Gales of the south! breathe gently o'er that isle; S. W. THE YALENSIAN. "Not to know at large of things remote Milton. I HAVE often been struck while sauntering along the college yard, with the many peculiarities observable in the outward appearance of almost every individual with whom I chanced to meet. Although as all must have noticed, there is a sameness of expression on the countenances of every collection of students, yet while this is peculiar to themselves as a body, still a very little observation will convince, that they differ in their main characteristics. College has been called a miniature world, yet we are slow to perceive, we must own, its fidelity to this fancied original. True, the mind of man at any particular age generally exhibits the same great leading developments, yet in college the student breathes an atmosphere so much removed from that diffused in the world around him, that it is not a matter of wonder that while there he should be widely different from others in the bent of his character. Here too the mind in its earliest stages in such a situation, is influenced by different motives from those having power in the world, and is led to cultivate an ardor, a noble enthusiasm, a taste for all that is refined and elegant in life; (subjects which more especially in their pursuit, mould and elevate the character,) to which in after years and under other circumstances it becomes comparatively callous. Now there can be no other field better adapted for the investigation of the phenomena of the mind at a certain period than a college, since there they can be observed in all their several gradations, from seeming idiocy, to the utmost stretch of God-like intellect. Here the philosopher might contemplate the student, gay, careless, buoyant with hope and pleasure; he might look upon his fellow with a care-worn brow and attenuated frame; upon others portraying the widely different effects, physical as well as mental, of a collegiate ambition; in short, upon the different results which the same causes apparently tend to produce in different minds, and would find a field worthy the profoundest research and study. It shall be our humble endeavor, not to investigate the nature or causes of the peculiarities of the student's mind; that task we leave for the spirit of philosophic enquiry; but if we are able to show the existence of a few of these peculiarities, and their various modifications and influences, we shall accomplish our present object. And here we might remark, that this field of investigation, interesting and important as its details must be, seems to have been but little examined by men of discrimination and judgment. It is very true, we have heard from the days of our childhood of college ambition and of college honors, while our young imagination has panted to exhibit the one and realize the other; we have heard too it may be, of indolent and dissipated students, who have rendered themselves notorious by reaching the acme of their ambition in these pursuits; but we have found out by our own personal observation alone, that these characteristics as distinctive, belong to but a small portion of our compeers at college. Observation must have taught many, that there are comparatively but few who, when they come here, bring with them what may be called a regularly formed character. From divers reasons, they have had hitherto no fixed principle of action, and consequently, this all-important part of their being is moulded and made stable by influences exerted here. For we think it cannot be denied, that no man ever leaves college without a character of some sort, since the countless influences at work here are so varied and dissimilar in their nature, so many are fraught with all that tends to promote purity of life and morals, while others are as well calculated to produce the most destructive results, that they must embrace every motive which can possibly influence the mind. Hence this transition or revolutionary state, is by far the most momentous period in the life of the great majority of students. All these influences, however diverse, tend to produce one grand effect which is common to all students, while they severally engender peculiarities, which are but the developments of this effect. The result to which we have alluded, is a pervading spirit of intellectuality which tinges every thing around with its essence and clothes it with the richness of its beauty. It is too the touchstone of merit here, and its general diffusion certainly affords a striking exhibition of the ascendency of all that is ethereal in our nature. It is the grand focus to which the energies of a student's mind are concentrated, and to which all his struggles for supremacy tend; for success in rendering the intellectual nature predominant over the grosser constitution, and as if independent of it, calls forth the unfeigned homage of kindred mind. Mind grappling with mind, the unceasing struggle for superiority in every department of mental action, the noble aspirations of lofty genius are a few of the countless channels through which this intellectuality develops itself. But to be more definite, let us look at the peculiar leading traits of character which flow from the prevalence of this spirit in differently constituted minds. There are a vast number of men here who may be styled phrenologically 'idealists.' They may be seen at every turn walking with eyes fixed on the ground, apparently buried in the mazes of reverie. They are too, deeply absorbed in their thick-coming fancies and dreaming speculations, though it would puzzle any one to discover what subject could require such an immensity of thought. They are in fact gazing on vacancy, 'building castles in the air,' and victims to their over-refined sensitiveness, they soar on the wings of the imagination to the heights of elysium, and strive to shut out the