UNIVERSITY COURIER
Entered at Lawrence Post Office as Second Class Matter.
VOL.I.
LAWRENCE, KANSAS, APRIL 10, 1883.
No.15
University Courier.
A SEMI-MONTHLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE STUDENTS
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
BOARD OF EDITORS.
EDITORIAL...C. C. DART.
TOPICS...J. D. McLAREN.
LITERARY...E. A. BROWN, ANNA MURPHY.
SCIENTIFIC...L. L. DYCHE.
NORMAL...G. E. ROSE.
EXCHANGE...ALBERT RIFFLE.
LOCAL...GLEN MILLER, MARY GILLMORE.
PERSONAL...CLARA GILLHAM.
MISCELLANY...W. S. WHIRLOW, ELLA V. KEIST.
BUSINESS MANAGERS. EDMOND BUTLER, B. K. BRUCE.
Subscription, One Dollar per Year, in Advance.
EDITORIAL.
In our whole curriculum there is not a more valuable study than that of elocution. In college the student holds rank and obtains influence among his fellows according to his ability to speak well. Going out into the world the orator,—he who can impress and persuade others—will leave "the best classical scholar in the institution" far behind. Yet strange to say oratory is almost entirely neglected in our colleges. Here in our own University elocutionary drill is for the most part optional. Prof. Gleed was the first, we believe, to arouse an interest in the study. His ardent labors, consuming much of his private time, were highly beneficial. The immediate fruits of this work may be seen even at this present time among our higher class-men. But the many other duties imposed upon him, prevented any extended course of instruction. Last year Prof. Gleed having been called to the Greek chair, Prof. Robt. L. Taylor, of Hamilton college, was placed at the head of the elocutionary department. During the short time he has been here, his classes have made wonderful progress. Not only has he taken deep interest in his recitations but he has given much attention to individuals desirous of special training. The difference between those pupils who have and those who have not had elocutionary drill, is most noticeable in the daily chapel productions. Rehersals on a single selection, however numerous or thorough, cannot compensate for long continued practice. The improvement made by students in this branch of study are most flattering testimonials of Prof. Taylor's ability as a teacher of elocution.
The success achieved by Profs. Gleed and Taylor in so few a number of years warrants a liberal support and encouragement of this department. As stated in our last, we think no student incapable of delivering a good speech on commencement-day should be allowed to graduate. Arrange a three or four years course and make it compulsory. Include all scholars of the University. Let the instructor's duty be confined to this one branch of work. Then every student would become at least a fair speaker. Then our exhibition days would be without a failure. And above all, our University would gain a reputation such as an endowment fund of thousands of dollars could not bring her.
THERE is scarcely a question of more intense interest to our upper-class men than that of the tariff. Hence it was that so many of them turned out to hear Dr. O'Leary's reply to some of Mr. Haskell's statements some time ago. Although the former gentleman made some good points and at least convinced his hearers that there is a Free-Trade side to the question, he had not sufficient time to say half that might be said against the view of the Protectionists. The Seniors are now in the midst of political economy, and it would be profitable and interesting to them, and not to them alone but to every citizen of Lawrence to hear this vital question discussed. It has therefore, been suggested that some strong protectionist, Congressmen Haskell for instance, and some equally strong Free-Treader, Such as Prof. Canfield or Mr. Riggs debate the question at the opera house. Thus the matter would be brought vividly to the minds of all and no harm but much good would result. Why not debate it?
LITERARY.
AN AMERICAN CLASSIC.
Whatever may be said of American literature and her writers, certain it is, that in his peculiar vein, very few have ever equaled Washington Irving, in this or any other country, in this or any other age.
And still his works are not as widely read as those of many of our inferior writers; aside from his "Life of Washington" and "Sketch Book" but few of his writings are familiar to the public. Yet his "Sketch Book" gives but a taste of the strange beauty and fantastic nature of his other works.
Seemingly he is a smooth and easy writer, but one of his sketches is said to have been written and rewritten eighteen times before the indefatigable worker would pronounced it "finished."
He wrote history with such vividness and fascination that it seems like romance; while his "History of New York from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty, by Diedrich Knickerbocker," though a