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About The Nebraskan. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1892-1899 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 1898)
THE A BRAS KAN i V 9 Vol. VI No. 15. UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, LINCOLN, FRIDAY, JAN. 14, 1808. PltlOK 5 Cknts. N ADDRESS TO OLD SETTLERS h Miss Ellen Smith Tells of University History. Early INTERESTING AND AMUSING An Inslruclivo Picluro of the Unlvorslly In Its Infancy lis Trials and Tribulations. TIip following Is tho complete ad dress of MIbs Ellon Smith, tho regis trar, (lellvired Inst Tuesday ovonlng before the Old Settlers' association. It Is extremely Interesting and also val uable as an authentic history of the University In Its early days. My Dear Friends, tho Old Settlors of Lancaster County: It Is quite un usual tor mo to appear In public and very difficult to find tlmo to prepare even a short paper on any topic, and hnil e Old Settlers' association hs'ko I mo to come before them on any other siilripit. the Invitation would have l)oon very quickly and decidedly re fused, but to give jou a few of my early recollections of tho Uni versity vn too tempting to seom quite Imptisnilili', and so hero 1 am. In the latter part of tho winter of 1S77. the health of Prof. Hiram Collier bepnn t fall, his ilmptoms giving stronu indications of pulmonary' con sumption and the regents gave him a leave of nhsonco to travel in Califor nia, and the question arose as to what provision should bo made for his vorU, that tlie University might suffer the least dt trlment. Another question had for some time been Interesting the board of regents and that was In re gard to the employment of a woman in the University, as It was a co-cdu-cational institution. Doth questions were nnswered by deciding tho latter in the affirmative as she could relievo ..i. or ;:rfc "jTi c;rjhijsr .t -n " i their work. Which In turn could do Prof. Collier's for a time? Then as between the daughter of Dr. Morgan of Oborlln, 0., and my self, m firm health and strong consti tution turned the balance In my favor and I nunc as tutor of Latin and Greek the 1st or prll, 1877, tho first woman who roc -i v i d an appointment by the regents of the University of Nebraska. But in those days to be appointed tutor or professor of any particular branches meant very little, so far as his work was concerned, and mathe matics, English and even general hls or wuti often assigned to mo; for each was expected to do, whatever, all things considered, seemed best for the l'nivprsit, and many years after that a young man who Is now a prominent lawyer of Lincoln, was tho llrst to re fuse absolutely to teach a class for which the terms of his engagement did not call, his services were not long retained. The chancellor was a tench r of mental, moral and political science ami on one occasion a class In physiology was left without a teacn f,by the alihence of a teacher on leave on account of sickness and Chancellor i'alrtleld tiiiifiht it tho whole term. TIk t'niMiHity, If not In Its Infancy, as certainly in its early childhood; 'or I'Rs i him six years had passed lnre ti)P dnors wore llrst thrown open. and previous to this year, only six Professor and ono tutor had been cm Ployed ami 132 was tho highest number of Btuilonts enrolled In one yenr. But this yPar marked a decided ndvnnce oent. Pur the first tlmo the chemls JO' and physics which had been In the lands of tho professor of natural Imipph, wei-p plnced under a separate instructor. iror. Hiram Colllor. who a an enthusiastic teacher, whose ori( war limited by his strength alone Fr the first tlmo a professor of modern latiKitngoB was employed, Prof. "arrinKton Emerson, who had been iucatp,i ,ihrond until ho Boomed morn "rp'6n tha,, native, and had perfect mand of French and Gorman, "en. with his native Yankeo vim ni enersy made him u superior if3cnor. The first United States nrmy office r. terv i S' I)H,l'yi WI18 detailed to thei tl'" I,nlv"dty this year and drtBt,on of the nrBt company of ,. el8 WnH IlOt onallv nnnnmnllnhP.fi was nn I, u " """" Bring of 1880, tho cadet band was or Wtu 11 .fi0"t,oraan rt a ?nrS Tll i.S ho following year the -MllKl rilltnnu .. .. .1.. . .r,, ini-n... i ,...., bill I uulctr ao dl1 n01 lnlnl; tmifhxVi0"1 uniforms nmounted to fcl to ,?.ny of tll(5 students were unn inM1880 these at flrst and It omp "mo to get started right -j uuiici- Mn mi Mid mil I iiiiii, SSSSi.JSSSS.VSi yonr In the Orcok clmlr ho the por- sonnol ot iho fnculty wnB greatly changed, tho number of professors and tutors raised to ten and mo attendance Increased 1G0, making in all 282. After that tlmo tho attendance did not fall below 200, wob genornlly 250 but did' not reach 284 until 1882. Everything wns rather primitive compared to tho presont. Tho campus was a dreary place, with a few trees hero and there too smnll to give any shndo, unkempt and uneven, but nearly enclosed with a long hedge; but when onco within the enclosure nothing prevented tennis being driven up to tho front steps of the ono building