Friday, February 13, 1948
THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
Page 3
Daily Nebraskan Traces
University's Beginning
By norm leger
Another winter's day of wind
howling across the lonesome
prairie and an overcast sky with
heavy clouds served as a back
ground for E. E. Cunningham
when he stood in the state senate
to introduce the bill.
The bill, known as S. F. No. 86,
was referred to the committee on
education, and two days later the
bill was read for the third time,
'passed and signed by Governor
David Butler. The date: Feb. 15,
1869.
It was a law passed by the Ne
braska legislature enacting "that
there shall be established in this
state an institution under the
name and style of 'the University
of Nebraska.' The object of such
an institution shall be to afford
to the inhabitants of the states the
means of acquiring a thorough
knowledge of the various
branches of literature, science and
the arts."
Provisions
The law provided for six de
partments or colleges, including:
1) literature, sciences and the arts,
2) agriculture, 3) law, 4) medicine,
5) practical sciences, surveying
mechanics, and 6) fine arts.
Commenting on the enactment,
Mr. H. H. Wilson, member of the
class of 1878, who for 28 years was
a teacher in the College of Law,
and whose reminiscences were
printed in the February, 1941, is
sue of the Alumnus, wrote "Ne
braska had been a member of the
Union less than two years when
on Feb. 15, 1869, there was put
on the statute book of Nebraska a
law that has become famous as
the Charter of the University of
Nebraska. It is remarkable that
at a time when there was very
little accumulated wealth in the
state, and when many of her citi
zens were dwelling in sod houses
and dugouts, they envisioned the
future of an educated and effici
ent citizenry."
Remarkable, yes, but explainable.
Pound Book
In the Semi-Centennial Anni
versary Book published in 1919,
Dr. Louise Pound, renowned uni
versity English professor, ex
pressed her beliefs regarding the
early establishment of an institu
tion of higher learning in Ne
braska. "From the first, the pi
oneer plainsmen of Nebraska
were not content to be absorbed
only in the activities of the pres
ent. They were not only adven
turers and workers; they were
dreamers, she said. "We picture
them as engaged in useful labors
but as leading humble and routine
lives, engrossed in pioneer tasks.
We are likely to forget that they
were a special breed of men, es
pecially rich in ambitions and
ideals richer in these, it may
be, than many of us who are their
descendents."
Furthermore, according to Dr.
Pound, "New regions are not
sought by the weak or the timid
or the dependent, but by those of
stern make men of unusual self
reliance, endowed with enthusi
asm and with zealous ambition."
Only a few years before the
University of Nebraska came into
being, the Overland Mail Service
operated across the Nebraska
territory as did the famed Pony
Express, which ended in 1861.
Population Centers
The population centers of Ne
braska then were Omaha, Nebras
ka City, Plattsmouth, Falls City
and Brownville, with the total
state population of no more than
100,000. There were still thou
sands of Indians Sioux, Winne
bago, Omaha, Otoe residing on
government reservations.
The University of Nebraska was
established just two years after
Nebraska was admitted to state
hood and four years after the
Civil war and Lincoln's assassina
tion. The city of Lincoln had
been designated as the capital
home only two years before, a
time when Lincoln had a popu
lation of 1,000, only well water,
few or no sidewalks and the
present campus was raw prairie.
Any historical account of the
beginning of the university can
hardly overlook the building of
University hall, the first structure
on the campus.
Planned to Destroy It
That the Board of Regents once
resolved to tear down the building
shortly after it was .built is a fact
probably known to many: What
prompted this resolution and its
ultimate outcome was given an
interesting recording by Professor
H. W. Caldwell in 1889. The trials
and tribulations brought about
by the building of U hall, as told
by Prof. Caldwell, will appear in
the Sunday edition of The Daily
Nebraskan Sunday, February 15,
University of Nebraska Charter
Day.
AS WELL AS IN WAR, ....
KttP YOUR Gl INSURANCE
IN FORCE
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For foil information contact yaw newest
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION office.
