the lodge in some vast will
derness," 'the green-eyed monster
that doth make the meat it feeds ON, :"
with all their mighty attending hosts
Really, he would be considered a
miserable failure if he knew nothing
about these things, and knowing
them and thinking them il is not
strange that occasionally also he
writes them. There is one time hon
ored illustration however that should
be blotted from the ist-that of the
lrishman's COW, that kicked over the
lamp, that started the fire, that burn
ed Chicago. This has not yet the
odor of antiquity about it, and we
need not hand down COW to immor.
tally because of her activity, for we
have the best authority for saving
that she was purely an imaginary
creature.
Perhaps it is an unfortunate thing
to be able to assimilate quotations
readily. 1t is SO much easier to
think in other peoples words, when
the words so exactly fit our thought.
But it does not argue a lack Of
originality after all, it only makes
necessary restraint over ones mem.
Dry We find Macaulay writing to
a friend,
81 feel a habit of quotation grow
ing on me; but / resist that devil,
for such it is, and it fees from me-
It is all | can do 10 keep Greek and
Latin ont of all my letters. Wise
sayings of Euripides are even now at
my fingers ends. If did not main
tain constant struggle against this
propensity, my correspondence would
resemble the notes to the Pursuits
of Literature
l have often wondered why early
rising should be considered such an
extremely worthy action, and why
the people who begin their work with
the dawn should feel called upon to
look down with scornful superiority
upon the benighted mortals who
breakfast at eight or course peo-
pie have right to get up early if
they want to, but they usually want
to go to sleep early also.
One requires a certain amount of
sleep if he would preserve his strength
his youth. and above all, his temper,
and there is no virtue in unnecessa-
rily curtailing the amount. If one
prefers to go to sleep with the chick
ems and get. up at the "first peep Of
day." it is all right, but if he thinks
it is a waste of time to sleep, he
wastes just as much as his neighbor
who enjoys more the cool hours Of
the early night for waking, and the
morning hours for sleeping.
The preponderance of young men
in active life in our country, and
particularly in politics, is often the
subject of remark. In sharp contrast
is the recent recall of Gladstone to
the head of affairs in England. He
has passed what is usually consider
ed the age of usefulness, having been
born in 1909, but there is no hand in
England so strong as his upon the
helm of State.
He has never made the mistake of
neglecting his physical being, and
about forty years ago, when some of
bis associates in the House of Com
mons were remarking on his aston
ishing endurance, one exclaimed,
Don't talk to me about Gladstone's
mind, it is nothing, compared with
hie hodv },