The Weekly University Courier.
The Largest College Journal Circulation in the United States.
Published Every Friday Morning by the
COURIER COMPANY For Kansas University Students.
CHAS. LYONS. O.B. TAYLOR.
Prestident. Secretary.
EDITORIAL STAFF:
FRANK G. CROWELL, EDITOR-IN-CRIDE.
JOHN PRESCOTT,
F. C. KEYS,
C. E. STREET,
L. LEHMISH,
H. F. M. HAER,
W. R. ARMSTRONG,
NAN. LOVE,
MAN. LOVE,
LILLIE FREEMAN,
GEITTE DE HUNICUSI
BUSINESS MANAGERS:
EARLE L. SWOPE. | WILL A. JACKSON.
From the Press of P. T. FOLEY.
Entered at the post-office at Lawrence, Kansas,
as second-class matter.
With this issue of the COURIER a new board of editors takes control, and we humbly make our little bow. Fully appreciating the fact of our inability to control the COURIER in a manner adequate to the necessities of a good College Journal we can only apologize for the present issue and for all subsequent issues which do not meet with your approval.
Our object is to make the COURIER, as it always has been, the student's paper. A paper unprejudiced by party spirit, a paper which as far as possible will look after the interests of the students, professors and the University and a paper which will defend with its diminutive "cotton balls" all uncalled for and unprovoked attacks on the University.
With all factions, fraternities, cliques and classes represented we hope to have the endorsement and support of all students and professors of the University. To the business men of Lawrence we would address a few words. Through the Courier, you will find the best advertising medium not only in reaching the students but also the citizens of Lawrence.
Business men should not estimate too low the value of securing a set of patronizers who leave with them every nine months from one-hundred to one-hundred and fifty tsousand dollars.
To all students our columns are ever open for the expression of their view on all points, and contributions will be thankfully received.
The Courier will always express openly its views on all subjects. We will not be pugnacious but will criticise when necessary and expect to be criticised in turn.
We also desire to say once for all that the Courier is in no way under the supervision or management of the faculty or regents of the University of Kansas and the editors will be responsible for all articles which appear in its columns.
We can only hope that the Courier like the "Ship of State" will sail smoothly on and that her course will be toward the right, the just, and the honorable, a credit to ourselves and to the great, grand, and progressive
University which to a certain extent we represent.
We will enter on no panegyric on the past board of editors and management. They need none. Their work is before you a credit to themselves.
An editorial appears in the "Independent of last week on the "Spirit of Specialism." Maurice Thompson the writer claims that the tendency toward specialism is dangerous to useful scholarship. In a clear, demonstrative and lucid style he logically proves that for a young man or woman to become a specialist is an hallucination and a mistake. We co-operate with the view of the author, and although the naturalist may endeavor to prove that no man can know two things thoroughly, and the stoic preach that, "It is better to know much about little than little about much," we beleive that it is an erroneous doctrine for a young man to so narrow his mind, as to place his whole time, energy and study on "The growth of Fungi" or the "Nature of the Infusoria." The author finds a vast difference between specialism and a specialist. "A difference as real as that between selfishness and a liberal recognition of the value of limited supremacy." The article is one of unusual clearness and merit and we would advise all students to read it thoroughly.
Our bright students are seldom our best ones. It is much more frequently the case than otherwise, that a student wanting a genius for quick comprehension and moderate originality, but possessing the invaluable genius for hard work is the leader of his classes. The number of bright fellows whose college lives are failures is surprising. The college boys who write an article far from common and never distinguish themselves afterwards, who on some occasion deliver an oration much above the average to everybody's surprise and then again sink into insignificance are legion. "They are bright fellows, if they could but apply themselves," we hear of far too many. But alas, they never apply themselves. We are forced to the conclusion that to be endowed with an especial aptitude for acquiring knowledge is to be endowed with a dangerous blessing. It makes it possible to get along with so little work that the temptation is almost irresistible to go with everything half learned, which is nothing really learned. The result of it all is that instead of college life having been in anyway a good training, he leaves school in no better condition than when he entered. He hasn't learned to be methodical, he hasn't learned to control himself, nor to apply himself. We do not mean to say that all boys are bright who do not learn these things, but that a great many who could do so, fail, where their pride would have compelled success had it not been so easy to get along without. So we say to those who have always been held to be bright boys, beware lest, through the very ease with which you perform your work, you fail to learn that which of all things you should learn, method application, self-control.
It is a fact, well known to all who have attended school here within the past few years, that the students of K. S. U. have not, within that time at least, won a very remarkable reputation for skill and excellence in athletics. It is hardly possible that the young men who come here are less capable of physical development than those who attend other colleges and universities, or that they could feel less interested in college sports, if only once their attention was strongly drawn in that direction. That we cannot, for the present, expect much material encouragement and support in this line, from the faculty and board of regents, is evident from our numerous previous experiences and our so far futile attempts to get a well-equipped gymnasium, let us do the next best thing and take advantage of the material and resources which we have at hand. There are plenty of men in school who can play ball fairly well; and these with regular training and practice might soon acquire a creditable degree of skill and proficiency. Let us lend all possible encouragement to our base ball association to take hold of these men and get them in proper form. The association is willing to do all in its power, but it can accomplish but little without the help and co-operation of the students. If all would take an enthusiastic and active interest, there is no reason why K. S. U. should not have a ball nine which could meet on equal terms any college or amateur club in the state. But, in order that our nine may be a success next spring when the ball season opens, it should be organized as soon as possible, and all promising material should be thoroughly tried and the players selected this fall. If this is done the club can commence practice as early in the spring as the weather will permit, and when other clubs are ready to play, ours will be ready to meet them. It might, perhaps, be well to organize the Fraternity Nines again. For, although they might draw aside some of the interest which ought to be centered in the University Club, they would certainly be a good preparatory school for it and would be able to furnish it with some excellent material. Profiting by our former experience, let us take hold of this matter immediately and not delay too long and thus be compelled to suffer frequent defeat next season as we have for several seasons past.
so plain. Students in music are admitted to other classes free, and this too in the face of the fact that Collegiate Studies do not directly assist one in the study of music while in the case of law, studies in such as International Law in Prof. Canfield's department are absolutely connected with the study of law.
