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UNIVERSITY COURIER.
THE OLD AND THE NEW.
The first catalogue of the University of Kansas appeared in 1866. A reference to it brings back the days when the University was in its infancy, its growth and prosperity yet to be, and foreseen by only a few of its most sanguine friends. To those who know the institution as it now is, a fair idea of the progress that has been made can be obtained by a retrospective view. The first catalogue furnishes a starting point from which the history of the institution can be traced through twelve years of contest with difficulties that seemed almost insurmountable. Dependent upon the bounty of the State, the University has shared the struggles and the triumphs which have marked the history of Kansas.
In 1866, the Faculty consisted of E. J. Rice, President, and professor of mental and moral science and belles lettres; D. H. Robinson, professor of ancient languages and literature; F. H. Snow, professor of mathematics and natural sciences. Albert Newman lectured upon hygiene and sanitary science. There were fifty-five students in attendance; twenty-six ladies and twenty-nine gentlemen. Forty-eight were from Douglas county, two from Shawnee, one from Allen, one from Wabaunsee, while three registered from other States—one from Missouri, one from Illinois, and one from Ohio.
What is now known as the old university building was occupied at that time. It had eight recitation rooms and a chapel. There were then, as now, two courses of instruction, the preparatory and collegiate.
The catalogue is silent as to the number of students in the collegiate department in 1866, but, if our memory serves us rightly, there were none in the collegiate department proper.
Now, the Faculty consists of ten members. Almost 400 students are in attendance. Twelve States of the Union, and forty-one counties of Kansas, are represented. The new university is 246 feet in length,98 feet wide in the center, wings 62 feet each, and the main audience room is 94 feet long by 56 wide. There are 54 rooms in the building, all designed for the work of instruction. The Natural History department has over 50,000 specimens. Apparatus for experimenting has been provided, and there is the nucleus of a library.
EXCHANGES.
REVIEW OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.
We have received the November number of the Kansas City Review of Science and Industry. It is fully equal to any of its predecessors in point of scientific worth and literary merit. The leading article is a paper by Prof. Snow, already familiar to the readers of the Courier. "Peruvian Antiquities," by E. R. Heath, M. D., is a very valuable and interesting description of the wonderful relics found in the land of the Incas. In an illustrated article by Rev. James French, of Denver, the writer attempts to prove that the Great Pyramid, built by Cheops, was for the purpose of prophecy. He claims that in the pyramids are found hieroglyphics and inscriptions foretelling the advent of Christianity and the exodus of Judaism; argues that man has not existed in Egypt in a civilized state for 13,000 years, as claimed by scientists. The antiquity of man in Egypt is based upon the discovery of pottery and other solid substances, buried beneath the alluvial deposits of the Nile. May not the pottery, on account of its specific gravity, have sunk in obedience to the law of gravitation? The article is very ingenious. The number contains much other scientific
and miscellaneous matter. The subscription price of this excellent magazine is $2.50 a year. We notice the publishers offer to all those who will subscribe to the current volume (Vol. II), to give the whole of the first volume for $1.00, making $3.50 for the two volumes—a fine opportunity to obtain a large amount of excellent reading matter.
Among our exchanges we are always glad to receive the Industrialist, published in the interest of the Agricultural College of this State. It is full of useful as well as entertaining reading matter. It especially deserves the patronage of the industrial men and women of Kansas.
The Niagara Index is the perest exchange we receive. It seems to take special delight in cutting and slashing, and is the recipient of a great deal of criticism from contemporary papers. But from the general appearance we should judge it able to hold its own.
The Student Life, from Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., is almost our beau ideal of what a college paper should be; good type, well selected articles, and the spice of college news. We wish you success.
The Denison Collegian, a sixteen page paper, published at Granville, Ohio, is a model of neatness and good wormanship. Denison University may well be proud of her paper.
The Earlhamite, published monthly by the Ionian society of Earlham College, in the matter of typography, is good.
For a wide awake, newsy college paper, the most fastidious can find one of this description in the College Courier, published at Monmouth, Illinois. Its articles are concise and to the point. Come often.
The American Journal of Education is a literary paper of much worth, as the most of our Kansas teachers and students can testify, and too well known to the majority of our readers to need comment. But we would advise every man, woman, and child in the State of Kansas, interested in the cause of education, to subscribe for the paper. A specimen copy will be sent to any address upon the receipt of a three cent stamp. All correspondence should be directed to Mr. J. B. Merwin or Mr. R. D. Shannon, St. Louis, Mo.
The November number of the Campus, Meadville, Pa., is at hand. Its articles are very chaste and instructive. The typography and general appearance are excellent.
The College Herald, University of Lewisburg, Pa., is a 12 page paper published monthly by the Theta Alpha and Euepian literary societies of the University at Lewisburg. The November number is well adapted for home reading.
The Wittenberger, published at Springfield, Ohio, is a fine specimen of college enterprise, and is an honor to the institution. In the November number may be found several instructive and interesting articles. One article, especially, on the "Evil of Cramming," by Prof. W. H. Wynn, is well worth reading.
The Kansas Collegiate has issued a 12 page holiday number. It shows decided prosperity.
The last number of the Pastime is on our table. It has doubled its size since our last issue. The last number contains more solid matter than heretofore, yet it has not decreased in its wit in the least.
Since our last we have received the Deaf Mute Index, published by the State Mute and Blind Institute, of Colorado. O.J.Kennedy, an old student of the University, is editor in chief.