THE UNIVERSITY COURIER.
Published weekly at the University of Kansas.
Vol. XII.
LAWRENCE, KANSAS, APRIL 26, 1894.
No. 23.
The Courier is published every Thursday during collegiate year by the University Courier Publishing Co.
Subscription $1.00 per year in advance, single copies 5 cents.
Address all communications and contributions to the editor-in-chief; all business communications to the business manager, and subscriptions to the circulator, Lawrence, Kansas.
Entered at the Lawrence postoffice as second-class matter.
F. E. BUCHAN, Editor.
FRANK BOWKER, Local Editor.
E. W. PALMER, Literary and Exchange Editor.
ROLLA MITCHELL, Athletic and Amusement Editor.
E. P. LUFFER, Managing Editor.
C. R. TROXEL, Business Manager. L. S. CHAMBERLAIN, Circulator.
R. J. HOPKINS, Ass't Business Manager.
A. B. BATES, Treasurer.
SOME effort on the part of a very few has been made toward the formation of an Inter-fraternity Baseball League. But the same lack of interest that seems to crop out in all University enterprises manifested itself here. However a schedule has been arranged and the games, if played, will no doubt be quite exciting, if they do not prove a wonderful exhibition of perfect base-ball playing. We hope to find a good crowd at the games and plenty of yelling indulged in. Everybody come.
IN nearly every issue of all the college papers, at our hand, the all absorbing topic is and has been for months, Oratory and Plagiarism. Does this mean that nine-tenths of college life is to be found in these topics? Or that the editor is in hard straits for something to talk about? We were about to substitute these terms for the "Cat came back Story" when the latter idea came to us, and the appreciation of such a situation forces us to change our resolution into a prayer for something to happen that will afford material for "Editorial Hash." Won't some brother say amen?
We spoke last week of calling a mass meeting for the purpose of adopting a penant of some particular design as the official University emblem. No notice seems to have been taken of the suggestion. We were in earnest about the matter. The wearing of these penants is fast becoming a conventional custom among college students and it is certainly one that cannot fail to meet the approval of all who have any love for their Alma Mater. There are several very artistic ways in which these penants can be made, perhaps the most popular would be to have the name of the University embossed in white letters upon a background of crimson enamel. A design of this description made of solid silver or plated with gold would cost from $1.25 to $1.75 apiece according to the number ordered.
We should think this would meet with especial favor at the hands of the Seniors and such others as intend leaving the University, as it gives one something that is distinctively a university idea, something that will be recognized as a fitting memento of your college life. We hope some action may be taken in this at once.
Two things of importance were developed by last Saturday's baseball game, namely: 1st. That the team needs a great deal more practice, especially in batting. It was undoubtedly their inability to keep the ball on the ground, instead of knocking "popups" into the fielders' hands, that lost the game; yet there were a number of useless fielding errors made that if omitted in the future will do much to improve the looks of the score card.
2nd. The lack of support by the students. Out of 500 students at the University scarcely 40 could be counted on McCook field during the game and the enthusiasm among these was most conspicuous by its abscence. Except in the ninth ining, when the game was all but lost, there was no encouragement given the team. With this exception the University yell was not given once. This won't do! We must have enough University spirit to go to the game and enough interest and enthusiasm to encourage the team by showing our appreciation of their efforts after we get there.
We would suggest that the Athletic Association appoint one or two good men to lead the cheering at games. Let us have an abundance of cheering at all times when there is an excuse for it. Let us have plenty of organized yelling, even when defeat seems evident, keep it up! Many a team has been rescued from defeat by constant and hearty cheering from their college fellows. If we can't have some interest taken by the student body we can't have a ball team, that's all there is about it.
THE Inter-State Field Meet, which K. U's athletes have looked forward to with so much interest has, at last, been abandoned, owing to the failure of Iowa and Nebraska to enter the contest. This is very much to be regretted, as such a meeting would certainly have proven a great impetus in advancing an interest in field sports, to which so little attention has been paid in our Western Universities.
However an Inter-Collegiate Feld Day will be held at Baker, May 29th, and we hope our Athletic Association will take steps at once to place a team in the contest. We hope the Beaeon is mistaken in stating K. U. has assumed a "snobish" attitude in regard to this meeting of Kansas colleges, but if she is not let steps be taken at once to correct such a feeling. Let us enter this contest with as good will as Baker came to Lawrence last year. Should we win the Inter-Collegiate Meet again this year we will have accomplished no little task, and besides where can be found a better school for our athletes, should we enter an Inter-State Contest next year. We regret it that Baker should look upon us as a "lot of snobs," and more, if K. U. has given her any occasion for such an accusation. Let there be as much rivalry as there will, this serves to excite interest and give spirit to the contests, but don't let either of us imagine ourselves too good for the other. Baker and Kansas University, owing to their peculiar location, can do much to further the interests of collegiate athletics in Kansas, if they but work together in the proper manner. So let all difficulties be settled, and let us go in to win. The Inter-Collegiate Field Day was a success last year at the hands of K. U. and we hope Baker will be as fortunate with it this.
K. U. NEEDS a book buying concern. Our students are not too plentifully stocked with cash and a book concern would certainly be a great saving to them and at the same time relieve the professors of a source of considerable annoyance. A large number of eastern schools have affairs of this kind and they have proven a great success. The University of Wisconsin has recently established one which is meeting with favor from students and faculty.
The plans pursued now by the professors are two; either divide the order for books between the rival book stores or else order the books themselves. Both cause the instructor no end of trouble.
The book stores seldom order enough copies being afraid an extra one will be left on their hands. The result is some members of the class must do without text-book until others are ordered. Call a mass meeting of the students, appoint a committee to confer with eastern colleges and report a plan of organization. It will be a great help to the student body.