6
UNIVERSITY COURIER.
science is understood, the better will be the condition of the human race. The doctrine of Free Trade is now pretty generally accepted, and is destined to be entirely so, sooner or later. And to an unprejudiced mind, it must occur that when that time shall come, many of the ills and jars of society will disappear. Wars will altogether cease, or be of very rare occurrence. Every man will consider his neighbor a brother instead of an enemy. Considering the importance of this study—the fact that it lies at the foundation of all our business relations both at home and abroad—ought it not to receive more attention than is now given to it? There is a tendency to crowd a great amount of History into the several courses, so much so as to make one devoted almost entirely to that study. Perhaps this is well enough, but we submit that it is of much greater importance to the average American citizen to know how to live and carry on business successfully himself, than to know that the Celts are the most ancient inhabitants of Britain, or that Napoleon was overthrown at Waterloo. According to the present plan of study, about thirteen weeks of the Senior year are given to this science. Does not its importance demand at least thirty weeks? Would not more benefit accrue to the state were at least ten weeks of the Freshmen or Sophomore years given to the subject? Thus, many students who spend but a year or two in college would get an insight into the study and be able to form opinions concerning it for themselves. What better move can the Regents make than increase the time allotted to Political Economy?
It seems too bad that so few students who come to the University complete the entire course. This year will graduate a class of twenty members. Last year there were but ten that received diplomas. Probably the graduating classes will increase in size from this time foward, but many more ought to graduate than are likely to. At this time of the year, one notices a constant dropping off of students from the lower classes. Parents think they need their sons at home, to work on the farm, and thus young men just getting a taste for study are so hindered and hampered that it is no wonder that they lose interest altogether. Of course a little education is better than none at all, but a good deal is better than a little. There can be no doubt of this. We would therefore urge those students who have any inclination to leave school now, to remain till the close of the school year if, possible. Endeavor to convince your parents that you are in earnest in the matter of an education, that you can not possibly spend your time half so profitably elsewhere. Ten to one they will arrange for you to remain. And surely if you stay during Commencement week, you will want to return next year, and each succeeding year until you receive your diplomas. Thus good will accrue to yourselves, to the University and to the state through the increased intelligence of her inhabitants. Young men and women of the lower classes, we hope you will use every means in your power to complete one of the courses laid down in our college curriculum. You will never regret it.
LITERARY.
SIC QUERITUR.
I long for the Kansas winter's cold,
Its waters and ice so clear,
For the hurrying fall of white snow-flakes,
And the sleigh-bell's ringing cheer.
I long for a good old Norther's blast,
That whistles right through one's clothes;
For the jolly nip of old Jack Frost,
As he lights on fingers and toes.
I long for the pleasant summer nights,
Cool fanned by a south-west gale,
When ladies clothed in snowy white
Scud home under close-reefed sail.
I long for the happy autumn days
With their mellow, hazy air;
For the curling smoke of prairie-fires,
And the twilights long and fair.
I long for the roaring tempests wild,
And the bang of windows and doors;
For the fitful gust of the hurricane,
As it lands me flat on all fours.
Santa Barbara, Cala., Jan., 1881.
SIC TRANSIT.
I have tested the merits of jolly old Northers,
I have toasted my shins by an anthracite fire.
Have wrestled all night with blankets and covers
In trying to cheat the cursed old liar.
I have fought 'gainst this tyrant—a worse one than Nero— With arctics and mittens and whale-blubber oil, Yet spite my endeavors to keep above Zero He pierces my vitals and laughs at my toil.
I have slept, but have found no peace in this waiting;
Have breasted the storms, both of wind and of rain;
Ay, have watched the fair ladies sit and go skating
Away down the side-walk with speed of a train.
Oh this jolly old winter, so fine for its trapping,
Will rattle and whirl you at every turn;
And watching his chance, 'til he catches you napping
He spins you along on keelson and stern.
I have had quite enough of his tender embraces,
Sic traneo nunc by the mighty U. P.
To flowery dells, and Los Angeles graces,
To fair orange groves and the shimmering sea.
JERRY DOBBINS, M. D.
Lawrence, February, 1883.
THE VAN DER WERDE--ARTAVELD LEGACIES III.
One pleasant afternoon Mistress Katho walked out of the house into the prim Dutch garden, and looked about as if in search of some one. She did not stop to look at the great beds of tulips, now in the full glory of their many colors, but passed quickly through into the kitchen-garden. Here she found the undergardener, Kobus, weeding cabbages. He was a slow and stupid