THE COU1 - I.
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emerge from their sea of troubles
would get home early and into golf
stockings and knickers, give their golf
etickB to the Etable boy with nn order
to follow after, it would encourage de
positors by tho sight of confident gaiety
in the persons of the custodians of their
funds and would also give the portly
presidents strength to re3iBt the
shocks, liable at anytime to occur in
the business world. There Is plenty of
'land, weather and time, with health and
renewed sociability at the end of the
season's sport if the rare old veteran
financiers left to us only give the word.
The Coukiek publishes a letter from
Mr. Alexander on atother page, because
it represents the other side of a case
that is already on the way to the ob.
scurity it deserves. Mr. Alexander is
one of the students who were not in'
eluded in a recent remark by Professor
Wolfe to the effect that unfortunatly
there were members of his classes
whom he was not perfectly sure of. There
fore on this account he was forced to
bo a trifle more careful than formerly
when he could confide to them his not
especially flattering opinion of tho bal
ance of the faculty and executive with
no fear that it would b9 repeated where
it would harm any one but especial
members of the faculty and executive.
Tho editorial of lait week was written
after a careful investigation of the
trouble at the universitj', with especial
attention to the relative numbers of the
students who criticised the action of the
regents. Very much the larger part of
the student body is made up of young
gentleman and ladies to whom the
action o! hissing in an auditorium
which is for the time being a church, is
impossible. Noth'ng that the public
can say o! Professor Wolfe condemns
him as thi3 action of those directly un
der his influence for three or four years.
Close association with and admiration
of a gentleman for that length of time
would hare made bucIi a manifestation
by hie intimates of their dis
pleasure incredible. To the credit
of the fraternities, be it Raid.
I hare yet to hear of a mem
ber who approves or the discourtesy to
the regents and the disregard of the
time and place. There are over 1500
students i a the university. Two hun-..
drcd, which is smaller than the actual
number of those who criticised the
action of the regents is surely "a small
miniority.
Mr. Gilman, who, Miss French (Octavo
Thanet)saj8 came near dying from a
severe attack of pneumonia in Nebras
ka, now says he never told Mi-s French
that Nebraska was in bad shape. He
says he is going to build a new mill
right away ana that he has confidence
in all Nebraska investments. Probably
the people of Valentine whera Mr.
Gilman'e mill is located have decided
that a man who represents his cus
tomers as starving anarchists no longer
deserves their patronage. Consequently
Mr. Adam Oilman has decided to lay it
to the woman. In reparation, he will
have to build another mill, but no
matter what he does the Valentines
will never look upon him as one of 'em
again. His commercial cike is dough
in that part of the country, mill or no
mill. On account o! his bad case of
pneumonia Mr. Gilman in a moment of
blind rebellion against a cold due to his
own lack of care or enfeebled consti
tution told Miss French a harrowing
tale of destitution which has never
existed in the state. He knew at the
time he told her, that Miss French had
the pesky 6tory-writer's itch for heart
rending situations and that she would
probably fix his remarks up into a
regular Frankenstein tale of horror.
When Mr. Gilman first read the
Spellbinder story as it came out in
McClure's he was very much pleased
with himself for contributing (being
without liteiary gifts) the material for
eo striking a tale. Afterwards, when
the Omaha board of trade and tho
citizens of Valentine, whose rage is not
at all comic when it is, as in this case,
concerted, protested against the injury
tho publication of such falsehoods
would do the state and the section,
the point of "The Spellbinder," or "Mr.
Gilmnn's Revenge," began to be inserted
in his own breast, hence the squirming
and the lack of appreciation of the
heights to-which Miss French's literary
talent has elevated him. Speaking of
destitution, drought and despair, I
would that Miss French could see Ne
braska prairies now with tho contented
cattlo standing withers deep in the lush
grain. If she be sensitive, conviction
of the great injustice done Nebraska
would disturb even a literary conscience.
The litest exhibition of portraits at
tho state university compares favorably
with the best work done in the east.
Sargent himself does not do so well with
the likeners as Miss Parker has done.
