EDITORIAL.
209
The State Oratorical Association will hold its first contest at Lawrence, April 18th. Owing to the difficulty of perfecting an organization, there has been a great delay in making final arrangements.
We venture the assertion that a larger proportion of the students who enter our University graduate than at any other institution in the west. The class of '84, which numbered fifty-nine members in its senior-prep year, will graduate twenty-four, or a little over two-fifths of its original membership.
Last Wednesday morning the first of the Freshmen ascended the chapel rostrum and spoke his little piece. In a few weeks the grades will be canvassed, the winners of the Courier prizes will be announced and the four happy victors will step up and receive the testimonials of their elocutionary ability.
The most startling society episode of the year,a sort of Pyramus and Thisbe'affair, occurred last week. Two well known students left their classes, entered a hack, drove to the probate judge's office and were pronounced man and wife; thus baffling the opposition of the bride's parents. This affair is worthy of most serious consideration.
The first striking feature is the fact that both were Sophomores. In view of this fact, the Faculty has taken measures by which to keep the Sophomores under a more strict surveillance. Hereafter, during the Zoology recitations, Prof. Dyche will be on guard with his dog and gun. It is needless for us to remark that Dyche is a sure shot. Courtney and his corps of assistants will watch the doors of Prof. Miller's room while the analytical geometry class is insession. It is thought that these, with various other precautions, will prevent any further outbreak of Sophomoric passion.
But what will be the effect of this event on the outside world? At the next meeting of the legislature the member from Pottawatomie county will add to his accusations against the University, the damning one that the students are possessed of the tender sentiments. Baker University will point to this affair as another evidence that our students are infidels. Emporia will show conclusively that this is a good reason why life certificates should not be granted our Normal graduates, since no lady who attended Emporia has ever been married. The Topeka Commonwealth will refer to this as a proof that communism and nihilism are taught at the University. The Lawrence Journal will show by uncontrovertable logic that this demonstrates clearly that the University building shouldn't have been located on Mt. Oread, since the friendship of this pair undoubtedly consumed in love while they were climbing the hill. In view of the late matrimonial experience of the Journal's senior editor, the article will be mildly drawn.
The probable consequences of a student marriage are indeed alarming. Had the guilty pair contemplated the results, they would have hesitated before taking the rash step. This places the University on the offensive. The students should hold a mass meeting at once and declare they did not connive at this heinous act of matrimony. The faculty should also place itself on record. We must meet our accusers with a bold front. We should point out that the groom has for five months been under his father-in-law's roof, and that the parents had ample opportunity to witness the growing affection. Neither of the contracting parties are longer students. All these facts should be given the public. As we said before, a student marriage is a serious thing and demands action. We cannot afford to remain silent.