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THE NEBR ASK AN -HESPERIAN
Vol. 8-29, No. 15.
LINCOLN, JANUARY 2.' 1900.
Five Cents.
DEBATES THIS WEEK.
I'rollmliinry Contests Will Occur in (ho
Cliapol Tliurstluy, Friday niul
Saturday KvuuinH.
Tho intcrstato preliminary dobatcs
will tako place on Thursday, Friday
nml Saturday of this week. More- have
registered for these contests this year
than over hoforo. Over seventy ora
tors will strugglo for positions on tho
finals and it is hoped that Kansas, Mis
souri and Colorado will all bo defeated
this time.
The sentiment for debate in tho uni
versity has grown, until now those
forensic contests aro regarded with re
spect and arc oven well patronized by
niombors of tho faculty. Five years
ago very littlo was being done along
this lino In tho university. In the
spring of 1895 the debating association
was organized, with Benjamin Math
ews as president and James Scarson
secretary. Professor Adams secured a
Joint debate with Kansas the next year,
and tho first successful speakers in
these intcrstato debates wore A. J.
Weaver, E. 13. Sherman, E. McNeil, It.
S. Baker, H. B. Newbranch and Quaint
ancc. . ((
Regent Bstorbrook and Congressman
Mercer each gavo a prize of $10 to tho
winners in 1807. More than usual in
terest was taken in debates that year
and the preliminary contests were
close. A joint debate was secured with
Missouri that winter, and the follow
,lng jjprng arrangements we made
for a debate at Colorado Springs. The
successful contestants at that time
were J. D. Davison, Guy W. Greene, It.
S. Baker, Otto W. Meier, J. A. Ma
gulro, C. M. Barr, E. F. Piper and
uav.d Killen.
During the winter of 1897-8 a series
of Interesting contests was held. The
number of speakers that registered for
tho preliminaries reached more than
fifty and the fight for positions was
very sharp. Tho outcome was tho se
lection of the following sixteen to con
test for places in tho final: J. D. Den
n.son, R. S. Baker, G. E. Kindler, E. B.
Perry, C. W. Taylor, C. E. Matson,
A. S. Deal, G. E. Hagor, J. A. Magulre,
0. W. Meier, F. G. Hawxby, H. E. Sack
ett, W. L. McNaughton, B. F. Warner,
J. H. Kemp and Miss Bertha B. Stull.
Nebraska was represented in Colorado
by Baker, Stull and Sackett; in Mis
souri by KIndlor, Hawxby and Taylor,
and Perry. Warner and Matson de
bated against Kansas.
Last year there was a great deal of
wrangling and jangling in the associa
tion. The scraps that took place will
long be remembered by the members.
There was a healthy, yet somewhat bit
ter, rivalry engendered between tho
different debating clubs in tho univer
sity. The Union society secured a ma
jority of tho speakers in tho final con
test. Messrs. "Weaver, McNaughton
and Ballenbach went to Colorado
Springs; Craft, Hawxby and Wilson
were successful at Lawrence, Kan.,
while Nims, Stull and Talbot wont
down in defeat ngalnst Missouri.
Tho financial condition of tho asso
ciation last spring was very bad.
Through troubles among tho debaters
interest was lost in tho success of the
contests, and although President Hawx
by antf Secretary Warner did all they
could to meet oxpenses, they both re
tired from office leaving the associa
tion $30 in debt. Under these circum
stances C. P. Craft was elected presi
dent and J. F. Boomer oecrotary, Tho
situation was dlscussod. Plans woro
outlined for tho future Arrangements
woro mado for tho preliminary debates.
'A registration fco of $1 was charged
for entering tho contests. Tho mem
bership dues of 25 conts woro collect
ed. Tho result is, tho association has
now about $100 in tho treasury. A
small admission fee will bo charged at
tho preliminary debates to pay for
light and heat and othor incidental ox
ponses. Two of tho interstate dobatcs
will bo held in Lincoln this year and
speakers and judges from abroad will
have to bo ontertaincd.
It is earnestly hoped by tho mom
bora of tho association that tho faculty,
as well as tho students, will tako moro
Intorost in theso intellectual contests.
A fow of tho professors havo shown
tho greatest appreciation for oratory
and debating, but theso aro very fow.
