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About The Hesperian / (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1899 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 1890)
yssa BVfllHMHHHHfifiHHH THE HESPERIAN'. ti o "professional" in other arts than that of oratory. We think, therefore, that all "professionals" should be de barred, in the future, from participating in the ora torical contests as well as from taking part in the Field Day sports. Perhaps some of our friends may object, however, for it makes a great deal of difference some times, whose foot the shoe pinches. Be that as it may, we desire to call this matter to the attention of the various colleges of the state and we hope that they may give it due consideration. Tf anyone can show us that we are wrong we will be glad to admit our mistake, but viewing the matter from our standpoint it seems to us that it is just, and relying upon the sense of justice and common decency that exists in the various institutions comprising the Nebraska Col legiate Oratorical Association, we have not the slight est doubt but that the matter will be satisfactorily settled at the next state convention. HE' faculty has lately introduced a new system of marking as an experiment. Under the new system but three marks are given failed, conditioned, passed. This s stem possesses two advantages, but perhaps it also has its disadvantages. It will put an end to the striving of students for mere marks and will cause them to acquire knowledge just for the sake of knowledge. The old way of marking by figures savors too much of the district school method. The system of marking by letters instead of by figures that was lately in use, is but little better, because there was still a chance to strive for marks. The new system wil lighten considerably the work of tl.ose professors who desires to give each person just what he deserves It is not so easy for an instructor to decide that one paper should be marked 98 and another 97 but it is a very easy matter for him to de cide whether a person deserves to pass. But as has been said the new system is just an experiment and if the students show an inclination to take unfair ad vantage then we shall go back to the old method. It is for the students to decide by their work whether or not the new system will be permanent. LITERARY. On no one consideration docs the standing of a university among universities depend more than on the quality of its various publications. The amount of original work which they exhibit is becoming more and more the gauge of the woth of an institution issuing them. The University of Ne braska is becoming recognized as one of the growing institu tions of the land; and perhaps nothing is doing more to pro cure this recognition than the publication, but recently be gun, of the University Studies, a periodical devoted to spec inl investigation in all departments of knowledge which find their place in the university curriculum. The publication of the University Studies was begun in 1888, the third number appearing in July, 1890. The num bers have been published at irregular interval so far but it is the intention of those having the publication in charge to i sue one number each quarter in the near future. And the.cx ccllcucc of the contributions to the Studies in the past will in' sure hearty appreciation of an effort looking toward greater regularity in their appearance. For the third number of the Studies, published as before stated, during the vacation just ended, Professor II, N. Allen of the department of physics contributes a paper, "On the De termination of Specific Heat and of Latent Heat of Vaporiza tion with the vapor Calorieultcr," containing the results of ex periments performed in the lines indicated by the title. Drawings and description of the apparatus used arc furnished, and the article will no doubt prove of interest to physicists. On the Color Vocabulary of Children" is the title of a paper by Professor Wolfe, embodying the results of experiments per funned in city schools with children ranging from five to sev enteen years of ngc, There have been few Investigations in this particular Held, hence the added importance of the professor's contribution. It is such work as this that has led the American Journal of Psychology .o state that the Univer sity ol Nebraska is one of the few institutions keeping pace with the advance in modern psychology. The third contribu tion to this number of the Studies, ' entitled '"On the De velopment of the Kings Peace and the English Loeal.Pcacc Magistracy," by Professor Howard, is a careful study from the sources of a portion of constitutional history not hitherto formulated. 'The University of Nebraska is to be congratulated," as one writer puts it, in reviewing the prolcssor's article, "on hav ing an investigator capable of furnishing such valuable con tributions to legal history." That the work of the University is being appreciated by thoyc whose commendation is to be desired, is shown by the following statement, chosen from among a number of similar expressions of approval. University I.iurary, Tumnuen, Wurtemderg, Ger many, July 15, 1890. Gentlemen: The Principal Libra rian begs to acknowledge the receipt of Nos. I and 3 of Vol. I of the University Studies published by the University of Ne braska, and he expresses his sincere thanks for the valuable donation. "Complete sets being of great importance, he would feel highly obliged to you for supplying the University Library of Tubingen with No. 2 of Vol. I, and requests to continue send ing over the numbers or volumes which may be published in future. Simultaneously with this card he has the honour to post to your direction the following publications, viz. Roth, Ueber Yocttai, Pfleidcrer, Was ist der Quellpunkt der hera klitischen Philosophies Fischer, Zur Geschiehle des Mittel- hoihdeutsthen, and , Plutarchide proverbiis Alexandro' rum libetlus iueditus, "T have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Yours Respectfully, Frederick Thomas, Librarian.'' Thus is seen, that by the authorities themselves of one of the greatest of the German universities the publications of thc'University of Nebraska arc placed on a par with those of Tubingen. Surely to merit such a compliment as this is no inconsiderable achievement. It ts sincerely to be hoped that work already so well be gun by the faculty of the University of Nebraska in the pub lication of these Studies, may not be allowed to cease forwent of encouragement which it lies in the power of those to give