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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1890)
THE HESPERIAN. MISCELLANY. Through the kindness of Professor llcsscy we have re cieved a copy of the report of the botanist on the grasses and forage plants anil also a catalogue of flora so far found in the state, Hy examining the contents of the book one can read ily sec that considerable labor has been expended by Profcs sor Itcssey, J. G. Smith and II. J. WclnVr in different coun ties of the state. The catalogue of the flora nfihe state by II. J. Webber gives evidence of much patient labor by the author. The catalogue is based on specimens in actual cxis tance and are to be found in the herbarium of the University and in the private collections of Professor Hessey, Roscoe Pound, T. A. Williams, J. G. Smith and H. J. Webber. The volume contains much useful information both to scien tists and to agriculturists. We have been waiting so long to make an item of the opening of the gymnasium tljat it is not improbable that each editor will have something to say about it. When we heard that, thanks to the efforts of Lieutenant Dudley the "Armory Hill" had passed the legislature, our spirits rose and in imagi nation we saw a complete gymnasium rise before our delighted gaze, saw in the immediate foreground a vision of a lignum vita ball rolling with the swiftness of a cannon ball along the smooth surface of an alley, and heard or seemed tohcnr the cry "all down but mine, lct'cr roll"; to the right of the picture we saw a valiant Sophomore after winning a hotly contested bout with foils throw down his foil and heard him exclaim in tragic tones, "the last onc--thrcc." All this we saw, but alas! 'twas a vision in a desert. Time has passed, he has probably ground his scythe several times since then, the mir age has faded the reality is here. The g mnasium is open now for the use of all students who pay the sinking iund fee of one dollar. The gymnasium hours arc 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. during this time, with the exception of such hours as are re quired for other work Lieutenant Griffith will be in the gym nasium, to give general instruction to all who desire it in all kinds of gymnasium work. Arrangements will be made for regular instructions in the Sophomore year and Lieutenant Griffith informs us that in case the students desire it and a time can be arranged suitable for all he will instruct a class in elective gymnastics. Lieutenant Griffith has shown great interest in the establishment of a gymnasium' and the students should show their appreciation of his efforts by using the ap paratus in the proper manner. . The college year of '90-91 begins with brighter prospects than ever before for the University of Nebraska. In spite of the predictions of many who maintained that the opening of our sister institutions in East Lincoln would detract grca'.ly from our prosperity, the University has a larger attendance than ever. To compare the number enrolled at present with the total enrollment of the Fall Term of '86, would of course be unfair, yet there are now registered fully twenty-five more students than were enrolled at the end of the fall term. There are many students, especially old ones, here who have not registered yel on account of delay in arranging their work. We can safely say that when the register is closed for the Christmas holidays it will bear the names of seventy.five more students than havi been enrolled in any other term dnr ing the history of the institution. The Latin School shows flattering piospeits; in '89 Dr. Lees matriculated ninety-five students, having pan or all of t licit v. oik in the Latin Schcol. This year, to date, he has matriculated 104. The number of students classified as "Preps" last year was about 10O; this year it is 150. The Second Preparatory class this year has twenty-five in excess of the number last year. The Preparatory Grcak shows a building up of the classical course and testifies to the energy and success of the principal of the Latin school. In '89 and previous years the class numbered about a dozen; this year the number taking "Prep" Greek is thirty-three. Quite a number of improvements are noticeable about the buildings. The laboratories have been fitted up and new apparatus received; about 200 volumes of reference books have been added to the library, including bound vol umes of the magazines completing the files to date. Dr. Lees has secured several fine pictures of ancient 'sculpture, for his class room and will also have a map of Europe to as sist the "preps" in tracing the career of the illustrious C. J. Caesar during his famous bridge building tour on the continent. The military department also starts under favorable circumstances. The number enrolled is about the same as last ycar,but none have been excused so there is a larger number actually drilling than ever before. The cases in the museum have been arranged and present very fine ap pearance. The Physics department has received almost all of the ap paratus provided for by the legislative appropriation two years ago and a number of new books for the department li brary. Another improvement deserving of mention is due to the efforts of that energetic and succssful lobbyist, his janitor ial highness, John Green. This staunch friend of The Hes it.uian, has caused the regents to have a small en gine placed in the boiler house, to be used in hoisting the ashes and other refuse products of combustion from the furnace pit to the earth's surface. Crops may fail and politics may boil, the University goes od forever. Since new students have been receiving advise from vari ous quarters, The Hesperian ventures to air its views upon one or two topics that should furnish food for careful reflec tion to those who have been but a few days among us. We hope that the few remarks will be taken in the same friendly spirit in which they are given and that they will cause no one to attempt to do violence to our office "devil" as an irated co-ed did last year. But leaving aside all such considera tions we have at heart the welfare ot the students, both old and new, and feeling that we have something to say that must be said, here goes, no matter what the consequences: "Now most of you are away from home, probably for the first time," as you have been told before. At home you were held in high esteem; your advise upon great political questions had more weight than that of the whole board of aldermen. You were a moulder of public opinion and no doubt felt the un responsibility that rested upon you. A few of you seem to feel that responsibility yet, and accordingly have started out to show the world that though but prep or fresnman you have considerable more knowledge than the seniors. You may recover from that notion some day. At any rate we hope that there are one or two professors here whom you will admit, when alone by yourself, are almost your equals in the intellectual world. So much for the "smart" man. He is not very numerous, but yet there are a few of his kind. Most of them will be taking a vacation by and by. Then there is the pretty, charming co-ed who stands around the halls and imagines herself the center of attraction. She is go- M
