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About The Hesperian / (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1899 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 1899)
LI- . THE! Vol. 8-29, No. 14. LINCOLN, DECEMBER 19, 1899. Five Cents. EBRASKAN HESPERIAN PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. Find Favor In Plan of Ultimately Mov ing 'University to tho State Farm. To n largo majority of tho students of the university the particular part of the report hy Acting Chancellor Bessey to tho hoard o! regents last week which referred to the building of a new uni versity opened their eyes to a few facts that they little dreamed were In existence. Each one knew that In the Immediate future steps must be taken to provide for tho largely Increasing attendance. But none thought of this improvement as anywhere except upon the city campus. Had It been hinted that the state farm would be the future home of the Institution, students would have been Incredulous. In spite of this, the plan unfolded to the board of regents shows much that is practical and will furnish those so inclined with much food for thought during the next few years. While the completion of such plans seems to be far off, the necessity for immediate action '.s made so clear that steps of practical value will undoubt edly be taken at no distant date. In fact, the appointment of Superintend ent of Grounds and Buildings Ells worth to draw up plans for the future institution marked tho first move of consequence looking to this end. That some steps of this nature must be taken sooner or later no one doubts. When the advisable time will be Is un certain. It is partially explained by the fact that certain parts of the insti tution will be moved to tho farm as soon as it is possible to provide the proper equipments. Under the pro visions of the present plan it is intend ed to add gradually to the departments situated at the farm and at the same time relieve the buildings on the city campus. Realizing that the most es sential factor in making this Idea a success is a definite plan of procedure, the regents acted upon tho suggestion offered and made arrangements to have the general plan for the entire new university made out before any further work has been accomplished. Chancellor Bessey Cbtimates that It will require at least twenty-five years to tranafor the bulk of the buildings and tho work to the farm. This period Is rather too short than too long. The work mapped out Ib by far the most far-reaching In Its effects of anything that has been presentod for years to any board of regents. Tho point not exactly clear Is the reason for allowing the college of medicine, tho law school and the school of fine arts to remain upon tho "site of the present campus. It seems fitting that if the overwhelm ing majority of the students are to go to the farm, that each and every one should do so. It would mean a bettor and more fitting chance for tho stu dents to got In touch with one another; would Increase the spirit of the insti tution; would bo a benofactor to ath letics, and would mean in the course of time a feeling of love for their alma mater by tho Btudents that Is now totally out of tho question. With thd proper street car facilities to and from the city, it would require only a few minutes to make tho trip; or, for students coming from out of town, nothing would bo more success ful than a carefully arranged system of dormitories. It could also bo ar ranged that the various fraternities could have cnapter houses In the Im mediate vicinity. In other words, a university city would ultimately be the result. It Is true that this condition would be far more Ideal than anything which can be dreamed of now. How ever, is It Impossible, or improbable? Bearing In mind tho circumstances under which wie university exists, we would Eay that It Is not. As was shown In the beginning of these few remarks, a change of some Kind is an ultimate necessity. Bearing this in mind, is there any reason why the change should not be completely revo lutionary when it Is made, and Why, with proper care and management at this time, mo move cannot be made a great success? Both this plan and the one for all-year-round worK have been placed be fore regents, faculty, alunuil and stu dents. Ihe questions will determine tho future of learning in Nebraska, In asmuch as It regulates the crowning piece of the entire educational system. COMMITTEEMEN'S DINNER. DELIAN PLAY. The Dellan dramatic club rendered the five act comedy entitled "A Soldier of Fortune" in the university chapel Saturday evening. The play was given by a strong cast of characters. It abounded in strong scenic effects and humorous witticisms. Both the main floor and the gallery were filled by an enthusiastic audience, which gave expressions of approval by re peated applause. The chief charac teristics of the play were the appar ently bombastic yet noble character of the old colonel; the keen, shrewd ac tions of the villain; the prim old maid Ishness of M.ss Prucilla, together with the comical darky, Snowball. The strong scenes of the play were the colonel's recounting his war reminis cences in comical phrases to Miss Pru cilla; the colonel's noble defense of Snowball, who resented the villain's insult to the doctor; the attempt to blow up the doctor's office with dyna mite; Snowball's plea to be substitute and Patrona's death by lightning; the colonel's restoration of the Belmont estate and his reunion with Prucilla. J. F. Boomer In the role of the colonel and E. N. Robertson as the vil lain showed great ability in carrying out tbeir characters. Miss Mae BucK maste' as Miss Prucilla captivated the audience by characterizing an old maid desperately in love. Miss Flossie Archer and Miss Anna Saults portray ed their characters well. As comic characters lii. M. Dunaway convulsed tho audience by his splendid portrayal of tho negro, and R. A. Harrison acted tho role of Fredd'o Belmont. W. H. Reedy spoke the Irish brogue fluently, and C. W. Jones, as tho millionaire, played the old man with good effect. H. M. Garrett, nephew to Belmont played the impetuous young man with good success. M. D. Baker proved