THE IlESPEHIAN STUDENT. XE 11 It ASK A. A new made college, to ho euro, Scarce counting n decado of years, Yet onn which, growing, will ontluro Despite her tronblcH nml our fears. Despite her troubles and our fonrn Nebraska's University Will rise above the ctltlc's snoors An lionoraa western school to bo. An honored western school to bo If students by their faithful toll Will show so all tho State may see Thnt men are rising on her hoII. That men nro rising on her soil WIioho hope and future aim shall bo To tave from slander and from spoil Nebraska's University. "SENIOR STUDIES." Editou Studknt. Wo wish to say a few words in regard to our "misleading statements" referred to in your editorial of the loth. In the first place, we admit being a "classical;" wo thought the article itself sutllcient evidence of the fact, without stating the same in black mid white, and hence our remarks were intended for the most pari as applicable to that course. Don't put on the shoe, Mr. Editor, where it doesn't lit. Although we say we had the classical course mainly in mind, yet if you will look at the "He vised Course" (get Prof. Emerson to ex plain if necessary) you will llnd that 1'hilosop! y occurs in two of three courses, viz.: Classical and Scientific. Now we think the statement made in regard to the distinctive character of Senior studies in Ihc Classical course just as truly applica. ble to those in the Scientific course, or at least as respecting Philosophy, and per haps even more uo. The studies pursued in this course, previous to the Senior year, are for the most part those involving the mero acquisition of definite knowledge. They require little or no original thinking or investigation. Mathematics with a majority of students is of the same nature, few become sufficiently Interested or have the time to spend to work out original problems; true it requires think ig to understand a demonstration, but it is n different kind of thinking from that of Philosophy. It is simply follow, ing out tho thoughts of another. A student of the classics, however, Is com pelled to use his own judgment in deter mining upon the construction to bo put upon the sentence under consideration, in choosing the right meaning of a word, one that will best express tho thoughts of the writer. So much for the first misleading state ment. Now for tho next. Yes, Mr. Ed itor,"this applies to tho Senior year;" (referring to our assertion in regard to tho number of studies) wo were writing about Senior studies we believe. In the Class! cal course (to which our statement especially referred) there aro three differ- en l studies prescribed, and six hours elective, necessitating either two three hour or three two-hour recitations. On examining the "Revised Course" (for ex planation see previous reference) wo And no two three-hour recitations occuring the same term which a Senior would bo likely to choose; henco the only alterna tive is to elect three two-hour recitations, making "six different lines of thought." In regard to tho Scientific course, we admit our assertion will not hold good. Now for our "conclusions." The sec ond and third evidently mutually involve each other. More time alotlcd to each study of course lessens the number and renders tliein consecutive. What effect will this have upon the elective system you ask. Now, Mi. Editor, you never heard us say "None whatever." It ought to bo evident to a First Prep that with a constant teaching force and a limited time for recitations tho number of studies could not bo increased without lessening the time devoted to cacli one. (We've passed In the Logic class.) The only question to bo considered is whether tho advantages of a liberal elec live system, with our present limited teaching force, overrides the disadvantages which such a system involves. This ques tion we answer in tho negative Pleaso bear in mind, Mr. Editor, what we said in our former article, that the object of an education is to secure mental training and not tho mere acquisition of knowledge; hence those means must be adopted which shall best secure this end. Such end, we reiterate, is best attained by consecutive and moio thorough study. No lawyer thinks of working up several cases at the same time; no writer thinks of being occupied with several books on widely different subjects at the sumo time; no student endeavors to work two or three different problems at the same time. These wo admit are not exactly parallel cases, yet the principle involved is much the same. Wo aro not opposed to the elective system itself. Indeed, we think it has great advantages. All we wis!; to say is that it should not be so extended as to interfere with its efficiency in securing tho proper end. Only cnlaigo as our teaching force will allow without weaken ing the course. Your conclusion, Mr. Editor, is most decidedly "misleading," viz.: "To tho proposition that there bo a less number of subjects pursued at tho same timo we give our hearty concurrence." Now how in the name of common sonso, with a con stunt number of hours, aro you going to lessen tho number of studies without increasing the timo given to each, render ing them perhaps consecutive, to which you objected. In sincere good will wo await "further light" on the subject. vtAliE. j!gxcl(mtQc ric-n-brnc. Kansas University sends out a monthly, the Review Literary articles predominate to the detriment of the otherjdopartments. Tho Nation has taken up the discussion of the parental system and of elective studies. Several articles of interest to college men have appeared. Emory Mirror, fr.tm Oxford, Ga., wishes to "forget the past and think of things which will do goort to the proscnt and future citlzons of tho 'U. S.' " Amen. The Doane Owl hoots once more. To mollify the exchange editor wo have a compliment for this number. It is realty the best wo have yet examlucd and leads us to believe that a monthly, at least, would be a success at Doane. Tho local department is especially good. The writer of "Daniel O'Connell," in the Spectator, from Montreal, Canada, mistakes his calling if ho docs not coma to this country and make a Fourth of July orator of himself. As a "spread eagle" effusion this article can not bo sur passed. The William Jewell Student has been dubbed tho "old moss-back" by tho ex changes. Not an elegant nickname, but appropriate. Old essays and cight-col-uiun editorials on "The Mission of Educa lion" and similar subjects fill up well but are not profitable to the roader. Notre Dame Scholastic has a decidedly ecclesiastical tone, and it is not surprising as the editor in chief is a Catholic priest and a member of the faculty. This may be a convenient arrangement for tho faculty, but cxpeiionce has shown tho wisdom of having tho college papers con trolled entirely by students. The Senior Preps and Freshmen of Ohio Wesleyan Unlvcrstly have organ ized a military company. Tho Traiu script gives the following as tho "cry of the boys in blue:" "Build us straight, O drill master; strong Senior Preps and graceful Freshmen that shall march with drum and banner and with Sophs and Sem. girls wrestle." Wo are glad to sco that Harvard Her ald has received a sound drubbing from the Knox Student and Oberlin Review for tho following absurd statement in regard to the standard of scholarship In western colleges: "Wo will venture to state that tho preparation required to enter Har vard, and tho prescribed work of tho Freshman year, amount probably to as thorough a grounding in tho leading departments of human knowledge, as tho entiro course of most of our western sisters." Tho difference between the courses of eastern and western colleges la so small as to be hardly noticeable. ?rk l)