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Hesperian student.
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.
Vol. X.
Lincoln, Nkjj., Octoiiku 1ft, 1881.
.'I'lf,.-,
iN'o. 2.
Jditorinl,
Each your the line of demarcation be
tween the preparatory and collegiate do
I nrtnicut becomca more distinct. This
shows growth and improvement. While
there is much that may be justly praised,
wc fear that the preparatory department
lacks organization, the source of ail ofllo
icnt work. JN'o professor desires to teach
students below the Freshman year. They
have not yet formed their habits of study.
They have not yet learned how to apply
themselves, as they can alter one or two
ycais discipline. This discipline ought to
be obtained in the preparatory depart
ment. It cannot be by ignoring it, con
sidering it u sort ol necessary evil. It
needs thorough reorganization, separate
tutors and professors.
It is a hard thing to say, but something
mentioned quite frequently of late that
the University societies are n t as good
now as they have been in the past. One
great dilllculty is that they are too large.
Every body depends upon somebody else
to no the work. They seem to think that
because there are so many, all of them can
not fail. In a University of from 250 to
300 students, there should be at least tour
or five literary societies This would di
vide the thing up and give each society
a sullleiont number of working members.
Interest in the debates seems to have de.
creased on the purl of audience this is
probably due to the fact, that the subjects
for consideration are theoretical rather
than practical. The reproduction, in de
bate, of the newspaper controversies con
cerning politics and government, would
probably be of mast interest to the gener
al listener. The fact, however, that the
society is for the good of the performer,
rather than for the pleasure of the specta
tor, must ho borne in mind.
A few daya since at the olllco of the
Commercial, professors, students and del
egates were all ono of a kind. They
were electioneering forborne candidate or
other. Two Kegents are to bo elected
this fall. This accounts or the action of
some of our professors. Whoso is the
liuilt that the tenure of the University
professor depends upon the fluctuating
oligious complexion of a board of re.
gunts? Whose can it bu but the people of
thu state? As loi.g as a certain class of
citizens declare they will not send their
children to the Univeisity, if such and
such an one is professor, so long will
there be internal strife and division. If a
man is qualified for a certain position and
discharges his duty in an honorable and
acceptable manner, what matters it about
his religious or political ciced? Tolera
tion is a grand and noble thing; but that
is not toleration which compels one to
accept cot tain creeds or beliefs before lie
can enter upon his chosen calling. It is
the next thing to despotism.
It is almost impossible to pick up one
of the college exchange without finding
some thing in it about gymnastics. The
interest shown in other colleges in this
matter would seem indicate that it is of
considerable importance. Thoro is no
doubt as to the beneficial efl'ects of plenty
of exercise. But now the question arises
as to the kind oft cxroiso to bo taken.
Foi a student, violent exercise is a possi
tive injury especially if taken ii regularly.
The greater part of his time his, body is
attest, and in this co million the normal
action of the heart correspondingly slow.
In violent exercise the work of the heart
is increased in proportion to the exertion
put forth. If the increased action of the
heart would cease with the exoicise, then
there would he no harm, but this is not the
case. When the muscles become quiet
the heait still keeps up this violent action.
This organ as well aa the lungs, may be
worn out. John Ileenau, the great pugi
list, who had an immense measurement
about the chest, died of consumption.
Among thirty-five of the athletes of Yale
examined by an eastern physician thir
ty-three hud the heart-disease. In a gym
nasium the horizontal bar is the most in
jurious in its effects on pel formers.
Among the best modes of obtaining exer
cises may be mentioned the use of the
Indian clubs, dumb bells and boxing
gloves. It is a mistake to imagine that
heard muscle always indicates good heath.
It is not an uncommon thing to hear
mathematics spoken of as the best possi
ble training for students. It is with this
idea in view that so muoh time is devoted
to mathematical studies. If education is
in lend ed to prcpaic us for life work,
mathematics are of little value The ma
jority of every day transactions tend far
for from mathematical relationship
What relation is theirs between a co-sine
and the petty uncertainties of this life?
There is no question but that a dry goods
clerk wants arithmetic and nigim-or ge
ometry, but this does not hold good for
all of us in the same degree. The ques
tion is does tikis study, broaden and chas
ten the mind? Does it prepare the mind
for the reception of all that is good and
elevated ? After a protracted study of this
science, is the mind better enabled to
grasp and hold all subjects, or is it inclin
ed to run iua rut? This is the question.
All that can be said in favor of mathe
malics has been saiil by Whewell and
Mill. In answering the attack of Iluniil
ton on the study of mathcnaUoMlUmys
in his apology.
"Descartes is the completest tvpe his
tory presents, of the purely mathematical
type of mind, that in which thu tendencies
pioduced by the mathematical cultivation,
reign unbalanced and supreme. This is
visible not only in the abuse of deduc
tion, which he carried to a greater I ngth
than any other distinguished thinker
Known to us, not excepting the school
men, but even more so in the character of
the premises from which his deductions
set out."
"And hero we come upon the one really
great charge which rests upon the mathe
matical spirit in respect of the influence
it exercises on pursuits other than mathe
matical. It leads men to place their
ideal of science, in deriving all knowl
edge from a smaller number of axiomatic
premises, accepted as self evident, and
taken for immedia'.e intuitions of reasons.
This is what Descartes attempted to do
and inculcated as the thing to be done."
Speaking of the "Conflict of Studies,"
Mr. Todliunter says: "The time devoted
to tlieso subjects (mathematics), viewed
as a discipline is too long." It is a signi.
flcant fact that Mr. Spencer hardly touch
es u nnthu utility of mathematics. In this
study there is a certain precise symbol
ism, witli which, too long an intimacy,
tends to decrease rather than increase a
students power rvor tho "mother tongue."
For 8tudonts who have no inclination,
mathematics there is no training to bo
had in tho study of them
;
K
