2
THE HESPERIAN
is said than how a thing is said. The de
bating club properly conducted is the means
for the accomplishment of that end. The
University Debating club was organized to
till a long felt want in the N. S. U. The
want seems to be no longer felt. Wo can
hardly imagine that the end has been brought
about so quickly. If it has, then the argu
ment in favor of the debating club is exceed
ingly strong, if it has not, the argument is
not against the club for that organization
was not continued long enough to test its
merits. Now in the name of all that is
ambitious and, therefore, characteristic of
the State University student of the past, we
urge the students to continue this University
club. Its advent was auspicious and its en
thusiasts many. Where are they all? Let
the proper officers call the scattered remnants
together and amalgamate them into a con
solidated whole in order that the proper
laboratorical work of oratory may go on to
wards the accomplishment of an end.
There is a movement on foot to start
another literary society; and certainly this
is an excellent time to do something of this
sort. There are now probably five hundred
students hero connected with no society and
doing no society work whatever. Now,
this is all wrong. Everyone admits the
value, to be derived from literary work.
The chief difficulty at present is, to afford
such as are inclined to do literary work a
reasonably favorable opportunity to do it.
This difficulty is apparent, especially in the
case of the lower classmen. The present
societies are full to overflowing, generally
with the older, more experienced students;
only a few preparatory students will bo
found among them. The reason is plain;
the societies having plenty of members, ad
mit few but upper classmen. Now why
should not a society bo organized for prepar
atory students only ? Such a Bociety would
have several advantages; the members would
work among and before their ownNjlassmates
when presumably they would do their best
work; they would be ready and willing to
continue the work when they leave the pre
paratory departments, and their past experi
ence would make them good, active, literary
membors. There is no reason that, if some
active, energetic students will but interest
themselves in this enterprise, it should not
be a success.
X- -X--X-
The legislature has as yet made no appro
priations for the University out of the gen
eral fund. The revenue to which wo are by
law entitled has been passed to us with no
restrictions or stipulation in regard to its use
further than that it is to bo used for salaries
and general purposes. It has not been cut
up into quarter lots and given with the stip
ulation that so much shall be used for lights,
so much for fuel, gas, etc., as was done
heretofore. This fact is certainly an ad
vantage as it leaves to the authorities power
to act in the premises as their judgment
deems best. That there will be but little
waste goes without saying, and wo hope that
in appropriating from the general fund the
legislators will be just as considerate as they
have been thus far and as liberal as they
have been considerate.
Our senior class is especially to be congratu
lated in securing as class-day orator Hermann
E. von Hoist. The University of Heidel
berg conferred upon him the degree Ph. D.
in 18G5 ; ho was made Professor Eztraordi
narius of History of Constitutional Law of
the United States by the University of Strass
burg in 1872. Ho has been Professor at
Eroiburg, and is, at present, head Professor
of History in the University of Chicago.
Ho is a universally recognized authority on
the constitutional history of the United States,
and his work upon that subject is a master
piece. Though speaking with u noticeable
German accent, ho is said to bo a fluent, on
tertaining and enthusiastic speaker. Thoro
is no doubt that what ho says will bo worth
listening to.