A New idea of economy seems to have struck the Regents of the University respecting the Laws taking Collegiate studies. Formerly it was held out as an inducement to those wishing to study law to come to the University that they would be admitted to Collegiate Classes without extra charge but now that the attendance in the Law Department has grown to such gigantic proportions that the University can no longer accommodate the students seeking admission the Regents have made a ruling that law students wishing to take other studies must pay the "usual contingent fee;" this may be all very wise and economical but the justice of the thing does not appear
Now is this discrimination just?
And further is it wise for the Kansas State University to begin to hedge students away from a broader education by these petty and partial restrictions? ___
One of the finest and most skillful pieces of engineering that Lawrence ever saw is under way at the University. The original builders of the main building in digging for the foundation did not dig down to solid rock, and as a consequence the walls have settled several inches, making the building almost unsafe. At the last session of the legislature $5,000 was appropriated toward fixing the foundation. This Summer W. A. Bovard, of Kansas City, was awarded the contract to repair the foundation of the south wing. His men commenced work on the building a little over two weeks ago, and they have it fairly under way at this time. They have to dig five feet below the original foundation, support the building on pillars and put a new foundation wall in. It will take all Fall and part of the Winter to finish the south wing, and it will require one or two years to put the whole building in shape, at a cost of twenty-five or thirty thousand dollars.
Last week the Courier informed its readers of the untimely death of H. B. Hamilton, one of the class of '87, therefore it is useless to again recite his noble qualities and the traits of his character that indeared him to every one who knew him. Below are the resolutions of sorrow of the fraternity in which he was an honored member.
We, the members of Alphi Xl Chapter of Sigmi Chi Fraternity, having received the sad intelligence of the death, at his home in Kingman, of our worthy and beloved brother Henry Beecher Hamilton, recognize in our loss and bereavement the hand of an all-wise and benificent God.
This chapter and the fraternity at large have sustained in the death of our brother, who has so distinguished himself by his superior abilities, and given promise of such a brilliant future, an irrepareable loss; yet we bow in submission to Him who orders all things for the best and whom chastisements are meant in mercy.
Therefore be it resolved, that we sincerely condole with his sorrowing family and share with them the deepest sympathy in that we have lost a brother who has greatly endeared himself to us by his noble and manly qualities.
Resolved, that the members of this chapter wear the badge of mourning for thirty days and that these resolutions be published in the SIGMA CHI, the papers of Kansas University and spread upon the minutes of the chapter.
J. N. ROBERTS
E. C. STREET
EUGENE SHAREM } Committee.
Dr. Jenkins, of the Connecticut agricultural experiment station, has presented the Chemical department with a valuable set of commercial fertilizers. They will be used in the lecture course in that department and for analysis and experiments by the students.
A Voice from the Sand.
Taking it for granted that the Courier has not followed the example of Oread Society or of the Frat. Annual, and died an untimely death; I take up my pen to write a few lines for it as it starts out on another year.
Although the alumni and old students of K. S. U. may not always be present at Commencement Season or at the September reunion after the long vacation, I think that most of them have a very pleasant recollection of those seasons and not a few would like to be there to greet the students on their return. As we can't stay there forever we are obliged to make the best of it where we are. The alumni of K. S. U. are scattering far and wide and many of them are making themselves known. One graduate of '80 has just made a change for the better and I feel inclined to speak of his record in Nebraska.—Since I have been here I have met over fifty men, engineers, contractors, foremen, who have kown him, and there is not one who does not say that Frank Rifle is one of the best fellows who ever lived. Mr. Riflle has made hosts of friends everywhere and is known as one of the most perfect gentleman as well as one of the most practical and thorough engineers on the road—All regret to see him leave here, but rejoice at his success. K. S. U. may well be proud of him.
The rest of the K. S. U. boys who are in the sand hills seem to be prospering on poor diet. I had a trip last week into the real sand hills. we left this village at seven a.m. and in half an hour we struck "the hills." For mile after mile the road stretched away over burning white sand, not a tree nor shrub nor flower, no water, no signs of civilization; we rode till past two o'clock before we saw a living thing of any sort. These hills seem indescribable so bleak, lonely and barren—so rugged and broken. The clay hills are bad enough but there are shrubs and trees while the sand hills really do deserve the name, "Great American Desert." Here and there is to be found an oasis on the banks of some stream, and a colony will always be found there—Norwegians, Hungarians, Bohemians, Poles, Swedes, all these nationalities are to be found in goodly numbers in Nebraska. I do not mention the Irish, they are in a majroity around here and can hardly be called "foreign." I see very few Germans, in fact almost none, tho' beer and pretzels are not prohibited in Nebraska. Prohibition would find small favor in Greeley Center. I can safely say that the most prosperous man in town (financially) is the saloon keeper who "got the start." The Irish around here get their whiskey straight, while the American or Bohemian is not particular what he takes, so the Irishman's drunk is by far the most civilized drunk of the lot.
I have twice had the pleasure of attending large picnic gatherings, and I must say the experience was a new one to me. From early morning till noon the clans assembled, each wagon emptied from four to a dozen tow-headed or red-headed
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