for there wat only ono. In thnt building tho Union society hod the samo hall which It now occu pies. The Pnlladlans wore In tho pres ent law room and tho museum In .ho present Dellnn hall. Ono room was de voted to tV library, and out to trie nrnis and equipment of tho mllltnry department and ono to the janlioi, for the janitor wns then obliged to room In the building; several rooms which are now In constant use were then fill ed with rubbish, nnd yet overythlng In the curriculum was taught. Tho torch ing wns all done In the forenoon, of five dnys of tho week, a class In the afternoon being considered au In fringement on the rights of tho stu- dents and tho first attempt to hold a class on Saturday came near producing not a very mild rebellion. There was no ventilation In tho chomlstry room; thcro was little appa ratus In the physics room; there was no lnbratory for botany, zoology or any of the "ologles;" tho museum wa, disarranged nnd unclassified; the li brary was opened but a few hours one day In the week, but the professors wero energetic and determined, the students eager, faithful and hard wor-ftX ' ' much 4'ood work wj done, as tho success of those who did it has since proven. There were no electric lights or signals. Tho boil which Is now used to call to chapel and to celebrate football victories, wit iho only boll except ono in tho build ing. For many years it was tho duij of the janitor to tap the bell two or three times for closing recitations, thon nfter two or three minutes two or three more taps for beginning the I noxt. The other, a tea-bell stood on a small desk on tho rostrum and this the chancellor used to call the audience to order at chapel. It was given to me when the practice was abandoned and 1 Intend to placo it in the museum some day, as a relic of those old times. Tho chapel, as everything else, has, been greatly changed. Tho rostrum was In the north end of the chapel and It was seated like mny of tho old fashioned churches, with narrow, -wooden pews, which would hold five or six persons comfortably and heated by two Immonse stoves. On tho floor lii front of the rostrum, stood a small melodeon for use In chapel exercises, which was played by some student, mostly by Miss Knto Gllette, the first year of my acquaintance In the Unl versitv. All the school rooms wore heated by stoves and tho comfort of the room depended largely upon tho skill and en re of the teacher In that room. The halls wero never warmed until steam heat was Introduced, aud going from warm recitation rooms Into ley cold hnlls was frequently the cause of serious Illness. In the spring of 1877 an earthquake shock was folt In all the heavy build ings in Lincoln. In tho University the vibrations wero strong enough to slop over a glass of water Btandlng on a dPBk In tho chemical room and I shall not Boon forget the sensations pro duced by the swaying of th building ns I sat In my school room, though I had no idea what was the cause. Thut spring also it was discovered that) the foundations of the building wero crumbling and it wbb decided that the brown worthless stone must be re placed at onco by a more durable mn torlal. and as there was no monoy In the treasury, the faculty decided to ad vance 1 1-4 per cent, of their salary for the purpose and rely upon the next I legislature to replace It; it has I never been replncod and I nevnr heard i Hint nnvono asked for It. In tb 1 ...'' - -.-- I ' n.iwi .... Anr ciriirr young mon Biicceoded by great 6ffort In raising monoy for uniforms nnd since that time it hnB boon on an us ee ontlnued on Fourth Page.) HOVEL ELECTRICAL EXHIBIT Electrical Engineers Prepare Charter Day. for CHANGE 1'KOH FORMER YEARS Old Tlmo Exhlbil Will bo Abandoned and Iho Latest Electrical Novcllica Will bo Shown. ' . , , Arrnngcmonts for tho big annual clmrtcr day celebration have already. bton commenced although it is yet a month beloro that fwtivo day arrives. ' uuu ui iuu tuuiurua oi mis nay nas always been the electric exhibit which takes place In iho ccnlng in tho ar mory. 'Iho electrical mgineors hold a meeting last 'iuetday evening to , make preparations for this Interesting exhibit. It. was ihctdnl to n;k, ,t novel departure from the usual pro gram of the last few years which It is expected will prove n stronger source of attraction than their live-ton magnet. New electrical novelties will be on exhibition In tvlilch everybody, whether an olectntal ..uuont or other-, wise, win oo deeply ..ucresied. , It is the intention ot tne engineers to secure a first class lecturer to glvo a , leciurc of general iu.or.si on somo of tho best ekctiical achievements of thi day. It Is the Intention to make tha I lecture one which everybody can uu- dcrstand and appreciate without tne , ald of an encyclopaedia. It will bo 11- lustrated with sttroptlcan views. In order to defray the exponses of ijarry lng out this program, it lins been f.,und necessary to charge a small admission fee. It Is hoped that the students will help along the good work by patroniz ing the lecture as generously as though it wero free. At tho