Latest Word on Cribbingston's
Safari Into Women's Dorm
By SUSIE REED
It was many years ago that poor
old Rochester J. Cribbingston
loaded a train of camels, with
bananas and journeyed into that
vast unexplored region at 540 N.
16, a journey from which he was
never to return.
It was in the year 2 that Crib
bingston conceived the idea of
exploring this territory to uncover
the nature of the wild life there
and reveal it to the world. He
was but a youngster when he
gathered his safari about him
and headed into the girls' dorm.
And that was the last that was
heard of Cribbingston.
A few days ago, however, school
authorities discovered a body on
the steps of Love library. The
authorities rushed the body to
the Student Health Center where
immediate medical attention
saved his; life.
World Abuxx
"Are you a student who has
just received his semester
grades?" inquired the attending
physician. The old man en
deavored to speak. "No," he said,
his voice creaking, "I am Roches
ter J. Cribbingston." The as
tounded doctors reported their
discovery to the newsmen, and
soon the world was buzzing with
the news of Cribbingston's return.
Today is the first day that Crib
bingston has had the strength to
speak. History professors and
museum curators huddled around
the sick man's bed, eager to learn
of the terrors of the girls' dorm.
Cribbingston was too weak to
reveal much, but he was able to
present many amazing facts be
fore the white-uniformed nurses
asked the gentlemen to leave.
Long Story
Cribbingston's story began with
his trip into the dorm. He told
of the many days he spent work
ing his way through the door
amid the crowds of couples who
were having a last minute
"quickie." At last he made his
way in. Immediately he was sur
rounded by swarms of savages
in their native costume, jeans and
shirts. The natives bound him
and carried him upstairs where
he was tied to a post.
Tribal chieftans gathered in
council, discussing the problems
of the day. They spoke of classes,
of grades, of men, and of parties,
each one talking a little louder
than the rest. While they spoke
they consumed large quantities of
kangaroo extract which they
called "coffee." The dorm filled
with smoke as the peace pipe
was passed among them.
Suddenly a patter of feet was
heard in the hall. The natives
seized their prisoner, shoved him
under the bed, and put out the
campfire. All was quiet as Crib
bingston shuddered with fright
under the bed. After about fif
teen minutes of silence, the fires
were lit again and Cribbingston
was hauled out.
Stuffed in Closet
The council talked on into the
wee hours of the morning. Final
ly, Cribbingston was stuffed into
a closet. From there, he heard the
natives stomping and yelling
wildly in a ritualilstic dance. At
last, the camp once more became
quiet. Cribbingston stated that he
had never spent such a terrifying
night. Once the silence was brok
en by the sound of a fire alarm
which rang out through the halls,
bringing the startled natives to
their feet.
At this point in Cribbingston's
story, the soft-shoed nurses in
sisted that the gentlemen leave.
Meanwhile, the world awaits
more news concerning this region!
No Ag Movie
No movie is scheduled at Ag
Union for Sunday, Feb. 15, ac
cording to Alice Matthauser,
Ag Union director. The union
will be closed until 4:00 p. m.
on account of the Alumni
organization's 79th birthday
meeting in the downtown
union the same day. ,
Coffee Hour will" be held as'
usual at 5:00 o'clock in the;
union lounge. Coffee and.
brownies will be served and ,
requests will be played.
This l&cod Goes Ham-iiumumming Wong !
It's JEAN SABLON'S...
(RCA Victor)
ENGLISH or French, his singing is terrific!
His fans range from bobby-soxers to the
1
lavender-and-old-lace set.
Why, he even lights his Camels with a Continental
charm. Takes a leisurely puff and says: "Great!"
Yes, Jean, and millions of smokers agree with
you about Camels. More people are smoking
Camels than ever before!
Try Camels! Discover for yourself why, with
smokers who have tried and compared, Camels
are the "choice of experience"!
And here's another great record-
m people are smomg
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