cares of the world by wrapping themselves in their own gloomy thoughts. To one who has pried into the recesses of such minds, the goal of their happiness seems to recede as their pursuit becomes more ardent; and although enjoyment is the 'summum bonum' with them, still its undefined nature renders it unattainable. Conjoined with this extreme susceptibility to every species of pleasurable excitement is frequently an intellect of singular powers of perception, and of great activity and keenness. Hence these men are what are called the geniuses of college; they are men of refined tastes and elegant pursuits, with an extensive acquaintance with books, and no small knowledge of men and things in the world. There can be no doubt that upon these men nature has bestowed her gifts in greater profusion than upon any other class in college, but they lean too much for support on a conscious superiority of natural genius ; hence without correspondent exertion they lose the advantage which they possessed at birth. They present too often the cheerless picture of a mind in ruins—of an intellect, the proper growth of which has been checked by the rank weeds which have taken away the strength from the soil, and have rendered it a fruitless and dreary waste. These men lack not the ambition requisite for success in contending for the college honors, but there is a want of correct mental habits and training in very many, which engenders a strong dislike to a certain kind of mental exertion, and which none but a most powerful motive can overcome. But if success awaits them not in the study of the college textbooks, the powers of their intellect are displayed in subjects more congenial to their feelings, and in these departments of mental action their labors are by no means barren or fruitless. If these men are unable to rattle through page after page of mathematics, or make a brilliant show in their recitations on the classics, yet their reputation in college as men of literary knowledge, as conversant with the principles of correct taste, proves their power on those subjects in which the efforts of the mind are aided and sustained by the exercise of an enthusiastic love of the pursuit itself. They love to seek the more quiet and unobtrusive paths of thought, in which reflection becomes an irresistible impulse of our nature, and its exercise the most delightful of our enjoyments. Hence the great majority of our fine writers, of our poets, of our prominent society men, possess many of the characteristics of the class to which we have alluded. We are well aware that it has long been the practice among a certain clique' here, to foster the impression that these men are mere drones where all else is bustle and activity, but we trust that there is still liberality of views enough left to discountenance such a wholesale system of condemnation; for we should always remember that nature has not cast every mind in the same mould, nor adapted its capacities to the same pursuits, and that to a certain class, perhaps the studies to which we have alluded are best calculated to promote the great end of education. Closely allied to the class of which we have spoken, in many of their characteristics, is a peculiar genus, to which we can give no more suitable appellation than that of literary men. There are generally perhaps from six to eight in each class, aristocratic in their habits and demeanor, strongly conservative in their political opinions, and exclusive to the last degree in regard to the company with which they associate. There is a native dignity in their manner, which, although it may savor at times of finicalness, betokens a mind of luxuriant growth, and richly adorned with the flowers scattered over the path of knowledge. These men affect to criticise learnedly the merits of every poet, philosopher, historian, or essayist, who has enriched English literature by his lucubrations, and they give out the fiat of their opinions on these subjects with a pertinacity and boldness worthy of those who practice professionally the 'ungentle craft.' No new book is ushered into the world but must pass through the fiery ordeal of their criticism, and have its merits or demerits fully canvassed. Their natural taste for reading and reflection qualifies them more particularly to act the self-constituted judge, and the solidity of their commission seems to be generally recognized by a mutual understanding, that their approval constitutes the standard of literary excellence. We might go on at more length to show the other distinctive characteristics of this class, and 'time would fail us to tell of' the politicians, the strangely credulous of college, or of the thousand other developments of the grand spirit of intellectuality which pervades the atmosphere we inhale. But we must conclude, with a hope that these topics will be treated of by abler and better hands, and that the interest that belongs to their delineation will be given them in a greater degree by others. J. STANZAS. THERE have lived men who were their country's pride, And when their task was ended, gladly died He who is apt to throw his mind away, Will fall at length into a living death; Sprinkling with yellow tendrils nature's lap. Let a bright mark be taken, which on high Is turned in stern sereneness on the sun : He'll find the glorious summit in his sight. Temptations,-trials, greater far than those Which press upon us now, were overthrown By many on whose cold ashes lightly grows The simple flower which crowns their modest stone; They did their duty and they did no more, But what a glorious task was that; they went Like Cincinnatus from their ploughs to war, And made their country's weal their monument, Their country's thanks their guerdon, and they fell Giving e'en life to her they loved so well. They were the gems of nature, brighter far And tarnish quickly on th' approach of peace; |