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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 1883)
HESPERIAN STUDENT UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA. Vol. XII. LINCOLN, NEB., OCTOBER 15, 1883. No. II. I v MISCELLANEOUS MENTION. The American Nolo Books give n clue to Hawthorne's success ns a writer. Constant, untiring perseverance made him so perfect a master of the pen. All great wrl. tcrs have been great workers Important discoveries have been made in Greece by the recent excavations. According to Mr. Waldsleiu, it will lead to a change in the conception and interpretation of some of the productions of Greek art. Susan B.Anthony and Mrs. Elizabeth", Cady Stanton are in England laboring for their sex. The youngest nation on the globe is becoming the leader in education and reform. Tim cast is learning of the west. George lEliottsays "no one th'ng is as true an index of one's culture as the kind of wit he appreciates." What each one finds ludicrous is an unfailing test of his attain ments. If this is so, it reflects somewhat severely on col. lege students whose height of enjoyment is in "hazing" and class "melees." nenry Ward Beechcr is making considerable stir among the ministry of onr country by his open views. Many arc afraid that such liberal tenets proclaimed over the couutry will undermine tha people's faith in religion. But there is no danger of this, no truth can be demolished by criticism. The greatest enemies of religion, thus far, have been its supporters. They sought to keep it out of strife, but that is contrary to nature. The principles of truth, like plants, arc more vigorous when they arc kept stirred up. Carlyle says "the true past departs not, nothing that was worthy in the past departs; no truth or goodness realized by man ever dies or ever can die.'. The radicals would do well to remember this. Because a thing is old is no reason why it is false. The weakness of the con servative is, not because he holds on to old truths, but the garment of old truths. All principles arc eternal, bui ihej change their external appearance to fit the wants of each generation. Many things we deemed true in our childhood, appear differently in a more advanced age, but the principle remains unaltered. Charles Frances Adams Jr. says in his address before the Phi Beta Kappa society, that the Greek he studied in college impaired his reason. He attributes the diflculty he has had in his R. R. calculations tc this cause. But ho afterwards asserts that he had only a little smattering of that language, had read a few lines of the Iliad, etc. This admisson vctos his right to criticize Greek. The logical inference would be, if he had acquired a thorrugh knowledge he would not have experienced such diflcul ty. This illustrates a large chus of the opponents of the classics, they cither have only a superficial mastery or have not studied them at all. The question as to whether or not the University of Nebraska should introduce eastern college customs, has been decided by the late "cane-rush." This will now be an established contest. If it is carried on in good humor as was the late one, it will be a good thing. Such con tests stir up a college spirit as nothing else can. While "hazing" should be forbidden, a few strifes such as this are no detriment. There lias been a lack of interest to ward the University thus for. The students need waking up. A few more college enterprises would aid very much to increase the attendance. Many people in the state do not seem to be aware of the fact that there is a University at Lincoln. There seems to be a lack of moral earnestness on the part of the American people in regard to politics. Al though under a Republican form of government, where it would seem that all would take an active interest in public affairs, yet there is a fecliug of indifTcrancc in this direction. No combinations arc made to secure fit men forofliccs. As a consequence conventions and caucuses are control'cd almost exclusively by political "bosses." Olllces arc bought and sold like hogs and cattle. We have heard Nebraska politicians boast, that give them so much money and thev will secure an' office in the state. There is a great deal of truth in this, and the people are to blame for it. They should take more interest in, aud have more to do with campaigns. The tendency of Americans, as has often been remark cd, is to superficiality. This is particularly noticable in our educational institutions. A large class of our stu dents seem to be unwilling to lay a broad, solid founda tion by earnest, hard labor. In colleges they take the easiest aud shortest course, the otic that will cost them the least ellort. In this Uunivcrsitv the majority of stu dents are in the Literary course, Now this would be a good supplement to one's education after a thorough gen eral training. But as a disciplinarian it is one-sided, it is almost exclusively history. This is a very important study, but it does not cover the whole ground of educas ttou. A man whose learning consists entirely ol facts gleaned from otiiers, is like a patent music box, he can sing the tunc that has been beaten iu him, but he is pow erlcss to create one of his own. Some claim that history studied philosophically gives a training equal to the classics, but crude, undeveloped minds are not able to take it up in this way. Wliat discipline they gain from it is principally strength of memory. The report of the Faculty of the German Universities shows conclu sively the advantages of 'gymuastic training."