THE HESPERIAN STUDENT.
HESPERIAN STUDENT.
Issued hcinUmuiiilily by the Hesperian Stodknt
Publishing Association of tliu University of Nebraska
VER.
RCE.
BOARD OF EDITORS
Editors-in-chief - - JV H." C"!
( L. A. rlE
Local Will T. Mauck.
Literary G. G. Hitchcock.
Associate Josie Chapman.
Business Manager -- -- W. C. Knight.
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fenian Student. State University, Lincoln, Ncbrnska.
Editorial oic,
It might be well to suggest to both societies at tuis
time, that while external beauty and internal worth
may go hand in hand, they do not necessarily do o.
The best class of students will not b? convinced of a
societiy's excellence by the ornamentation of its
halls, so readily as by the character of its prgrams.
We do not under-appreciate the value ofattraction,
but in our eagerness to obtain that result, do not for
get or neglect ,even for one week the primary aim of
your organization, literary culture. The Student may
be a grumbler, but do not flatter yourselves that it is
without cause.
The protracted chase and" final capture ofthe'cow
boy" murderers' Belmont and Simmerman, is a sign
of better times for the protection of western Nebraska
from the old-time terrorism of that region by the class
of reckless desperadoes of which they are but ordinary
representatives. Perhaps the prompt trial, sentence
and execution of he outlaw who still remains alive
will demonstrate to his brotherhood of herders that the
law is gaining ground in the territory over which they
have so long ruled without fear of punishment. It is
to be hoped that no number of friends nor amount of
money will be allowed to produce a repetiton of the
Olive disgrace in this instance. Our welfare at home
and our reputation abroad cannot afford to let jpstice
always yield to outside pressure and technicality.
The Student notices with gratification the recent
efforts of the literary societies in the matter of pro
grams on special subjects. ; It is a practice that has
never yet failed to prodrfce thorough study on the
part of the performers and excellent results in the
character of their productions. While a constant pur
suance of the "special program" policy might be
come monotonous, an occasional evening devoted to
one general subject or one period of the world's his
tory is not only interesting but highly beneficial.
By no other method can knowledge of any kind be
so thoroughly mastered and so easily retained as by
this one of grouping and associating ideas. This, then,
together With the careful preparation necessary to the
creditable execution of such programs, constitutes the
elements of their excellence.
New members of a society should bear in mind
that in the course of time the mantle of leadership and
responsibility will fall on their shoulders and that ear
nest, hard work is necessary to fit them to bear it prop
erly. Do not then allow a half dozen members of
your newly adopted society to do all the good work
that is done, but rise to the emergency and spare
neither time nor labor to make yourself a credit to
the society. The broadest river has its source in
some distant and obscure rivulet whose humble origin
and diminutive proportions indicate nothing of its fu
ture extent and power. Rest not satisfied with any
production until you are sure it is the best you can do
and surely you will have earned a place that cannot
be vacated without loss to your society. Wherever
you are, make your efforts felt by showing them to be
sincere, unceasip" and the greatest of which you are
capable. If this determination marks your course in
the University, rest assured you will never be a non
entity. Are not societies going a little on the extreme in
trying to make the exercises entertaining and attract
ive to the public? Of course it is always pleasant
to have a large and intelligent audiences. It is inspir
ing to those on the rostrum and encouraging to the
members generally to sec that people take an interest
in their work. Yet can the societies afford to go out
side of their proper sphere of labor in order to insure
having an audience? Do we not err in thus pander
ing to the public taste, a criterion which can seldom
be relied on as a good standard? The public are apt'
to demand or expect something more sensational in
character than belongs to the scope of the true litera
ry society. Frequently something ludicrous and ab
surd is greeted with a hearty round of applause while
a serious, scholarly discourse upon some deep and im
portant theme is quite unheeded. Hence the student
has a great temptation to try to appear witty and bril
liant. The more he yields to this temptation the less
profound and the more superficial he must become.