The University Courier.
Vol. II.——FEBRUARY 27,1884·——No.12.
THE FORTNIGHT.
Often it seems that the classical student has one advantage over those pursuing any other course. This is the acquaintance that he gains with some noble pieces of antique literature. Perhaps those who arranged our course of study builted better than they knew, when they placed first in the Latin course Cicero's immortal essay on Friendship. It seems well that the student entering college, where so many, and some very lasting friendships are formed, should at the first read this most admirable dialogue.
Then, at the same time, he reads Xenophon's report of some of Socrates' opinions on friendship, the sayings from which Cicero drew a large part of his essay. But this discovery does no harm, when he compares the grace and eloquence of the Roman with the unstudied directness of the Hellene. To find reversed, in this case, those qualities of literary style that he has from common report been accustomed to associate with each nation, may stimulate him to more original investigation. But at least, if he has any powers of reflection whatever, he will gain from these two books some good and noble deas about friendship.
The modern college is in every respect, save the commercial one, a little world in itself. There are the same bitter strifes and jealousies, the same treacheries and meanesses, the same warm friendships, the same need of honor, faithfulness to friends and magnanimity to enemies. Here, as in the world without, is it felt that a man has need of friends. We may suppose this to be the fraternity idea, and so long as they cherish a just and true friendship, they are good. But when they convert friendship into a blind obedience to some leader, or use their united strength and influence for unworthy purposes, they are most injurious. It is better to look on the other side. There is no more pleasing and noble sight than the just and worthy attachment of young men to each other. Our classical student especially learns this when he reads the story of Achilles and Patroclus. The youths of Hellas took the friendship of these two heroes for their model. May the young American learn from them the worth of noble friendship, the value of friends who are faithful, just and always "in honor preferring one another."
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