W-tf V3.-'EWi
THE HESPERIAN STUDENT.
lion : il is opposed to tho interests of the
persons because they can never build up u
thorough, finished education upon so weak
n foundation; it is opposed to the intoiosts
of the school for many reasons, because it
hurts the good' nnnio of the institution
nomad, because il compels the Protestors
in devote their timu to branches tbat are
taught in every oommon school, because
H increases the expenses of the school,
without aiding in (lit! least the cause- of
higher education, because il attracts a
class of students that do but little for the
school, except to lengthen out its yearly
analogue. Now we say let it be general,
ly understood that no individual need
make application who has not completed
nil those studies that are carried on in the
common schools. This would not deprive
a single person in the State of the advan
tages offered at the University. When in
the course of time, academies nud High
Schools become established more general
ly throughout the State, a higher standard
can be required.
In Kansas a proposition has been of.
fcrod of uniting the noimnl departments
with their University Wo do not know
how this would suit our normal friends in
Nebraska, but wo think it would bo a lino
thing for our University. This would
give us a preparatory school worthy the
name. Hut there is work enough for each
in their respective places, so let them
work out their mission independently.
could make a very favorable showing, and
it need not bu long before tho University
nine should become the club of the State.
To accomplish anything it is necessary that
we should have an organization' and work
systematically. If a club was organized
and certain days llxed for practice, even If
it did no more, it would furnish an omior.
I tiiuily for exercise. Will some one take
hold or this matter, call a meetihgand sco
what can bo dono?
We bear serious complaints from other
colleges of students devoting so much
time to boating, base ball, and other amuse
ments, as to sadly interfere, with their
more important duties. Would that we
could chronicle- some such an evil! Wo
doubt if the same number of young mon
were ever congregated together before,
thai had so little ambiton to exhibit. their
skill, 'heir physical prowess, as tho young
men of our school. The centennial year;
(he State fair Lo be held right at our door
a"d ct not even so much as n base ball
club organized, that we 111113, Ilt least, be
represented in the coming games. Class
es in fencing and boxing wero gotten up
some time ago and all necessary arrange
menls made; in both classes a large num.
bcr of students were enrolled, but the tax
upon their constitutions was too great and
after a lesson or two they were dis
continued. A Gymnasium Association
was formed, a very enthusiastic mooting
was held, olllcors elected, and that was
all. Let us nwako, shake off tho deep log.
arthy which has held us, nnd make some
stir, some commotion in the world. Tho
Idea that all time is wasted, that is not oni
ployed in poring over sonio book, is dotri
mental both to health and to real progress.
One hour of study, when all our faculties
arc active, will accomplish more than
double the work, than when wo aro In a
state of languor, witli our powers dormant.
It is economy to dovoto a portion of our
time to some spirited recreation.
Nearly overy case of sickness, every in
stance of students being compelled to give
up their studios on account of feeble health
can bo traced directly to a want of exorcise.
Very fow students woro over injured by
hard study, but luin.v eomiusr from active
life have undermined their health simply
from want of exercise. Now as one step
in tho right direction suppose wo organize
a buse-ball club. Tho season is sufficient
ly advanced to a.llow of plenty of practice.
While wo might not bo able, with one boh
son's practice , to successfully compete
with some of tho old clubs of tho State, we
Well, examinations aro over and we all
fool greatly relieved, for no state of mind
Is so annoying as tint or uncertainty.
We notice that one of our exchanges
questions tho propriety of examinations,
claiming that it would bo unjust to place
the labor of tho entire term upon the
chances of a fow moments work; and sec
ond, that it is in reality only a form, astu
dent's standing being invariably deter
mined by his term's work. As to tho first
proposition we heartily agree. Any exam
inationgc.oiiducted on such a plan is obvi.
ously unjust. Hut such is not the case
with us. Our examinations aro overy
way favorable to to tho student, for if dur.
ing tho term ho prosecutes his studies
witli proper dilligence, reaching a ro
quired standing, he is passed even if he
should fail in examination. While on the
other mind if his work has not been as
favorable as it should bo, iho ovaniinatlon
oilers him a chance to redeem himself
Wo can sec 110 objection to such a plan
and much in its favor. It acts as a stimii
lous lo those who need encouragement.
