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UNIVERSITY COURIER.
would be benefited correspondingly and the University would, doubtless, receive a greater amount of credit.
The attendance this year will probably be larger than ever before. Some predict an attendance of at least seven hundred. If the school continues to be wisely managed, there is no reason why the attendance should not increase from year to year, and, although it will be some time before we can compare with Yale and Harvard as regards numbers, it will not be long until in thoroughness of work we will not be one whit behind either of them. ___
It is reported that there will be some additions to the Senior Class this year. Having the honor of being a member of said class, we do not hesitate to say that it is composed of ladies and gentlemen who are eminently unselfish; and we are sure they will be pleased to welcome any who may wish to join their number.
"Old'83" will probably be the largest class that has ever yet graduated from this college.
Last winter, we remember having heard a certain person say, "It is the best class that ever has been, or ever will be in the University." We, of course believe the first part of the statement, but what is in store for the future of the institution, it is hard to tell. If the chancellor and professors thought they would never have a better class, probably, they would all immediately resign, since they would not care to be identified with the school after it had reached its climax.
That is a good class, containing individuals of considerable ability, is generally conceded. Some of its members will, no doubt, exert an important influence in the affairs of the State and Nation. All will not become famous, but if all are honest, upright citizens, discharging their duties as best they can, those who think it a good class, will certainly have no occasion to modify their opinion. ___
The students of the K. S. U. need to be stirred up on the subject of Athletic sports.
It does not speak well for a body of 450 students, that Field Day should be a miserable failure, when prizes had already been solicited. Heretofore Field Day has been one of the most interesting features of commencement week, and it seems strange that in less than five months after the establishment of our gymnasium, things should turn out as they did last June.
We do not wish to see these sports carried to an excess as in many of our eastern institutions; neither do we wish to see a cultivated mind with a broken down constitution.
To make a useful man, the cultivation of mind and body should go hand in hand.
Foot-ball teams can be organized in the several classes "83" has already taken steps in that direction and will ere long have a very formidable team. That we have the material for one of the best base ball clubs in the
The Courier will do what it can to encourage the organization of clubs in boating, foot-ball and base ball. If we cannot afford boat clubs just at present we can the base and foot-ball.
State, no one can deny. This was tested last June at Oskaloosa between the K. S. U's. and the Leavenworth Reds, the club which last fall took the championship of the State, the game resulting in our favor. But a base ball club cannot become a permanent thing unless backed up by an association. Let there be an association of this kind organized, elect its officers, appoint a committee, whose duty it shall be to pick out the best possible club in the University, and let this club be subject to the association. Then, and not till then, will we have a first-class club.
In this day of bustle, hurry and new theories, it stands everybody in hand to have as broad and thorough an understanding of all matters relative to human welfare as possible. Especially is this true in regard to political matters. Our country is full of men who know but one point of political science, and with that they try to bring about sweeping reforms. If there is any one thing incumbent upon our educational institutions, it is to give the rising generation a more thorough knowledge of all political matters, and in that way do away with these narrow-minded people. Of all forces that at present exert an influence in the right direction, the political science clubs organized in every part of our land, are the most effectual. Men of different parties, and generally young men, compose them. These men come together not to discuss party politics, and to call each other fools for difference of opinions, but instead, with a view of knowing all there is to know about government in all its different branches. Of course there are those who oppose such clubs, but they would be benefitted by joining them.
Last year Prof. Canfield advocated the organization of such a club among the more advanced students of the University. He suggested that it meet once a month, and that at each meeting one or two papers carefully prepared, upon some vital question, be read, after which the subject treated would be open for discussion. The club, if organized, would be somewhat under the management of a general association in New York City. This would be an advantage, for books upon various political and social science topics would be furnished for a mere trifle.
The only reason a club was not organized last year was because it was started too late in the school year. It is hoped that those interested in such work will talk the matter up early in the year, and perfect an organization. Prof. Canfield stands ready to aid in any and all ways he can. Such a club would be of untold value to the rising politicion within our walls. Let it be organized.
The colleges of the west are gradually working towards that high degree of excellence attained by the eastern schools. But it will be some time yet before we can claim the same for ours, in every particular that they do for theirs. The most important point in which we are deficient is in the advantages we offer for making men proficient in public speaking. Kansas State University is in need of a competent instructor in oratory: