THE HESPERIAN.
' ' University of Nebraska.
Vol. XIV.
LINCOLN, NEB., JANUARY i, 1886.
No. VI.
Our library tabic is well supplied with current literature,
and our students should do more at reading it. Press of study
cannot excuse any student from ignorance of current events.
It is due to our reputation for intelligence that we keep in
formed on current topics.
It is often remarked that nothing is worth attaining for the
sake of mere attainment. If a discovery is not "practical" it is
not worth the trouble of the making. This is one of the nar-
rowest of views. If only for the fact of the knowledge alone,
it were worth while to strive. Think what the fact of man's
knowledge has done to do away with superstition and say if
you can, that knowledge docs not, of itself,bcncfit.
For this reason if for no other it were worth while to seek
a1 liberal, broad culture rather than an exclusively technical
training.
"As little bees,, from every place, bring home that which
is profitable, so a student doth accept from every author that
which best suits his purpose."
It strikes us that any one whehooses to call himself a
scholar, may gather from variousjauthors, matter relating to
any given subject, but thatTalone is not proof that the
name is legitimately assumed. The bee's work is not finished
in the gathering. There yet remains' the constructive work,
the building of the comb, the storing and scaling of the
honey; so the true test of the student is not mere accumula
tion but the rcjuprking and construction of that which is gath
ered. '
It seems to be the general feeling that Gladstone, if he comes
into power at all, will do so with the deliberate intention of
forcing from Parliament n settlement-of the Irish question.
The conservatives will certainly be opposed to it and with the
. antipathy to a compromise natural to Englishmen, in his own
party it appears doubtful whether even Gladstone will be
u!e to accomplish the long delayed, expected and dreaded
consummation ol Irish struggles for independence. In the de
mand which Mr. Gladstone is reported to have made, that
Parnell guarantee the rights oi Iiritish landlords, it ap
pears to us that he stipulates lor the retention of the very
thing which has given color and force tp Irish demands. It
is our opinion, modestly said, that were the practical griev
ances of the Irish in the matter of land tenures and taxes
alleviated, the question of home rule would care for itself.
V
Some most instructive lessons might be drawn from the
eagerness, intense anxiety and anguish of soul with which the
students await their final "marks" in their various studies.
We'do not wonder that so many educators have declaimed
against the examination system as destructive of the true
spirit ot learning. Yet it does no good to go to extremes.
The system in use has features which give c-dvantage over ev
ery other plan that has been tried. If students knew just
what they were studying Jfor there would be less complaint.
It would be a good plan to look the work for the earning term
over carefully, and plan the objects to be gained by the term's
work. Study could thus be done more intelligently and
profitably. We do not give this advice merely to gratify an
insatiate desire to advise, but because we think such a course
would do away with much of the objections to the examina
tion system. Then finals would be regarded by students, as
well as teachers, as tests of the work .done during the terni,
not as the results of a day's "cramming."
V
The question has been propounded at various times wheth
er the University or other schools for higher education should
be under the management of men elected by the people, and
subject to support by appropriations by a state legislature.
Such an amount of red tape is "necessarily used that the prop
er development of the institution is greatly hindered, and
those who have its interest greatest at heart are often sadly
discouraged in their work. There is another side to the ques
tion, however. A University such as ours should be will nev
er become a success unless it is founded on the hearty support
of people. The ideal University does not stand alone, a lamp o
learning in the minds of ignorant people. The day of such
schools is past. The ideal school is to be only a redactor of
general intelligence and an intensifier of it. The school of
the people must there slack its hasty strides and keep pace
with the intelligence of its patrons that it may also have their
sympathy. We say ; let our University rest upon the people,
not alone in theory, but also in fact. Let the people feel that
the University depends on them for its prosperity and they
take a double interest in it.
A thought brought out in a recent discussion seems worthy
of reproduction. It is this: that the mere fact of knowledge
is enough to warrant an expenditure of blood and treasure
which to many may seem terrible. Many advise a discon
tinuance of Arctic expeditions because the so called "practi
cal" results will not warrant the cost. On the otlver hand
when we think of the value of that Anglo Saxon spirit which
is determined to leave no stone unturned, nothing unknown
that may be known, the returns assurqe a practical aspec't
and the cost of cultivating such a spirit seems not so great.
To our mind there is too much of this craze after something
"practical" in those who are not fitted to discover real worth
in anything which does not give results which they can, like a
doubting Thomas, handle, weigh or measure. Such a spirit
fails to recognize the superiority of mind over matter anil es
timates the former far below its real worth. From this cause
the exclusively technical education has come to be fashionable
and has supplanted to a certain extent, that which merely
trains. Though the "practical" man may be able to see
nothing in.explorationbut an attempt to gratify ones curiosity
the philosopher will see in it the expression of that spirit of
mquiry which has weakened superstition but not destroyed it.
Men do not yet venerate wholly from knowledge, but partly,
at least, from ignorance. Much of the loss of life and money
in former expeditions has undoubtedly been needless, yet we
venture to say that the gains will largely over-balance the
losses.
o
