2
THE HESPERIAN
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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
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