Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885, May 15, 1885, Page 3, Image 3
THE HESPERIAN STUDENT. But the work in the classes dragged; the professors roused themselves and scolded, and held examina tions, and assigned longer lessons, and made them selves ridiculous in various ways;, but the outcome, was, of course, that the number of hours had to be reduced before good work was obtained. We would like to ask those who have lately been instrumental in inflating our course, if they think that there has been no chance during the past year, to make more effective and complete the work done in each separate class. Has not the instructor in Latin complained because the term was so short that it was impossible to read as much, or as carefully as he desired? Have not the history classes passed by much directly connected with the subjects they have studied, that it were well they should have had time to learn? Is not the same thing true in mathematics and the natural sciences? Why, then should it be thought better to insist upon studying more things rather than upon the more thor ough mastery of the things studied? Because certain students are willing to study harder, or are content to study more superficially, or are able to study more rap. idly than the majority, is no reason for thinking that a vote of the faculty can transmute all the class into students like those that have heretofore been the ex ceptions. Rhetorical drill etc. are, of course, to be added to the regular course, but aside from these we believe that for the freshman and sophomore years at least, the old plan of having three studies, each of which recites five times a week, is the best one yet discovered and that "whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." During the clash of impertinent and impertinent arguments that followed the State Oratorical Contest at Hastings, an excited wrangler from York assumed that somebody had claimed that Scott was official ly connected with Doane merely because he was a Congregationalist, and then declared that it would be as allowable to say that every infidel in the state was officially connected with the University. The name of an infidel school was given us in the evil days of old when there were certain pig-headed persons in the faculty who preferred being prominent to being useful, and who found it a more congenial task to raise a row than to raise the standard of college edu cation in Nebraska. Newspapers of the state that had records to make as scourgers of all who drew salaries from the state treasury, took up one side or the other of the controversy whenever they had nothing else to snarl about. Toward the last, when the newspaper squabble had degenerated into a kind of exag erated tom-cat concert, and when the regents had ex cused from further duty all of the professors that showed an inclination to be belligerant about nothing, most of the papers, except the Omaha Bee, sobbed themselves into silence. But, such an impression did the disturbance make upon certain weak minds that they have never been able to disconnect the words "Bigotry" and "Infidelity" from their thoughts of the University. Just which disease it is that ails it they do not know, but they are morally sure that something is the matter. Our esteemed friend from York only based his retort upon the same foundation less assumption that upholds the prejudices which so many entertain against this school. Not only the denominational schools, but even the partisans of the Peru Normal, have repeated the same stale charge about our lack of piety. We would joyfully confess, indeed, that we are not very strong as regards theolo gy, we never dismiss classes to engage in levival work, and our Chancellor and the professors have better business than chasing us into some partic ular church each Sunday. The christian organiza tions, however, which students themselves maintain, are, we believe, as vigorous here as in any of the neighboring colleges. The fact is that we are just what a state institution ought to be as regards such matters. There is nothing done officially, but much is done voluntarily, and the atmosphere is liberal as well as christian. After having heard so much about the "paternal influences" thrown about the students in the denominational schools, we were surprised in our very enjoyable meetings with their representativ es in the Oratorical Association, to encounter more tobacco and profanity than we had found among our own members in many a long day. We cheerfully acknowledge that it is rather amateurish to write such an editorial as this. The more dignified plan would be to let our opponents enjoy as best they may their half willful misconceptions of us, and turn our own attention to the comparatively simple task of growing beyond the reach of their malice. This also is a thing that shall be done in the near future; but, in the mean time, there is so much of the Old Adam in our composition that we cannot help resenting their in solence. AN ATHENIAN SAGE. Awarded ftrst place at tho Chase and Wheoler contest. The fifth century before the Christian cm will ever bo mcmorablo as one of the most brilliant epochs in the history of tho world. In that century, in tho sunny land of Greece, a civilization whs developed whoso match less grandeur and exquisite beauty is the continued mars vel of mankind. Wo shall remember the fifth contury for many thing. We shall remember it for its galaxy of great nan.es: for Pericles the pilot of the Attic state; Au'iPhldias whose muster-hand beautified the columns