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TILE nESrERlAN
quircmcnts for a degree arc eighteen courses. A
course consists of a three hour study, pursued one
year. I do not think the average student of the
U. of N. would consider eighteen hours per week
heavy work. Hy taking that amount for three
years he might graduate here. Yet, I dare say,
there are few who take a degree here in less than
four years. I would value a degree from Harvard
no higher than one from the Universiiy of Ne
braska, so far as it represented true scholarship.
To be sure, Harvard lus a wide reputation. The
University of Nebraska has not, as yet, the rank
among American universities that it deserves, but
the rapid strides it has made in the last few years
are bound to procure for it, just recognition.
It is in facilities for graduate work, that Har
vard excels. I have not been disappointed in
finding excellent opportunities at Harvard for the
work in which 1 am at present interested. The
professors I am under are pleasant, able, energetic,
inspiring men.
The requirements for an A. M. degree here,
are four courses; for a Ph. D., about three years
of graduate study and the presentation of a mas
terly thesis. No thesis is required for an A. M.
degree. I think, however, the tendency is to en
courage original investigation.
If any student from the University intends com
ing to Harvard to take up graduate work, and ex
pects to take a degree here, I advise him to come
with an extra ribbon on his diploma, with certifi
cates of all extra n ork performed, with his pockets
full of testimonials. He will need them all to get
a favorable rating. The requirements for their H.
A. degree must first be satisfied. They will, un
doubtedly, insist on rating the university graduate
one year behind their U. A. Since Harvard has
never rated the U. of N. with her own 11. A. de
gree, it becomes a matter of individual rating. So
the amount, less the one year deficit will depend
upon the showing, other th.m his diploma, that the
student is able to make before the committee
having the matter in charge. Those conservative,
conceited notions which have so long been iden
lified with Harvard have not yet entirely passed
away. Their existence makes it disagreeable to
students coming from other colleges, intending to
take a degree here.
The summary of the students of Harvard may
interest some of the Husi-urian readers. There
are, at present, 2915 distributed among the differ
ent classes and departments, as follows : seniors
330; juniojs, 325 j sophomores, 381; freshmen,
410; specials, 150 ; Lawrence scientific school,
1S2; graduate school, 204; divinity school, 38;
law school, 3S0; medical school, 417; dental
school 55; veterinary school, 37; IJusscy insti
tute, 6. Hesides these, there are nearly 400 ladies
attending the Harvard Annex. Practically, the
Annex is a separate institution. The co-eds are
not very numerous around the university for
reasons best known to the faculty.
The facilities here are exceptionally good for
the inrlustrious, as well as the indolent, students.
In my opinion, a man may graduate whether an
intellectual giant or an intellectual dwarf. A very
idle man might wriggle through, secure a degree,
and ever be a public nuisance; but he who comes
to Harvard to learn, need not go away unlearned.
A Harvard degree does not necessarily make a
man, but a Harvard education may make a man.
Giio. L. Sheldon, '92.
Headquarters First Brigade, Nebraska Na- 1
tional Guard General's Office.
Beatrice, Nov. 75, 1892. )
Editor Hksimcrian: A short time ago I had
the pleasure of attending a drill of the University
batallion, observing it with a two-fold interest as
a former member who views with pride the pro
gress of the organization, and as one interested in
the military welfare of the state.
Kntering a few minutes before drill hour, such
swarms of cadets were found mingling so confus
edly over the lloor that it seemed scarcely possible
that they could be formed into military lines, even
in that spacious armory. When, at the "assem
bly," the men sprang to their places, forming in
double ranks on their respective parade grounds,
the flanks 6f the companies over-lapped deeply.
Truly the U. of N. has grown rapidly, and the
interest in the batallion has increased in even ratio.
It was the work of a moment for the first sar
geants to form the companies call the roll, and re
port results to their respective captains. Orders
were published by the adjutant, (oh, how the
boys envy him that moment when his "Batalhon,
attkn-SHONHV makes h'.m "the observed of
all observer," and the companies were turned
over to the drill sargcan's. The recruits were
formed quietly into squads and were given the
exercises or instructed in the "school of the -ol-dicr."
From the older members were formed a
troop of cavalry and a battery of artillery, and the
former practiced the sabre exercises ; the latter
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