9
Toothaker's Stable is the favorite Livery with the students. Hacks always in waiting
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.
M. O. BILLINGS, | A. L. WILMOTH,
President. | Soc'y.
EDITORIAL STAFF.
EDITORIAL STAFF
W. S. JENKS, Editor-in-Chief
I. H. VALENTINI, '88, "J. D. DATIS," 89,
LAURA LYONS, '88, LIZIE PETTER, '80,
G. W. HARINGTON, '87, LILLE FREEMAN, '88,
NANNIE ANDERSON, '87, MARY SAINB, '87.
BUSINESS MANAGERS,
DENTON DUNN, '87, E. G. BLAIR, '87;
GRANT JOHNSON, '89.
Entered at the Post Office at Lawrence, Kansas, as second class matter.
Cutler s Petroleum Engine Print.
The Seniors have handed in their orations, and with these valuable aids at hand, the appointments for Advertisement Day will be made. We have no doubt that the appointments will be pleasing to the whole class. However, we have one suggestion to make—the number of representatives appointed should be large. At least let the number be no less than fifteen. If more than fifteen pass the final examination, increase the representation. It will make the advertisement all the more attractive. Fifteen or more country papers will announce that some young lady or gentleman from their county has graduated from the University with the highest honors of the class. Long editorials will appear in praise of the University which sends forth such finished works of art, hewn from rough material.
Of course, if justice to the three or four Seniors really deserving appointments was to be considered, the case would be different; but so long as the object is to advertise the University, the number of speakers should be as great as possible. It is hoped that the length of program will not be considered an obstacle. The orations can be cut down to two or three hundred words (a speaker ought to do himself justice in an oration of that length), and then if the exercises are a little exhaustive, an intermission of ten or fifteen minutes can be given, which would be a very attractive feature.
--it gives Lawrence an undesirable reputation? Do you not know that the popularity of a town increases the value of every piece of property in it, and that unpopularity depreciates it? Do you not know there is an economy—the economy of stinginess—which is itself expensive, even to extravagance?
In reply to the communication from the Executive Committee inviting Washburn to engage with the University in a joint field day contest, the chairman of the Executive Committee writes: "When I reported to the association it was decided that we could not enter the contest. The main reason I think, was that we could not hope to contest with a moderate degree of success on account of having such a small number who could and would enter. Then, too, our average is quite young, giving us a disadvantage in development.
The offers you made in your letter are truly generous, and we thank you for them the same as though we accepted them."
We very much regret the action of
Washburn in declining to enter the proposed contest.
"Athletics at Washburn seem to be in rather a comatose condition and all efforts at awakening have so far proved abortive." The preceding sentence was recently applied by the Washburn Argo to the University. The tables now seem to be changed. When a contest of importance is proposed the proficiency of the Washburn athlete seems to be a matter of serious doubt.
If Washburn would take the interest in athletics that it evinces in boasting of its athletic prowess, it might become a formidable factor in the sports of the Kansas college.
The Merchants and the Students.
Do the Lawrence business men have any more interest in the University than they can grind out in trade? Do they have that much? It seems not.
While the two rival Couriers were tearing each other down instead of building each other up, the Lawrence business men said: "Stop your quarreling, harmonize your interests, and we will give you a liberal support. We cannot afford to patronize two weekly college papers, but will deal generously with one."
Stimulated by this pledge of support which would enable them to publish a large first class weekly, the students consolidated their papers. We have fulfilled our promises. The business men have broken theirs. The Courier has not received the advertising patronage since consolidation that either of its predecessors did before.
The merchants seem to laugh at the gullibility of the students in this matter. They meet our business managers week after week with a cynical smile which seems to say: "Well, can't you comprehend yet that you have been duped, you stupid, innocent biped? The legislature has refunded us the $100,000 we gave to your school, has appropriated $50,000 for a natural history building here, and you three hundred University fellows and your professors spend $100,000 a year with us. We get this money whether we advertise in your paper or not. So what are you going to do about it?"
Merchants of Lawrence, does this pay? Does it? Throwing aside the question of ethics, of your obligations to yourselves and to us to keep your promises—throwing this aside and putting it on a cold, calculating basis of dollars and cents, of gold, silver, copper and postage stamps, of grinding the last farthing of profit you can out of your wares at the least possible expense—putting it on this selfish ground even, does it pay? Do you think so? Admitting that you have the students foul, that we have to spend our money with you, and will spend every penny as much as we would if you kept your promises by giving us a liberal advertising support—admitting all thus for the sake of argument, think you that it pays? Do you?
Well, if you do, you are sadly mistaken. The students who come here are from families of property and influence. Their parents form their opinions of Lawrence from what their children tell them. And when the students go home and tell their folks how they have been treated, as they will and must, do you not know that
We feel like publishing the names of the merchants who promised us advertising patronage if we consolidated, and now refuse it. We may yet. Our remarks of course do not apply to all Lawrence business men. Field & Hargis, J. S. Crew, Abe Levy, Wm. Bromelsick, Wm. Wiedemann, E. C. Mull, Whitecomb Bros., Steinberg & Bro., Jacob House and several others we might name, have always shown the same generous liberality to college papers that they have to every public enterprise. A number of merchants are also temporarily out of our columns until they arrange their spring stocks. But others seem to have no interest in the University or its students whatever.
Nothing pains us more than to be obliged to speak thus frankly. Students have a warm side for Lawrence, which has become a secondary home to them. Socially few cities can boast nicer people. We only wish there was a more hearty and substantial recognition of the University by its business men. We hope to see change.
SAINTS AND SINNERS.
