The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-06-13
GRADUATING ESSAYS.
The Coming Man-Americar
Mind-Fierce Plough
Shares.
READ BY THREE GRADUATES
Before the Faculty OF Central Col
Iege.

We publish below three of the grad
uating essays. Eight were read before
the faculty of the college, and three of
these are reproduced IN these columns
for two reasons. irst, they possess that
, mel ii that will interest any one who will
read them: and second, to further ac-
q Iaint the general publ with the fact
well known, that ii graduate of Central
is always Il student, Il thinker and u
writer. There were eight essays by the
graduates, and the other five, of equal
merit we are informed, will appear in
the Gem. the college paper.
s.THE COMING MAN"
The most absorbing topic of the day
is the ..Ncw Woman" and every one
will admit that II would he difficult to
find more suggestive theme. For
woman is now acknowledged to Ee
worthy OF this profound considerable n :;
is deemed capable of lhluking for cr-
self, and is even placed hy some
advanced thinkers at The side of man
himself in intellectual pursuits.
OF course all are not yet prepared to
acquicsce in these assertions, although
it has been sufficiently proven by the
attainmcnts of numbers of the weaker
sex. In fact man is beginning TO
realize that he is losing the right
hitherto undisputed of ruling in all
affairs, and is in mOmcntary fear lest
the long subdued woman break her
bonds and demand her natural rights.
And when we see the progress woman
emancipation, he seems to have just
cause for fear. But although we are
strong advocates for the Ligher devel-
opment of woman, we desire no less
the advancement of-shall we say-Ler
rival?
And as woman is now receiving the
latest honors, it is but fair that her
former lord be not altogether for
gotten. Approaching, therefore, The
position of the '.coming man" should
he be relegated to the neglect so long
endured by womankind, we venture a
few ideas concerning his Royal High
ness.
Our spccu!ations with regard to the
far distant man are at least disinler
csted. We can discuss the subject
without prejudice. For rs to whether
he will be an angel, us some philoeo-
! pliers hold, or must degenerate into Il
| quadruped Is of no consequence To us.
| This transformation cannot possibly
take place for thousands upon thou
sands of Years, and consequently he
cannot have the interest for us that
the past developments of man have
had. On hearing OF the glorious deeds
of our forefathers we are raised 10 the
highest point of enthusiasm, but can
we SO ''forecast the years" as TO feel
these emotions for the far distant man?
However it is neither with the dimly
discerned ages To come, nor wholly
with men of centuries past that we are
most conccI ned, but 1t is with the man
of the near future-wiih the coming
man, the type Of approaching cen
turics. The man who will not only be
type of his and all succeeding ages,
but who Will also stand rs an example
of the evolution i'll all its phases of the
human race.
The present century seems to stand
as mighty force impelling mankind
either to higher and nobler activities,
or, rs the pessImiSt says, to utter
degeueracy-intcllectually,m morally and
spiritually.
In every department of thought we
note signs of an inevitable coming
change-but who can conscientiouSly
assert that the change will not he for
The better?
1t is abSurdly held by many that man
has already reached the climax of the
development intended by the Creator
This view can hardly be accepted
when we reflect that humanity as Il
whole is just being aroused 10 the
realization that life can. mean some
thing better and higher than mere
animal existence.
We fad in ever century men who
have chosen the better and rurcr part
of life, and by 50 dong have greatly
elevated humanity, but the race as a
whole Is gus, taking the first feeble
steps toward the attainment of the
| grand career possible 10 it.
Mans first effort towards develop
mrnt of any Kind was physical-the
climax of which was attained 10y the
Greek. 1t wonld perhaps be an
! injustice should we say that physical
perfection was the highest aim of this
nation, but we do assert that undue
attention was paid To mere bodily
perfection. The next step was in
intellectual advancement, and after
+ long years of study, apparently fruitless,
! the world produced such teachers rs
! Dante, Bacon, Shakespeare, Goethe, etc.
But this is not now recognized as
the noblcst side of hfr-man cannot
be satisfied with pure intellectually.
He feels that there is something stIll
higher for him to reach. Christ, the
! rrandcst example of true nobility, has
10y hIs life given 10 all ages the secret
of life. Ever since His coming men
have been striving /" attain the per
alone, and il is To these followers that
The world owes its highest and purest