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THE HESPERIAN
Incidentally, it seems, there is an im
pression afloat that the State University
should withdraw from the Oratorial Associa
tion. There are many reasons why this
should bo done. Very few state universities
are represented in the Interstate Association,
which is controlled almost entirely by small
denominational schools. "With all due re
spect to these, we know too well how differ
ent their standards of oratory are from ours.
Their training is entirely different from what
we are accustomed. From the first prep to
the senior their students are required to take
"rhctoricals. " They are trained to write
orations, and to deliver anything from a
doggerel in dactyls to Wendel Phillips sub
limest oration. Our orators usually never
try to write an oration until they get the
contest fever, and then they usually produce
essays or eulogies. On this account, if for
no other reason, we can never hope to win
an interstate contest. Beside this, there is
the perpetual bitter hatred these schools with
which we now compete have for all state
universities. It is so here, and in every
other state. These colleges control the asso
ciation, and we may rest assured the' will
never let a state institution walk away with
a plumb if they can possibly help it. This
year the presidency of the association comes
to Nebraska, and already some deluded mor
tals are speculating upon which one of our
candidates will be elected. It will be a mira
cle if we even get scent of it. The denomi
national colleges will combine against us at
the mere mention of State Universit We
are playing in a losing game. We furnish
the money to run a few impoverised bellig
erents who will knife us at the word. Speed
the day when we learn wisdom from Wiscon
sin, and withdraw from an organization in
which we can never hope to be more than a
tool of our most bitter enemies.
Final arrangements have been completed
for beginning the construction of the Ameri
can University. The project will 'involve
$5,000,000.
Our esteemed contemporary published,
as a "Charter Day" number, a university
supplement to Yanity Hair. In that sup
plement it ruthlessly invades the hallowed
sanctity of the chamber of the dead, and
publishes a representation, a sort of composite
photograph, so to speak, of the Hesperian
board, wrapped in their winding sheet
with their arms folded peacefully on their
breast, as, with great toe crossed cunningly
over middle toe, they await the call of the
Great Trumpeteer. It is all very funny no
doubt; its classic wit and delicate humor is
patent to the most hurried reader, but is it
true? We hope not. The Hesperian has
enough faith in the ennobling effects of a
higher education to believe that a college
paper may be edited by ladies and gentlemen,
may be run on those principles of refinement
and culture befitting a literary publication,
and still be appreciated by the readers. We
do not mean to be personal, but at the same
time, we do not believe that the Charter Day
supplement to Vanity Fair represents the
manhood and womanhood of this university;
wo do not believe that its "jokes" and
"sketches" are a fair example of what four
years of the university curriculum will do
toward turning out men and women of true
learning, refinement and culture; we do not
believe that a college paper need be littered
with malice and mud and innun'endo to in
sure its life and popularity; and for these
reasons we do not believe that the Suppl-e-merit,
.with its ill-tempered and ungentle
personalities is fitted to act as the spokes
man of the students of this University in
pronouncing us dead. But the serious
question arises: Can wo as a nation expect
to put down sensationalism and its attendant
evils in our daily press, when we see, in the
very home of the lest and highest culture,
ethics and morality, a "newspaper" pub
lished and supported that is run on the prin
ciples of the Police Gazette, New York
World and Puck and Judge, with all of
their malice and none of their wit and
humor? Do the ''reading public" of the
University demand such literature? Do