The Courier-Review.
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spirit which declares my country right or wrong, but in an appreciation of the past of that nation of the spirit for which it stands. To use the words of Geo. Wm. Curtis "A man's country is not so much a certain area of land, mountains and woods but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle." Only in a knowledge of the past can this principle, this spirit for which the nation stands be interpreted. Of the utmost interest is it then to every people to keep alive an intimate knowledge of their past history for in the past alone, lies the interpretation of the present, the key to the future. In our own land a knowledge of the past is essential to the understanding of the sentiment which led to its establishment. The right of human liberty from which the country sprung, is the touch stone by which all American institutions are tried. "Let us search more and more into the past," says Carlyle, let all men explore it as the true fountain of knowledge by whose light alone consciously or unconsciously employed, can the present and the future be interpreted.
History then must be perpetuated, an interest in it must be kept alive in every one, and moreover the past must be made present, must be
endorsed with life and reality, beings which have seemed to us, mere personified qualities in allegory as Macaulay expresses it, must be invested with the reality of human flesh and blood.
This the historical novel has for its aim. This it is which Scott accomplished for his country and after him the German novelists Hauff, Freytag, Dahn and Sheffel accomplished for Germany. The historical novel cannot teach the facts of history, it does not aim to do so, but it does teach this truth, that the bygone ages of the world were filled by living men, not by "state papers, controversies and abstractions of men." Dahn in his story of the struggles of the early Germans by putting into it the breath of life, has undoubtedly changed into the strongest reality what was, for many, almost a myth.
If then, the historical novel with its power to touch such vast numbers can arouse in them a sympathy with past times, and through that, a deeper, more appreciative love for their country, a warmer patriotism even when national feeling is growing cold, has it not a sufficient cause for existing, an important mission to perform? KATE L. RIGGS.
EXCHANGES.
The glorious moonlight bathed the bed Of a football muddled Junior's head; For he slept one night—'twas a comic role Right at the base of the football goal.
He dreamed of punts and furious pranks, Of catching the half-back about the shanks, And, just as he'd made a "tackle" bold. He awoke to find that his feet were cold.
— College Life.
Let us equal Nebraska in enthusiasm and by our earnest work make it a success.
An Irishman sat by his door figuring ostensively. A jew came by and asked him the sum of two and four. "Eight said the Irishman"
"Six," replied the Jew, "I knew you could not figure." But Pat had not lost his wits and replied. "I knew you would Jew me down two anyway."
Considerable interest is manifested in the projected debate with Kansas. It is to be hoped that a large number will enter the scheme and make it a success.-The Hesperian.
An enthusiastic football authority in New York says: "If the games were to be played this week I would pick Pennsylvania to win from both Yale and Harvard, and give Princeton a regular Henry of Navarre-Domino race." —Pennsylvania.