! I ' I III
884
EDITOIUALS.
Vol. vi r
M
i " '
Mi'
1-iMi!
' H
I
ill
i
i '
v;lV
rRH
in-chicf, an associate ar.d u local editor.
Thus instead of the work devolving upon
three It will be shared by six, and with
proper division of labor it may bo hoped
that the Student would take a higher
rank. Wo hope that early in next term
a movement will bo made to effect such
a change in our constitution.
HHETORICALS.
At the meeting of the Hoard of Regents
in December the following resolution was
adopted ; " Resolved, that there bo on the
part of each student one exercise each
month in declamation and one in English
composition, under the instruction of tho
rhetorical professor." The Chancellor
announced, a few days ago that several
students had boon suspended for not com.
plying with the requirements of the above
resolution. This marks a new era in the
history of the University (' This depart
ment has long been neglected and the re.
suits have been only loo plainly marked.
It has often been the source of much
chagrin to the friends of tho University,
to see students appear upon the puolic
stage without tho elements of tho necessa
ry training. This defect was so deeply loll
that it was hoped that all would hail with
joy tho increased opportunities of this
kind of training.
It is strange that some, who are brilliant
and even enthusiastic in their regular
studies, dread and even despise these ex
ercises. We have never been able to ex.
plain this general aversion to exercises of
this kind. Surely nothing in a college
course is better calculated to render edu
cation useful than that which soaks the
mastery of tho tongue and pen. Such
an accomplishment adils strength to man
and heightens the charms of woman.
How often is a readiness to express one's
thoughts either with pen, or tongue
turned to great advantage in practical life.
And we hope the time is not distant
when woman may prize the elegant read,
ingofher vernacular far more than the
boast of having read tho latest Fiench
novel. Students should consider theso as
rare opportunities for culture in a most
important branch of education and not as
profitless tasks forced upon them. Hut
after all, these are only aids and must be
supplemented by self-culture if any ex
cellence is sought.
THE IlKSH-PRESSURE SYSTEM.
It will be noticed that according to the
schedule In tho last catalogue each regular
student is required to pursue four regular
studies after tho Freshman year and
sometimes even live. Can students bo fair
ly expected to do justice to this amount
of work without injury to themselves?
This question assumes greater importance
in view of the ovcr-worked condition of
several students, especially members of
the Sophomore and Junior classes, dur
ing the present term. An yone who under,
stands tho first princples of intellectual dc
velopment cannot expect .symmetrical
mental growth under such circumstances.
We do not champion idleness and play
on the part of the students, but we do dep
recate any attempt to " cram." All we
ask is an apportunity for development
and not distortion of the mind. We
would like to soo the University turn out
men of trained intellect, rather than do
positarios of facts and figures.
Tt requires n argument to show that
four regular studies and sometimes a
fifth are too many for the a 'erage student;
and especially is tills evident when wo re
member that whole sciences are to be
completed in a single term of a few weeks.
This is what is expected of tho average
student and tho high-pressure is applied
by a rule which expels any one who fail
to pass a satisfactory examination in any
two of these studies. We are aware that
this rule was adopted to meet some cases
of negligence but it nevertheless affects all
alike. But why this accumulation of
studies? Wc think that it may justly bn
