UNIVERSITY COURIER.
11
thoroughly dried by heat was a white opaque mass. Analysis proved the substance to be nearly pure silica.
Professor W. P. Blake, in the American Journal of Science describes some ancient mines of green turquis in Cochise Co., Arizona. It seems as though the mines were formerly worked by the Aztecs and Montezumas, for many stone implements were found in them. The veins in the rocks are rarely more than one eighth to one quarter of an inch in thickness.
The "Mother of Peter."Recent experiments go to confirm the very interesting discovery announced a few years since that saltpeter is found in nature and is produced by a process of ferment and growth, just as alcohol is formed by the growth of the yeast fungus. That the natural nitrates are produced by fungoid growth is interesting since it introduces new conceptions of their origin. As shown by F.H. Stores in Science, the practical application of this fact was made use of as early as 1686, since Sewall speaks of the necessity of getting "seed peter or mother of peter" to make a successful saltpeter bed.
"Prof. Snow's paper, published in the last Quarterly Report of the State Board of Agriculture, on injurious insects, and how to destroy them, ought to be published in the form of a tract, and sown broad-cast all over the State. If his suggestions were followed, the loss in crops from the ravages of injurious insects would be reduced one-half. The farmer in Kansas must wage unceasing warfare on both weeds and insects to make a good crop." [The Industrialist, Manhattan Kans.
MISCELLANY.
COLLEGE NOTES.
The new president of Trinity College receives 10,000 dollars a year.
The corner stone was laid, October 21st, of the University of New Mexico, the first incorporated Protestant Christian college in that territory. It already has sixty students.
The last Wisconsin legislature established a chair of pharmacy in the university.
The mumps have just attacked the students and professors of Hamilton college.
During the last fifty-three years the number of college students in the United States has increased wonderfully. In 1830, it was estimated at 4,021.In 1883,at 62,435.
Teachers in the public schools of France are now paid on an average, but a trifle over $150 per annum.
The junior girls of Wisconsin University have adopted a class hat.
At Vassar it has been found necessary to prohibit the students from kissing the professor's children.
Teachers in the public schools of France are now paid on an average, but a trifle over $150 per annum. Thirty-two thousand women and fifty-thousand men employed in this way under the republic receive this salary. Educators were better off under the Empire and the old regime.
The regents of the University of California have authorized the president of that institution to make a tour
through the state, and arrange courses for the grammar schools that will be more in harmony than the ones pursued at present.
The Seniors of the Law Department of the University of Wisconsin are circulating a petition among the members of their class, requesting the faculty to dipense with the farce of a public examination in the senate chamber at the end of this year. In all probability the request will be granted.
A FAMOUS VICTORY.
(Respectfully Dedicated to the M. P. Algebra Class.)
"A flock of sheep that leisurely pass by, * * * * * *
I've tried them all—and could not win thee, Sleep. " One course remained, had Wordsworth only known it, That would have plunged him into slumber deep.
He should then have come to the city of Lawrence (If he didn't hold climbing in too great abhorrence.) And have gone up the hill; this ordeal o'er, We'll suppose that our poet now stands at the door. This he opens; to welcome him, smiling and bland, Comes our Chancellor, bowing, his specs in his hand. "O walk in, Mr. Wordsworth; much honored, dear sir, I declare, your arrival will cause quite a stir. Pray come into my study,-or would you enjoy Seeing how, in the class-rooms, our time we employ."
Answers Wordsworth "At present, the latter; my time Is but limited; here in this far western clime, So new, yet so great, I shall make but a call— Let us enter this room at the end of the hall." For the hovering fay who presides o'er his doom Leads the seeker of sleep to the algebra room.
To the algebra room, where the scholars are small. And the teacher, though LITTLE, is yet all in all.— (A "multum in parvo" arrangement, you see, Which quite suits the teacher, if not you and me) Where intricate problems the pupils perplex In finding the value z, y, and x.
A difficult question engages the class.
And up at the board stands a poor little lass,
Who, according to all algebraical rule,
As the teacher makes out, is a natural fool.
Now he seizes the pointer; himself will explain
And display to the poet his own mighty brain.
And proceeds to expound—but, hold on—what's amiss?
There surely is something the matter with this;
What the fallacy is, he can't quite discern,
And from scarlet to white—back to red - does he turn,
He explains and explains; but the fatrher he goes
The more confused he, the more dull the class grows;—
"And—and—really, it is of no use to explain
"To a scholar who can't do the work in his brain."
But ere this, sweet slumber has filled all the air,
And settles at length o'er the great poet's chair.
And here let us leave him; for he's found sleep at last, From this world to the sweet land of dreams he has passed And as LITTLE don't teach now, but is laid on the shelf For farther particulars ask him yourself.
M. P.