TJ7JS J7SJPAfAlf.
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at the -same time with .ability and judgment. The department
of -chemistry -until the last few years was sadly neglected, "but
the demand here, as in other colleges, was .apparent and fin
ally resulted in the "building and furnishing of a new chemical
laboratory.
The present condition of the sciences, with the exception of
physics, is good, "but it will require constant effort on the
part of "both Regents and Faculty to Icccp them up with the
"rimes; for "Vulcan, the god of industry, still woos with passion
atelove Minerva, thesweetmaid of science, and hand in hand
the work of unfolding with lightning rapidity new and won
derful results, such as the world has never "before heard of.
And new, since our University is rapidly approaching the
frontrank, we as its students appreciateand arethanlcful to the
government for its liberality, and to the honorable Board of
Regents for their wise administration. "We have every reason
to "believe that "both Regents and Faculty are working to rnalce
this an institution not only most useful to the people, "but one
of which the State itself may he proud.
Mr. FTarikforter's enthusiastic ipeech was followed "by a
hriefaddrcsshyMr. Dwight Moore of the Medical Colleges
THE STATE ATs'D MEDlCINn.
I have "been surprised when conversing with people of oth
erwise liberal views, and many of them professionally educa
ted, to find how great the prejudice is against the furnishing
"by the State of a free education to professional men. It is
claimed that a young man studying law or medicine ought to
furnish his own means, and that the use of public money for
the purpose of giving anyone a professional education is an
injustice. It is this spirit that for three years has retarded the
growth of the Medical Department, has attacked its faithful ,
Faculty, and made every attempt to thwart the Honorable
Board of Regents am their efforts to sustain the Department.
1 cannot out think that if the opponents of state education
would view this question in a fair and unprejudiced light they
would see how false their position really is.
Ilcnowofmenwho, the present state of support withdrawn,
would he compelled to spend in toil years valuable not only
to'themselvcs, tbut to all humanity which they are .now en
abled to spend an mastering every detail of their art. And
those who would refuse a physician the thorough discipline,
the abundant material for investigation and the practical "know
ledge insured Iby a state education are often the very ones who
are most ready to punish him cruelly for any deficiencies in
these directions.
The toil, the exposure, the thousand and one hardships that
'enter into the life of the professional man make the post he
holds no sinecure. The medical man -who faithfully dis-
charges his solemn dutiesto the public repays with tenfold in
terest all that public can give him in the way of educational
assistance. And if lifelong devotion to the cause of Science,
if lender care of your sick ones and self-sacrifice, if need be,
even mnto death, can repay youthe friendly public and the
Honorable Regents -for your financial and moral support
you, ourFaculty, for your instruction so long gratuitously ren
dered, from what I know of the students of Medicine in the
University of Nebraska, Iamready to pledge you ample rec
ompense for your kindness.
To the disappointment of the tentire University x-Gov,
David Butler, who had promised a few reminiscences, failed
itoireach 'the city an time for tthe exercises. 'C. S. 'Ghuse, or
'Omaha, was called mpon tto ttakeithis place on tthetprogramme,
Ih'isjposition as member ofithelfirst Board of Regents(fittingHiim
ifor tthe work admirably. Mr. 'Chase spoke rapidly .and ipleas-1
anfly iinHiis own-Buccessful style. No reporteould "be secured, J
however, as The HESTETUAN-docsnot boast of astenographer,
and a long-hand version would not -do the Colonel justscc,
ProfcssoT Hitchcock, representing the first faculty, spoke
very briefly, and said that it -could hardly be considered com
plimentary to him that he was chosen to represent the trust
Faculty, as he was the only member of that body remaining,
and there rould be no one else chosen. He gave a history of
the firsr faculty and the names of the professors composing
it, and of their labors in arranging the courses of study,
Hon. "W, H. Sncll, a member of the first graduating class,
was introduced by the Chancellor, andsaid that he constituted
numerically one-half of that class. He helped organize the
first literary society and was its first president and he was glad
to "know that the Palladian society still flourished Hehelped
to organize the Hestehiak Association and was once editoran
chief of the paper, Mr, Sncll was followed by Prof. Geo. E
Howard, who represented the Alumni in the Faculty, We are
able to present the paper in full:
The present anniversary is 'destined, I trust, to be marked
in our calendar as a most important crisis. At this momentis
practically completed a scheme for advanced study leading to
a master's 'degree. "Wc nre about to pass from the condition
of acollcgc to that of a University. The programme which has
been laid down by the Faculty is so broad and generous in
spirit as to bring ais into harmony with thatloftyconceptionof
University life which, from east to west, is gradually spread
ing its transforming influence throughout the land.
But.1 would not exaggerate the significance of this 'epoch.
On the one hand, it must be admitted, in simple justice to
ourselves and our predecessors, that we have for some time
been preparing ior the new liTe; we have been getting into the
current. Ever since the adoption of the elective system an
18S1, we have all felt the presence of a new and potentdorce,
"We all know what new .zeb't, what quickening vigor, what all
permeating vitality has transformed the character of 'depart
mental work since that, the first crisis in our history. 'On the
other hand, let us not imagine that we have now realized the
ideal of the University life. We have simply defined theten
d6ncy of our future efforts; put before ourselves for the first
time squarely, as the expression of the scholastic body, the
goal towards which we are to strive. The course willbclong,
the struggle fierce, before it is won.
Is it not,then, worth our while to ask ourselves this question
to-day: "What is the distinguishingcharacteristic of the ideal
University life; and what the respective attitudes of students
and faculty in that life?
Perhaps the most striking characteristic of the University is
the emphasis'of method as more essential than matter for the
development of productive thought power. Hence the rec
ognition of the intrinsicequalityof the various great branches
of Icnowledge. The University .does not discourage tthe 'explo
ration of any field of Nature's itnivcrsitas in favor of another
Therefore numerous parallel courses of study, leading tto
equivalent degrees, are offered. Nay, there ib a decided ten
dency in the. case of the higher honors, to give the degree foi
equal work in all departments. Let us hope that the same
principle will 'eventually be applied to the bachelors degree.
The introduction of anany parallel courses from the very (be
ginning of so-called undergraduate work illustrates another
striking feature of the university a&'distinguibhedfromtthe'col
lege of the "ancient regime" specialization begins with tthe
Freshman year. The .university comprehends both tunder
graduate study and graduate study. That is, it lends, !by the
introduction of aught anetliods Sfrom the start, to abrogate this
very .distinction, During tthe (first tthree or fouryears ttwo ele
ments are recognized. Tthe first us tthe .acquisifiomof lcnowl-
