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.
af. O. BILLINGS,
President. | A. L. WILMOTH,
Sec.y.
EDITORIAL STAFF.
EDITORIAL STAFF.
W. H. S. JENNIS, Editor-in-Chief.
H. E. VALENTINE, '88.
J. D. DAVID, '87.
LAURA LYONS, '86.
LIZIE PRIECE, '80,
G. W. HARRINGTON, '89.
NANNIE ANDERSON, '89.
MARY SARN, '87.
L. C. SMITH, '89.
BUSINESS MANAGERS.
DENTON DUNN, '87 | E. G. BLAIR, '87.
Lock Box 1348.
Entered at the Post Office at Lawrence, Kansas, as second class matte.
Cutler s Petroleum Engine Print.
"Strange we never prize the music 'til the sweet voiced bird has flown; strange that we should slight the violets 'til the summer flowers are gone." And stranger yet that we fail to value the association of schoolmates until separated by time and distance. Quite often we meet students in the summer to whom we have not spoken a dozen words in a year; but we are just as glad to see them as though they were long lost brothers. Old scores are forgotten and warmest friendships arise. Aeneas knew something of human friendship when he said: "Forsan haev olim meminissi Juwabit."
The Topeka Capital says: "The election of Prof. James H. Canfield, of the Kansas state University, as secretary of the National Educational Association, was a compliment not only to the state of Kansas, but to the west. It is the first time that this important office has been given to a western man. The association made a wise selection; in fact there is no man who is better fitted for this position than Mr. Canfield. He is recognized as one of the leading educators of the west, and is well known all over the country. He is a hard worker and will make a good officer.
The Lawrence Journal, of June 29th, pays the following deserving compliment to one of our former business managers:
Mr. C. D. Dean, city editor of the Journal, resigned his position on Saturday on account of ill health. Mr. Dean is one of the rising young journalists of the state and has a fine future before him if he is restored to health, which we trust will be the case with rest and recreation for a time. Educated at the State University, with several years in journalism, he has rapidly risen to usefulness in the profession. Truthful, industrious, painstaking, accurate, and one of the most reliable and safe young men to be trusted with responsibilities we have ever met, our readers will be only too glad to see him back in his old place on the Journal; or if some better position in journalism he shall then fill, we shall share in the felicity that welcomes him to the discharge of its duties. Mr. Dean will make a trip to western Kansas in a few weeks, and possibly locate there.
Women at the University.
Mrs. Monroe, of Atchison, and Mrs. Kingsley, of Paola, recently discussed in the Journal the question of equal rights and equal privileges and equal representation in the State University for the women of Kansas. We have had our say on the subject; that is to say, we have given valid reasons why we think the young women, on graduation day, when about equal in numbers to the young men, should be represented in the exercises. This year there was but one, and last year we believe but one. The elimination of female professors and of young ladies on graduation day from the stage looks as if there was a persistent and determined effort on the part of the regents to ignore the fair and better sex. Thus, we are confident, is not the wish of the people, nor of the best educated men and women of the state; it is not in accord with the chartered rights of the institution, nor in harmony with the progressive spirit of the age, and especially of the position Kansas has taken on the rights of women and her education. Lawrence Journal.
We agree with the Journal in the statement that young ladies should be represented in the exercises of commencement day. In fact, no one has ever disagreed. The opportunities and advantages of the young women in the University are in every respect equal to those enjoyed by young men. The only requirements demanded of a young woman who wish to represent her department, are that she shall excel in scholarship and oratory. This the young ladies of the classes of '85 and '86 have failed to do, yet women were selected to deliver the master's orations in 1884 and 1885. In the class of '84 four young ladies fairly won and received appointments from the faculty—not from the regents. The latter much abused body has no more to do with the appointments than the editor of the Journal.
If we understand the chartered rights of the institution, and the progressive spirit of the age, they seem to demand equal but not special rights for young women. The fact that half of any given class are females, does not mean that half of the representatives should be females, unless they fairly earn the position. In fact, the question of sex has never figured in this matter. It is a question of brains and hard work. If the number of ladies on the commencement program is small, it is not the fault of those who make the appointments.
