VOL. II. THE INDICATOR. JUNE 1849. No. 1. EDITORS' PROLEGOMENA.. A year has gone by since this unpretending magazine was first set adrift upon the uncertain waves of popular favor; and while anxious friends have watched its track with trembling interest, it has outlived the storms of a twelvemonth, and now begins to ride upon the waters like a thing of life. The ability of college to sustain a periodical of this character, has been fully tested; and the present editors enter upon their labors, confident of success, if their fellow-students will but second their own earnest endeavors to give it an honorable support. The class who originated this magazine, have become so deeply engrossed in the labors preparatory to their graduation, as to forbid a more protracted tenure of the editorial office; hence, thus prematurely, they have committed to our inexperienced hands, the child of their hopes, trusting to our native sagacity to preserve it in its pristine vigor of constitution. We wish it to be distinctly understood by the public abroad, that the prime object of this college magazine is our own literary advancement. We write not for the eye of criticism-We make no pretensions to a matured and finished style of composition-Nay we expect rather often to offend the refined taste by the uncouth phrase and rudely constructed sentence; and, we doubt not, the over-scrupulous will ofter fancy an air of unseemly confidence and youthful inflation about our productions somewhat trying to their nervous sensibility. But we hope to improve; and if our labors result thus happily, our object will be accomplished. Nevertheless we would not profess ourselves indifferent to the opinion of those who may honor our productions with their perusal. If they are disposed to lend us their sympa thy in our toils, and manifest a willingness to discover our merits, as well as magnify our faults, we shall reciprocate their kindness with a warm heart, and feel our labors amply repaid by their approval. It will be our aim to make the Indicator, as the title would signify, a just representative of the literary ability, and spirit of the Institution. We shall seek to impress it as much as possible with a college character; hoping thereby it may prove a welcome visitor to our fellowstudents, breaking in upon the monotony of study, with a pleasing relief, and knitting us together in a stronger social, and literary bond.— Moreover, we hope to awaken a more lively interest in our every day life, among our friends at home, by giving them from time to time, a transcript of college thought and feeling;-and those of the Alumni who shall favor us with their patronage, we trust will find our pages, occasionally, waking up pleasing associations connected with their own college days, and giving them a fresh interest in the prosperity of our common Alma Mater. We would remind our fellow-students, that, although their partiality has made us the more immediate conductors of this magazine, they are by no means released from responsibility, in its literary support; and if the editors shall be left mostly to fill its pages by their own unaided efforts, it will not only fail of its great end as a representative of college talent, but must necessarily, if it live at all, linger along but half sustained, a burden and a reproach. We trust our correspondents will be faithful in this matter, and yield us a hearty support. In passing judgment upon the pieces which may be sent us, we shall exercise the strictest impartiality. While we shall endeavor to avoid a censorious and hypercritical spirit, justice to ourselves, to our readers, and even to the author of the piece, demand that we subject every contribution to a close inspection, and decide upon its claims to admission, according to its just merits. We lay no restrictions upon our correspondents in respect to topics-the grave, the gay, the pathetic and the humorous, will, alike, be received, if suited to our work, in point of dignity and general interest. We are happy to add, that our prospects for the coming year, are cheering beyond our most sanguine expectations; and we are encouraged to believe, that we shall be able to produce a periodical, worthy of Amherst college, her Alumni and Students. To ensure a "consumation so devoutly to be wished for," no pains will be spared by THE EDITORS. ACCORDING to an Eastern Apologue, of two drops of descending rain, one was lost in the depth of the ocean; the other, caught by a shell-fish was transformed into a pearl. Beautiful conception of the Oriental poet! And yet, in the fable is disclosed a truth which it may be well for us to consider. Men have ever been at issue about the right and wrong, the good and evil of Rank. The prince deems it perfectly right and productive of good. Well he may, for it has seated him on a throne, and set upon his brow the diadem of royalty. The peasant plow-boy, and they who do menial service, call it a curse frought with all evil; plead stoutly against its injustice; and envy those whom it has favored. With good reason, it hath bound them to the grinding wheel of' poverty, and doomed them to a life of cheerless toil and hardship. In short, Rank receives different characters according to the different media through which we view it. It's a terrible thing to the man who thinks he ought to have been a little more favored by Fortune, but it's all well enough to him who rolls in luxury or guides the car of power. And what is this great shadow which comes up and darkens life, blighting youth's young hopes that would dare to rise above its station, wasting the vigor and crushing down the pride of manhood, and settling down upon age like the dark pall of death? Is it right that men should be thus sternly doomed to differ? If we calmly examine into the elements of this Rank among men, and note the several ways in which it is developed, much that is harsh in it will be quickly dissipated. Rank is manifested in the physical, mental, and moral endowments of men, and in the stations to which birth or fortune have assigned them. And for what is life worth anything, but for usefulness and happiness? and who can safely say that with any different endowments, and in a different station, he would possess in a higher degree, capacities for usefulness and happiness? There is always a presumption that the infinite Wisdom which made us, made us in the best manner; and apart from this, who can compare physical, intellectual, and moral endowments together, and thence determine his own rank among his fellows? Bearing in mind the great end of life, who shall say that himself, a sickly and deformed invalid is less for tunate than another of princely beauty and manly strength? Or, who will claim that the king on his throne, is more an object of envy, than the slave who bows at his foot-stool? Are there no points of differance but those the eye can see? Have they not each an intellect which transcends the frail and dying body, as Immortality transcends Death, and in which the pale invalid or the humble slave may surpass the vigorous youth and haughty prince? Have they not each moreover, a moral nature, the great fountain of happiness? and is it clearly evident that youthful strength and royal dignities can confer more of it than the patient sick man and the contented servant may enjoy? Folly, to talk about the hard distinctions of life! Presumption, to impugn the wisdom and benevolence of our Maker! We can all be happy if we will-" the mind is its own place;" we can all be useful if we will; and what has life for us to do, but to accomplish these two great ends? If we were wise, we should not covet. But the Rank which station affords, is often more bitterly denounced than the differences of natural endowment. Genius is born to drive the plow, and folly to wield a sceptre. What if it is so? Flowers sometimes are "born to blush unseen;" and genius, ever conscious of its worth, carries with it all that makes life valuable, faculties of usefulness and capacities of happiness. There is a lofty feeling in the consciousness that we are not appreciated, and in the high faith that truth will yet triumph; "For ever the right comes uppermost, And ever is justice done." We find then, that much that is offensive in Rank, is removed when we bring it to the test of reason and compare it with the acknowledged ends of life. But still, as one star differs from another in glory, there are undoubted differences among men which give occasion to much discontent and murmuring. These differences I would attempt to justify, first, as necessarily resulting from the nature of things, and secondly, as contributing to individual happiness. Rank may be justified from the nature of things, as being essential to personal identity. It is the differences among men which constitute Rank; hence, the slightest differences in the physical, mental, or moral condition, are entitled to the name. But such differences are essential, in order that we may be able to distinguish one person from another. Whether it is possible that two beings could be created exactly alike, and yet preserve their identity, is an unsolved problem; nature, |