THE JUNIOR STOOD.
7
paratively speaking, liberal ideas in regard to the education of women. Some narrowminded and perverse prejudice still remains, but is rapidly passing away. Surely, and by no means slowly, young women through the civilized world are beginning to realize the great benefits to be derived from a superior education, and are striving to make the best of all opportunities within their reach. There is much hope for the future. No one who has come into the light of knowledge wishes to return to the darkness of ignorance. May the time come when all doubt and deep-rooted conservatism on the subject shall give place to a generous desire to give to girls the very best educational advantages that this age of the world affords.
In some respects the present century is inferior to preceding ages. It is possible, yes probable, that men will never again paint as the old masters painted. The beautiful sculpture of the Greeks will never be equalled. The world has yet to see a philosopher equal to Socrates, Plato, or Aristotle. But in steady advancement in all things, mental, moral and material, among all nations, the nineteenth century is far in advance of any preceding age. Change
does not always imply progress, but progress always implies change. A writer in the North American Review says: "Time and experience test the works of man, and the highway of progress is covered with the fragments of countless inventions. The creeds, the dogmas, the social regulations of one age become the by-words or the antique curiosities of the next. Men do what they can, and coming generations pardon their errors but judge their works as they ought."
The largest room in the world is said to be the room for improvement, and so the world may go on advancing for ages and yet fall far short of perfection. There is still a chance for civil service reform, universal suffrage, compulsory education laws, the abolition of capital punishment, peace between capital and labor, prohibition in all countries.
What is good, lives; what is bad, dies this is the general rule. If the changes just mentioned are really needed, in time they will surely take place. It has been said that we have passed through the lead and the iron age, and that we may now consider ourselves to be living in the silver age, looking forward to an age of gold.
THE JUNIOR STOOD.
The Junior stood beside the stair,
Stood waiting for his maiden fair;
He softly swore, and did berate
The Prof. who keeps his classes late;
The class rushed by, but patient there
The Junior stood.
He looks aloft with restless air; She comes, the maid with golden hair. At last. He needs no longer wait.
She meets another up the stair;
She meets another up the stair, She gives her books into his care; She never turns, but passes straight. Then grinding hard his teeth with hate, And gazing through the vacant air, The Junior st
The Junior stood!