Willi some, tho fear of not passing is no
small incentive to study; with all, it.
makes lho reviews niord thorough, for al.
though the first time passing over the
work may not have been satisfactory, if
the reviews at) thorough, and lho exami
nations clear, a part of the eivls may be
retrieved. JL-fore allowing a student to
pass from 0110 class to another, or to enter
any class, some examination appears to us
to bo necessary, and if for tho latter they
woro made somowhat more thorough il
would bu a benefit to all concerned.
While wo do not particularly enjoy exam
inations still wo can sac no good reasons
for abolishing thorn.
A new depart tiro has recently been
nitulo in chapol exorcises by the introduc
tion of music, that wo aro glad to nojico
II t as editors aro ever ready to point
out tho way by which others am improve
things in general, wo will proceed to of
fer our suggestion upon this matter. We
have not ono word of criticism to make
concerning lho present choir, they have
dono remarkably well, but we would like
to see congregational singing. If a sulll
cieni number of college song books wero
supplied, a singing class organized and
by the way a splendid opportunity is now
offered to do this good results would In
sure lo follow. Such a plan would make
the morning exercises much more inviting
to tho students. This arrangement need
not do away with tho cholr They could
still take the lead, and assisted by the on.
tiro school fill the chapel to ovcrllowing
with music. What say oursoncstcrs?
OUK EXCHANGES.
Many an: the perplexing trials of an cd.
itor in reviewing the many exchanges that
demand a portion of his time. On ac
count of our extreme modesty we find our
selves largely embarrassed when called
upon to pass an opinion on a production
which bus Just been completed by the
ddllgent student who has devoted no little
time and labor in its careful preparation
in order to have It stand the storm of the
most 'experienced critics. So very differ
out are our tastes ih it what one regards as
being a production worthy of emulation,
and u production that is hoped by its au
thor may In. Id an important place in liter,
utiiio for its particular bearing upon some
subject of great moment, i regarded by
another, perhaps his equal in culture, but
of It different literary turn of mind, as bo
ing, in his valuable estimation, unworthy
it place even in our school journal. It is
only by attentive reading and carefully
contemplating tho ideas presented, that
we are iible to benefit ourselves, and learn
of tho great progiess that the world is
making in a literary point of view. We
believe in the old saying of Lord Bacon,
or somebody else, that "reading makes a
full man, writing an exact man." Poad
ing is certainly as essential to a student's
progress U3 his studies; It enlarges his
views, and gives him material upon which
to work
One, by subjecting himself to an exten
sivo and systematic course of reading
cannot help but gain a rich fund of
knowledge, which will not only ! a great
source of pleasure but an iniincns; benefit
to him after he litis completed his school
days and gone out into the world to per
form his part of the immense drama that
ends with us when our vitality is absorbed
by the perplexing cares of time.
But again, reading, or gathering in
knowledge, is not the only important
tiling that should occupy the student's at
teniion. He should be productive. He
should exercise bis pen freely and often;
and by so doing he will not only become
able to realize that which he has alicndy
learned, but will cause bis mind to evolve
new thoughts and cultivate those faculties
which aro so necessary for the enlarge
nieni of our productive capacity. Many
indents, because they cannot produce at
the Tory first attempt the finished and
.sparkling gems which emanated from the
pens of lho old "Lake Poets," become
discouraged, and probably never make an
other effort during their entire college
course, unless importuned by the rules of
the institution to try their hand on some
kind of rhetorical which they will shirk
if possible. And after they have loft col
lego and lho noble opportunity has van
islicd away unimproved, they retrospect
the past and aro only too sorry thai they
indulged in such negligence during valuable-
school days.
