THE HESPERIAN
UNIVERSITY of NEBRASKA. .
Vol. XIV.
LINCOLN, NEB., APRIL 15, 1886.
No. XIII.
CURRENT REMARK.
The Hesperian objects very decidedly against any railroad
through the Yellowstone Park. Not that our timid and mod
est complaint will probably affect the result, but we insist on
giving expression to our opinions. We arc not John Ruskinin
our admiration of the ideal and contempt of the practical but
wc regret to sec all natural beauty subjected to greed for the
almighty dollar.
The sentiment daily growing stronger, that the reform of
the House of Lords and disestablishment of the Church of
England must soon be accomplished, is suggestive to one who
cares to reflect on the tendency of modern reform. Recent
votes in Parliament show a strong feeling on these subjects
and it is claimed that the positive declaration of Gladstone
only was lacking.
On last Thursday Premier Gladstone divulged his scheme
for the Irish reform. It is accepted by Irishmen as entirely
in accordance with their ideas but among Englishmen are many
who bitterly oppose the measure. However it may result, the
judgment of such a statesman as Gladstone should weigh
heavily in the formation of opinion, and whether the present
scheme succeeds or fails the true greatness of Gladstone's
statesmanship deserves recognition.
The weather prediction for April 9th was "thunder dashes."
It is worthy of attention because it possesses the unusual qual
ity of being correct, at least wo had what is called, in common
parlance, a thunder storm. This prediction illustrates a very
essential quality of the common weather prediction it is very
indefinite. Had there been no thunderstorm, no doubt the
prediction might have been made to fit equally well. Weather
predictions still contain so large an amount of guess work that
they are practically useless.
The action of President Cleveland in asking for the resigna
tion of Governor Murray has been somewhat incomprehensi
ble to many who have regarded with approbation the course
of Governor Murray in opposing polygamy. But since the
new appointee is said to be thoroughly in sympathy with the
President's own views on the Mormon question the fear that
action was to be taken favorable to the polygamists is dispell
ed, provided that President Cleveland means what he said
about the subject in his message.
The squabble between two factions of teachers at the last
Teachers' Association as to the location of the next year's
meeting was vastly amusing and somewhat instructive. The
behavior of most of the speakers was most admirable, but
many from both ''North Platte" and "South Platte" showed
a lack of self control which is most lamentable in those who
hold the high and honorable office of teacher. The reproof
given by President Jones was, in our opinion, well merited.
Division between sections where great principles arc involved
may cause disapprobation but it commands a certain kind of
respect, but when sections quarrel between which no geo
graphical, moral or political barriers of any appreciable mag
nitude exist it excites nothing but contempt.
The Hesperian watches with some interest to see what
the complexion of the new city council is on the question of
public improvements. Lincoln has reached a point where
certain improvements arc imperatively needed. Much has
been spent by our city to secure railroads and stockyards but
with all these, other things must also be done. The late con
dition of our streets has awakened many to the fact that ere
long Lincoln must have pavements; the persistent agitation
of the sewerage question demonstrates the existence of a strong
public sentiment in favor of doing something in that line.
It is of cosiderable interest to students who expect to attend
only a few years, to the University it is of paramount interest
how much public spirit the people of Lincoln show. We hope
to sec the good work go on.
The women at the polls an last election day was one the
most interesting features of the day's performance. Though
allowed to vote only for members of the school board they ap
peared to take an interest yi the election unsurpassed by that
of the masculine gender. It was amusing to sec the different
feelings of those who, with the little slips of papers, thus
dared to defy tradition. Some would sit some time in the
carriage as though doubting whether to vote or not, while
others would march through the crowd as if they had been
there before and knew exactly what they had come for. The
expression of some was almost ludicrous in the endeavor to
appear unconcerned. Nevertheless it can only be a matter
of a few years when the feminine vote will be cast with as
much sangfroid as that of the masculine portion of humanity.
A very interesting article in one of the New York papers
speaks of the sale of the wonderful peachblow vase, in the
Morgan collection, for which Mrs. Morgan paid $15,000. Its
great value arises from its age, and from the fact, not only
that it is the finest one of its kind in the world, but the art
by which it was made has been lost. It was in the collection
of Chu-Kank-He, a Mandarin Prince, and was made in the
seventeenth centuruy. The vase it. egg-shaped, with a long
slender neck; the color is, as the name indicates, a delicate
peachblow and the texture is perfect.
When we remember that it standsonly eight inches high and
is just three inches in diameter, it seems almost incredible that
starting at $5,000, it finally sold for $18,000. It was bought
by W. R. Walters, of Baltimore- Callanan Courant.
Humph! When we ponder over the fact that $18,000 will
found several very respectable scholarships, will buy a great
many good books, go a long way towards building a church
or charity hospital we are inclined to question the wisdom, if
not the right, to spend money in that way; especially as it
represents no labor of modern hands.
J
