Literary Societies Twenty Years Ago" by Henry H. Wilson
Item
One of the fiercest parliamentary con-
tests that ever took place in the Union
occurred upon the proposition to change the
name to Adelphian in recognition of the
property rights of the members of that
society in the fixtures and furniture.
Charges of rapine and spoliation were
freely indulged in a plea was made for the
rights of those who had been Adelphians
but had not consented to the transfer of the
property. The proposed change was
defeated, but we orphans succeeded in
having spread upon the records of the
Union a resolution recognizing lineal des-
cent of the Union from the Adelphian and
redeeming the constitution and records of
the latter from the waste basket.
In consideration of the property obtained
from the Adelphian the Union made all
members of the honorary members of the
latter and preserved the records of the
parent society. So by adoption rather than
by right of birth the Union is the heir of
the Adelphian. It was in these early days
of the Union that there occurred an impeach-
ment trial worthy of a larger place in
history than has hitherto been accorded to
it. In order to give the exercises a
practical turn, formal charges of "high
crimes and misdemeanors" were filed
against the secretary of the society and he
was regularly put on trial. The history
of impeachments from that of Warren
Hastings to that of President Johnson was
drawn upon for precedent. The brilliant
constitutional arguments would have ex-
cited the envy of a Webster, while the
Philippics delivered against the honorable
society were worthy of a Burke. Vener-
able and imposing sheep-bound tomes from
the university library served
for law books.
The manner in which the contending
counsel quoted convenient law from books
of general literary, encyclopaedias,
scientific reports, etc. gave ernest of their
future ability to make the worse appear the
better reason. The trial resulted in an
aqquittal. The impeachment trial of
Secretary Hart is still remembered as one
of the most interesting and amusing ses-
sions of the Union.
It was about this time that one of our
country recruits furnished a unique example
of polite correspondence. Having doubt-
less been urged by the Professor of En-
glish Literature to write with studied ex-
actness, asked one of our newly admitted
lady members "for the pleasure of her
company and the Union society on
next Friday evening." Not to be out
done in exactitude in diplomatic correspon-
dence she accepted his proffered escort "for
the ."
The literary societies of twenty years ago
formed an important factor in university
life, and it will be a matter of regret to me
if they shall ever be suffered to lose their
influence. While I have often doubted if
any practical benefit came from some of the
studies pursued in my college days, no
such doubts have ever existed as to the
practical value of the training received in
literary societies.
Henry H Wilson 78
- Title
- Literary Societies Twenty Years Ago" by Henry H. Wilson
- Source
-
The Hesperian
"RG 38/01/02"
Periodical: Box: 3
Folder:
Archives and Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries - Rights
- To inquire about usage, please contact Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries. These images are for educational use only. Not all images are available for publication.
- extracted text
-
6 THE HESPERIAN
One of the fiercest parliamentary
that
occurred upon the proposition to change the
con
tests ever took place in the Union
name to Adelphian in recognition of the
the that
fixtures
property rights of members of
the
rapine and
society in and — furniture,
Charges of
poliation were
freely indulged in a plea was made for the
rights of those who had been Adelphians
but had not consented to the transfer of the
property. The proposed change — was
defeated, but we orphans succeeded in
having spread upon the records of the
Union a resolution recognizing lineal des-
cent of the Union from the Adelphian and
redeeming the constitution and records of
the latter from the waste basket.
In consideration of the property obtained
from the Adelphian the Union made all
members of the honorary members of the
latter preserved the records of the
parent society. So by adoption rather than
by right of birth the Union is the heir of
the Adelphian.
and
Tt was in these early days
of the Union that there occurred an impeach-
ment trial worthy of a larger place in
history than h
it, In
practical
s hitherto been accorded to
erder to the
turn, cha
and
give exercises a
formal
res of “high
filed
nd he
crimes misdemeano
were
against the secretary of the society
was regularly put upon trial.
of impeachments that of Warren
Hastings to that of President Johnson was
drawn upon for precedent. The
constitutional would have ex-
cited the Webster, while the
Philippics delivered against the honorable
society were worthy of a Burke.
The history
from
brilliant
arguments
envy of a
Vener-
able and imposing sheep-bound tomes from
the university library served pro hae rice
for law books.
The manner in which the contending
counsel quoted convenient law from books
of — general literary, encyclopaedias,
scientific reports, ete., gave ernest of their
future ubility to make the worse appear the
better reason, The trial resulted in an
aqquittal. The impeachment trial of
Secretary Hart is still remembered as one
of the most interesting and amusing. ses-
sions of the Union.
It was about this time that one of our
country recruits furnished a unique example
of polite corresponde
ice. Having doubt-
less been urged by the Professor of En-
glish Literature
actness, asked one of our newly admitted
to write with studied ex-
lady members ‘for the pleasure of her
company fo and frou the Union society on
next ig.’ Not to be out
done in exactitude in diplomatic correspon-
Friday eveni
dence she accepted his proffered escort ‘for
the round trip.”
The literary societies of twenty y ago
formed an important factor in university
life, and it will be a matter of regret to me
if they shall ever be suffered to lose their
influence, While I have often doubted if
any practical benefit came from some of the
studies pursued in my college days, no
such doubts have ever existed the
prac
as to
al value of the training received in
literary societies.
“AS IT WAS IN THE BEGI
I have been asked to speak of the Univer-
sity of Nebraska in its earliest stages—to re-
call appearances and events at its very be-
ginning. It is yet too early to indulge in
personal reminiscence
—to speak freely of
the actors in the making of the University.
I shall be content therefore, to refer only to
circumstances and conditions.
On September 7, 1871, the University of
Nebraska opened with an enrollment of
seventy-five students. That was a promis-
ing event for a state only a little more than
four years old, with a population of about
130,000 people scattered along its eastern
border, with practicaly no schools above the
primary or common grades. The ratio of
- Item sets
- Nu History
Linked resources
| Title | Class |
|---|---|
 Literary Societies Twenty Years Ago" by Henry H. Wilson |