THE HESPERIAN.
but one full program was given during the term, and that
largely by outside talent enlisted for the occasion. Elite
Journal.
The editorials of The Hesperian arc well written.
They arc all concerning questions of especial interest to
students, and contain some good advice. Wc heartily agree
with the position taken with regard to doing more society
work as opposed to fraternities. The "Miscellany" column
affords much interesting matter, and is always read with de
light. Geneva Cabinet.
The HESrERIAN has for some time been vigorously
waging war on the fraternities at the University of Nebraska,
Never having had any experience with fraternities, wc can
express no opinion on The Hesperian's statement regard
ing them; nevertheless, it seems to us that college is no place
for secret organizations of any kind. Students who really
have the welfare of their Alma Mater at heart, need no
other bond of fellowship, and a stronger one can hardly
exist. College Chips.
The University of Nebraska has a frat and anti-frat war
on hand. The feeling has become so intense that the frats
have boycotted the college paper. The editors, however,
declare that this action has loosened their tongues in regard
to the frats,and they pay their respects to them in very vigor
ous English. Elite Journal. This calls to mind the action
of our beloved (?) Frats '87 when they became enraged
because some of their men were not chosen to (ill places on
the staff, and conceived the idea of conducting a paper in the
interest of their own organization. After computing the
expenses, however, rinding that no one took any notice of
their fruitless attempts, they submitted to the inevitable in
true frat style; and compromised by initiating the assistant
business manager. The University Argus.
The Southern University Monthly says, "All ij not well at
the University of Nebraska. The fraternities were dissatis
fied with their representation on the editorial staff of The
Hesperian, their college paper, and boycotted it. Since
then The Hesperian has been waging war vigorously
against them." After quoting our comments on the boy
cott, it continues. "Fraternities have evidently not taken so
strong a hold at the University of Nebraska as they have at
most colleges, or the withdrawal of their support would
mean the discontinuance of the paper. The fraternity
problem has been widely discussed, and is as hard for college
authorities to solve as the race problem is for our statesmen.
Many leading colleges, such as Princeton, Monmouth, Obcrlin,
the University oi Illinois, the A. & M. College of Mississippi,
and others have prohibited fraternities. Many others would
do likewise if they could keep them out entirely. Wc have
seen fraternities from all points of view; as a "barb," an
active member, and a neutral party, and we have yet to sec
any marked good accomplished by - them. They divide a
school up into factions, and undoubtedly benefit the leaders of
these factions so far as gaining honors is concerned, but,
whether a majority of their members, or the school as a
whole, derive any advantage from them, wc arc not so certain.
They invariably prove injurious to the literary societies.
More politics and chicanery arc introduced into a college
through the attempt of fraternities to push forward their own
men than from all other causes combined. Wc seriously
doubt whether the good accomplished by fraternities com
pensates for the evil. A good paper is The Hes
perian. Its articles arc all short, but sensible and to the
point. We think its sphere of usefulness might be enlarged
though by more elaborate literary efforts.
KXPEUIMKNTAIi BORINGS.
During the winter vacation an interesting series of borings
was carried out on the college farm for the purpose of de
termining the thickness of the various pleistocene, or more
recent strata. The work was under the supervision of Pro
fessor Shimck and he was assisted by Harry Hicks, Mr. Hcl
vie and some other students. Mr. Hicks made the survey
which determined the location of the borings, ran. the levels
and has furnished a topographical map. The borings were
made at intervals of 500 feet, thus making about seventy
two to be sunk on the half section comprised in the farm, and
they were put down from 18 to 48 feet. Eighteen borings
have now been completed and the work will be continued as
soon as warm weather begins again. The borings were made
with an ordinary augur, so modified that the core could be
examined and its quality ascertained at any given depth.
The results so far arc chiefly interesting as showing the great
variation in thickness of strata within small areas. They
prove that the ordinary method of boring at long intervals
can show but little as to the real character and inclination of
strata. The variations in the thickness of surface soil were
from i foot to 4 feet. The mixed stratum of surface soil
and loess varied from foot to 13 feet. The stratum of true
loess clay, fossilifcrous and showing the usual indications of
lime and nodules of oxide of iron, varied from foot to 16
feet, and in the lowest spot tested was entirely lacking. The
upper till, composed oi drift, exceedingly variable in its in
gredients of blue clay, yellow clay, sand, and gravel, varied
from ?.) feet to 33 feet in thickness. Below this, in ten bor
ings out of eighteen, were found unmistakable indications of
a forest bed, composed of very fine vegetable mould of a cin
namon brown color, which turned black on a short exposure
to the air. Where found, this stratum varied from ij feet to
7 feet a rather remarkable thickness. Below this lay the
owcr till of the drift material, of indeterminate thickness,
which was penetrated in one boring for 17 feet. In some
seven of the borings the strata were less clearly defined and
it was difficult to determine the limits of each layer.
Water was reached at depths varying from 9 feet to 40 feet,
and on some of the high ground the augur did not go deep
enough to strike it at all. If the funds of the experiment station
allow, the borings may be extended beyond the college farm,
with the intention especially of determining the limits of the
forest bed, which it is known docs not underlie the city. So
far as Professor Hicks and Shimek know, these experiments,
arc conducted here for the first time in so exact a manner for
so limited an area. When the-work is completed pro
files will be made showing the comparative height and thick
ness of the strata at the various borings. The result of the
observations will also be published in a bulletin from the ex
periment station.
Died. On January 13, in this city, Frank Bulla, aged
fifteen years. The deceased was a brother of R. S. Bulla
and had just entered the University. He was first taken sick
with the prevailing influenza, which developed into pneu
monia and caused his death. His parents arrived in the city
the next day and took his remains to their home in St. Ed
wards, Iowa, for interment. The young man's classmates
accompanied the remains to the depot. The death of one of
our members just entering on his college life should make
us pause for a moment in our busy round of duties and give
a thought to the great mystery of life and death. We extend
sympathy to the bereaved brother and family.