' -I
THE HESPERIAN STUDENT.
First, let all tho students have equal
privilege, In the use of books.
Second, let the library be ki'pt open six
days in tiio wuok liming six hours at
least, every afternoon.
Thin, It is true, implies labor, ami labor
demands pay. Wo Iiavo no intention of
complaining of the policy of tlio pros
cnt librarian. Undoubtedly ho earn, the
pilliHico lie receives; yet perhaps a atu
dcat could bo found who would bo willing
to spend more time for tbo same money.
The fault is not with iho professor, but
with the controlling power. To found a
splendid library, and then keep it closed
nine-tenths of tho year, because one hun
dred dollars will not pay a man to keep it
cpcn,na it ought to be, looks like " penny
wisdom and pound foolishness." Pay a
decent salary and let the books be used, is
tho true economy.
THIS REGENTS.
Tho Regents meet on tho lith of Dc
comber. Tills will be the last meeting of
the present Board. As all aro well aware,
the manner of creating and the construc
tion of the board, have been entirely
changed, by tho adoption of tho new con.
itlttition. The number, now consisting of
lix members, is elected by direct vote of
the people, instead of by tho Legislature,
as hcretoforer.
Messrs. Garbcr, McKenzio, Bruncr, Bar
rows, Bear, Scott and Savage retire ; while
Messrs. Adair, Tuttle, Holmes, and Ilun.
gcrfnrd, of the present board, together
with Messrs. Gannett and Mobley elect,
constitute the new board.
Tiie whole policy of the retiring board
has been wise, liberal, and generous. Un
fler their control and the administration
of their predecessors, the University has
been built up, and has exhibited a rapidl
ly of development, and of increase in the
number of stud"its seldom, If ever, equaled
in tho history of State institutions. It
certainly is a satisfactory and pleasing re
flection to the peoplo and to themselves,
that, as they doff their ofllcial vestments,
and bid farewell to their public service,
they can do so at the time of our gicatest
prosperity. Wc bid farewell to them with
regret and reelings of gratitude, but it also
is a source of satisfaction, that tho people
have shown their appreciation of pastser-
tIccs, by electing a majority of the new
Board, fron: their numbers.
On the part of the Hesperian Associa
tion, wo desiro to return sincere thanks
for the past liberality and generosity of
the Board, in rendering us great financial
aid Tho retiring Board lias been the
Student's benefactor from the beginning
and we shall cudeavor, as heretofore, to
upc ith bounty wisely.
While wc regret to part with tho able
gentlemen, whose council and wisdom
have done so much for tho Institution, yet
to the now Board, constructed, as it is,
mainly from tho old, wo cheerfully and
fearlessly consign tho interests of the Un.
iversity.
NOTES ON EXCHANGES.
College journalism is evidently becom
lag a necessary element, or branch of
American education. This work is be
coming moro and moro appreciated by
the public, and justly so. It is our opin
ion that tho foundation of many a uoblo
literary fame, of many a monument of
feuiuti, of much precious wealth to the
world, em bo and it being laid lu the col
umns of tnu college journal. Many a
man who has risen to a proud eminence,
whom the world applauds and delights to
honor, was unconscious in the beginning
of liis latent energies, until some chance
breath snatched momentarily away the
vail which obscured his internal vision,
and gave him a glimpse, though vague
and shapeless, of tho possibilities of ills be
ing, of tlio vast riches, and iutolloctua'
fertility of his own soul. Much depends
upon accident, more upon opportunity
and ellbrt. You do not know what you
can do, until you actually make the at
tempt. You often wonder at the grandeur
of genius, at the mental force of some
friend, as displayed in Ills works; or you
are tilled with astonishment, even dismay,
by the perusal or contemplation of some
literary production of another, whoso ge
nius is less noble, whoso creative energy
and mental force, and whose whole stock
is inferior to your own, if you only knew
it. You forget that tho article or other
intellectual creation which fills you with
admiration and a sense of inferiority, cost
the author much drudgery, much toil, much
time; hulyou behold it as an entirety, as
a finished picture of thought. It is pre
sented to your apprehension and concep
tion all ut once. So you are startled. You
aro apt to measure the au hor's power to
create, the brilliancy of his intellect, by
the moiety of time and attention it re
quires you to gain a conception of the
thought before you; hence his power is
magnified many times, and you aro dis
couraged. Will you be astonished at the
exquisitely wrought gem, and worship the
artificer of it, as superior to yourself, be
cause you cannot comprehend in a mo.
