The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-06-11


join their civic associations, the wo
men will go ahead and improve tn,
cities without masculine assistance
When we begin to recognize the sig
niicence, o only of woman's indus
trial and educational and political &C
tivities, but of the Indispensable ele.
ment of woman's economic independ
ence, we cannot any longer deny the
vision of sex equality, even though we
indefinitely delay its accomplishment.
DE we not %sQuander our American
intellectual life on trifles? Why not
distinguish between the great and the
trivial? And what is great? Three
things so great that no nan or woman
of culture can afford to be ignorant of
them, are evolution, the higher critic
ism of the Bible, and socialism. AS
for evolution, it is the greatest contri-
button of nineteenth century thought
to the welfare of the world-idea OF
development, of growth; We interpret
everything by it today, literature,
science, art, even religion.
THE same thing applies to the high
er criticism of the Bible. The best
thought and the best talent have gone
into the study of the Bible in the last
half of the nineteenth century. From
all points of view scholars have ap-
preciated the problem of the origin and
meaning and relationship of these
great documents. 1t may mean that
our religious faith has all the props
knocked from under it, or it may be
that there are laid there sounder foun-
dations than were ever dreamed Of; it
is our business to know.
$50 it is with socialism. There are
people of intellectual interest who will
say that it is necessary we should
know about evolution and the higher
criticism, and all that pertains to mod
ern scientific investigation should be
pursued by the person who has aspira-
tons for culture; but what do we care
about the discounted masses OF
Europe, or the Malcontents Of Amer
lea; they do not affect us in any way.
1t might be well, then, to be impressed
with the cumulative side of the Ques-
ton. Socialism commands more vot-
ers than any other party in Germany,
and could control the Reichstad, prob
ably, if they were not Disseminated
against. 1t has a million adherents in
France. There are many in other
countries. If there are not so many
adherents of socialism in England, 1t
is probably because there the govern
ment is more socialistic and SO social
istic ideas are not forced into the
field. Marcourt said of England, why,
we are all socialists now That is one
way of getting rid of the problem. The
fact remains, nc party in the world has
so many adherents as socialism. The
only rival organization is the Roman
Catholic church.
Every dictionary has a definition of
socialism; the newspapers almost
every day contain some mention
of it; it's literature is piling up noun
tains high; the movement is impend-
ing, and yet people pleasantly fold
their arms and say they are Indifferent.
1t is either the most hopeful thing on
the horizon, or the most destructive OF
all we hold dear. 1t surely is import
ant that we should know. You need
not become socialists, or evolutionists,
or higher critics, but it is an evidence
of a lack of culture to be Indifferent to
these subjects. Culture Is not cult
waited in the margin of life-it is life.
But culture, this habit Of mind, is not
attained with leisure. Shall we then
have a parasitic leisure class, or leis-
ure for all, that all may have demo-
cratic culture?"
The first number of the week was
the annual recital of the music faculty,
which was held at the auditorium on
Friday evening. Owing to the electric
storm, the attendance was not SO large
as usual but proved unusually appre-
ciative of the program.
The entire faculty appeared in the
first number, "The Crimson Glow,
which proved so popular that it may
be repeated next year. While not a
heavy number, it was very attractive.
Mr.. Hedge sang a very effective
group consisting of numbers by Fin,
den, Ronald, and Rhys-Herbert, which
proved him to be in his best voice.
Especially pleasing were the Finden
Far Across the Desert" and the Ron
aid Morning"
Miss Ferguson's group displayed her
powers to advantage. The Bemberg
"Nymphs and Fauns" and the Aria
from Louise" seemed especially fitted
to her voice and the entire group was
rendered in a very artistic manner.
Mr.. Christensen rendered a group Of
four numbers, classic and modern, with
IL ,croI olrt1l Tbo or~yo.o ~n~sln~