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.
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