There are six or seven portraits in tho
collection, mostly of young girls. The
sitters were Miss Mamie Hartley, Miss
Frances Gere, Miss Lottie Whedon, Miss
Julia Lippincott, Mrs. Fisher, a head of
John Tefft and an ideal head. Tho
portraits are in pastelle with brilliant
transparent shadows. In every case the
subject is well posed and gowned. Miss
Mamie Hurtle-, head and shoulders
with a bit of green nt top of bodice
Firm modeling. The soft and fssciaat
ng outlines of a young girl, the eyes
blue and veiled by adolescent visions, the
hair abundant yellow, and a crown. Miss
Frances Gere, full length in colonial
dress with panniers, the silk, a purple
pink, decollete. The Arm white young
neck is exquis'.tely modeled and is car
essed by the gleaming, transparent
shadows I epoke of. In all, the portrait.',
the modelling is subtle and firm and like
ness perfect. Mis3 Whedon's portrait
is a smaller study. The picture is most
characteristic, the unusual projection
of the brow, which keep3 the eyes als-ajs
in mysterious shadow, tho oval where
the brow meats the hair is photographic,
but the expression of the eyes and the
mouth is a secret that only Miss Whedon
and Miss Parker know. The texture of
the skin in this portrait and in Miss
(iere's is a? fine as miniature work. Miss
Parker made her own choice of modele,
which may be the reason that the
modeling is so exquisite in all the por
traits. Done in marble unless the expres
sion and the subtlety fled before the
pointing machine t.ere would be noth
ing to wish for in the way of lino. The
portrait of Ms. Fisher, full length,
black skirt and thin gauze waist, sug
gests Alexander's portraits, in long
line and fascinating, unselfcocsious
ncss. The problem of a black skirt is
no puzzle at all because of tho entirely
new treatment here. The waist is
some transparent gauzy stuff that has
responded most effectively to Miss
Parker's chalk. The regular features
of the model, although unknown, are in
dividualized so that it looks an exc llent
likeness. Miss Julia Lippincott in thin
lavender is very satisfactory, and John
TeUt, Dr. Ttff t's little boy, in dimples,
shed pink complexion, the auburn hair
that goes with it, a wide collar and
smile holds his own in the otherwise
entirely feminine group. The ideal head
is also in pastelle, dishevelled yellow
hair, blue eyes, oval of face perfect, just
a girl, MisB Parker ea:d. The exhibition
is the work of a modest young aitist of
great technical ability added to a sym
pathy and understanding that will make
her portrait) famous sometime. Nothing
is harder to paint than a young girl's
face. Poets and dramatists grow gray
headed striving to reproduce the essence
of girlhood without destroying the par
ticular likeness. These sketches of Miss
Parker's are fragrant of somethicg
which can not bo described and which
will not long remain even with these
upon whom it so lightly rests now.
Unknown Friends.
How few of us there are who .know
what true friends and helpers we have
in tho birds which the Audubon clubs
are striving to protect against the heart
less demands of Dame Fashion. Aside
from their cheerful songa and sprightly
ways they are great factors in helping
us to get the fresh luscious fruits and
green vegetables we so much enjoy,
what would the farmer do without these
little feathered friends? It is wonderful
the numbers of worms and insectB these
litWo busy bodys destroy each day. All
day long we see them flitting from limb
to branch, from branch to twig, pecking
at tho bark, turning over the leaves,
peering in tho blossomc for the worm,
bug or eggB which they seldom fail to
find. Ask the farmer about the black
birds, tho beautiful crow black bird,
with his glossy head and neck of shim
mering blue and green, how they follow
the plow all day long working away in
tho rich loaming soil as the plow turns
it up, digging out the worms and in
sects, assuring him with his hearty
raspicg cackle that he will do his part
towards making a good crop in tho fall
if he will only let him work. He is not,
however the only hard worker. Have
you never watched the robin, with his
pretty red breast standing in the green
grass of the lawn? Motionless for a
moment, then cocking his head to one
6iiJe with an inquisitive, what'sthe-matter-with-you
sort of a look, a quick
hop, a now watch-me nod, a jerk, and up
comes Mr. Cut Worm or a big, white,
juicy grub from his dinner on the
jouog roots of grass that make our One
lawns. Later these same grubbs and
cut worms get tired of working in the
sod and leava the lawns for our flower
beds and cut down the tender plants and
rob us of them like a thief in the. night,
so that instead of a fine bed of bright
blossoms thero is nothing left but a few
withered plants that hardly repay us
for tho time and trouble spent in caring
for them. One littln red breast during
the season will destroy 18 quarts of
these destructive worm?. Some of us
have accused these birds of robbing our
fruit trees and vines. But I think they
are entitled to the few cherries they
help themselves to and very reasonable
are their-charges. Another little friend
with which we are perhap3 better ac
quainted is the brown thrush or brown
thrasher a3 he is sometimes called. This
pretty golden eyed, bright brown plum
aged bird is one of our sweetest song
sters. Early in the morning when the
first faint streaks of dawn appears in
the east, late in the evening when the
sun has gone down, high on cotton
wood or mapln he likes to perch amid
the green leaves, pouring forth his
Bweet song, seeming never to tire in his
efforts to brighten this matter of fact
old world of ours. Thou we have the
Hlt'espre'iljJ bre3ted wood; thrush, in
habits rather seeking tho seclusion of
some retired wood, where perched on a
dead bran ;h he whistles his five or six
little parts with the clearness of a bell,
each of which seems more delightful
than the first. He always reminds me
of some coal, pleasant, fragrant dell with
clear, babbliug brooks and often ween
Urea I like to seek this little friend's
home and lie down on the rich green
turf, listen to and enjoy this little
singer's wonderful music.