ment, how you could create any workman"
ship so beautiful and perfect? "Why, that
jewel cost the artisan years of patient
and anMous toil, and many moro years of
preparation and pupilage I Endure the
toil, and you can gain the prize attain
excellence. This unconsciousness of
self-power is greater in tlio provinco of
mental creation than physical, because
such creations are moro exquisite; they
are more truly creations, than any other.
Indeed, lu the field of thought, mnn is
really a creator. Therefore the conclusion
is plain ; he can not perceive, perhaps not
even conceive, what ho can create, until it
is created; for not until then, when chaos
has assumed form, color, and substance, is
it perceivable, or conceivable, oveu to the
creator himself.
But how does all this apply to college
journalism ?
Thus, in brief. It affords an opportuni
ty, a flattering inducement, for the young
man or woman to try. But our college
papers and magazines are no longer mere
amateur practicing grounds. They aro
really valuable for their intrinsic worth.
Sovcral of our exchanges afford us tho
best literature wo read from month to
month, our best food for thought. There
is certainly no more laudablo nor practi
cable ambition, for an institution of
learning, than to publish the purest and
best literary magazine in tho state or coun
try; and no nobler ambition for astudent,
than to leave as his most lasting monu
ment of college work, the creations of his
brain and pen.
Tho ladies of Pritchctt Instltuto publish
u neatly arranged and ploasantly written
magazine With their kind permission,
however, wo would like to offer a friendly
remark In regard to the article on "Tho
Railroad and tho Aborigines." It is unique
in conception, well written and entertain
ing; but is there not a little Incongruity?
Is tlio conception quite probable? Tho
American Indian is too shrewd an observ
er not to have gained a sufficient idea of
tho Palo Faces' ways and inventions, at
least by tradition, to prevent him from
falling into such an ignoble blunder, as
the author represents. The Pawnee,
Sioux, or even the Digger, would hardly
mistake tho rails of tho Union Pacific
rallniad for a snake, and, Don (Juixote like,
brace on ills armor, and make a lurious
assault thereon, with bow and tomahawk I
Even tlio savage seldom mistakes tlio evi
dences of man's workmanship, for nature's
creations, especially for those creatures
witli which lie is most familiar.
We suppose that we could show our
good taste and prudence to tlio best ad
vantage, by joining our offering of praise
to the burden of llattery, which tho East
ern journals almost universally bestow
upon the Packer Quarterly. And indeed
we find it a very entertaining visitor. It
is very pleasant and pretty, as anything
hat pertains to the girls ought to be, of
course. But, ladles, you don't feed it
enough mental pabulum. It is too sweet
and frothy. Wc would say too girlish,
but then you would give us tho stereotyped
answer ""Why not? Are wo not girls?"
That is txuo, wc suppose, but the ladies
are beginning to arrogate to themselves
man's right to think, as well as flirt; and
those aro our sentiments, for they can
equal him at one and excel him at tho
other, if they will.
Tlio Olio tor November has an article
on "Rhetorical Morals," which contains
much truth clearly stated. The three fob
lowing rules, as safe moral guides in
writing, are laid down :
1. Let your production be just what it
professes to be.
2. That, in order to be original in their
writings, most persons need to'makc thor-
ouuh preparation.
8. Be willing that your production
should be only as wise as you arc.
Speaking of originality, the author
justly observes: "It often seems to be im
agined that the opposite of this is true;
that originality is a sortot Melchiscdcch,
'without father, without mother;' some
thing spontaneous, immediate, unpremedi
tated. But there are very few persons
whose unconsidered utterances arc worth
tlio uttering, not to say worth the hearing.
