THE HESPERIAN STUDENT.
far that the students of the same class have hardly any
work in common, and have no time to obtain the
general data of the subject of study it becomes an
evil; still the fault lies not in the system, but in a
misconception of the extent of the theme in question
either on the part of professor or student. One ob
jection which can be brought against the system is
that special work of this kind is not good for undis
ciplined minds. This, of necessity, unfits it for stud
ents of the lower classes. But after one has mastered the
fundamental methods of study, and knows how to dis
pose his time and can comprehend how much is ex
pected from him in this specialized form of study,
the theme system is a good and only a good.
There seems to be a certainty that one of the
much needed buildings will be granted us by the
coming legislature. Eight thousand dollars belong
ing to the University endowment is lying in the
treasury of the state. This will probably be used in
fitting up a suitable chemical laboratory. The re
moval of this department from the main building will
leave sufficient room to supply all present wants. But
besides the building fund more money must be had
for paying our force of teachers. We are fast ob
taining a grade of teachers not found in many schools
of our rank; but to keep such men as we have and to in
duce others like them to take positions in our univer
sity, we need to pay larger salaries. May the coming
legislature be sufficiently far-sighted to give its State
University a good, big appropriation.
How much leisure time a student ought to have and
what he ought to do with it are questions which puz
zle the aforesaid member of society. The oracle of
the student declares that the idle moments of a Uni
versitite should be few and far between. He should
reserve two hours for solid exercise, either gymnastic
or some other muscle-maker more in accordance with
his inclination, wood-sawing for instance, and per
haps eight more for sleeping. The rest of his time
should be divided between book-work and labor in
his varioucs societies. Add to this for the model stud
ent, a Sunday for religious work, and of the less per
fect ones a Sunday of social calls and the health, men
tal and physical, will be in a good condition for work.
Perfect idleness must not have a place in a student's
life. The time lost by him in hobnobbing with a
friend, in gossipping when his lessons are done or, as
is usual, half done, is time wasted. Such loafing will
soon monopolize the student's time and gradually
creep into his studies till he graduates an intellectual
shirk. Beware of your idle moments, boys.
The people are anxiously waiting to see the results
of the great political change. Business is almost
suspended and the people will stand as spectators un
til after the fourth of March. Capitalists tremble
both for fear of free trade and of the administration of
the democratic president. Everyone is asking "What
will be the results of democracy? What will be those
of free trade?" These can only answered by giving
each a fair trial. There is always more or less of a
decline in business after an election. This year there
is much more than usual and yet we can draw no con
clusion from it. It is only natunl that at the begin
ning of such mighty issues as democracy and free
trade such a panic should occur. This, as yet, is not
an effect drawn from the causes of free trade and de
mocracy. It is simply fear. No one can tell what
will be the effects of these changes, especially
since the people are satisfied that Hendricks will not
pull the reins for Cleveland as he had intended to do.
This great issue would probably not have ended as it
did had the people voted under their own convic
tions; but now as it is all over nothing remains for
us but to "learn to labor and to wait."
As the time of reviews and examinations is at hand
a few passing remarks on the methods of the students
at this trying period may be in ordar. Too many
students place too much importance on these last
days. Relying on their smartness and uniform good
luck they loaf during the term, neglect their daily
recitations and trust their fate and standing to the
extent of cramming they can do in two or three
weeks at the end of the term. The folly of this class
is too well known to deserve further comment. But
another class of students do a things almost as harm
ful: in attempting to avoid the dangers of this stuffing
system, they make no use of the reviews, trusting to the
the work they have already done. There is a use
for reviews which is essential; they are for fixing and
polishing the ideas we have been storing in our brains.
This is an all important task; essentially necessary
for any really permanent and lucid retention of any
subject. A student may pass without a thorough re
view, but unless his mind has been already well
trained and is unusually powerful, his conception of
his studies will be so dim and distant that the Christ
mas holidays will thoroughly obliterate them all.
The student should avoid these dangerous extremes.
He should neither depend entirely on reviews nor on
term work for his knowledge of his studies. Contin
uous study from the time of commencing till the exami
nation occurs is necessary for even a comparatively
comprehensive grasp of any subject.
Students, It will pay you to sxancine the pictures made
by Kelley & Co. before sitting elsewhere. Have you seen
University panel Uiey give gratiB?