UNIVERSITY COURIER.
5
Mr. Thorpe, aged 17, his sister, a year older, and brother, 9 years old, were among the few survivors from the wreck of the Princess Alice. They saved their lives by swimming. The boys became separated from their sister and were afterwards picked up when swimming side by side. The sister struck boldly out and in spite of all the encumbrances of her garments, the force of the tide, the darkness of the night, and the danger to which she cannot but have been subjected by the frantic efforts of those who were struggling around her in the water to catch and cling to any object within their grasp—succeeded in reaching the bank. The exploit was a remarkable one. The water was cold, the night dark and foggy, and several hundred persons were struggling in the water frantically catching at whatever offered a chance for life, yet in spite of all this, Miss Thorpe swam to the shore. The lesson is plain. Both girls and boys should learn to swim. It is a pleasant, healthful exercise and stands one in good stead in case of threatened death by drowning.
The first number of the Saturday Magazine, published in Boston, contains part of an introduction to a forthcoming volume by Prof. Tyndall, entitled Fragments of Science. The editor of the Magazine comments upon Tyndall's introduction and defines the Scientist's position as follows: Tyndall is not a materialist.
1. Professor Tyndall is not a materialist.
2. He maintains his right to confine his work and statements to scientific matter and scientific form.
3. This results in placing him in the following position about materialism: Science can carry us along the chain of effect and cause, or of development, to some distance or other we do not yet know accurately what. But it is not very far. And at the end of it we come to the limit where, as scientific men, we must say we do not know any further—we can not know any further.
4. Physical Science ought not to be called upon to discuss or deal with Faith, nor with Religion. And this refusal to meddle with what is not its business is no just cause for blame.
When a sea shell is held to the ear there is a vibratory sound which children assure each other is the roar of the sea. The sound is caused by muscles in the fingers which are in a high state of tension and whose fibres vibrate. The sound is communicated to the shell and intensified, as the hollow body of the violin intensifies the vibrations of its strings, and thus the acoustic nerve receives the impression. A similar but less intense sound than that which comes from the sea shell can be heard by simply placing the hand over the ear in a certain position.
An earthquake was felt at Reikjavik, Iceland, December 1st. At the same time what appeared to be fires were observed in the distance in the sea, supposed to have been a volcanic submarine eruption. The weather there has been very bad, a number of vessels have been lost, and large flocks of sheep have been killed by the heavy snow storms, or literally blown from the cliffs into the sea.
A querist paper, a la Harvard, has been placed in the library. Persons can write any question they wish, but must sign their name. The questions are to be answered by any one who feels competent to answer them.
According to recent careful computations the population of the world is 1,423,917,000, or 28 persons to every square mile.
At the rate of ten changes a minute in a kaleidoscope containing twelve pieces of glass it would require ninety one years and forty-nine days to exhaust the variations.
Since our last issue, Wright's "History of Scotland," 3 volumes, and Stanley's "Through the Dark Continent," 2 volumes, have been added to the University library.
EXCHANGES.
The Journal of Speculative Philosophy, published at St. Louis, is to us, we confess, our most desirable exchange. Considering the mental activity of our people, it seems strange that we have given such slight attention to Speculative Philosophy. However, the explanation is not difficult; for the last generation, together with the advancement of the physical sciences, there has been growing a mistrust of metaphysics and metaphysical conclusions. The dethronement of this study from its once high position, seems to us proper and praiseworthy, but that it is well we should drop all metaphysics is not so evident. We in America have engaged in the general hunt for material results; saw and hammer, axe and anvil, have been shouldered as our banners; there is no time for a study that gives results which cannot be measured or weighed. Metaphysics as a study is like the best books, not so valuable for what they say or teach, but full of certain wise suggestiveness which incites the mind to activity and self-development. Mind grows by mysterious contact with mind. That book which tells everything may be a good guide, but can not be recommended for the living thought it will produce in the mind of the reader.
We have received the December number of The Southern Collegian, published by the literary societies of Washington and Lee University. Among other interesting articles we notice letters from alumni. All college papers would do well in following this precedent, and devote one department of their paper to letters and personals of the alumni.
We add to this month's list of exchanges The Magazine, from University of Pennsylvania. It is neatly gotten up, and is well filled with college news and other items of general interest.
The Vidette comes to us from Northwestern University, well filled with editorials, correspondence and general news, but has hardly enough solid matter, such as essays from the student. Nothing shows the general mind of an institution so much as essays or papers written by the students. From thus being called upon to write for the college paper, the student takes an interest in the paper and very materially aids it.
The College Courier prints a well written poem entitled "A Paraphrase." We like its proposition to 79 to abolish class day and substitute a class supper.
We read with pleasure the oration in The Simpsonian entitled, "Retrospection."
The Niagara Index must keep a barrel of vinegar to which the exchange editor has access. He is evidently making himself heard, judging from the notices he is receiving from other college papers.
The December number of the Student Life has an interesting article on "The Iron Mountain Region."