conclusion of the lecture a reception will be hefe tti the armory. The armory will bo decorated wKh latest lighting effects and special ar rangements will be made to accommo date the crowd. A complete lino of olectrical cooking utensils will be oper ated to their full capacity and refresh ments cooked by electricity will be served. Such "out of date" affairs as the water pail forgo, calcium carbite furnace, electrical hair curlers and "splnninir eggs" will be positively for- blddon. It Is the Intention to havo refresh ments prepared and served by Univer sity girls, and not by the enginuers. This fact Is mentioned in order to as sure those to whoso lot It will fall to eat product of the electrical cooulng. Two years ago the engineers served pan cakes to illustrate the value of electricity In cooking, but they left out a few rather necessary Ingredients In the batter so that the public did not recover for some time from tho effects thereof. The girls, however, ?taud ready to guarantee that there will be no such blunders this year. Visitors will also bo given an opportunity to get their handkerchiefs scorched for nothing on tho electrical Ironer. Other Important electrical features will be put on exhibition. An executive committee consisting of MessrB. C. W. Weeks, H. B. Noyes and M. A. Hydo will have the work in charge. COMPANY F HOP. Company F held a meeting laBt Monday afternoon and decided to hold a hop, which Is to be the first annual Company F hop. This adds one more to tho long list of annual hops in the University. Captain Noyes has evi dently determined not to wait until tho end of tho yenr before beginning to work up Bomo company Bplrlt, but ' has wisely concluded that now Is tho I time to got tho cadets Interested in, tho final success of tholr company. A managed by tho Y. W. C. A. and it Is committee on arrangements for tho i10ped tlut a vigorous campaign will hop hns already been appointed con- bo mnde for tho Bale of tickets that Blstlng of Messrs. Brown, Cloland, ! lt mny be both a financial and bocIiiI Clarke, AdnmB and Atwood. The date ' Buccess. has not been definitely settled upon. Prof.' Kimball Is now making ar It wns thought at first to have lt Fri i r,ingomontB for a delightful trip for day of examination week but lt was tho i,oyB through Colorado in March finally decided that lt would bo un- and lt jH i10,)0,i to give concerts In ton wIbo to have lt so closo aftor tho Per- nr twnlvo cities. Bhlng Hop and just before tho Junior Prom. Hence .i will not be given un- til some tlmo In March. Tho glrlB basketball team secured considerable newspaper notoriety In tho Chicago papers recently by send- K SFfcffiSn8: W Iator, however, woro unable to ac- copt tho challenge. CHOOSE PROP. KIMBALL, i The hoard of directors of the Trans ! Mississippi Exposition last Wednesday ' unanimously chose Prof. Wlllnrd Kim I ball of tho Conservatory of Music, to bo musical director for tho expostt.on. 1 This means that Prcf. Kimball will assumo full charge of all the music , which It Is Intended to have at tho opposition on n grand scale. The po- sltlon which Prof. Kimball has been fortunate enough to secure Is ono which hn8 been bitterly fought for. It has been sought by the best musl- clnn8 tn tll0 rountry, m Omaha, Chl- cng0 Now York nrt 0VPn m Bcrlln( 80 Umt 1rofi Kimball and the Vnt- vcr8lly hnve bolll reason to foel hlghly honored Prof. Kimball has not as yot formu-'at'-d any definite plans, but It Is his Intention to give largo orchestral con- ccrls llnlly Uurlng tho oxl)0jJiUon at which the best talent in the cour.tr will be scoured. THE NEW KIOTE No, tho Kioto Is not a freak publi cation. Nolther is it to be a budget of so-called western dialect stories with a jargon that savors of some ulterior eastern back-writer's seventh Murv kllliui uiiitiiiuui. i uu niuii: uuva uu,. intend calmly to look on while 'Al- inll Ike" shoots the tenderfoot's silk tne iX of -IS-callbro eyes. When the i,are-foot herolno, with iter breaming, raVon locks (or should it bo blondlnc tresses?) flapping wild in tho mnuden- ing gale, leads the Intrepid little band upon tho robber's nest, you will near the Kioto howl In mortal anguish The Kioto is a western magazine, to be issued monthly by the English cUb of the University. The initial number appears noxt week. It Is a literary publication. Not literary in that sense which causes the general reading public to show It, disgust, but In the true meaning and Interpretation of the term, as wo all have come to know it. The writers of this Unlversly, though as yet little known, possess the rare charm of readableness. They have something to say and they know just how to say It. Their work Is for love of the art, as shown In the initial numbers of the Kioto, are In ivrry way artistic. A publication from the students, and of them. The mngazlne expects to reach them all. True to the traditions and policy of our University, the Kioto comes before you as a perma nent fixture. Its constant endeavor will be to encourage writers of merit throughout the whole middle west, nnd though modest In