no. n.
TCmTOHTALB.
203
the University, and sovcrnl attempts made
to carry one into exccuiion, but thus far
thoy have failed simply hecausc there was
no incentive sufllcicnt to procure the re.
quired amount of enthusiasm and labor.
A valuable reward in money, or otherwise,
would change all this, so there would be
no difllcully to procure plenty of perform
ers to make an interesting entertainment.
That sonic method is needed to arouse
more interest in the subjects for which
prizes arc generally offered cannot well
bo denied. Whether this plan would se
cure as much study in this direction as is
desirable may be doubtful, but that its
tendency would be favorable seems to bo
evident.
As this is a state institution quite likely
we shall wait many a year before any in
dividual takes it into bis bead to form a
prize fund, or even to offer an occasional
prize. Perhaps at some future time the
Student may offer a prize to test the
truth of its theory. If so you will hoar
from us again on this subject.
THOUOUGHNESS.
It is claimed, and perhaps justly, that
nothing tends more directly to the true
development of the intellect than exact
ness in any attempted work. Of course
each Professor is anxious this principle
should be followed in his classes, and is
very urgent in his demands for careful
and thorough work in his department,
forgetting apparently, that some are pre
paring for one kind of work, in life and
others for another. Each Profssor seams
lo think, which is quite natural, that his
particular studios are best calculated to
develop the mind, and bring forth the
peculiar abilities which are characterist
ic of each individual. This corlainly
can not be true. Minds are no more alike
than appetites, among these, we lind
that what is agreeable to the taste, sus
taining and nourishing to on:-, possesses
the contrary qualities for another. Food
which would keep one person in health,
would bo rejected and disliked by anoth
er. The same is evidently truo of the
mind. Furnished with one class of
studio, the powers strengthen and devel
op; compelled to pursue another, they be
comes weak and languid. We arc led to
make these remarks after a vain attempt
to learn several hundred names in Gcolo
gy that convey no meaning whatever to
us. What earthly use, it is going to bo
to any one to lumber up the mind with
such stuff, unless ho intends to pursue the
study as a life work, and hence takes
time to master it thoroughly, is more than
we can comprehend. Still theso names
must bo leai nod, or when the fatal exam
ination day comes, one's name will appear
among those not passed. Now we do
not wish to be understood as objecting to
the study of Geology, or to the thorough
stud of its theory; but further, what can
be gained ? These remarks will apply to
many other studies; Geology has only
been selected because it happened to be
uppermost in our mind. Now why can
not some system bo devised so that each
one can devote the most of his time to
such studios as he likes, or needs in his
future work in life ; devoting just enough
time to other studies to gain theoretical
knowledge of them. A really ambitious
student will spend many a weary hour on
some study which he cares so little for
that he will forget it in a few weeks,
rather than stand low in his class. The
desire for a high average mark takes
from such u one many an hour for which
ho has almost nothing to show in after
life. If he could know that he would re
ceivo credit lor what lie realty under
stood, and not for his marks, an earnest
student would spend his time in storing
his mind with such mental food as his
tasio demanded and with such as gave
power and vigor to his thought.
Some studies can be and should bo
thoroughly mastered ; others are valuable
only to the specialist, for, from a limited
study of them, one can fix nothing
more than their theory; und an extended