The Unironily Importer, for February,
we find quite interesting. The pieces en
titled, respectively, "An Educational
Want," and 11 "Plea for Contentment," are
full of excellent thought which wo think
will repay any 0110 for reading them.
The Reporter, wo observe, Is to change
hands soon, as there has been a now corps
of editors elected.
Tho Trinity Tablet greets us. It makes
a large, endeavor to pay the Stuoknt a
compliment, but boforo consummating
that effort, tho editor very circumspectly
pronounces lho subject of our production,
"Tho Centennial Year," which appeared
in our January number, as growing rather
stale, another very interesting cxainplo of
eastern erudition in criticizing the ml),
ject of a production instead of lho con
tents. But it is all right, dear brother, wo
shall not permit tho delicate meshes of our
refined natim to b.como milled by tho
nrt
careless observation of an cnstcrn(?) edi
tor. Tho Ifarrard Adcocnto is welcomed.
Wo seek its columns and find a largo
amount of unusually Interesting reading
matter. It is a good paper; the editors
seom to understand tho demand of tho
times. Besides its college mws, which
we find very loadable, wo find valuablo
suggestions on various topics. But, Mr.
Kdiior, allow us to make one suggestion,
and we will then rest in a stale of impor
turbation; it Is this, if you would stir a
little more animation in yourcoluuins wo
thiukyou would make their contents moro
relishable.
Tho Lawrence Ooll&jiait. makes some
veiy sound remarks in ono of its editori
als, in regard to lho tiuo purpose of n col
lege paper. Wo think lho editor under
stands the true object of our journals
when he says, "A paper ought to bo for 11
college jusi what u firo-sido is for a homo
a place for cracking of jokes, rehearsing
of college news, discussing and advising
the action of the faculty on all important
mailers, critic sing public ell'orts of stu
do its and societies, giving grave advioo
01. immorality, ill manners, and methods
of amusements, witli oocas'oiiallyu disser
tation on science and art." It it, a lamen
table fact that many of our college journ
als, instead of indulging in respectable
criticism and pointing out the great de
fects of it writer, will rail in vehement ami
denunciatory terms at the supposed dis
crepancy, al tho same time failinglo point
out tho fallacy, whereby a mild criticism
would not only do a great ctedit to the.
critic but would be a source of correction
to the criticised. Mr. Oollogia-i, in our
January number we did not have space
enough to quote your entire production
on "Homely People," which of course wo
wero very sorry for; therefore, wo bog
your pardon for omitting tho first part of
i our valuablo production. Wo forgot to
say then that wo liked it. We know thero
was an important ponderosity immediate
ly inwoven in tho immense speculation
which was so admirably dono up In a very
haiuUome rhetorical figure. We will atone
for our negligence at tho Centennial.
In regard to your query appertaining to
Noah building tho temple. As it is a mat
tor of no small magnitude, wo will make a
largo endeavor to render u circumspect ex
planation, which wo hepo will clucidafo
the affair and render tho matter perfectly
diaphanous, transparent and understanda
ble. In that old book of myths, fables
and allegorical stories, you have probably
read of tho kind old man, Noah, whom wo
all look up to and reverence at times for
the exceeding great interest ho took In
saving humanity from tho submerging
waters that came down from mo portals of
tho heavens with tho velocity of oiled
lightning until terra firma was a question
of doubt, and it wasn't healthy for ono to
be ,mt on account of tho exceeding deep
moisture which was spread over the face
of the earth. Wei', this was n't tho Noah
our writer had reference to. This Noah
passed in his ticketof transmigration before
lie built any temple, and hence it couldn't
have been him. And who was it? Why,
Noah Webster, who has erected h magnifi
cent temple, not, however, of wood, but
of fame, and did it up in the form of it
Dictionary. Probably you havo seen one.
Now then?
Oh I what a tangled wob wo weave,
Whon liret, w,o venturo to deceive.