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Nobby Cutaway and Sack Suits at Steinberg's Clothing House.
The Weekly University Courier
The Largest College Journa Circulation in the United States.
Published Every Friday Morning by the COURIER COMPANY For Kansas University Students.
CHAS. LYONS, O. B. TAYLOR, Preadent. Secretary.
EDITORIAL STAFF:
FRANK G. CROWELL, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.
ASSOCIATES:
JOHN PRESCOTT,
F. C. KENNEDY,
C.E. STREET,
L.A. STERBINS,
H.F. M. BEAR,
W. R. HENKONG,
W. A. LOVE,
MILLE WESTER,
LAYIE FREEMAN,
GERTIE-D HUNNICUT
BUSINESS MANAGERS:
EARLE L SWOFE.  [WILL A. JACKSON.]
From the Press of P. T. FOLEY.
Entered at the post-office at Lawrenco, Kansas as second-class matter.
The holidays are past and again after having wished all a Merry Christmas and a HappyNewYear, we return to our work refreshed from recreation and good natured from our late social dissipation; and yet when we consider the long stretch of work laid out before us, without a days vacation to rest our weared brains, we cannot help arriving at the conclusion that far better it would be to have but one week vacation during the holidays and one week during the Spring when the "Spring fever" overcomes the student and causes a sluggish brain and neglect of studies. The Courier does not desire to find fault with the consideration of the Faculty toward the student, and yet it seems that on consideration it would be far more desirable to shorten our long holiday vacation and have some recreation during the Spring.
UNDER the old arrangement of the curriculum, the course of study, as laid down for the second term of the Senior year, required only two studies until the first of May, after which time came the Senior vacation of five weeks. This reduction of the amount of work during the second term gave the graduating classes ample*time to compose their theses, to make up arrearage, and to prepare themselves for Commencement exercises. But this year all was changed. The Seniors must take three studies during the spring term, prepare two forensics of two thousand words each, and have all arrearages made up by the first of the term. But this was not all, nor even the worst. In addition they were to be deprived of the Senior vacation. Perhaps the amount of work laid down was no more than a Senior ought to be able to do. The customary vacation may have been a waste of time which could have been better employed in study and recitation. All this might be true under ordinary circumstances. But, on account of the numerous changes and improvements in the course of study which have been made since the present class has been in the institution,
ne burden falls with oppressive weight upon them. About every year, studies have been forced back upon them and they have been compelled to take them. This has resulted in unavoidable arrearages, to make up which they have been granted no adequate opportunity. These arrearages, under the new and stringent rules, would count seriously against the candidate for graduation, and in some cases might even prevent his graduation. For a long time the Seniors were not aware of the true condition of affairs, but about the first of December their attention was called to it, and they finally realized their situation and at once petitioned the Faculty for relief. They asked that their work for the second term be reduced to two studies and the forensics, and that they be granted the usual vacation. The Faculty could not see their way clear to grant the vacation, but they gladly reduced the work to two studies and two forensics. This reduction, though but a part of what was asked, will furnish relief and much needed aid to many. The Faculty certainly have the thanks of the Seniors for their prompt and favorable action in this matter.
The members of Professor Canfield's classes were agreeably surprised upon their return this week, to behold the latest improvement in his class room. Instead of the old long dilapitated table around which the classes used to gather for recitation, there is a new one made in the form of a hollow triangle. The table is neatly covered with cloth, and presents quite a tidy appearance. It is firmly fastened in position so that it differs from the old one in that it is not liable to tumble down with the slightest jar. The Professor has his desk at the middle of the base of the triangle, and when the class is seated around the outer edge of the table there is nothing to prevent his seeing every student. Another advantage which the shape of the table offers is that it enables a large number of students to be seated quite close together and near to the professor, without in the least interfering with each other. The use of tables in the classroom presents numerous advantages, and Professor Canfield's arrangement of them seems to be the best one yet offered.
PROBABLY no body of men have as much influence in the attacks made on a despotic government as the students in the universities in Russia. Being young men of energy, learning, force of character, and proud ideas, seeing the evil effects of curbing the will of the people by the most odious form of government and fearless in the expression of their convictions; well may they be considered an element which is fostering the seed of rebellion, sooner or later to break down the chains of that despotic, unlimited monarchy. The following extract from an article on the Russian students' life will give a fair idea of their ideas and modus operandi :
"The students in the University at St. Petersburg are mostly believers in the principles of the Liberal par-
ty, and many even, espouse the Radical or Nihilistic wing. They, thus are very obnoxious to the Czar, for the laws are very severe on those who criticise the government, yet the students evade them by giving vent to their passions upon some classic character who it is understood, means the Czar. In this way some very strong speeches are made against existing conditions. During the last few weeks, the students have been unusually active, so much so that the University has been surrounded by troops to quell the rebellion. The Russian policy of rejecting modern educational methods is especially displeasing to the Russian student. He is not allowed to study anything that would cause him to modify his views on the Russian government. The classics constitute his main study, and even they have been eliminated and changed so by the Russian censor's hand, that they would not be recognizable by an American student. But this course of the government is rapidly fostering rebellion. The professors were the leaders in the great protest made to the Czar two years ago, and the three or four thousand students spread each year the liberal doctrine throughout the realms. If the faculty and students keep on in the present course, no surprise would be felt to see the University abolished."
Freedom of thought and deed is not a Russian birth-right.
