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gt S a result of the spirit of economy that prevailed
JV l'le last session of the stale legislature, the de
partment of rhetoric and oratory has suffered to a
considerable extent. It is to be hoped that the
next session will amply atone for the mistake of its
predecessor and vote money enough so that Professor
Hunt may have an assistant. It is obviously impossi
blefor any one man to do all that should be done by
the department of oratory. In addition to giving in
C'structions to several classes the professor must correct
about 300 essays and orations each term. Manifestly
he cannot devote any ol his time to training the stud
more profitable manner. Admitting that it' is more
profitable for advanced students to follow certain
special lines of study than it is to prepare thoroughly
for the state contest, the question naturally arises,
why then are we in the state oratorical association?
But since we are a member of the association we
should try to win, and for this reason alone Thk Hes
perian desires to see some students patriotic enough
to put less time upon studies and more time upon
orations. Let us go to the next contest with an orator
who has thoroughly prepared and there can be little
doubt that the next winner of the state contest will
ents in declamations. We desire to see such arrange- be from theUniversity of Nebraska. It is time, then,
ments as will remedy this defect. The delivery of a
production is of ah much importance an the writing
(v of it. It should be so arranged that any student
can receive training in the delivery of his productions,
whenever he so desires.
folT has reached our ears that some of the items in
31 The Hesperian this Fall have given offence to
certain parties. We are sorry that such is the case.
As editoi of the paper we desire to state our position
with reference to the associates. One or two items
have been published of which we did not approve,
but since several of the associates were anxious to
have them inserted, we gave our consent, and in gen
eral we do not desire that any associate should be pre
vented from criticising the actions of those who are
connected with the University. The editor has felt
free to criticise what to him seemed wrong and for
this reason, if for no other, he leels that the associates
are entitled to the same privileges. The , Hesperian
aims to voice the sentiments ot the students and feels
that it has the support of the great majority of that
body. With this explanation we trust that everybody
will at once recognize that the associates are largely
responsible for what appears in their respective depart
to decide when the local contest will be held, but
above all it is important that all who intend to enter
the home contest should begin to prepare. Only
about three months till the state contest and still it is
safe to say that no student of the University has yet
written a line upon an oration for the local contest.
We had better wake up, for unless we do there is no
hope for us is the coming state contest.
SPHERE has not been much interest shown by the
'&.; local oratorical association so far this year.
This is unfortunate. If the University isevei to win
the state contest, her representatives must put more
time upon the preparation of the orations than has
' been customary in the past. It has been said, and we
think truly, that the University orators do not work
so hard in preparing for the state contest as do trie
representatives from some of the other schools of the
state. The reason assigned for this is that here the
students employ all their vacant time in investigating
special topics connected with their regular work. In
other words that the time that might be used in mak
ing preparations for the state contest is spent in a
ftfT is frequently said that lraternities are founded
(jJl for noble purposes and that in all cases they ex
ert a powerful influence for good upon the different
members. Let us examine this statement a little and
see if it be true. It is seen that the new student
wears good clothes and consequently it is assumed
that he has a large sized pocketbook. He is set upon
by the members of a fratemity. After an acquain
tance of a month or less he decides to tost hi for
tunes with those who profess to love him and for
whom he in turn cherishes tender feelings. Now it is
absolutely impossible for any man to form a correct
estimate of another's character in so short a time.
But although common sense teaches us that no man
is infallible, yet we find that no one leaves a frater
nity after having joined it although in many cases it
it must be distasteful to him. Again the members of
a fraternity may sometimesbe deceived in their man
and initiate one whose moral character is not entirely
faultless or who for other reasons is not all that he
was supposed to be. In such a case the only proper
course for the fraternity to pursue would be to expel
that member, but how often has a member been ex
pelled from a fraternity? Instead of expelling the
undesirable member his brothers usually undertake
to defend him and to keep secret as much as pnstihle
his faults, thus becoming in a measure at least respon
sible for whatever wrongs he may do. In time this
undesirable member must inevitably have a bad in
fluence upon his associates no matter how upright
and noble they may be, and perhaps it may not giye
offense to the fraternity members if we remarkliat a
few of them lack a little of having yet arrived Uper-
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