202
THE FORTNIGHT.
of rival fraternities, or in the contests arising from the rebellion of the "barbarians" against Greek domination. Very few students relish a parliamentary fight just for the sake of the fight, and so these, having no fraternity honor to maintain, become disgusted with the constant quarreling and stay away. We hope for better times, for a well-conducted society is certainly a good thing.
It is somewhat amusing to see the manner in which a certain alleged "students' paper" fairly besmears with "taffy" all things connected with "the powers that be." As for the writer of that book-notice— 'God made him, therefore let him pass for a man.'
The annual tribulation of the Sophmores has begun. No discerning Soph can fail to to see that we refer to Zoology. Perhaps this study does cultivate the perceptive faculties. If so, ours must be in a bad way, for we really cannot perceive it. We question much whether such studies have any real value to the average student. He learns a mass of names and facts, largely about animals that he may never see. He collects a lot of bugs, arranges them carefully in a glass case, gets labels on them after much vexation of spirit and harassment of the professor, exhibits them in commencement week for the delectation of the casual visitor and the wondering Prep; then, if he yields to the impulse of his better nature, pitches the whole business into the Kaw, or, if he has financial ability, sells them to the confiding Fresh, who doesn't know that "old bugs don't count." Perhaps one student in fifty derives some benefit from the work, and goes on in that line of study. But this one would be led to pursue these studies by natural inclination. Why, then, is it needful to bore to death forty nine others? The requirement of recitations and class room work in such a study seems time wasted. A course of lectures would supply all information desired by the general student, while the specialist has no business in a college. Let him go to his own place.
We now have quite a number of special and optional classes going. Besides the Junior and Senior optionals, the Freshmen are wrestling with the Odyssey, some Sophs are endeavoring to understand the historical allusions in Die Piccolomini, and there is also a writing class.
P. S.-Some theological exclamations from the printer, who is setting the above seem to indicate that he desires us to join the aforesaid writing class.
LATER :—"George" has sent the religious editors to inform the "Swaps" man and ourselves, that he will have us "fired off the staff if we dont write plainer."
LATEST: The "Swaps" man has gone to borrow "Henry's"' type-writer.
The customary foolishness of Valentine's day is not far off, when any insignificant specimen of humanity feels that he can gratify his mean spite by sending some hideous caricature to any one whom he may chance to dislike. We hope our "friends" will send us about a cart-load; they will be useful for kindling fires. But if the so-called "comic valentines' are foolish, the other class are yet more nonsensical. The manufacturers have, consciously or unconsciously, given them the right title when they quote them in their price lists as "sentimentals."