PLANS FOR SENDING A TEAM TO
PARIS.
The committee on general athletics
of Cornell have submitted tho follow
ing budget of oxpenses connected with
the proposed sending of a team and
trainer to tho Paris meet In 1900:
Expenses of one man, l-ound trip
from Now York to Paris (transporta
tion), $150; board, lodging and trans
portation (four weeks), $50; inci
dents (per man), $10; resorvo fund
(por man), $50; seven men and
trainer, $2,080. It will be noticed that
tho total sum of $2,080 includes a re
sorvo fund of $400.
The committee have figured on the
basis of seven men and trainer as a
probable number, but tho number to be
sent will depond largely on circum
stances. ThecommIttee on general athletics
agrca to send no moro men than condi
tions will warrant.
It is tho Intention of the committee
to raise funds sufficient to defray the
oxpenses of sending two members of
the team by subscriptions from' tho stu
dent body.
An effort will bo made to raise the
remainder of the desired sum by an
appeal to tho alumni of the large cities
which have a strong Cornell representation.
MORE ROOM lOR ART STUDENTS.
The art gallery in the library build
ing has at last been turned over to its
rightful owners, the art classes. The
room was formerly used by the me
chanical drawing classes and the stu
dents in art woro compelled to uso the
small anto room opening out on the
hallway. This was not only much too
small, but people working hero were
greatly annoyed by the members of the
drawing classes passing through tho
room to and from classes and during
recitation hours. Tho art classes now
have possession of both rooms and a
few new tables and stands have been
added.
GOOD GRASS FOR NEBRASKA.
Tho Nebraska experiment station
has just Issued bulletin No. CI, treat
ing of Hungarian bromo grass. It is
a dry-weather grass, imported from
Russia, and has been found admirably
adapted to tho semi-arid region of this
country. Tho subject matter of tho
bullotin comprises tests of tho grass
on tho station farm, tests by various
persons throughout the state, and di
rections for sowing and caring for tho
crop. Tho bullotin may be obtained
free of cost by writing to the agricul
tural experiment station, Lincoln, Neb.
HISTORICAL MEETING.
Old Solllors Will ltolulo Experiences
nt llio University Next
Week.
Tho annual meeting of tho Nebraska
stnto historical socloty for 1900 will bo
held at tho chapol "f tho state univer
sity on tho ovonlngs of January 9 and
10 at 7:30 o'clock. It is desired that
all interested In old overland freight
ing will attend, on Wednesday espe
cially, bringing all old maps of freight
ing routes with thorn. Tho program
for tho two ovonlngs is as follows:
Tuesday evening President's an
imal address, Hon. J. Sterling Morton,
Nebraska City; "Tho State Republican
Convention of 1870, and Incidents of
That Campaign ; a Character Sketch of
Governor Butlor," Dr. L. J. Abbott,
South Omaha; "Ex-Sonator Thomas
W. Tipton," Hon. Robert W. Furnas,
Brownvillo; "Hon. Champion S.
Chaso," Clement C. Chase, Omaha;
"Our First Settlement of Nebraska,"
David Anderson, South Omaha; "Pio
neer Days In Boone County," John
Turner, Indianola.
Wednesday evening, old freighters'
evening "Raminlsconces," Eugeno
Munn, University Place; William Ful
ton, Kansas City; R. M. Rolfo, Ne
braska City; niomas J. Majors, Peru.
This will bo followed by ten minute
talks by old freighters present and by
a business meeting.
The officers of the association are as
follows: President,- J. Sterling Mor
ton, Nebraska City; first vice presi
dent, Robert W. Furnas, Brownvillo;
second vice president, G. M. Lambert
son, Lincoln; treasurer, C. H. Gere,
Lincoln; secretary, H. W. Caldwell,
Lincoln; assistant secretary and li
brarian, Jay Amos Barrett, Llncoin.
Tho ofllcn and rooms of this association
aro on the ground floor of tho library
building. This will be headquarters
for the session, although the meetings
will bo held In tho chapol. On the same
dates tho state historical society will
hold its annual meeting. The sessions,
howevor, will bo during the day. A
largo attendance is expected at both
meetings, as interesting programs have
been arranged.
