G THE HESPERIAN. dusk. Several times in the hist month and a hnlf, students have effected entrance into the various buildings, unmolested. If the watchman is kept and paid for the protection of univer sity property, or to prevent purloining and general mis chief on the campus, vc advise the authorities to sec that pro tection is afforded. If the watchman is purely ornamental, wc compliment the authorities on thicr artistic taste in making the selection. The students are taking a praiseworthy stand in preparing for the prohibitory amendment campaign. There arc but a small number of students who do not favor the adoption of the amendment, but there arc also few who care to take an active part in the campaign, or who would do so unless a more active interest is awakened in them by an agitation of the question. By a little work on the part of the students who take an active interest in the question, the University vote may be made almost a solid phalanx for prohibition. Besides this, the interest that may be aroused in the Univer sity may be spread throughout the state wherever the stud ents go to spend their several vacations that come between now and next fall. The result of a little work now in the proper way will not be easily overestimated. Quite a numerously signed petition of "Whereas" and "Be it resolved" was circulating among the students last week. The mission of the petition was to reach the hearts of the faculty, if they have any, and to secure the closing ol school at least one day earlier. As it is now arranged school will not close until the afternoon of December 24, and all students who cannot reach home on the afternoon trains of that day will be compelled to lose the Christmas eve cx exerciscs at home, which, to many of the students is the most enjoyable of the holidays. For those who cannot reach home on that day the pleasure of Christmas will be wholly destroyed. We do not think the faculty have done fairly in holding us over Sunday lor two days of school in the Christ mas week, and we trust they may yet right that matter. The Journal of Tuesday, December 10, in a half column editorial opposes an idea that is now being agitated at Wash ington by Senator Edmunds, and throughout the country by educated men the idea of a national university. The Journal does not oflcr a single objection to a national university at Washington, that is not applicable to state universities on a smaller scale. The comparison oi this university to the state universities is exactly as fitting to the state universities and the high schools in a smaller degree. The writer of the article fails entirely to grasp the proper idea. It is proposed to make this university a university in the highest sense of the word, to make it to the other universities what Johns Hopkins, and Clark universities are ultimately intended to be; to make it to other universities what the high school is to the common school, and what the state university is to the high school, to make a university of specialists, for fitting specialists for research, investigation and professional work; to make such a university on a firm anil sufficient financial basis so that it may not be hampered in its work as privately endowed institutions are liable to be. The Journal should know that the students of Johns Hopkins proper, arc from all parts of the country, and are not the rich, but arc the students of the country. Those who have studied at Hop kins, after completing oik in the University ol Nebraska, are not our rich students but our able students; students with ability, energy and ambition. A university such as the national university should be, should be situated where the best facilities for study are to be found, and the petty matter of railroad fare will never keep the true student from it. The vast Libraries and collections in the various depart ments, nnd in the Smithsonian at Washington will doubly repay the expense of travel. In conclusion we would like to emphasize that it is not the rich but students who graduate at universities. The rich simply take . courses in polishing schools. COMMUN1CA TIONS. To the Editor of The Hesperian: Sir: Iscc from an cditornl in the last Hesperian that the Sigma Chi aggregation has been rejoicing over the fact that it was not represented in the local oratorical contest of last year; and has been concluding rather hastily, that if it had been, etc. Fcrmit me to jog the memory of the aforesaid ag. grcgation a little. The fraternities, it will be remembered were represented (presumably by their best man), and that by a member of 'he aggregation. He wrote an oration; but, on showing it to one of the best judges of oratory in the city, he was told, "never to go into any contest with that oration if he did not want to make an egregious ass of himself." This was perhaps a month before the contest. Sufficient time was thus given for the aggregation with its superior powers to pro duce another oration. They had no oration in the contest, however. If the aggregation wish to hear more interesting facts connected with the contest last year, they have only to say so. P. To the Editor of The IIksibiuax. Sir. Why cannot something Jc done to improve the looks of our campus? As it is, what with ash heaps here, dirt heaps there, and unsightly wagon ruts everywhere, it is well-nigh the most hideous spot of ground in the city of Lin coln. The trees arc bruised and their limbs biokcn. The barb wire, instead of being up on the posts where it should be, lies on the ground. The dirt heaps, caused by lay ing steam pipes, arc lctt unnoticed. Stones and bricks, coal, shavings, chips nnd leaves, give it more the appearance of a neglected barn-yard than of the surroundings of a place of culture. The hideous, gallows-like supporter of the electric light gives one the cold chills, by suggesting all the horrors of retributive justice. The ground is disfigured by paths, due, no doubt, to laziness, but more to the natural preference for weeds over mud as the medium of communication with the city. If wc must have dirt, give it to us, at least, more evenly distributed. If barb wire is necessary let us have it in its natural and intended place not on the ground. If we cannot have anything except cinders and broken bricks to walk on, why, give us at least cinders and broken bricks. The upholder of the electric light would look less anarchial if fifty cents worth of paint were expended on it. A hund red dollars could be put to excellent use in a general cleaning up and in removing the air of shiftlcssncss. This might not have the much desired effect of inculcating an unspeakable love of the beauties of nature, but it would remove the sense oi her utter irremediable ludicrousness. P. C. II. L. G. Chevront, 1221 U street, oysters and lunch, can dies, cigars, tobacco, etc. Give him a call. "Wc build pants for gentlemen only" at Browning, King & Go's agency, 118 north Tenth street. Overcoats dirt cheap. ' u 'itsiMnmmfmym