size, It Is yot bold in undertaking, for it seekb to voice the unuttered spirit of the now land which is ours. GLEE CLUB PROSPECTS. The personnel of tho glee club for the coming year has been practically decided, although some difficulty has been experienced in deciding on per manent material. It is always hard to tell definitely at flr-t as voices which are alright Individually do not har monize with others. It Is expected that the membors decided upon will be announced Inside of another week. It 1b n matter of congratulation that Messrs. Konagy and Ireland, who at first wore not hero, are now back and will take tholr old places In the glee club. The addition of the bnnjo club makos twenty-six mon In all nnd adds considerable to the club. The club Is furthor along thiB year than at tho samo tlmo for many pro vlous years, and the second buBO If es pecially satisfactory. Tho home con cert tntB year win no given ior tne I benefit of tho associated charities as , Proft Kimball 1b also trying to offoet j Barnewlmt of a transformation In Lhe music usually sung by glee clubs. While I not intending by any means to bar I comic songs, and havo the club render I strictly clnss'cal muBlc, ho hopeB to ;-nge the stereotyped plan of the gloo clubs In gonoral where they sing year after yenr tho same old songs. ATHLETIC BOARD MEETS It Transacts Some Very Important Business. BISCHOF FOOTBALL MANAGER Mailer of Securing Baseball Coach Not Yet Decided Other Matters Aclcd Upon. Tho athletic board met Saturday at 9:30 with all the members present. The regular routine of business being1 disposed of, the question of baseball coach came up and was discussed at some length. It was flnnlly decided to. defer any definite action until the mat ter could bo Investigated. A commit teo was appointed to gathor Informa tion nnd report at next meeting. The matter of electing a manager of tho football team was disposed of next and Mi. Bishof was elected. On mo tion his olectlon was made unanimous. Dr. Hastings wns appointed to look nfter the representation of the Univtr slty In athletic contests nt tho Trans Mississippi exposition. He had re ceived a communication asking that tho University lend its assistance to this phase of the exposition as well as to any other. Another commltteo was appointed to report some regulations in regard to regular training for men working for positions on the different teams. It will be seen that this Is important, and It Is to be hoped some regulations will be adopted. The board adoourned to meet In regular session January 15. TAU DELTA' OMICKOM. Charles Wray of York was received Into toe fellowship of the Tau Delta Omicrom fraternity last Friday even ing. Tho fratovnity .urx has a mem bership of eleven, the boys being p'eas nntly located at 2444 P street. H. B. Noyes, P. H. Thompson, Fred Kueglo, A. T. Strahorn, Wm. Axllng. W. L. Hall, Oliver Chambors, A. A. Miller, T. D. 1-unn, It. D. Elliot nnd Charles Wray are those of Its membership. UNI VS. OMAHA Y. M. C. A. What promises to bo the most Inter esting nnd hardest fought game of basketball this year will be played tomorrow, Snturdi" evonlng In tho gymnasium between the Omaha Y. M. C. A. team and the University team. The porsonelle of the University tenm has yet to be decided. It will be se lected from the members of tho 5 o'clock class and the football men with a preponderance of the former. Tho Omaha team Is the same one which made such a good showing against tho crack Chicago team, and as tho Unl vorslty boys know something about the game, themselves, an Interesting contest will result. The athletic board has voted to do vote tho surplus from the Freshman Sophomore field day to purchase rec ord boards for the suitable inscribing of events on that day. PERSHING RIFLES DRILL. The announcement that the Persh ing Rifles would glvo nn open drill at tracted a large sized crowd to the ar mor' ThurBday evonlng. John Sum nor cnrrled off the honors In the in dividual drill, winning the sold medal. At the conclusion of the Individual drill Lieut- Prshlng took charge of the company und put thorn through sev eral movements. His presence beemed to put now spirit Into the men and they made a very creditable bhowing. The company then adjourned Into ono of the recitation rooms and had tho pleasure of listening to a short talk by Lieut. Pershing. Speeches woro also made by Lieut. Stotsenburg, Captain Oury and ox-Captain Schwartz and the greatfflt enthusiasm was arouBod in the interest of tho company. Prof. Hodgman states that he Is uuthorlzod by Dr. Davis to ofTer an elomontary course In calculUB itxt somestor. This will recite five houri per week at 8 a. m. Osborn's CalculUB a book on tho approved methods o limits, and attractive in the preBontn tlon of tho subject will be us'-d. This mnkes calculUB available to those studonts not In tho regular en gineering course, but who expect to tench and desire a general view of the subject. , , , A sufficient number have askod for the work to assure a class In dlfferen tlnl calculus, which will also cover a portion of integral calculUB.