him self to have ability as an amateur. During the Intermissions J. T. Jones pleased the audience with excellent music. Members of liming Men's Christian As sociation Spend Ycry En joyable Evening. Tho annual committeemen's dinner given by the members of the univer sity Y. M. C. A. occurred Thursday evening at the Grand hotel. About eighty persons were present to enjoy the hospitality of the association and none regretted being In attendance. Tables were arranged on three sides of tho dining room, with tho toastmas ter In the center of tho connecting side. Several courses wero Served. Be tween each college songs were sung by those present. President J. J. King acted as toastmaster. On his right was Chancellor Bessey and on his left Dr. B. L. Paine. Clergymen of the city and other visitors were Immediately adjacent. Members of the association were seated along the side tables. After the dinner was completed Pres ident King reviewed the work that had been done by the organization during the present school year, showing how an entirely new membership list had been started in September, which now numbered two uundred and fifteen names. Every effort would be put forth by the membership committee to Increase this number to three hundred In the near future. Other work done In different lines was taken up and re- v.ewed briefly. After these remarks Chancellor Bessey was introduced to tell of the necessity of the organization to the university. He paid a glowing tribute to the work already done and predicted a most brilliant and success ful future. Dr. Paine spoke to some length upon the "Christian Man in Business." The popularity of the speaker, coupled with tho excellent advice given In hl& re marks, was sufficient to give him an ovation when he had concluded. Rev. Dr. Rowlands gave words of encourage ment and foretold the good results which might come, as well as second ing the remarks by Dr. Paine. Other speakers were Secretary Sinclair of Dayton, 0., and Secretary Willis of Omaha. Both aroused enthusiasm by the remarks made and impressed upon all the necessity of united action and general good fellowship. MEETING OF REGENTS. The board of regents met on Tues day and Wednesday of last week. No action was taken upon the election of a chancellor and an adjournment was taken without setting a date for a meeting earlier than tho next regular session. This occurs about February 15. One of the prominent actions taken was an agreement to consider the plan of Acting Chancellor Bessey for an all year session of the university. This was referred to the regular regents' committee on courses of study. A step was also taken In regard to the ground for new buildings. Dr. Bessey prophe sied that, with the present rapid de velopment of the university, It would be necessary to move the greater num ber of the colleges to the state farm within the next twenty-five years. Su perintendent of Grounds and Buildings Ellsworth was asked to draw up a ground plan of the university when It shall bo necessary to have more cam pus room than at present. The special committee on tho chancelorshilp did not report. To increase tho efficiency of tho ag ricultural school a commltteo was ap pointed to secure suggestions from other institutions. Tho development of tho dairy school is at present the most Important question. Tho commit tee consists of Professors Lyon and Burnett and Mr. Haecker. A commit tee consisting of Professors Lyon, Bur nett and Emerson will give a similar report In regard to the agricultural college. A bureau of publicity was establish ed, with H. G. Shedd as publisher. After considering the matter of flro protection the regents ordered the pur chase of a number of fire extinguishers. The donation of Major Pershing for a memorial tablet was accepted and the board will in some way lncreaso the fund to a sufficient amount This tablet will be placed in the new addi tion to Grant memorial hall In honor of Colonel Stotsenburg and others con nected with the university who were In the late war. Bids on the construction of tho addi tion to Grant memorial hall will be advertised for, to be opened at tho Feb ruary meeting. It Is hoped the build ing will be completed August 1. The forestry experiments will bo continued. These were begun by the United States department of agricul ture, but were turned over to tho de partment of horticulture of the univer sity. An additional library assistant was provided for. In a short time the ag ricultural and experiment station li braries will be moved to the farm as a branch of the main library. Tho new assistant will have charge .of th6so Looks. A tet of rules was adopted for the guidance of the university examiner. The cadet battalion was given the privilege of adopting the regulation United States army uniform. This change was requested as less expen sive and more satisfactory. Dr. W. W. Hastings was given a three weeks' leave of absence. He is making anthropometric Investigations in Mexico. Permission was granted for tho continuance of the summer school next summer. All appointments suggested by Acting Chancellor Bessey were confirmed. J. I. Wyer, jr., acting librarian, was made librarian. Pro fessor Nicholson, head of the depart ment of chemistry, asked leave of ab sence without pay for a year, begin ning January 1. He was granted leave and Dr. John White was elected head of the department. DEATH OF MRS. PETTIS. Mrs. Bertha H. Pettis, wife of E. F. Pettis, died Friday at noon at her home, 1919 Prospect street, aged 38 years. She leaves surviving four chil dren. Mrs. Pettis was a woman of a very lovable disposition and had many close friends in Lincoln. She was a graduate at tho Lincoln high achat!, of the University of Nebraska aatfrofr Wellesley college. She took her do- gree in the state university in 1881 and graduated from Wellesley in 1888. She spent a year In Europe and on return ing was principal of the ladles' college at Fargo, S. D. For a while previous to her study abroad Mrs. Pettis wa .. teacher in the Lincoln schools. Stype was married In 1891. Mrs. PeUiriwr a sister of Edward A. and J. ?.; of this city. Her mother Twijm at Nebraska City. The funeral owirred Monday. V 1 Wt &MM uMAautfa
