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About The Hesperian / (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1899 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 1894)
2 THE HESPERIAN i i' and general superiority, only demonstrates the fact that we are becoming more and more civilized. The abolition of the cane-rush a few years ago and the continual defeat of the silly proposition to deck a man out so that he resembles a three-cornered idiot, are commendable. It is held by some that a three dollar mortar board on a three cent head lends dignity to the senior and also to the institution of which he is the shining ex ponent. However thi3 may be in the minds of some, it seems to ns to be the height of folly. The majority of the students in our University are not so rich that the parapher nalia mentioned above would not be a luxury. It is a double luxury to a senior who has spent all but his last dollar during the years that have gone before. And then again, the rank and file of men can find nothing more disgusting than a college stu dent dressed like a monk or some other relic of the middle ages. Our appreciation of beauty, however, has not degenerated to such an extent that wo fail to see the propriety of the girls wearing caps and jowns. In this rapid age of balloon sleeves and bloomers, nothing could be out of place for a woman. But The Hesperian sincerely hopes that the boys will never adopt such an absurd custom. We would rise to remark right here, and hope our iauguage is plain, that we are not responsible for the editorial policy and mis cakes of our predecessors. The management of last year's Hesperian is not that of this year's; if you have a grievance, perhaps a just one, against former managements and former editors, charge it to them, not to us. It shall be the editorial policy of the present board to make of The Hesperian a clean, able, dignified college journal, and we ask the support of loyal students in the pursuit of this policy. We ask, at least, thai when our representative asks you to subscribo, you will not allege as a ground for not doing so the charge that last year's Hesperian "threw mud," or in some way was not pleasing to you. If our policy does not suit, say so; but do not blame us for other peoples' notions. Only be fair and give us a chance, is all we ask. Take us for what we are worth and not on the representation of others. The overflow of bile in which the "Utter ly Irrelevant" department of the Sunday Journal revelled last Sunday, being directed against the University need not especially alarm anxious students and friends of the University. There is more silliness than bitterness in the article, and the attempt at biting sarcasm and blistering irony recoils more on the Journal, which has always here tofore been regarded as a friend of the Uni versity, than it does harm to the University. Let us say, however, as a word of warning to the profs., that if they will only properly appreciate the overwhelming dignity of Utterly Irrelevant, we shall experience no more such attacks. The 'Varsity Rifles, in materializing into an as sured fact, give abundant promise of being ex tremely dangerous competitors for anything they reach out after, and we doubt not that they, as the best drilled company of "the second best drilled batallion in the United States" will bring home honors innumerable and will attract notice and attention which is well deserved to the really meritorious work done in the military department of the University. This end of The Hesperian does not and never has approved of our "school of military sciences " in all its features, especially in the feature which requires three years of drill, and does not hesitate to say so, but at the same time we cheerfully acknowledge that the work that department does cannot, in its line, be excelled. The literary societies and debating clubs report a greatly increased attendance of new students as compared with last year. This is certainly a very promising indication and The Hesperian hopes it is an earnest expression of what is to come. There can be no question that there is as much real and permanent benefit to be derived, both socially and mentally, from attending and partici pating in the literary and forensic exercises of r&yjsimnrwvHjmrt.