Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885, November 15, 1889, Page 3, Image 3
THE HESPERIAN. It m s er meant that the "society" element of the Univer sity must inevitably collect in the fraternities, where they exist, we emphatically agree. We have always held that the frivolous, the shirking, will naturally tend to associate themselves in organizations that have for '.heir main objects, social, rather than scholarly, ends. Experience in our own institution proves this to be true. Do not understand that we mean to con demn, as "frivolous" and "shirking," all fraternity members. A few do not have these characteristics many do, Take up any college paper from an insti tution where fraternities are strong, and your eye is met, at every glance, with notices of dances, parties, and banquets. Such frequency of social events can not fail to be detrimental to sound scholarship, and to earnest endeavor. Enjoyable they certainly are, but to compare their benefit with that of regular col lege work is absurd. No real student can afford to regularly devote more than one evening a week to social enjoyment, besides the occasional evenings de manded by entertainments and class socials. If the frequency of indulgences of this kind is left to indi vidual desire, and is increased by the competition of various organizations devoted to social ends, scholar ship must suffer. The literary societies offer all the social culture that is necessary, and all that is best during a college course; for social culture, though im portant, should be subordinated, during this period, to mental development. The social clement of liter ary society work is so combined with literary work, that it is practically impossible to extend it at the ex pense of the more beneficial part. There is thus a check upon the tendency to neglect school-work for more alluring pursuits. In the fraternities the whole tendency is to give freer rein to the social instincts. Every thinking student should consider these things, as well as many others, before deciding between the fraternities and the literary societies. SHOUT-HAND. LITERARY. The Pitman system is the best. Moran's Short-hand primer gives the system in a nutshell. It is just "the thing" for beginners. Price 25 cents. Sample pages free. Ad dress, THE MORAN SHORT-HAND COMPANY, St. Louis, Mo. It pays students to get their shoes at Briscoe & Cooks, 1329 O St. Skinner keeps gentle and stylish horses. Students pat ronage solicited. Students will do well to call at Westerfield's for a good hair cut and hath. Burr Block. Sec ad. Go to Steiner & Schuctz for your stationery, pocket cut lery, and drugs. Corner 12th and P Sts. L. G. Chevront, 1221 O street, oysters and lunch, can dies, cigars, tobacco, etc. Give him a call. "We build pants for gentlemen only" at Browning, King & Co's agency, 11S north Tenth street. Overcoats dirt cheap. The Russian government offers a prize of 2,000 francs for the best essay on the part played by John Howard in the history of prison reform. George Kcnnan, who is a writer of ability, should compete and should add to his production an appendix, setting forth how much is left in Russia for a second John Howard to do. The Critic, speaking of the Century, well says that the latter is a magazine for all time. The character of its subject matter is such as to give it a stable reputation. Some people seem to think that periodicals, especially well known ones, arc not worth consideration; when in reality it is only by the presentation of ideas when they arc current, that any lasting effect can be produced. Those students who are engaged in the study of the history of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries will be glad to hear of "France under Richelieu and Mazarin," by James B. Per kins. The great cardinal is too little known. Most people have only a dim idea that he lived some time ago, that he had a great deal of power, and that he was a very fine man. Anything that will increase our information regarding him will be very welcome, particularly as there is, in English, no full account of his period. Ad. 1. Baudelier, in the Nation, discusses a topic of in terest to all Westerners since it deals with the first explora tion of what is now Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado. Quiv era, in the Southwest, is one of the best known terms, although just where Quivcra was is-not definitely known. It was sup posed to be a country very rich in minerals, and as such at tracted the cupidity of the Spaniard, But the expedition of Coronado in 1 541, dispelled all'thcsc dreams. That leader reached a place on the plains, according to this writer, about 200 miles northeast of Great Bend in Kansas. Another ex pedition in 15S5 reached the borders ol Kansas and Colorado, only to perish in a ptairic fire. Another expedition in 1599 reached the same point, or the country a little beyond. Sev eral more attempts to reach the supposed promised land were made with less success. The writer says, "Not one of the Spanish expeditions in search of the Quivcra resulted in more than positive increase of geographical knowledge. In that respect we arc largely indebted this phantom of the Quivcra. It carried the Spaniards into Colorado, Kansas and probably Nebraska." Another writer on this subject, a Nchraskan, has thought that the expedition of Coronado penetrated far ther than northeastern Kansas, and that a point in southeast ern Nebraska was reached. The matter is unimportant but interesting, as it marks the first appearance of white men on the Great American Desert. If Coronado really ever saw Nebraska, then Nebraska's history may be said to date from his expedition. One of the latest magazines to be found in the library is The Nationalist. This is devoted largely to problems of so cial reform, and consequently will be in demand among Soho mores until November 15. The Nationalist knows no party and no politics but humanity. Among many German writers there is a fantastic vein that is quite pleasing. One of the most entertaining books showing this that has found its way hither is a little produc tion of Baumbach's "Frau Holde" by name. Itisapoem made up of folk songs, and is almost wholly descriptive of WWIWWW K3