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EDITORIAL.
UNIVERSITY COURIER.
A SEMI-MONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF
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THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS.
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PERLEE R. BENNETT, '86. . . . .
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"WATCHMAN WHAT OF THE NIGHT?"
The night was a bad one, especially for Mr. Mays. The lesson however is a good one. It teaches that it is no more honorable to steal a man's thoughts and language than his purse. Had Mr. Mays pilfered McClure's pockets he would have suffered less than he has in cribbing from the Colonel's speech. Obtaining honor under false pretenses is no better than obtaining money by the same means. In Mr. Mays' case it partook a little of both, though the money has been returned and his honor has received the prefix dis.
We are not of those who believe Mr. Mays' offense to be a heinous crime, or that he should be persecuted. Such practices as his have been only too common in schools, academies and universities; in newspapers and magazines; yea, even in governors' proclamations. We have had them in our own institution. Several persons have been exposed in the societies. We can even name a production of the past six months where every thought and almost one third the matter verbatim were filched from a modern author. It takes but little to detect such frauds. When a high school girl reads a faultless classic poem no one is fooled into believing her the composer. When a collegian gives his subject the fine, literary turns of an experienced artist, the public are not long in looking up the real author—that is if the occasion warrants the trouble.
All plagiarisms are detestable, and deserve the severest censure. Mr. Mays' guilt is neither greater nor less for the position he held. Nothing can be more harmful than colleges hushing up or palliating such offenses, as it only encourages further impositions. If this lesson will put a stop to plagiarism, will make collegians write their own thoughts or none at all, we, as an impartial watchman can say that considering all its effects, the night was good—exceedingly good.
We would like to have some one explain why that outrageous pronunciation of Latin known as "Roman" was ever introduced into the University. When the student tries to use it in any of his "modern' classes he sees a smile light up the phizes of the professors. If, after studying the Roman, he attempts the English pronunciation, he gets a sort of mongrel tongue, and ends his reading with the feeling that he has made a fool of himself. When he comes to use it with lawyers, or doctors, or ministers, he runs the risk of being laughed at by his hearers. "Caesar" may sound more mu-