NEW ORNITHOLOGICAL UNION.
Tho organization of the Nebraska
ornithological union occurred Decem
ber 1G in mechanic arts hall. Tho
meeting was called to order by Presi
dent Bruner. A temporary organiza
tion had been effected by correspond
ence and officers had been elected to
servo temporarily. Tho work of the
Nebraska ornithological union and
that of tho Nebraska academy of sci
onco is different. The older society is
an organization of recognized scien
tists of ability. Tho work of this soci
ety is of a moro technical nature than
that of tho now organization will bo.
The primary object of tho union is to
popularize ornithology in Nebraska.
Tho annual meeting will bo held for
tho purpose of discussing and reading
papers on the bird lifo of Nebraska.
Tho work will bo to study ornithology
from a popular standpoint, work to se
cure protection for tho birds of the
state and to collect data.
Officers were elected for tho ensuing
year. The offices to bo filled and mem
bers elected to fill them are as follows:
President, J. S. Trostier of OmahaJ
vice president, Miss Caroline Stringer;
recording secretary, Professor Bar
bour; corresponding secretary, W. D.
Hunter; treasurer, Professor Lawronco
Bruner.
Tho meeting In tho afternoon was
well attended. Tho program of tho
afternoon's proceedings was as fol
lows: Address by tho prosldont,
"Ornithology in Nebraska," Professor
L. Bruner; "A Twonty-thrco Years'
Record by Dr. Chllds," Dr. It. H. Wol
cott; "Further Notes and Observations
on tho Birds of Nebraska," Rev. J. M.
Bates; "Some Bird Notes from tho
Uppor Elkhorn," Morrltt Carey; "Tho
Bird Fauna of tho Salt Basin near Lin
coln," J. S. Hunter; "Nesting Habits of
tho Raptores in Otoo County," M. A.
Carrlcker; "How to Popularize Ornith
ology," Wilson Tout; "A Plea for the
English Sparrow," Lawronco Strow:
"Suggestions for an Accurate ana Uni
versal System of Recording Observa
tions in Birds," Dr. R. H. Wolcott.
A MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
Tho Scalchl operatic festival com
pany will appear at tho Oliver theatre
Tuesday evening, January 9, under tho
auspices of tho University of Nebraska
school of music. Without doubt this
will be tho greatest musical treat cf
tho year for Lincoln. Mme. Sofia
Scalchl is by far tho greatest con
tralto in tho country today, and for any
ono to miss this treat is to miss a rare
opportunity.
To support the great Scalchl tho
management havo secured tho l)est art
ists available, regardless of expense,
with a view to merit, adaptability, de
portment and personality. It therefore
obtains that all precautions havo been
taken to justify the prediction that tho
Scalchl company will easily be tho
most attractive musical organization
before tho public this season.
Flattering comments aro too numer
ous to quote to any extent. Criticisms
highly favorable come from all cities
of Europe and America. As an exam
ple of what is said, wo quote tho fol
lowing by Elwin Townsend in Scrib
ner's magazine: "Schalchl is an art
ist of the first magnitude and there is
no adjective left to laud her with. She
is an artist one never hears enough of.
I would like to have a rich feast and
hear no other voice but that of tho
great contralto. Her singing always
perfectly satisfies mo."
Of Mme. Scalchl as an artist and of
hor marvelous voice it is superfluous
to speak in terms of praise. She has
been heard by the most profound musi
cal critics in all parts of the universe
and has yet to score ono criticism un
favorable to her art.
Mme. Scalchl is today the great art
ist she has always been and hor voice
retains that same beautiful, resonant,
'cello-like quality and remarkable flex
ibility and agility so distinctly lacking
in other contralto voices. It is one
voice in a million and she tho only art
ist to divide the .honors with Mme.
PattI, her associate for years.
Tho Scalchl European tour has been
postponed to satisfy the great demand
for her throughout America. This is
positively hor farewell tour. Mmo.
Scalchl is accompanied by Mme. Ber
nlce Do Pasquali, prima donna so
prano; Signor De Pasquali, prlmo
tonor; Signor A. Franceschetti, prlmo
baritone; Signor Guiseppo Lo Verdi,
musical conductor. Regular prices. of
admission will' be charged.
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