daily nebraskan
page 3
Author describes an Eastern view
of American Old West exnerience
Sheldon Art Gallery,
12th & R
9
friday, february 24, 1978
ff M IHRSfl
JL
By Elizabeth Barren
Realism in literature has been oiiiinoclecl dtiriim the
last three-quarters of the century, according to Henry
Nash Smith, author and noted American Studies scholar.
Smith, visiting distinguished professor lor UNL'sdrcal
Mains Studies (enter this week, is author of Virgin Land:
Tlie A merican West as Symbol ami drou th.
"I'm interested in fantasies rather than historical
reporting." he said. "My book is not about what hap
pened in the West but about attitudes toward it."
Smith said his book focuses on how the West was
built on fantasies and erroneous concepts.
In the WOO's some thought of the area as "ThcCical
American Desert." Realtors then described the area as
"(Jod's Country" in advertisements.
Information for the book was taken lYrtin magazines
and newspapers published in the luist during the nine
teenth century. he.said.
"There was enormous interest from l-astcrncrs looking
towards the West for the future manifest destiny," Smith
explained. "Those who wrote about the West were Easter
ners who had never been there.
"I didn't write about the West but about what I astern
people thought of that remote land."
Smith was born in Dallas. Tex., in l()06. He earned his
undergraduate degree at Southern Methodist University
where he -wrote for the Southwest Review, a literary
magainc comparable to UNL's Prairie Schooner.
Smith later taught at S.M.I I. and earned his doctor of
philosophy at Harvard University. Before joining the
calendar
S:M-I2:30 a.m.- Speech
Communication - Cornhusk
er Debate Tournament.
RHm 337-343. 216-232.
North Conference Room.
South Conference Room.
Auditorium.
shop. Ballroom.
7:30 p.m. - Inter-Varsity
Christian I ellowship. Room
202.
Booths: I A- Chi Phi.
short, mm
stuff
The Malone Community
Comer needs a ballet in-
10:30 a.m. - Chancellor's structoi on Tuesday from 3
office. Room 203. p.m. to 5 p.m. Salary is S3
11:45 a.m. - Bellevue an hum. lor more iuforma-
( Inistian Academy. Centen- lion, contact the Coinmun-
ni. il Room.
I 2 .30 p.m. - Muslim Stu
dent Association. Room
.. 7.
itv Involvement
472-2454.
Service.
Any agriculture major
p.m. - Chancellor's wauling to run for the Agri-
office. Room 203.
3 p.m. - I ees Allocation
Boaid. Room 2lo.
3 M) p.m. - I caching &
I eainini! Center. Room
242
3 30 p.m. - IIV Per
loi miii'j Arts - dance work-
cultural I ollege advisory
board should submit appli
cations In friday at the
ASUN office.
The I NI I rencli club
will meet today at 3 30 in
Braiini'jan's basement.
-daily . I
nebraskan
Publication No 14480
Editoi m chief Ron Ruqqless Mjiukjuh) alitor Bt'tsif? Am
nions News ibtof J.inet Fix Associate news editor Anne
Ciiotheis and M.npe Lundstrom Niqht news editoi Douglas
R Weil Assistant news editor Paula Ditrrick. Layout editor Li
Beaid Entertainment editor: Pete Mason Sports editor Kevin
S (inept Special editoi Carla Engstrom Phototjiaphy chief Ted
Kiik East Campus luieau chief John Ortmann Editorial patje
Maiy Jo PitI
Copy editors Lisa Brown, E.K Casaccio, Jill Denning, Paula
Dittnck, Kim Hachiya. and Janet Lliteras Editorial assistant
Cindy Johnson Business manager Jerri Haussler Advertising
manager Gregg WurrJeman Assistant advertising manager Denisr;
Jordan Production Manager Kitty Policky
The Daily Nebiaskan is published by the UNL Publications
Committee on Monday. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during
fall and spring semesters except during vacations Address' Daily
Nebraskan. Nebraska Union 34, 14th and R streets, Lincoln, Neb.
68588 Telephone 47? 2588
Material may be reprinted without pei mission if attributed to
the Daily Nebraskan, except material covered by a copyright.