The sombre hued cat bird with it Beat
like call; look at him. Would you think
he could hold you entranced with his
song? And yet this dusky little fellow
rivals the thrushes with his clear mock
ing bird not s. In fact if not well acquain
ted with him, when he breakB out in
melody ion would think he had stolen
the brown thrush's music roll and wa3
playing his part instead of his own.
And the high plumaged Baltimore
oriole with his black cap perched on the
topm-st branch of the highest trees, ut
tering his clear, flute like note of "Don,t
you see mr,"' "come up and see me,"
then bursting out in his beautifui lay.
As the rainbow colors the sky so this
little singer with his bright plumage
and brilliant music gives color to his
surroundings. Ono cannot help credit
ing him with a sunny nature. In flight
with wings and tail spread he rivrls the
sun's brightest ray. The orchard
oriole, though not so beautiful a birdf
yet has his brother's piping note. Then
the little vireos, warblers and finches,
great numbers of them, all songsters,
some golden yellow, others dusky olive.
They are all hard workers, destroying
countless numbers of insects. The wood
peckers too are accused of digging holes
in and destroying our treep. If there
were no worms and beetles under the
bark ho would not dig the hole or chop
off the bark. Watch him give his quick
rat-a-tat tat, and then listen for the
beetle he haB frightened. Now he has
him located, down comes his sharp
edged bill and he has drilled a small
hole through the bark, in goss h'i3 long
round tongue quick as a flush with its
stickey secretion on tho end, and out
comes the real tree destroyer, a wood
beetle. Let him alone, he is only help
ing the t-ees with their spring house
cleaning. Don't think when you see
the little sparrow mentioned we mean
the English sparrow. I have not a good
word for this little villain. He is a tyrant,
a murderer, and cares but little for the
worms or insect3 other birds destroy,
destroying few weed seeds, robbing and
driving the blue bird and purple martin
from their home, so that in a few years
we may see few of them in our cities.
How unlike him are his cousins, tne
pretty white throated sparrow, the
white crowned sparrow, song sparrow
and many others, never quarreling
among themselves, at work from early
morn till late at night treating us to
their sweetest music There are many
other birds that I have not the time to
describe now, the rose breasted gross
beak with his alarm note Hko the
squeak of a rusty hinge and his robin
like song. The interesting cow bird
who never raises or cares for her young,
the trickey blue jay, the larks, fly
catchers, the many shore and water
fowls. Get up early any bright morning
at day break, drive or take the car to
some quiet wooded spot and spend an
hour or two in getting better acquainted
with these little unknown but real
friends of ours and you will not only
enjoy the free concerts but will return
with a light and happy heart, a staunch
friend and protector of these cheerful
little birds.
AUGUST EICHE.
A Communication.
To The Editor of The Courier:
The leading editorial of your issue of
May 8 is so extremely unfair, and at
least in its implications as to Professor
Wolfe and his work, so untrue, that I
cannot but feel a public remonstrance
called for. As a student having had
three years' work in the department of
philosophy, I feel justified in speaking
both of it and of the man and gentle
man under whom 1 have taken it.
As to the work, it is necessary to say
little. The Courier speaks truly when
it says that under Professor Wolfe it
has raised from insignificance to wide
popularity, But The Courier's impli
cation that this is due to the nature of
the branches taught rather than to the
professor's ability, personality and in
defatigable labor is absurdly false as a
half hour's investigation of college
records will show. There is not a de
partment of philosophy in the country
having but a single professor, that ap
proaches our own either in popularity
or in work done. There are several
having philosophical faculties composed
of me no! unusual note decidedly in-