Knowledge, like food, is of no use unless digested. It is a great mi-take to suppose that the number of books studied in any given course indicates the advancement of a student. The person who continually reads without stopping to think, makes little growth. For this reason the vacation of the summer, which gives time and opportunity for mental revision, is worth quite as much to the student as the school term. The greatest fault in our collegiate course is that we have too little time for thinking; and, perhaps, the greatest fault with our studying, is that we do not improve the time we have.
We have before us a copy of the Course of Study for the Kansas Normal Institute. It is the same old "chestnut" that has been issued for several years—no change whatever. We had hoped that the legal head of our schools would give the Institutes a rest by a slight variation in the exercises. But we were disappointed. Here it is: "Provide also with a large sheet-iron or zinc pan filled with sand, rocks, and water. In this build a relief map of the country and explain it to pupils, then have two of them reproduce it." "Build relief map of Kansas, and discuss the drainage." "United States—build relief map in sand."
Build relief map in soap grease!! Does the State Board of Education think the teachers and institute conductors of Kansas are idiots? Just imagine our old friend Dr. Williams humping his back over a pan of mud; inserting his thumb at one place to represent the Wakarusa valley, and erecting a "fly-speck" as an emblem of Mt. Oread! There is one redeeming feature, however, the "relief." If they would just give us that and leave out the sand and the old tin pans, the course of study would be quite respectable.
Note, from Abroad.
It fell naturally and happily in my way this summer, on my journey to the East and during my stay in New England, to visit quite a number of leading educational institutions. I visited North Western University at Evanston near Chicago, Illinois, Wellesley College, Boston University, Harvard College, and Wesleyan University at Middletown, Connecticut. I also visited New Haven but the Yale commencement had already been held. I saw the Library, the Peabody Museum, &c. Of course with the University of Kansas on my mind and in my heart I could not help bringing these institutions into constant comparison with our own. At some other time I may possibly present to readers of the Courier the more general results of my observations and reflections in this connection. It seems fitting that at this time I speak of co-education as it appeared to me in this quite unusual visitation of Colleges.
North Western University is co-educational, made so, I believe, by the blending of two colleges, one of which had been exclusively for men and the other exclusively for women. Wesleyan University is co-educational and has been for fourteen years. In 1872 girls were reluctantly admitted to the Freshman class. The word reluctantly may have reference to Trustees and Faculty—I do not know as to that—it certainly had reference to the gallant (?) young men who composed the majority of that class. It was my privilege to receive an invitation to the annual alumni dinner and I was called upon to respond to a toast. My theme was suggested by the occasion. Immediately before me a lady was called upon who had been one of the luckless girls to pioneer the co-educational movement in 1872. It was amusing and pathetic as well, to listen to her recital of the trials and even indignities that were placed upon these first martyrs. I spoke chiefly of co-education in Kansas, and was proud to say that neither in law nor in practice is there any distinction of sex in our chief educational institution.
Faculty and Regents, without a single exception, students, legislators and people agree that equal rights and privileges shall be enjoyed by our young men and our young women. But the best part of it all, as I said in my speech, is that it had been so from the beginning. There is no question, I said, in Kansas, as to co-education. All are agreed. This statement was enthusiastically received, and Kansas was loudly applauded.
On this question of co-education, Harvard is conservative. So is Yale. Yet Yale has given the degree LL.B. (accidentally shall we say?) to a woman, and Harvard has an annex. The progressives in Cambridge undoubtedly see the slight that is put upon women in the establishment for them of a school whose relation to Harvard is fairly expressed in the word annex. I did not lose an opportunity of contrasting it with the western, better way, and predicted a speedy abolition of the "annex" and the free admission of girls into Harvard lecture rooms, libraries and laboratories. The friends there of woman's rights—and there are many of them notably, Col. T. W. Higginson—are moving toward this consummation, and will undoubtedly accomplish their object.
