HESPERIAN STUDENT,
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.
VOL.X.
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, MARCH 15, 1882.
No. XII.
cgffiscclfoncoua tgjUqtttion.
Not long since we were shown some
cxnminii ion papers of the Alcliison High
School scholars. They were models of
nea'ness and methodical arrangement
The answers, too, were lull and showed a
good knowledge of the suhjects studied.
We doubt If many of our Preparatory
6ttulents c uld answer the same questions
half ns well. No disparagement is meant
to our own Preps, lint there is an opin
ion, held by many, that the standing of
admission here is altogether too low. Ii
might bo just as well to raise the standard
and net admit everybody that applies.
Judge Tnirgco's latest work is "John
Eax." In this the social life of southern
people iu depicted. Political affairs arc
not discussed. The Judge's fame and
place as a writer would have been ju&l as
secure if ho had written no other book
than "A Fool's errand." In fact, the
universal favor with which this was re
ceived has tended to make him a penny-a-liner.
The greed for wealth, as well as
fame, has induced him to expand and
draw out his opinions concerning south
ern men, sou hern beliefs, past and present,
and southern scenery, until they comprise
four or rlvo books, when one was enough.
Robert Q. Ineersoll made a speech in
Washington, a few weeks since, over the
gravoofn little boy. The Port Wayne
(Ind.) GMo charged him with plagarism,
stating that ho had obtained his beauti
ful sentiments from an old poem. Inger
boll, however, asserts that since lie made
Ills remarks some one has written the
poem, embodying in it his own thoughts.
He further adds:
"I will give one thousand dollars for
any paper containing this poem published
prior to my address. I will give the same
amount for any book containing it, or for
any evidence that it was ever written or
published anywhere in the wide worldi
previous to January 8, 1882."
The Student regards the closing of the
Opera House on Sunday night, March 0th,
by the Mayor and police- of the city, as
most eminently proper. Such, also, is the
feeling among the best people of Lincoln
The city is not exactly perfect, but mor.
ally it will compare favorably with any
place of its size on the continent. Its
reputation should be sustained, and the
city officers have the matter to a consider
able extent in their hands. The laws arc
stringent enough, but their enforcement
does not seem to be insisted upon in many
cases. Let the Mayor show the same
spirit in other matters that ho has in
regard to Sunday theatres, and the law.
abiding portion of the community will
rejoice.
Wo clip the following from the Badfjer.
Evidently there is truth in it.
Steele says: "I do not think anything
could make a plcasanter entertainment
than the history of tho reigning favorites
among women from time to time. In all
my observation I never knew a man of
good understanding a general favorite;
oine singularity in his behavior, some
whim in his way of life, and what would
have made him ridiculous Among tho men,
has recommended him to tho other .sex."
How will this apply to our imported
rc&thetic Oscar Wilde? The men have
generally regarded hiin as a sort of sim
pleton, while he has been favored with
tho incense of veneration by the ladies of
our so called highest society ever since
his arrival.
Heretofore wo lui"0 not been a very
decided advocato of spelling reform. But
tiie late tragedy at Waverly has convinced
us that for the peace of our streets and
the security of life, those fanatical pho
netic spellers must have their way. When
it requires such forcible persuasion as
leaden balls to uphold the present de
ranged system, we want no further pi oof
of its evil tendency. Either, wo im;st
spell words as they aro pronounced or con
siderablo latitude must be given to poor
spellers. If one or the other be not done,
it will hardly bo safe for a University stu
dent to attend a spelling match. As n
matter of fact, there aro a great number
of very poor spellers in both the prepar.
atory and collegiate departments more
than would enjoy good health in the
vicinity of "Waverly.
Senator Saunders has become a convert
to civil service reform. Ho has Intro
auced a joint resolution in tho Senate to
tho effect that tho consitution bo amended
so that all post-masters, internal revenue
officers and district attorneys be elected
by a direct vote of the people. This, of
course, would take away no small'piirtof
the President's appointing power. The
change he advocates may be a desirable
ne, but it will be a long lime before some
people can see it in that light. Ithasso'm'e
advantages over the competitive system
that is so frequently recommended. It
makes tho people themselves directly
responsible. If those whom they elect do
not as they wish the electors have a chance
to put in others who will. Taking it (all
in all, it is one of the best things our sen
ior Senator ever proposed in tho Senate.
The students of Wisconsin University
are, through their pnper, complaining of
tho number of prescribed studies in tho
Senior year in the Scientific course. Of
the Sophomore, directly or indirectly, five
hours aro required ; of tho Juniors four,
but of the Seniors eight. This they hold
to be, as it evidently is, in direct opposi
tion to the principle of theelecthesj'stem
There may be so'o reason why Freshmen
should have most of their studies pre
scribed. Miny of them are not of an age
to judge competently as to what is best for
them to take, while all just cnteiing upon
the new work of a Universit' do not
yet know what particular line they wish
to follow. But as students begin to under
stand their own wants and aspirations,
latitude in the choice of studies should
be given. Such latitude wo have in our
University. No fault" is found here with
tho elective system save that too much'
work is required of ilie students. This
we hopo to see righted before another
year. Otherwise, in the judgment of tho
stu:lents, it has been a success, It has
pl(.ced the University upon a broader
basic: it lias opened the way for special
work. A student need no longer gain a
smattering knowledgo of this' and that,
but he may become proficient in soine
one department. Under the old regime
he could not do this. Prescribed studies
held him in his own course no choice
was allowed. Now that 'o have olectives,
tho only wonder is that they were so long
denied. The students trust that the time
will never como when any of the privil-oges-now
granted to them by tho elective
system will be abridged.
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