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T HE H E S P E U IAN
keeping Ihe library open dining the evening, mid it would
ccitainly encourage a ficcr use r rcrcicncc hooks. It seems
to us to be an important step in raising n university above tlic
level of academies, to give the lcsl of opportunities to com
pare their text books with other authois, mid free access to
the library nt nil times, is the only means of reaching this
goal. A few minor "icforms" should be mentioned. After
five o'clock many of the students who have classes from four
to five do notcaic to go to their looms bcfoic supper; this is
a splendid lime (or athletics, but it is also a splendid lime to
look over periodicals or to weik upon special topics, and the
library should be open Irom five to six. This innovation
should be introduced now, this term, while we arc sitting
around wondoiing hat we may do to employ an hour profit
ably, when waiting lor supper time.
Tlicic is not another library in the city that docs not have
paper files. It is next to impossible lor the librarian to keep
track of the dailies and to find a particular number of a weekly
would be an absurd undertaking. The reading room has
been piovidcd with reading desks and "lunch counter stools"
why not also have paper files? The system ol charging books
is very loosely managed; not a few students have been re
quested to 1 etui 11 books which had been returned several
mouths before. To plead for a published catalogue seems
vain, olhcis have failed before; but we wish to remark that it
has never been our fortune to hear of a library as large
as oms that has no printed catalogue. This distinction, of
which we should be heartily ashamed, is entirely our own.
The university cadet battalion will go into camp at Hast
ings, Thursday, May 29. The city of Hastings will pay $150
lowaid the expenses ol the outing, besides the other accom
dations always furnished. The battalion will probably leave
Lincoln on the 11101 ning 'flyer' and arrive in Hastings about
half past seven. This will give us ample oppoitunity to take
possession of the camp and to make all ncccssaty arrange
ments so that wc can acquit ourselves creditably in the Mem
orial day exercises, Friday. Never in the history of the dc
pailinent has it been able to put a battalion into camp as large
and well chilled as the battalion will be this year. More than
a hundred of the cadets have expressed their intention to go.
This will give us four good sized companies, and as very few
cadets will remain at home wc will not be placed at a disad
vantage by the necessity of reorganizing the companies, thus
placing men in positions to which they have not become ac
customed. The benefit derived Irom the battalion drills and
dress parades this term will manifest itself when all realize
that the battalion is the center of attraction, the observed of
all observers.
Lieutenant Griffith is investigating the feasibility of hav
ing a general mess tent wheie all may obtain board at reas
onable rates. This will be a great improvement upon the ar
rangement of former encampments, as it will be not only more
convenient and cheaper but will also be more in keeping with
military discipline. Wc understand that the state will fur'
nish new officers' wall tents, somewhat smaller than those
used last year, but much better.
The camp will consist ol Irom twenty-five to forty tents
and will present an appearance of which we may be proud.
Through the kindness of the commandant Tiik Hesiu:r
IAN will have a special tent assigned for its hcadquarteis.
The editorial staff will be there in force, and we take this
opportunity to assure our friends that all will be welcome
who desire to subscribe. The IIesveuian will be in camp
ready for distribution Sunday morning, June I. ,
The si'veulcenth inlcv-state oratorical contest has pass.'d
into history. Who will say that wc did not derive great bene
fit from the meeting of the association? Many lessons were
taught that could not have been learned from books. The
tiulh ol the cxpicssion, inany men of many minds," was
clearly demonstrated. The maikings of six judges, coming
from different parts of the country, stand witness to the fact
that what one considers an excellent production others rank
very low. A glance at the chart of grades will show that
several orations received both extremes in grades; such a
glance will also show the injustice of the present system of
ranking. Orators who stand high in the first ranking aic
crowded down by the pernicious system of tluowing out the
first oratois audio u.nking those remaining. Will some en
thusiastic defender of the picscnt system explain wherein
lies the justice of crowding n man down in final rank because
part of the judges have ranked him above the winning ora
tor? As an example we submit the following:
Under one section ol judges the following markings ap
pear: A receives 2, 4, 1; 11 leccivcs 1, 3, 5; C icccives 3, 5,
2. The sums of these ranks give A 7, 11 9, C to. Their
ranks arc manifestly and justly A first, H second, C thud, but
let us apply Sec. 6, Ail. V of the constitution to these ranks.
A is declared fust and Hand C arc re ranked, giving II I, 3, 4;
C 2, 4, t. Adding these ranks wc obtain 118, C 7, and C, not
II, is declared the winner of second place. This apparent
paradox is easily understood when wc observe that B was
marked above A by two judges and hence gained but one by
throwing A's marks out, while C marked below A by thrco
judges gained three by this process. Will some one please
explain what pillar in the temple of justice this system of
ranking rests upon? We should like to suggest to the local
associations of Nebraska that when the Nebraska delegation
goes to l)cs Moines next year they carry with them an amend
ment which will provide for a single tanking from the marks
of the judges. The final rank of states to be in order of pre
cedence as shown by the sums of these ranks; lies between
ranks to be settled by grand averages.
If there had been more time wc might have advertised our
univcisity to good advantage, as it was all students as well as
delegates were kept busy in working for the success of the
contest. Few of our visitors had lime to thoroughly inspect
the different departments of the university; we heard only
favorable comment upon those departments which were in
spected. After all wc did not entertain the association for
the purpose of advertising our university but lor the purpose
of gaining individual benefit from intercourse with other in
stitutions of learning. In spite ol social disturbances which
threatened at one lime to swamp the entire contest, e
very thing passed off smoothly; or at least it so appeared to a
casual observer. It is for the visitors to decide whether or
not they were well entertained; wc did our best, and are sat
isfied with our effort, although of course wc realize that im
provements might have been made.
Photo orders for sale by the business manager at a dis
count. See him.
Dr. Garten, eye, ear, nose and throat specialist. Glasses
fitted. Rooms 16 and 17, Richards block, Lincoln, Neb.
If you can't "keep your shirt on," then go to the Capital
City Shirt Factory and purchase one at a very low price that
will stay on. 939 O street.
For instruction in book-keeping, pciynanship, short-hand,
type willing or telegraphy, the Lincoln Business College is
the best place to go. Over 600 students last year.
M