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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1887)
-o THE HESPERIAN. i marked superiority. Another study in which we arc suppos ed to be deficient is that of Political Science. So far the on ly class which has received grades is that of '86. Here I find that the young men average 87.5 and the young women S4. In regard to health I have no statistics, but as a result of my own observation during four years, I am led to say that the average health of the young women is fully as good as the average health of the young men. In proportion to the number who enter, no more young women arc obliged to leave school because of broken health, than young men, and as many graduate. This statement is borne out by the opin ions of many students and instructors. The next point is in regard to lowering the grade of the schools. Has this been done in the Nebraska University? From all who know any thing of our work the answer is unanimous No! On the con trary, the grade is being constantly raised and the amount of work very appreciably increased; so that the present course is far in advance of that of five years ago. The next point is that upon which the conservative educat ors base their greatest argument: the effect upon the charac ter of the young women themselves. In reply to this I need only point you to our graduates, to prove that co-education neither mars modesty nor destroys womanly delicacy. Many of you have known them and have had intercourse with them; and do you find them lacking in any womanly qualities because they have a knowledge of trigonometry or chemistry? I think not. When the University was founded both the state and the people of the state were poor, and very few people could af ford to send their children east to school. It was then that the state showed its wisdom by allowing its daughters to en ter college on the same fooling as its sons. There were no girl's schools in the state and no wealth to send them away, so that many would have been without a college education who today wield a wide influence because of the training and knowledge here received. For this we thank the state and hope that it may receive abundant reward in the increased in tclligcncc and nobility of its daughters. The alumni were then represented in the person of Dr. H. K. Wolfe, '8o, who gave a metaphysical discussion upon the advantage of scientific research. The aims and sentiments upon which our faculty act and shall act for the year before us and the after years to come, were then ably presented by one of its members, PROF. L. A. SHERMAN. From his long and spirited address we clip the following significant paragraph, regretting our inability to give it en tire. "No university perhaps, has ever been carried through quite such a chapter of beginnings, or has reached under like circumstances quite such a record of development. We arc not yet at our majority, but we are in most respects, better equipped and in proportion to classes better manned today than was Yale on its 150th anniversary, and as I believe hold forth a culture not less normal and fruitful than the Methuse lah universities of Cambridge and Oxford. This is what we have done within ourselves in eighteen years, and incontesta bly it is no small achievement." Our State Normal School's aged and beloved principal,Prof. Farnham, pointed out the importance of our University work and urged the providing of liberal means for successfully car rying out our work. President Perry, of Doane College, dis played the true spirit in declaring that the real aim of all ed ucators should be the furtherance of intellectual culture rath er than that of any particular institution. The Chancellor next took occasion to make the announcement of the fact that the House of Representatives had dope, the graceful thing in practically presenting us with a birthday present of $50,000 general Science Hall. As the two gentlemen most interested in securing the passage of this bill, he introduced the Hon. J. A. Dempster and Hon. W. G. Whitmore, the one chairman of the University committee and the other our warmest advocate upon the floor of the house, both of whom responded with neat and appropriate speeches. The Univer sity Song, rendered last Charter Day, was next sung, and the Charter Day address, proper, was given by the HON. E. P. HOLMES, '78. We cannot do justice to this address here, so with the sim ple mention of the fact that it was heard to be appreciated we will pass on to the next student representative, E. C. WIGGENHORN. Charter day is looked upon by the University with feelings of peculiar affection and regard. It occupies a place in the student world, not dissimilar to, that occupied by the 4th of July in the larger sphere of amcrican citizenship, and it lways calls out our entire stock of patriotism and enthusi asm. Until recently we considered it our sole prerogative to celebrate this day in a becoming manner and the evening exercises were left entirely in our charge. That these prc formanccs were not always the most dignified and appropriate imaginable, is beyond question. Yet, in submitting to the present arrangement which is immeasurably better, we still feel in a vague sort of a way that we are making a concession which can only be compensated for by a more free and un reserved public expression than might otherwise be consider ed appropriate and necessajy. In view of this fact it may not be out of place to venture a suggestion which, in our humble opinion if acted upon, would redound to the decided advantage of the institution in whose welfare we are all so deeply interested, and whose birthday is the occasion of our assembling this evening. The progress of the University of late years especially may well be a source of gratification not only to those immediately connect ed with it, but to every loyal citizen of Nebraska. But this phenomenal progress should not occasion any relaxation of efforts in its behalf, it should rather be the signal for re newed and more strenuous exertion. And everything that would tend to accelerate its advance toward the first place in the procession of western institutions of learning should be carefully weighed and considered under this head without doubt would come the question of the advisability of estab lishing a law school. This we believe is not only advisable but imperatively necessary; nothing would tend in a greater degree to accomplish the desired result; nothing would give the students in general more genuine satisfaction than the immediate establishment according to the provisions of our charter of this fourth college of 'the University of Nebraska. For the students of this state Kansas and the territories it would have no competitor. And by prescribing an advanced and thorough course of study, by the employment of eminent instructors; in short by making the college worthy of the state, there can be no doubt that it will be able to compete success fully with the Iowa state law school in the latters own terri tory. The preeminent fitness of Lincoln for the location of such a college would soon become recognized. The best libraries of the west, notably, the state library,would be easily accessible. The large number of students who are always studying in this city would be eager to avail themselves of the opportunities offered. And an attendance of 200 embryo jurists would be a matter of a very short time. The prestige which such a college would give the Univer sity is one of the most important elements that would enter -fi"-