THE UNIVERSITY COURIER.
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the State. Such an assertion scarcely deserves the dignity of a reply. Why should the superstructure seek to undermine the substrata? The Regents of the University have prepared a course of study corresponding to the preparatory department of the institution. This course, if pursued, will admit the applicant to the Freshman class of the University without examination. If the school boards of the State do not adopt the course, surely they are at fault, and not the University. If the people of Kansas wish to abolish the preparatory department of the University, let them raise the standard of their high schools, and the department will vanish for want of students.
The increase of students from neighboring States indicates the popularity of the institution abroad. The geographical situation of the University of Kansas indicates that it is soon destined to be one of the greatest educational institutions in the country. The people of Missouri, on the east, are, for the most part, not a school supporting people, for it is a fact very generally known, that at Paris, while Kansas took a premium upon her educational system, Missouri took a premium upon her lager beer. The better classes of people of our sister State, seeing the superior educational advantages of the Kansas University, will send their sons and daughters here to acquire an education. The same is true of Texas and the Indian Territory, which will soon be opened to settlement, New Mexico, and the country of the South-west, now being rapidly settled. The people of Colorado, on the west, are similar to the people of Kansas in their habits and occupations. The University of Kansas would answer the same purposes to them as a University within their own State. When the University of Michigan had reached the age now attained by the Kansas University, her prospects were far less flattering than are those of our institution to-day. And it is a fact, not generally known, that the University of Kansas, although in her infancy, is to-day close upon the heels of the University of Michigan. A bright future is dawning for our University, and it will be but a short time until she has as many students as the institutions which she now equals in scholarship.
COLLEGIANA.
The Archery Club entertained a number of friends on the evening of the 31st ult., at the residence of Miss Jo. March, on Kentucky street.
Prof. Snow delivered an instructive and interesting lecture on meteors, before his Senior class in Meteorology, on Wednesday of last week.
Prof. Patrick is billed for a lecture before the Leavenworth Academy of Science, to be delivered on January 23d, on the subject, "Chemistry in the Arts."
Col. Halderman, of Leavenworth, has donated to the University a bottle filled with water from the river Jordan. The water was taken from the river by Col. Halderman himself, a short distance below Jericho.
Last summer the campus was surveyed and computations made of the dirt to be excavated. It is thought the grounds will be leveled next spring. We understand that many of the public spirited farmers in the neighborhood of Lawrence think of giving a day to the work. The work could be done on the same plan as that of setting out the trees last spring.
A large lot of pictures have lately been added to the Latin and Greek departments. They represent various places and events in Greek and Roman history, and besides making the rooms attractive will be very useful in fixing in the memory events which, without such assistance, would be difficult to retain.
We had a pleasant talk, on last Monday evening, with Mr. Charles S. Gleed, city editor of the Lawrence Journal. He is making a canvass of the State with Col. J. R. Hallowell, candidate for Congressman at large. Mr. Gleed, besides being one of the best city editors in the State, is a cordial, entertaining gentleman.-Paola Citizen.
At the gallery of Mr. Da Lee, on South Tennessee street, may be seen three large pictures of General Frazer, Prof. B.C. Smith, and Prof. Bardwell. The photographs were taken by Mr. Da Lee, and were aftewards sent to St. Louis to be "retouched." The pictures are very life like, and are faithful representations of three brilliant men, who, when living, were noble and kind hearted, and of each of whom it might be said, he was that "noblest work of God—an honest man." The pictures will be placed in the Regents' room.
As was previously announced in Chapel, the Faculty "took the honor upon themselves" of giving a reception to the students, on Thursday evening, the 25th ult. The affair was well attended and all present enjoyed themselves. Solos were sung by Misses Collier and Neill, and Mr. G.C. Smith, and college songs by a number of students. We would like to ask, without appearing immodest, why these receptions cannot be given every three months instead of annually. They are sources of much pleasure and profit.
Prof. Robinson delivered an able lecture in University Hall on Tuesday evening, the 29th ult., upon the subject,"The Historical Value of Linguistic Study." The following account of the lecture we take from a report published in the Kansas City Review of Science and Industry:
"The subject is one of unusual interest, and was well handled by Prof. Robinson, who traced familiar words in our language through various changes, back to the original and often much more expressive word, in a language now no longer heard."
"He explained also how similarity in the grammatical structure of two different languages points to a community of origin, although the resemblance would not show itself in words of like sound. He gave a brief and interesting history of the growth of the present English language, advertising to the different foreign elements that were from time to time introduced, and which modified, in some instances greatly modified, the essential structure."
The G. E. B. Club, a young ladies literary society, celebrated Hallowe'en at the residence of Mr. L. Bullene. The club spent the night with Miss Gertie, entertaining their gentlemen friends from half past seven until twelve o'clock, and many were the pryings into futurity on that night so full of prophecy. Among the means of ascertaining some of fate's decrees was a cake containing a ring, thimble and money, which was passed to the girls, each one anxious as to her lot; but the decision passed, declaring that Miss Lou Rankin would be married within a year, that Miss Hattie Lewis would be destined to earn her livelihood by means of the thimble, and that Miss Lizzie Miller would become wealthy. Altogether it was pronounced one of the most enjoyable times for many a day, by everyone present. And while the Hallowe'en tricks, music and dancing, were going on within the house, all the witches, fairies, and other mischief-making beings, must have been let loose without; for alas, when the gentlemen came to go home, in what condition they did find their carriages! Especially confusing were the wheels of Prof. Patrick's "saddle."