Profound things may bo said without
much thought at the moment, but they
are the product of former observation
and meditation."
The Chronicle states that a reform has
been made in regard to the standard of
attainment required for admission into the
Medical Department of the Michigan
University. Tlio examination is now
quite rigid. Tills, in our opinion, is in
deed an important reform. Our Law and
Medical schools, as well as some of our
Industrial and Business schools, have
been mere license shops for ignorance
and incompetency. Tho country has been
thronged with licensed quacks and di
plomat pettifoggers. Is it possible that
a boy, ignorant and uncultured, without
trained faculties, is fully qualified to
grapple with tho intricacies and tho grav-
est problems of our physical and moral
natures? Is such an '.one capable or pro
duclug tho best fruits In tho grandest of
all professions, before ho Is capable, oven
wile tho aid of a glossary, of comprehend
Ing their nomenclature and technicalities?
May many other institutions follow tho
example which Michigan lias set. Wo
should like to see a thorough scientific
and classical education made the standard
of admission into the Law and Modical
schools
The Niagara Iwlcx fellows have lately
moved, that is, their prlutln' "fixitis."
One of the editors is in mortal terror, be
cause tho new sanctum is in closo prox
ity to the steam boilor. Ho predicts that
on some fatal day it will " bust," and "pi"
his anatomy all over the sacred soil of bin
native county. Therefore ho has com
posed his dying thoughts, beforehand,
which arc quite neatly expressed for a
mutilated co.pus. In another issue tho
editor explains tho origin of the wit with
which tho Index is always well seasoned,
on the ground, as he insinuates, that tho
Local was, at one time, an inmato of a lu
natic asylum. "Wo fearsome of tho other
editors have symptoms of the samo acrid
yet ' gentle frenzy.',
The Berkelcyan has a fine oration on
"Tho Hidden Fountains," delivered bo
fore ono of the societies by a member of
the class of '74.
Tho University Missourian complains
bitter'y of the management of 'tlio library.
Though having a good selection of booka
the students are not permitted to take
them from the library. Tho Missourian
thinks, very properly, that books aro
made to be used, and that a penalty for
unnecessary damago done to them, while
in the student's possession, is a sufficient
guard against tho misuse of books. This
was formerly the plan pursued in tlio Uni
versity of Missouri, and the Missourian
thinks it has proved the better method.
Tho University Iieoiew is alway a wel
come visitor. The October issue contains
a good article on "Religious Extremes
and Extremists in History."
The Targum continues to be ono of the
m.st readable of our exchanges. A wri
ter, under tlio head of "Education and
Scepticism " claims that all scepticism is
based upon egotism, not education. This
has long been tlio last resort of orthodoxy.
The question is always begged, on tho
plea that "the ways of Providence aro
mysterious." But the writer of the articlo
in question is right in urging us to grap
ple with " uncomfortable facts," and not
evado them. One of these uncomfortable
fact j is that all sceptics, even atheists, are
not fools; but many of them have spent
tlieirlives in investigating the theories they
maintain, and have rifled all Btoi chouses
of knowledgo to give them light. Tho
church must soon acknowledge this stub
born fact, and educate men with equal
thoroughness, equal candor, or scepticism
will prevail. To brand a man with ignor
ance will not quench his conviction, nor
stifle his consciousness of right. Such a
course makes converts to scepticism. Tlio
day is come when reason must bo used as
a weapon even in tho religion of Christ, if
it shall still prevail.
Tho Lawrence Collegian has somo good
things and humorous. One of the editors
chastises some of tho boys for what ho
calls doganism. viz: waiting around the
doors of tho church to see tho lad ten
home, (if they can) when they (said boys)
have not hafl tho necessary cheek to call
at their bouses for them. This speaks
llltle for the socict of Appleton, Wis.
Como West boys, come West, and get civ
ilized. (
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