Second class postage paid at Lincoln, N?b 68501
I IV v v a a
Mm -7.
M S 'Al. -
-J
University of California at Berkeley faculty in l(53, he
taught at the University of Texas and University of Cali
fornia. While at Berkeley. Smith became literary editor of the
Mark Twain estate. As "custodian" of Twain's unpub
lished manuscripts, he rummaged through Twain's writing
for publishable material, he said.
"I was the consultant to the trustees in charge of the
estate and recommended fair fees for reprint rights."
he said. Smith left the job to his assistant in l4.
According to Smith, there is a myth about Twain not
wanting his manuscripts published until after his death.
"Twain was a wonderful tall-tale expert.-Smith said.
"He often made the most preposterous statements, lie
even authorized publication of some of his manuscripts
while still alive."
However, about nine of 15 of Twain's unpublished
manuscripts now arc being published, according to Smith.
Smith said Twain helped develop a myth which has
influenced American society and behavior.
"The public confuses the real image of Twain and
distorts in their imaginations what really happens in his
stories." he said.
An example. Smith said, is the famous Rockwell
painting of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry I inn white
washing a picket fence. The work is inaccurate, he said.
"In the original edition of Tom Sawvcr. Twain
approved book illustrations which depicted Tom white
washing a long, horizontal fence not picket and without
I luck I inn. ".Smith said.
Smith's latest work is being readied -lot publication
this fall, he said. The book deals with Nth century
authors and their relations with theii audiences. '
"These writers had difficulties." Smith said. "They
wanted to write for high-brow society, but the money was
in middle-brow society. They were trying to break out of
this clamp."
Public Notice of ASUN
Spring Election Filing
... The ASUN spring election
Deadlines: will be March IS, 1978.
All candidates seeking executive, senate, or
advisory board positions are required to file
with the ASUN secretary in the ASUN office,
334 Nebraska Union, by 4 p.m., February 24th
1978.
All student parties must file a party state
ment of intent with the ASUN secretary in
the ASUN office by 4 p.m., February 24th
1978.
All candidates andor parties must file
financial forms with the. ASUN secretary
in the ASUN office by 4 p.m. March 15,
1978.
Filing forms, financial forms and other
information about the spring election will be
available in the ASUN office, 334 Nebraska
Union, beginning February 10. 1978.
i a i - - i
1 T
M Flif I
m m mi
H TODAY! EI
II F.A.D.C. til
SSSS Sj (I ritlay afternoon disco cluh) tSSSSSm
sssss Dance and get EE:
jEES on all tap beer. Sp
EH55 I5' thrrr by 7 and
HESS b'iit the rover rliarjt! HEHE552
HHS (Mh & P across from the Hilton n
FILM-MAKERS1 SHOWCASE
THE FILMS OF LES BLANK
Blank is a great sociologist as well as a fine film-maker.
Because he shoots from the inside of a social group, his
camera is never an intruder: people react to it tike a
friend. We trust his images because the people in this film
trust him.
Blank 's films typically combine striking cinematography,
brilliant editing, and lots of glorious music. In fact, al
though music is ostensibly the "subject" of his films, its
real function is as a metaphor-a Taoist center around
which everything else flows.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, & Saturday
February 22, 23, 24, & 25
A .complete retrospective-thirteen films-eight-een
hours on the screen -the film-maker in
person-all admission free (donations encour
aged)! Complete schedules available at the
Sheldon Gallery (phone 472-2461.
DON
MISS
LEE
MARVIN
ROGER
MOORE
BARBARA PARKINS An AMERICAN-INTERNATIONAL Picture
Presented by EUPC
at 7:30 P.M.
On Sunday, Feb. 26
For $1.25
0
In East Union Great Plains Room
Coming Soon - "ROCKY"
Don't wait 'til that
first nice day to
discover that your
gears won't shift.
See the professionals at
Dietrich's now for
precision tune-up and
repair on any make.
Ural the spring rush!
"The CydiKt' Friend"
JJietrlcfis
1701 Huntington