THE HESPERIAN.
One of the questions that the present legislature
will decide is of vital importance to the University.
This institution has labored long under the dis
advantage of depending upon uncertain appropriations
for its financial support. The aim of the regents
and the officials connected with the University, has
always been to keep the demands of the University
within the provisions made by congress and the
state. The people have not been asked to give a
dollar more than has already been provided. Cer
tain sums are constantly set aside for the use of the
University, and they can not be directed to other
purposes. In order to obtain the use of these funds,
biennial appropriations are necessary.
Two years ago, the legislature established the
precedent of appropriating the entire amount of
funds of the University, to its support and use. The
question is Will the present legislature follow the
example set by the legislature of two years ago? It
is necessary for .he welfare of the institution that
some fixed custom be followed in regard to the
appropriations. If the appropriations vary in amount
according to the whim or prejudice of different legis
latures, every move made by the regents will be un
certain. No plan can be pursued with any degree
of certainty, for a longer period than two years. If
the present legislature shall aid in establishing the
precedent, that the entire University revenue during
two years, shall be set aside for the use and mainten
ance of the University through its proper officials,
then all uncertainty and doubt in regard to manage
ment will be removed.
With a definite knowlede of the amounts which
the University will receive, the regents will be un
trammelled. That the University appropriation
will be diminished when the need is greatest for
every available dollar, is a risk too great to be borne.
Now is a critical period in the history of the Univer
sity. Never before had it such a chance for devel
opment. It is rapidly taking a high place among the
great educational institutions. With ample revenue
accumulating for its support, why should the Univer
sity fail to receive the entire benefit of its funds?
Now is the time when every dollar is needed. Let
not prejudice of county or district stunt the growth
of a state institution, the doors of which are open to
all alike. Let the present legislature aid in establish
ing the precedent that the University shall have the
use of all the funds to which it is justly entitled. The
University claims only that which is its own, nothing
more.
In their biennial report the regents make this
demand. The justness of their request is evident.
The future greatness of the University, its standing as
an institution of learning, its further development,
all depend upon the answer given to the request of the
regents.
MISCELLAMY.
A NEW degree It has been duly and officially an
nounced that Harvard has secured the services of Mr. John
Clarkson, pitcher of the 13ostons, for the professorship of
base ball. The Graphic happily remarks: This distin
guished pundit has had wise and extended experience in al
most every department oi the science which he adores, and
is well qualified to teach "the young ideas how to shoot"
base balls according to every parabola known to mathemati
cal science and a few others besides. This elective study
may not agree with the old fashioned notions of a college
curriculum, but of course the college authorities know what
they are about, and if they choose to provide a special de
partment of athletics to enable the college nine to whip the
Yale team, it is no one else's business. A new degree of B.
13, C. (base ball champion) would be about the right thing to
create to celebrate this new departure of the oldest and
most famous of American colleges." We were all aware
that our Nebraska University was sadly deficient in one re
spect, and now we know just what is needed. A professor
of base ball would no doubt be a great attraction, and ma
terially increase the number of students.
Decimal classification There is certainly a great,
need of improvement in a better system of classification' in
the various public libraries in our country. Mr. Melville
Dewey, formerly of Amherst, but at present professor of
library economy in Columbia college, can be said to have in
vented one of the great conveniences of the age. His
method of classification, known as the decimal system, is at
the came time so simple and so comprehensive that it is
equally suited to a library ol fifty volumes or to a library of
several hundred thousand volumes. A library which is con
stantly enlarging, needs just such a system of classification.
I would like to suggest, for the benefit of all concerned, that
this system bi employed in our University library. Why
not have every thing done in the most improved and ap
proved method possible. Speaking of Melville Dewey, I am
reminded of the course in library economy provided for in
Columbia college. It takes a wide range of knowlege to be
a good librarian; to -have a knowlege of books and their
classification, which can be acquired through a study of the
subject, or from a wide experience in a large library. Co
lumbia, realizing the need of a special course of instruction
in this line, came to the rescue, and provided a post graduate
course for students who wish to fit themselves for this pro
fession. The first three months of this course
are spent in the library where one obtains some
acquaintance at least with the backs of books. Much of the
remaining time is devoted to the study of the classification it
self from a practical stand point. One year of close study
entitles the student to the degree of M. A. The positions in
state and college libraries will be filled from the ranks of
those who have made special preparation for this kind of
work.
ANNEX.
The girls have promised to get up a base ball nine, when
the chair in base ball instruction is established provided
they will be allowed to take the course in scientific curving.
At present the military dcpaitment does not exclude the
co-eds from the classes in military science, and where one
young lady is willing to study tactics now, a dozen will be
glad to study the science of correct pitching then.