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The Delta Upsilon Fraternity has just issued its Quarterly of November, 1885. The contents of the pamphlet consists of an oration delivered before the fraternity by Dr. O. P. Gifford, upon "The Problem of Life," an ode by Mr. Hill, Harvard, '85, a poem by Prof. Dudley of Cornell, and reports and letters from the various chapters of the society. Dr. Gifford's oration is a curious digest of the Platonic theory of Reminiscence and of Wordsworth's adaptation of it. It is in many respects a notable address, showing a tolerable grasp upon the real significance of our modern methods of life, and attempting to prove that to-day as in the days of Socrates
"The proper study of mankind is man." The writer throughout is bright, entertaining, and incisive. But the immoderate application of well-known aphorisms detracts seriously from the freshness and value of the thought. The central idea of the paper is "The present lies four-square, and the sides are self, civilization, raw material, and fellow-man."
The ode by Mr. Hill is pleasing in thought, but lacking in melody. The most interesting portion of the issue is, of course, the correspondence from the various chapters. Williams heads the list, and all the communications give evidence of the great interest which is taken in the society among the various colleges. The editor from the Harvard Chapter is Mr. Fraser, '86. His report is interesting in exhibiting the activity of his chapter. Among other items we are informed that the seniors of the chapter are to give a spread on our next Class Day. The society boasts some of our most successful scholars.
The Quarterly as a whole proves the enthusiasm of the organization of which it is the organ and proves further that college societies find but a small portion of their activity in college life. Here is but the beginning. When we have lived our little college life and passed out into the life of the world, the true life, we can appreciate as at no other time the sincerity of our college attachments and our college feelings, And it is in our past-collegiate life that we are to gain the best results from college societies. It is then that looking back upon the happiest period of our lives, we can understand the real significance and the immense value of college societies. Much has been said of late concerning the uselessness and therefore the folly of college societies. As one of the powerful and by no means silent answers to this accusation I point to the Delta Upsilon Quarterly.
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