For flowery, figurative, rhetorical, yet concise statement of the great vice of the human race of to-day, of the young and the old; the educated and the ignorant; of even the conservatives and those who love notoriety, the following extract from an address recently delivered before the Alumni of the University of Virginia deserves the notice and attention of rhetoricians and students:
"The intellectual vice of the age is an abhorrence of the commonplace. Men are possessed with a rage for the new, the original, the peculiar. It is considered as a mark of genius to be eccentric. Better err by yourself than be right with the multitude. Reverence threatens to become a lost virtue. Whatever is, is wrong. Whatever is commonly believed, is false. The modern Icarus, scorning the way of ordinary mortals, plumes his waxen wings for flight, content with a glitter for a moment before the gaze of a wondering world, even though the next day may see him, with molten pinions, plunging, singed and scorched, into the Ægean Sea."
ONE by one our great personages pass away. The past year, however, seems to have deprived us of not only men and women of local reputation, but of world-wide repute. In the various professions the leaders have passed to the undiscovered country. In looking over the lists of men and women of reputation who have passed away, but whose names will ever remain immortal, we find in the columns of the Newton Republican that the most distinguished preacher who died last year was Henry Ward Beecher; the oldest
American statesman, R. M. T. Hunter; the best known English soldier, Col. Valentine Baker; the most widely known ecclesiastic, Father Beckx, general of the Jesuits; the most widely read author, Dinah Maria Muloch; the most eminent educator, Mark Hopkins; the most famous singer, Jenny Lind; the most popular actor, John T. Raymond; the ranking jurist, Associate Justice William B. Woods, of the United States supreme court; the most successful engineer, James B. Eads; the best known financier, Jay Cooke.
MAN OR SPECIALIST.
In a paper read before the college section of the State Teachers' Association, Prof. Snow made this broad and generous statement, which is at once characteristic of the man and worthy to be read by all students in the University:
"So far as the phrase 'Man or Specialist' implies that one who has obtained a liberal education is thereby unfitted for the work of a specialist, I stoutly deny the implication. On the contrary I maintain that the man whose mind has been enlarged by a symmetrical culture of all its faculties, and whose general information has been broadened to include the great facts of language, history, philosophy and all the sciences, is far better qualified to pursue to the end any other language or science or system of philosophy than is the man whose vision has never been allowed to wander from the one special object of his study. The broad-gauged specialist with the deep and strong foundation of a liberal culture will inevitably be more successful than the narrow specialist who can see nothing of interest or value in any other line of investigation than his own. * * * * Mv answer to the question forming the topic of this paper is, 'both man and specialist; MAN FIRST.' * * * * Our work as educators will only be well done when we put manhood in the foreground. The special work of life will then take shape and will be followed on to such results as cannot be attained under any other system."
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF A GENEROUS GIFT.
The following letter from Chancellor Lippincott explains itself:
HON. CHAS. ROBINSON, LL. D., Lawrence, Kansas.
In my judgment and firm belief the University of Kansas is fully and fairly established, not more securely on beautiful Mt. Oread, than in the hearts of the people of the State. Its future is made secure. Its growth
My DEAR SIR:—As directed by you I have had the deed for the block of land on Lee street and Oread avenue, which through me you have generously given the University of Kansas, recorded. At the next meeting of the board of regents your gift to the University will be duly and formally reported. I know I may anticipate their action, and myself express to you their appreciation, and my own as well, of your continued interest in the institution, and of your continued benefaction to it.
to the present time is but a prophecy of what it shall become. Here shall be gathered together for many generations the youth of Kansas; here, trained in science, literature and the arts, they will be prepared for a better citizenship, for nobler lives, than would have been possible without this institution so nobly founded, so generously maintained. From these balls shall go out into the state men and women whose influence shall be more sturdily wielded, more deftly directed to the accomplishment of the better ends of a nobler citizenship, because of the privileges here enjoyed.
Permit me to say that in the founding of the University of Kansas, and in the direction of its earlier and of its later growth, you have had large influence. Your interest seems unabated; your counsels are as generously given as in the earlier days. The donation which calls forth and justifies this letter, is not so much a proof for that is not needed, as an example cf your practical devotion to the interests of the University of Kansas. In the name of the institution, and of its many friends, I thank you. I am
Very Truly and Very Sincerely Yours.
J. A. LIPPINCOTT, Chancellor.
HE GAVE IT AWAY!
DURING a discussion of the relation of high schools to colleges, in the college section of the State Teachers' Association, Chancellor Lippincott said that the preparatory work done by the various "colleges" in the State was very detrimental to the high schools, and believed that it would be well for the University and various denominational colleges to at once cut off everything but actual collegiate work, and thus assist localities in establishing really worthy home schools.
Instantly Pres. Brown of Highland University (Presbyterian) flashed out with the question: "I would like to ask the gentleman how many colleges in the State he thinks could even exist without doing preparatory work?" with an emphasis which gave his own answer as "not one."
The Chancellor hesitated a moment and then gravely said: "Under the circumstances I should prefer not to answer that question!"
The section at once caught the inference and the spirit of the reply, and roared with laughter, while Pres. Brown felt that he had "given away" the "college" and "real-estate University" business, and sat down.
Tally ONE for the Kansas City Times.
Says the Atchison Champion: "The probability is that the State University will lead off in a much needed reform—putting an end to those demoralizing and pernicious organizations known as secret literary societies." The probability is, on the contrary, that it will do nothing of the kind. The matter is a tempest in a teapot, and is not even seriously discussed in the University at Lawrence. Kansas City Times, Dec. 22.
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