Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (June 14, 1882)
afcftjif ; .. ..:, .jstta-f fl ,-, HESPERIAN STUDENT UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA. Vol.X. LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, JUNE 14, 1882. No. 17. tgfliscclhmcoua j$yiUon. The professors lire cliunously calling for ii spelling reform among the students. But liow much time ought u student to spend now to gain proficiency in what should have been thoroughly learned years hinro? Uniform spelling is a beuiiiy in u composition, but we hold that the chief object of language is to make one intelligible, and ii one mode of orthography will express the thought as well as another, what mutter is it if it does not exactly conform to Webster? Let opportunity be given hero as well as elsewhere for students to show their originality. Darwin's last work was on "Earth worms." Ho shows very conclusively that these little and inoU'onsive creatures have played no small part in preparing the earth to support vegetable life. The conclusions arrived at, after many expert, meats is, that all the surface soil passes through the bodies of these animals every few years. As they deposit their excrc tions on the top of the ground, in time they completely cover largo stones and boulders. Hence they are constantly increasing the area of arable land. They also are the little plows that jear after year pulverize the soil, giving it greater uniformity of character and better pro. paring it lo supply the wants of man It is another striking proof that nothing exists in vain. The humblest and smallest often, as in the present case, are the instruments by which great and import, ant lesults are obtained. The voluminous discussion of the "Ethics of Vivisection" witli which the reviews have for the past few months been surcharged seems to us inoro like a desiro on the part of certain semi-scientific gentlemen to appear in print than a real expectation of reforming an ainiMj. Wo have never learned that these gentlemen are particularly squeamish about eating beef, and have no curiosity about how they would entertain a Thanksgiving turkey. Here is a sacriflco of animal life for the immediate gratification of physi cal needs. Science inilicts suffering upon animals in the hope of learning better how to alleviate man's suffering. With-1 out the aid of vivisection the science of medicine would be still in its infancy. Its progress has been slow enough at best. Who is there so sentimental as to accuse .lolia Hunter of ct uelty to aniuv.ils because he resorted to the study of Comparative Anatomy instead of allowing human lives to be sacrificed through ignorance. It is stated that the average net annual profits of the New York ITera(d are over $1,000,000. Tills immense busincs3 is under the supervision of one man, but, he is a remarkable one. Although he spends more than half his time in Europe he dictates the policy of the paper in every detail, and keeps a strict watch over Ihe finances. It is also alllrmed that he sends editorials by cable from every corner of the world. This is difficult to beliovc) especially when his character of profes sioaal pleasure seeker is kept in mind. We are disposed to think that his industry has been very much overdrawn, and that the success of the Herald is not attributa ble lo his personal watchfulness. The business manager are of high character, requiring little supervision. The amount spent for the Jeanette expedition, anil for fie relief of Irelaud, netting $750,000, lias served to give the paper a great name, without which it could not flourish. We believe that these gumt policy strokes are the keys to Bennett's success, and that the report of his indefatigable industry is a device to patch up a bud reputation. A few years ago one of the students at Bowdola College bore the euphonious title of "Spud." Ho was a flat scholar and after graduation was chosen an in struclor in the college. Of course his atudent name still clung to him. He know it, and didn't like It. He was very dignified, and his professors chair did not diminish the gravity of his demeanor. One day some boys playing ball near the doorof a recitation room in which "Spud" was conducting a Latin exercise, annoyed tiiis expounder of subjectives and the in tiicaciesot indirect discourse, and calling a Sophomore to him, ho said, "Please go to the door, Mr. A., and say to those players that I desire them to cease their play or make less noise." A. went to the door, stuck his head out, and shouted in stentorian tones: "Here, you follows! Spud says dry up I" Another Professor at the same college bore the nickname "Kaigar," from two common Greek words. In fact very few professors in any Amcr ican college escape familiar or oppro brious nicknames at the hands of the students. One of the happiest hits of this sort ws at the expense of a certain Yale professor who was called "Old Spon dee" a spondee, in metrical versification, consisting ot two long feet. When noticing the bitter controversy existing between Allopathy and Homeo pathy we do not wonder that Oliver Wen dull Holmc3 wrote, "If all drugs were cast into the sea, it would be so much the better for man and so much the worse for thelish!" When medical men are so widely separated, how can they expect that the dignity of the profession will be maintained? One thing is certain, the two schools are so radically opposed that both cannot he right. With thousands of lives at stake it is a subject in which the people can justly feel interested, and I ho animosity witli which the war is carried on ih in itself sufficient to keep the truth buned. Until the members of the med ical fraternity become high-minded enough to search for the truth honestly and regardless of the tenants of their particular school, the science will not be set upon an unassailable foundation. In a lecture in the Opera House a low eve nings since it was shown by statistics that the old school kills three times as many persons as the new in proportion to the number of patients. Probably statistics would also reverse the case. Just now there seems to bo a splendid opening for some man of ability lo harmonize the conflicting views by selecting the best from each. Female seminary. Teacher. "Mary, did Martin Luther die a natural death? "No; ho was excommunicated by a bull." The following, though of very ancient origin, has never boforo appeared in the Student: Young ladies' boardinc: school. Prof. "What can you say of Pluto?" Miss D. "He was the son of Satan, and when his falhor died he gave him Hell." 'f