The most incorrigible nuisance in the University by all odds, is the fellow who never, by any mistake, converses on any subject that he don't ring in his fraternity. Now we have some excellent fraternities in the University—the pick of the Greek world—and some that are not the pick by several miles. Again, the chapters here have taken a high rank in their respective orders, as is evidenced by the fact that three of the fraternities have entrusted the publication of their magazines here, two fraternities have elected section chiefs from our University, and one has even honored our institution by electing a K. S. U. student to the Grand Chapter. All these are things to be proud of, and I like to see the Greeks so deeply interested in their societies. There is no earthly reason, however, why they should chat and prate about their fraternities every time they are spoken to. When a student does something extra these fellows never think to say, "See there, that is a University man." O, no! It is always, "That fellow is a Phi Gam," or "a Phi Psi," or "a Phi Delt." Now the Greeks are pretty familiar as to the membership of each other's orders, without special enlightenment, and the outside world don't care a copper what society a chap belongs to. Students don't seem to appreciate how tiresome, not to say disgusting, this braggadocio is. Imagine the Odd Fellows, for instance, going around town and continually calling the attention of the public to the fact that this wealthy merchant is an Odd Fellow; that a senator from North Carolina belongs to Lodge 1489, and that President Cleveland has just appointed an Odd Fellow to the court of Siam. I know several boys in almost every chapter here who are first rate company, barring this testable habit of harping on their fra-
territies to people who care nothing on earth about it.
As the fag end of commencement approaches, more and more students are prospecting for situations. The longer and more diligently they look, the more they will be surprised at the few eligible vacancies. A hint to these searchers may not be amiss. Make no applications by mere letter. If business men ever accord a written application the courtesy of a reply, it is only to say, "We are sorry to say we have no place vacant" (bosh); or "Your letter has been placed on file and will receive consideration should a vacancy arise" (buncombe). A party recently told me that he had spent two days writing letters of inquiry to officers whose names he took from a catalogue. With each letter he enclosed a stamp for a reply. Out of the batch he received some eight answers, not one of which conveyed any comforting information. When a letter goes on file it is past resurrection. Any hope that lies panting beneath the jeans vest of the applicant is doomed to disappointment. Men who need help don't employ those they have never seen. Too many capable fellows are continually pressing their claims in person, for employers to waste valuable time in a desultory correspondence with applicants abroad.
Probably more time, paper and ink are utterly thrown away on written "testimonials" and "recommendations" than upon any other kind of document on earth. A little "cheek" will secure a portfoho of glowing tributes for the most incompetent cad from people who are glad to rid themselves of the pest at so cheap a price. The cases are not few or far between where parties, after being discharged in disgrace, have been given excellent testimonials of character. Indeed, as a rule, the poorest stick will have the finest recommendations. Business men understand this and pay no attention to such missives unless they be from personal and trusted friends.
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Even if a student be thoroughly qualified for a work, there are three conditions necessary to his securing a place. First, a vacancy must exist. Second, it must come at the right time. Third, he must hear of it. In case good luck is on his side in these three particulars, he has yet a hard gauntlet to run. There will probably be a host of competitors, many as competent and mayhap with more experience than himself. In this emergency "influence" generally steps in to elect the man. Political or religious cant is invoked by many with great success, it is shameful to relate. Then the good word of a prominent friend or influential official is most sure to turn the scale. The poor but able applicant has a hard row to hold with such great odds against him.
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The great complaint made against collegians is that they expect too much; that they expect to step into positions for which they have no special training, and secure as much salary as the men who have slowly climbed the ladder from the first round. This fault is in reality a fancied one, for as a rule the college man is broad enough to appreciate his own deficiencies. The average graduate is far more meek and humble than the carpers give him credit with being. He is willing to take whatever is offered, and trusts to his own powers for advancement. Nine times out of ten, he, in time overtops the chap whose whole education has hain in the rut of his special duties. But fancied or real, the fact that a college man is a college man is too often against him in the strife for positions. The wise individual will keep mum on his college record until his work in life has honored his Alma Mater. Sufficient to say, a college degree is not of much force in the business world; a college education is.
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C. A.
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The Y. M. C. A. rooms are becoming a more delightful resort for students than ever. There is no more pleasant place in Lawrence where one can go to chat, to read or to amuse himself. Several new games have been added to the room. The religious exercises are largely attended, and the work is carried on with a vigor that shows it is not perfunctory. The Y. M. C. A. in Lawrence is an institution that pays for itself many times over. With our favorite old chancellor, Doctor Marvin, as president, and Burr as active manager of the concern, it could not be otherwise.
. .
In Barney McAuley's famous play he frequently recurring by-word is "Sit down, Smith." Well, "Smith" s ready to sit down.
With this issue, Saints and Sinners appears for the last time. Before the compositor shall have finished his weekly cussing over the proof, "Smith" will be hundreds of miles away. Having been on the Courier from the first issue; having filled every position known to college journalism—set type, deviled advertisers, written ponderous and senseless editorials, dished up locals and rehashed time-honored personals, ran after copy, worried the opera house manager for comps, dunned delinquent subscribers, written views against the fraternity system and signed them "Barb," held exciting interviews with the chancellor in his private office, bored regents for appropriations, abused the printer and turned the press wheels—having had this somewhat varied experience, it would perhaps be in order to give a little advice on "how to run a college paper." But I wont. That is one of the things every editor has to learn for himself.
I presume the Sinners will be mglee, and the Saints bathed in tears at the news of my departure. I have tried to say what I believed, without reference to what anybody else thought about it. Several sensitive, squeamish and sanctimonious souls have at times become irate over little squibs in these columns. Is the game worth the candle? Perhaps not. But to make a readable paper, one must sacrifice personal friendship and emilities to honest opinion.
I feel more than repaid for a work which has brought me into contact with so many agreeable people, and made me so many splendid friends. If my readers have had the same fun out of it that I have, I am well content. Good bye Saints! Good bye Sinners! Smith.
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