THE HESPERIAN.
require entirely too much time to copy them. Not
withstanding, the lessons given are generally too long
to master in a reasonable time without the aid of
these synopses, and it is entirely improbable that we
could, even then, derive the generalities which years
of study have enabled the professor to derive. It oc
curs to us that the class could save time enough during
the school year, to more than doubly pay for having
the synopses for the year's work in that class printed,
thereby saying time, worry and pencils. '90, try it.
lege form or the use of one professor and four or five
students. It ii not beyond our power to mention in
stances where money has been spent in and around
our University building which would have been far
better used in making the approaches to the building
safe. Perhaps we may seem a little too radical in our
position, but the urgency of this need requires some
radical measures. We think that the students would
save money in books, wearing apparel and soap, to
club together and build walks. Who will start the
contribution?
Our mail system seems of late to lack the material
parts of a system. The mail arrives and then some
time within the course of the day it is distributed.
Then if the student happens to be around within ten
or fifteen minutes of that time he may get his mail,
but if later, he will be accommodated some time
next day when he happens to be around and finds the
steward around. Such a system is no system at all.
Students cannot rfford to be running over to the Uni
versity ever' hour or so to see if the steward is there
yet, although there is great need of getting some par
ticular letter at the earliest possible time. This is not,
we apprehend, the fault of the steward, for other bus
iness of more importance calls him awa It is possi
ble, however, that some means could be devised by
which the mail could be placed in some room to
whichat least two persons have a key, or that it could
be left to some person in the University who could al
ways be on hand and ready to distribute more than
once or twice a day. Surely something can be done
by which far better results could be obtained; if not,
why not drift back into the old system?
ENGLISH; DO WE SPEAK' IT?
It is always more agreeable and pleasant to men
tion in our columns any mark of improvement or
contemplated improvement which maybe made,than
to be constrained to mention either movements to the
contrary or an inexcusable delay in not moving for
ward, We believe, however, that it is our dutv to
mention those failures to improve as well as improve
ments. Among the latter, and one which has been
so continually harped upon that these remarks may
partake, to some, of the nature of the chestnut, is
the failure to provide suitable walks upon the cam
pus. In our opinion, and it is the opinion of the en
tire student body, there is no excuse for it. We
cannot conceive of any reason which should have
delayed this long-felt want. Our authorities look on
with placid countenances, and see text-books, new
dresses", tempers, and like articles of value, utterly
spoiled, and make, or at least seem to make,no move
ment to terminate the nuisance. The plea of no
funds seems in our eyes to have no weight, for last
summer good, substantial walks were laid at the col-
In an address delivered at a college reunion-a short lime
ago Hon. Chauncy M. Dupcw called attention to the fact
that the study of the English language was so far neglected
by our people as to make it a matter of reproach to us as a
nation, lie therefore proceeded to impress upon the minus
of his hearers the great necessity of paying more attention to
the study of English than has hitherto been paid. The gen
tleman cited several instances where the clearest and most ex
act language was required, and where the conspicuous lack of
such qualities was attended with harmful.not to say ludicrous,
results. Reference was made in particular to a bill recently
introduced in the United States Senate, the wording of which
was so slovenly and careless that no two men were able to
agree upon its meaning. And yet the bill was framed by a
man who stands high in the estimation ol his countrymen,
one who has won a deserved reputation in the halls of con
gress, and who would naturally be supposed to be a man of
great intellectual ability. This careless use of our mother
tongue is very wide-spread, and, as every effect must have a
cause, that of this effect is not, in my opinion hard to find.
The standard of correct speaking among our people has for
some time become sensibly lowered. We do not in our ordi
nary talk speak with half the purity and earc which charac
terized our fore-fathers. We have fallen into a habit so utter
ly senseless in itself, and so pernicious that it seems
almost incredible that we have ever allowed it to be formed. '
Of course I refer to the use of slang expressions and vulgar
expletives which adorn our conversation, of which in the
case of the average speaker they constitute about nine
tcnths. This may seem at first sight to be a startling state
ment, and one which cannot be borne out by facts; but if one
will look closely into the matter he will find that it is so near
the truth as to merit consideration. What is it that causes
such a wide dissimilarity in our methods of writing and
speaking? Is it because they are unlike in their nature, and
that in the one we are obliged to follow rules which in no
wise apply to the other? Not at all. There ought not to be
any difference whatever in our methods of speaking and
of writing; yet no one needs to be told that for some reason
they are so distinct as to seem to be different arts. But you
may say that what we speak is spoken upon impulse, and that
because more time and thought is given to what is written, it
is therefore to be expected thVt it should be of a greater ac
curacy, All this I am willing' 'o grant; but it must be remem
bcred that if we had not allovve ourselves to become accus
tomed to this detestable practice1 of using slang we should not
be obliged to pause before we spAk, for fear of giving vent
to a flood of meaningless words, liyl our conversation would
in time become just as correct and refined as our productions.
Understand me, I do not mean to say that one is' to write
wsam
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