THE HESPERIAN
til
man who paid the freight for thorn, instead
of being a benefactor of his kind was a mis
taken philanthropist. There have been
more symptoms of total depravity in tho
University since thoso benches were con
structed than ever before. On nice spring
days last year tho classes which mot there
wore the most regular in attendance. No
one ever skipped that class, and tho unfor
tunate digs inside the brick walls could hear
their silvery laughter floating up on tho
breeze, and catch distinct chapters from their
silly chatters. There never was a student
who could resist tho temptation to bo silly
when he or she was out on those benches on
a spring day. And now it is just as bad.
Some of us will land in tho penitentiary sure
this year unless the demoralizing influence
of those benches is at once shut off by cold
weather.
There were the most glad people around
this campus a week or so ago. We'll take
no risks as to what they are now, but know
there was not a one among us a week ago
who was not gladder than he'd ever been
before in his life. Everybody was glad to
get back, and everybody was glad that
everybody else was back, and they all were
glad they all were back. The chancellor
was glad to get us all hero under his eaglo
oye again. He told us so formally and then
wo know it too when he stands there in
chapel and smiles around on us. And the
chancellor is glad he's hero and not in Ohio,
and so are we. Our amiable professors and
their wives are glad they are here. By tho
way, did it occur to you what a deal of
patience and kindness and thoughtfulness
those professors dispensed to all of us free
of charge while tho clans were gathering in
the armory ? No one but educated men
could have kept their heads and their tempers
while piloting such an unskillful crew through
the whirlpools of red tape. "We could
scarcely help being glad they were here
then, but ah woo ! when examination time
comes around. But till then we'll all be
glad. We'll continue to drink in every
thing wo can eagerly and voraciously. We'll
laugh at tho prof's, old stories and smile at
tho sonior boy's puns, and study some and
havo fun a good deal, and make good reso
lutions and break them, and keep up tho
whole old program till Juno comes again
whon we shall all of us bo glad as possible
that school is over.
THE KANSAS-NEBRASKA DEBATE.. .
Last May the debating association of tho
University of Nebraska was organized. The
purpose of tho organization as stated in tho
preamble of the constitution was that "of
attaining a higher development in extem
pore speaking and the wider culture acquired
by healthy contact with the students of other
like educational institutions."
A few of the circumstances which led up
to this organization may be of interest,
especially to new students. Last winter
some correspondence passed between Pro
fessor Atfams of the English department of
our University and Professor Hopkins of
the same department of the University of
Kansas as to the desirability and feasibility
of a joint debate between the students of
their respective institutions. The idea of a
joint debate was communicated to the classes
in public speaking, to the debating clubs,
and to the students generally. It was much
discussed and met with the general approval
of students and faculty. A very consider
able amount of enthusiasm was worked up.
The students held a largely attended mass
meeting, and unanimously voted that it be
the sense of tho meeting that a debate be
held with Kansas University. At a later
student meeting rules for the regulation of
the proposed debate were submitted, a con
stitution adopted, and the local organization
perfected by the election of officers.
It is unnecessary for me to state the ben
efits that would come to the individual stu
dents who might take part in the preliminary
and tho final debates. Nor do I need to
speak of tho healthy intellectual stimulus to
the whole University which would surely
result from such a contest as is contem-
r If
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