PBP1
THE HESTER I AN.
gations and other troubles peculiar to the infant stage
of intellectual development, seemed to be peculiarly
infatued with university life and are still several steps
below the top of the ladder They were wise. They
will enjoy for many years to come the privclige of
swinging Indian clubs, performing on the bar, black
ing each others eyes and many more recreations of a
like nature. The gymnasium will fill a long felt want
No longer is there any excuse for the boys to kick
the plastering off tl.e ceilings and to climb the steam
pipes. No longer is theie any excuse for persistant
loafing around the halls We hope that all students
in general and new students in particular will avail
themselves of the opportunities offered by the gym
nasium. To all those who were instrumental in hav
ing the gymnasium fitted up the students shou'd be
grateful, but especial thanks are due to Lieutenant
Griffith who has always taken a deep interest in the
welfare of the students.
OMEtime since The Hesperian ventured to
suggest a few changes in the present manage
ment of the library. Evidently the advise was in
vain, but this does not discourage us and we venture
to repeat at least a part of our advise and to urge the
powers that be to give it serious consideration. This
plan is that the library be open five evenings each
week. It seems that the growth of the institution
demands such a change. In some of tbe departments
the students must do the greater amount of their work
in the library and under the present state of affairs
they are absolutely unable to accomplish the best re
sults. The department of history will serve well to
illustrate this point. In the elective courses of the
above named department it is obviously a financial
impossibility for students to purchase the necessary
books; and some classes are so large that it is found
exceedingly difficult for all the members of it to do
as good work as might be done it the library were
open a few hours in the evening. Then it would not
be necessary to allow anyone to draw out the
books needed by the classes and thus the librarian
would be spared much trouble. This change could
be effected at very little cost and it seems that if
the student body is to receive the most good possi
ble from the library that it should be accomplished.
Of what use is a large library if it is not fully utilized?
This change will we feel sure be brought about in the
near future. Why not begin this ycaj?
is a very juvenile institution not yet a year old, and it
was to be expected that it could not be an unqualified
success. Rut anything that tends to bring together
in friendly contests students of the different institu
tions should be encouraged on account of the mutual
advantages to be derived. Nor is there any reason
why the association may not in time develop so that
it will be a financial success. The one thing needed
is that students of the state take sufficient interest in
the association. Let all of the colleges begin now to
tram the men and the next field day will be more of
a success than the last one was. Here it may not be
out of place to urge the athlets of the U. of N. to
make more preparation than they did last year. With
a larger attendance than that of any institution in the
state, the University of Nebraska should win a cor
respondingly larger number of prizes. But this was
not the case last year and unlrss special effort is made
it will not be the case this year. Last year base ball
was adecided success. Why not have inter-collegiate
contest in foot ball and tennis as well as in base ball
this year. Lxst year a beginning was made in tennis.
Why not continue in that line? These inter-collegiate
contests are benefical because they serve to
broaden the minds of the students.' A student who
has never seen anything outside of his own little col
lege circle is apt to be so narrow in his views as to im
agine that there is nothing of merit outside of his own
college. Inter-collegiate contests do much to over
come this feeling and for this reason they should be
encouraged.
1(I
fHILE the first Nebraska inter-collegiate field
day was not an entire success, when viewed
from a financial standpoint, yet it was as much of a
success as one could well hope for. The association
URING all last year rumors, more or less threat
ening, reached our notice, that in the near fu
ture the fraternities would establish a paper to repre
sent their interests. These rumors have now ceased
to oppress the air and The Hesperian starts out upon
the new year with no opponent in sight. This is to
be regretted. These is not much satisfaction in fight
a system that is either too weak to defend itself orclsc
dares not do so, for some other reason. And were it
not for the underhanded manner in which fraternity
members 'work' students, we would be willing to treat
their efforts with silent contempt. But fraternities
thrive best when barbs remain silent concerning them.
Frats wish members to join them without ever having
heard the other side of the question. In view of this
fact we may be pardoned for asking the new students
whoiu the frats have been 'working', if the aforesaid
aggregations have boasted of the high literary abilities
that they possess. If they ever explained why it is
that the Philodicean society is somewhat of a liteiary
failure, and has been kept alive only because oc
casionly the trats have secured the initiation of some
members of the other societies Do the members of