THE HESPERIAN. s. UNIVERSITY of NEBRASKA. Vol. XVI. LINCOLN, NEB., DECEMBER i, 1887. No.VX- THEHESPERIAN (HESPERIAN STUDENT.) Issued semi-monthly by the Hesperian Publishing Associ ation, of.thc University of Nebraska. E. R. HOLMES, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF. ASSOCIATES: ROY CODDING, ,'S8 C. F. ANSLEY, '90 CORAE. WHITE, '88 W. H. WAGNER, '88. UU.SINF.SS MANAGKR - - - Geo. H. Tinker TERMS. OK SUBSCRIPTION: One copy, per college year, One copy, one college term Single copy, $1.00 35 .10 ADVERTISING RATES ON APPLICATION. Address all communications to The Hesperian, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb. EDITORIAL NOTES. The manner in which our appeal for drinking wat er did not operate shakes our former implicit faith in the power of the press. Heretofore our paper has represented only the Literary and Classical departments, but, believing that none should be excluded, we hereafter allow the Scientific Club to use one column for purely scientific articles. We hope the scientific students will so much appreciate this new departure that, they will give us substantial support. Already this year we have heard articles read in the society programs which were not original. As a rule only young and inexperienced members are guilty of this fault, sin we might almost say. Think ing themselves unable to produce anything original they select a choice bit from some encyclopedia or sjome author whom they think is little read and, after making a few alterations, bring it forth as original', We only wish we could make the culprits feel how mean and contemptible they seem to their hearers. They commit a compound sin. First, they sin against the man who really wrote the article. That is theft. Second, ihey sin against right and truth in passing for their own what they have no right to claim. That is deception. Third, they sin against themselves in depriving themselves of the good they might obtain from trying to write something. The practice is dis honorable from first to last, and we know no valid excuse for it. Better to read an essay full of errors than to crib the work of another. Announcement has been made that the University will in the future issue occasional printed volumes, in magazine form, of work done by University people. A.n appropriation for the purpose has been lying at the disposal of the committee for some time past, but till now arrangements had not been completed so that anything definite on the subject could be said. Preparations are now being made under the manage ment of Professor Sherman for issuing as soon as possible a first number, which will probably be called the "University Bulletin." When this paper has been well established a second publication will be com menced. The two are to be made exponents of what can be done by this institution, and nothing will be admitted to their pages which has not a true scientific value. The Hesperian, together with all students, will indeed rejoice when it can feel that this Univer sity has shown by its printed work that it stands squarely on a level with much better known institu tions oi the cast Men are prone to forget the past and to this cause is due the fact that it takes but a short time for the real significance of a day set apart for a certain pur-, pose to be. lost or put in the back ground. The maj ority of people think of Christmas only as a day upon which to give presents. Hallowe'en has totally lost its original meaning and become merely an occasion for mischievous tricks. Even our national birthday, though too recently instituted for much change, is gradually losing -its significance. Old-fashioned, patriotic celebrations are being done away with and the day h devoted to frolics which do not help to