6
UNIVERSITY COURIER.
SOCIETY.
Rosseau, in speaking of language, represents men as primarily without language. He does not, however, seek to explain how language arose, being disheartened at the outset by the difficulty of deciding whether language was more necessary for the institution of society, or society for the invention of language.
That active intercourse with our fellow creatures, by which we are enabled to communicate our thoughts and feelings to others, and receive theirs in return, seems to have been originated in order that we might aid our fellow men to provide against those dangers which their unaided power could not resist.
In early days people did not congregate in large numbers, but those belonging to the same family lived under control of the father. As soon as a man married he took his bride to some secluded place where their happiness could not be interrupted.
Man is a social being, therefore, it is his nature to live in society; that is, with people with whom he can exchange opinions and feelings. And now since it is his nature, it must have been in existence as long as language.
The society with which a person is thrown has a great effect upon his morals, habits and actions. If a person associates with people who swear, he, of course, wishes to be in the style, and commences this easily acquired habit,—it being easier to learn vices than virtues. If thrown with people who chew and drink, he begins these very "refining" habits, so that his companions will not think him an old maid, or a man who has not yet let go of his mother's apron strings.
If a person is thrown with people who are well educated, able to perform on the various musical instruments, or versed in the languages, he, not wishing to be a "draw-back" to the circle in which he moves, immediately endeavors to acquaint himself with those things which will make him an ornament to society.
Man being a social being, wishes, as I have said, to congregate with others of his kind. And from this congregation arose the necessity of government for the common protection of life and property; whereas, when a number of people are congregated without government, there is a repetition of murder, theft, &c., for each person lives for himself without regard to others.
From an over-refined state of society a person is apt to fall slave to his appetites, because of his having everything that he wishes, without any particular end in view; and through a lack of employment they allow their weak minds to stray and fall a prey to the different vices which are always at hand; like the hawk, ready to capture any one who is weak enough to allow his mind to be reached by the talons of sin.
A government is allowed to waste itself, and eventually to break up, as the old Roman Empire. When the Persians permitted themselves to be weakened and corrupted by their prosperity, when their former virtues, dispositions, and moral qualities, were partly suppressed by the opposite vices, and especially when they began to indulge in all the excesses of sensuality, effeminacy and luxury, they soon brought their monarchy to its decline.
E. B.
REMINISCENCE OF A WEEK IN CAMP.
It was my good fortune not long since to spend a few months in the quiet, rural town of Colorado Springs, and just here let me say it is 6000 feet above the level of the sea, and one of the prettiest towns in the State, nestling just below the foot hills of the grand old Rocky.
After resting for a few days we joined various parties going out for a day's excursion, visiting and exploring caves and caverns, or whatever of interest came in our way.
I would like to tell you of Ute Pass, in which are the Rainbow Falls, 30 feet in height, grand and beautiful. It is said that at ten o'clock a.m., a rainbow is plainly visible, but this we did not see, being several hours too late, but enjoyed fully as well the clear, sparkling water, which came tumbling down the rugged cliff, and the waterfalls of lesser note, in which were mirrored the overhanging bluff and the tiny wild flower by its side. Our trip to the "Punch Bowl" was full of interest, but I will mention only one incident.
While expatiating upon the beauty, romance, and grandeur of its surroundings, a party of spruce young men joined us, one of whom thought to pursue his investigations more fully by crossing on a log to the other side, with the aid of a balancing pole. But great was his chagrin, when, by an unlucky step, he lost his footing, and his inquiring mind was suddenly turned to the laws of gravitation.
But I am digressing. I was going to tell you of a week in camp over the summit of Cheyenne mountain, for we, too, had caught the camping fever. Accordingly four of us packed an outfit, looking well to an ample supply in the provision box, knowing that the appetite never fails on such occasions. Dame nature smiled her approval, and having secured the necessary conveyance, started about noon, bag and baggage.
Just before commencing the ascent, we called at a farm house, paid our toll, and replenished our stock of butter and eggs; the latter being a rather uncertain commodity to pack, I concluded to give them my personal care. The circuitous winding road, cut out of the mountain side, with its numerous "mule shoe bends," was full of interest, while here and there a misstep would have precipitated us down untold depths below. At one point, the road, which was very narrow, had been lately repaired, and in passing over it the mules stopped, refusing to go on, and we were apparently in danger of sliding over the embankment. Remembering that it is "the last straw breaks the camel's back," I quickly leaped from the wagon, holding aloft my basket of eggs; and strange to say not one was injured. The mules caught the idea, or felt some human impulse, and in an instant we stood on solid ground.
We stopped that night in a miner's deserted cabin, and after a luxurious supper, which was served on a board laid across a barrel, we sat by the fire-place, listening to the stories of other days, until our eyes grew heavy, and our hearts almost longed for the loved ones at home.
Morning dawned bright and beautiful. The woodland songsters caroled their sweetest melodies, and the clear mountain stream, with its low plaintive babblings told of contentment. After partaking of a memorable breakfast, we packed our traps and proceeded on toward our destination, which we reached about noon, being two thousand feet above Colorado Springs. Here we were, fifteen miles from any settlement, on the mountains, and mountains all round us, but the day was beautiful and the air laden with the perfume of
The Oxford University calendar for 1879 gives the number of undergraduates as 2,763, against 2,679 last year.