I greatly desired to visit my own college—Dickinson—and witness the commencement exercises, but was not able to do so. For several years girls have been received into this conservative old institution, but the usual (eastern) experiences attend the change. A bright and plucky young woman of Carlisle, whom I well know, a member last year of the Junior class, announced her determination to take a place in the "Junior Prize Contest" in oratory. The chivalrous young men, thereupon, with a single exception, withdrew. But the contest went on, and naturally enough, the gold medal was awarded to theyougwoman,and that of silver to theyoungman.From Middletown,Conn.,Iwrotehermycongratulations.
I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation to Wellesley commencement and to the annual dinner. One would not expect to hear much about co-education on such an occasion and in such a place; yet it was the theme of several speeches. A young lady, graduate of Wellesley, a recent Ph.D. from that chief of conservatives, Columbia college, responded to a toast, and the Columbia librarian, who was also present, told in felicitous sentences how it had been accomplished. In my judgment, there is but one issue to this question. The girls have the same right as the boys to the best education the state can furnish. Kansas was, we believe, not absolutely the first to recognize this right, but shs was aong the very first. The right was reluctantly granted in Michigan University, and the first lady students were compelled to win their way to that which was theirs of right. At Oberlin, in the first years, girls did not take their places with the boys on the commencement platform. In Kansas University the equal right of the two sexes has been fully recognized and admitted since the first students were received. It is said that a large part of the credit for this just settlement of the policy of Kansas is due to
Hon. James S. Emery, of Lawrence. All honor to him and to the noble men who stood by the right in the legislature of those early days.
How generously the rights thus secured to the young women of Kansas have been recognized by the University during its history of a score of years, and how earnestly the girls have availed themselves of these privileges, is known to all. Forty per cent of the graduates have been ladies. The percentage of women graduates varies from year to year, the extremes being 100 per cent in 1878, and 22 per cent in 1885. The first graduating class, that of 1873, contained 25 per cent of girls; that of 1874, 66 per cent. The percentage of girls in the succeeding classes to and including that of the present year, 1886, has been 57, 25, 30, 100, 38, 30, 47, 30, 30, 44, 22, 52. Girls have always been recognized at commencement, sometimes by a larger, sometimes by a smaller number of speakers. Twice in the last three years the master's oration has been delivered by a woman. In 1884 a majority of the speakers were women.
But the best thing to be said in regard to the relation of the sexes in the University of Kansas, is that the young men and young women entertain toward each other the mutual respect and courtesy which prevails in social life. Each recognizes and respects the rights of the other. On the part of the faculty all are required to do the same work in the same way. No honors are bestowed, none withheld, on account of sex, Rights are recognized and enforced with courtesy towards all.
Kansas can afford to hold to this course. The University looks for cooperation, and not for unjust criticism, to all advocates of women's rights. The time comes on apace when our method shall prevail in Harvard and Yale and Columbia
J. A. LIPPINCOTT,
The New University Professor. We take pleasure in announcing that the regents have elected Prof. Arthur R. Marsh, of Cambridge, Mass., to the chair of English literature, made vacant by the resignation of Prof. L. W. Spring. As is known, the regents considered the matter of electing a man for this professorship at their meeting in June. They had over forty applicants, many of whom were very highly recommended. The regents at this meeting disposed of all but three of the applicants, with a preference for Prof. Marsh. They accordingly instructed Chancellor Lippincott to go east and meet Prof. Marsh. This he did and was very favorably impressed and made a report to the regents, who at once took favorable action and elected him to the vacant professorship.
The new professor graduated at Harvard college in 1883, and has been engaged in teaching ever since. He is a fine scholar in every branch of study, and comes highly recommended by President Elliott of Harvard, and others. He is about 30 years of age and is a married man. He will arrive here in a few weeks to make arrangements for moving his family here.
From all we can learn we think the University is to be congratulated on securing Professor Marsh. It is evident from the endorsements given him that there is no question as to his scholarship. We trust that he is also a good instructor, and will give his department the prominence it deserves.—Jawrence Journal.
For good Horses and Fine Buggies go to CARMEAN & HARABUGH. Students receive special attention.
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