THE HESPERIAN
The announcement made Inst week that
Professor Herbert Bates of the English
department had been appointed literary
and music editor of the Cincinnati Commei'
cial Gazette, was the cause of genuine pleas
ure and genuine regret to almost every
student in the University. Professor Bates
is ono of tho kind of men that the University
can ill afford to loso; strong, progressive,
ovon brilliant. He is a past master in tho
art of winning and holding tho interest of
his students, inciting them to original work
and inspiring them with a genuine lovo for
tho grand old English language, and its
literary and artistic possibilities.
Students who have worked under and
with him feel a genuine pang of disappoint
ment at tho news of his departure that speaks
more than many words could speak their
appreciation of his help and guidance. His
successor, however able, will find it an
extremely difficult task to fill the place that
Professor Bates has occupied in tho esteem
of the student body.
But, for all our grief, wo rejoice for him
we loso. Tho recognition accorded by this
appointment is but a just appreciation of the
high literary and artistic ability which Pro
fessor Bates has so faithfully and unassum
ingly shared with us. In departing to a
wider field and more congenial work ho
carries with him tho best wishes of tho
students of tho University of Nebraska, who
ieol assured that tho Commercial Gazette
will soon bo, in our dopartmont at least, ono
of tho strongest and best of the groat Ameri
can journals.
Tub Hebpebian is glad to note tho way
in which tho idea of college settlement has
taken hold on tho students and faculty.
While it is not proposod to do actual settle
ment work, yet it is certainly a stop in that
direction. A reading-room and evening
classes in tho bottoms can accomplish much
and 'is capable of being dovolopod into much
more.
This workwill bo beneficial both 'to 'tho
people and tho studonts. Tho students will
bo brought into contact with tho lowest
olomentti of tho city. They will discover
what those people nro like and what their
needs are.
Books, papers, and magazines havo their in
fluence. A placo to go and spond thoir even
ings in gamos and classes will help to keep
some off tho streets and out of dons of vice.
But the greatest good must como from tho
personal contact of tho studonts with these
people. It will bo scon that an education
does not mako a man cold toward his follows.
There will bo both a conscious and unconscious
imitation. An influence will bo exerted
that will make them desire something better.
"What is tho "Building Association" foi,
and what is it doing? "What has become of
tho litorary-socioty-building-on- tho-campus
plan? Aro tho officers of tho association
asleep, or aro they only indifforont? Is it
true that they havo called no meetings and
done no work at all during tho whole school
year? "When they sent tho committGO in to
wrestle with tho requests did they do it for
fun, or for business? If for business why
havo not tho concessions of the regents boon
followed by some show of life on the part of
the association?
Presidents and vicc-prosidonts and secre
taries and things aro not elected to sit like
bumps on a log; they aro elected to conduct
tho work and promote tho interests of tho
organization that elects thorn.
Brother Axling, do you know that your
presidency is not simply a personal honor,
and that public office carries with 'it .public
duties?
The Hebpekian wondbrs how many stu
dents road magazines in alphabetical order?
For as many as do, tho present arrangement
of magazine boxes in our modorn library 'is
doubtless most convenient. But for those
students who road magazines for their sub
ject matter, who road oithor for Philosophy,
Political Economy, Gonoral Science, 'Current