THE STUDENTS JOURNAL.
PUBLISHED WEEKLY
Bv the
Students Journal Pub. Go.
R. W, Cone...Editor-in-Chief
E. W, Ealtmire...Laborer Editor
Margaret E. Menet...Literary Editor
M. L, Bishoff...Managing Editor
BUSINESS MANAGERS.
J A. Simpson, Adna G. Clarke
ASSOCIATES.
L. N. Flint...Exchanges
C. W. Armor...Athletics
F. H. Johnson...Local
W. N. Logan...Snow Hall
C. V. Hickman...Law School
W. O. Gabbraith...Engineering
The stock of the STUDENT'S JOURNAL company consists of non-trans shares, and 1% of the shares instructor or employee of the University may hold one and only one share.
WE give to our readers, in another column, the poem which Hon. Eugene F. Ware recited in concluding his address at the opening of the University. It is quite short but in it—so Mr. Ware thinks, and wengree with him—lies the key to success.
ey to success.
IT is the intention of the STUDENTS JOURNAL to avoid discussion of the library fee; first, because the subject has already been fully considered, pro and con, and hence further discussion can serve only to stir up hard feeling, and second, because further discussion of the question is likely to make the University unpopular among the people of Kansas by spreading abroad passionate and exaggerated statements made by partisans on both sides of the question. However, it would be unjustifiable silence to allow manifestly unfair and partisan statements to pass unreubaked.
EVERY one connected with the University has heard, with pleasure, of the action of the University Council upon the petition, which we mentioned last week, presented to it by the faculty of the School of Arts. This petition prayed for the abolition of the Wednesday half holiday, and the request was granted by the Council. During the months when the Wednesday half holiday was on trial it proved itself a most thorough nuisance, both to professors and to students. The principal purpose for which it was established—to bring the boys out to the physical culture classes on Saturdays—never seemed to us to warrant the great inconvenience caused to so many persons. Experience has now shown us that the old plan of five whole days of school and a whole holiday each week is based upon something more than mere custom. We have yet to hear of the person who is not glad to have the the Wednesday half holiday done away with.
We have the satisfactory of giving our readers, in this issue, the promised supplement in memory of the late Charles Robinson. It has seemed fitting that the STUDENTS JOURNAL, the paper that represents the school toward the advancement of which Governor Robinson exerted so much influence, should devote considerable space to a review of his work, now that his labor here is over. As we have before explained, unavoidable circumstances have made it impossible to obtain a sufficiently comprehensive review in time for publication in an earlier issue. We believe, however, that our readers will be glad that we have waited, for now we publish articles from the pens of two old and intimate friends of the late Governor Robinson, Chancellor F. H. Snow and Rev. Richard Cordley. We know of no one better fitted to write on their respective subjects than are these two men. Their articles do not seek to present Charles Robinson, the public man,—this has already been done by the newspapers of the of the country—but rather they seek to give such less known phases of his life and work as will be of especial interest to all persons interested in the University of Kansas. The portrait is an excellent likeness of our late friend and patron as he has appeared of late years.
CANNOT some one suggest a plan for preventing the loss of time now caused by waiting for the arrival of text books? At the beginning of every term of the University there are classes which are obliged to wait for several days before they can begin their work because the necessary books must be ordered from some eastern dealer. It seems difficult to suggest a cure for this evil because it does not seem possible to fix the blame upon any one party. The local book dealers secure from the professors lists of the text books to be used in their departments and also 'the number of students
likely to be enrolled in each class. Upon these estimates of the number of students the book men base their orders, but they are of course very careful not to get too many books. They prefer to be upon the safe side and order too few, for a few books left upon their hands would consume all their profit. They cannot be sure of a sale even by carrying the surplus books until the next year for, in order to always use the best and latest authority, the professors must often make changes in their lists of texts. It does not seem possible to put the blame for the present conditions upon either book dealers or professors; neither can it be placed upon the shoulders of the students, for they generally do not know just what courses they will take nor what books they will need until the first or second day of the term, at the earliest. What can be done?
On last Friday the first issue, for this year, of the University Courier appeared, to gladden the hearts and inform the minds of the students. We note this fact carefully and call the attention of our readers to it, because we feel that we have a debt of gratitude to acknowledge. The indebtedness is so great, however, that we have no hopes of ever repaying it we can only acknowledge our obligation. For fear, however, that our readers may not at once discern the reason for our thankfulness to the Courier, we hasten to state that we are thankful because of the publication in its editorial columns of a remarkably clear, fair, logical, and broad-minded dissertation upon the library fee matter. This article sets beyond any possible doubt the question of the legality of the fee by declaring it legal. For the information of those who are unacquainted with the facts let us state that during his first year in the University the editor of the Courier was registered as taking a course preparatory to this. We, suppose, is what enables him to settle off hand a legal question concerning which several old and experienced lawyers are said to hold entirely different views. But the fee being legal, every one should pay it, for every one should obey the fee by declaring it legal. They might say every one should obey the law by not paying it. However, such illogical and evil argument is actually refuted by the Courier's cry of "traitor." It is further shown that the fee is right and should be paid by the students because the like amount of money cannot be obtained elsewhere. A truly unassailable argument! But the same argument will justify the highwayman. All patriotic students, who have the interest of the University at heart will gladly contribute the sum required. Those who will not are self-seeking scoundrels, seeking maliciously to injure the school. It matters not that the leaders of the movement oppose the fee because they claim that it is contrary to the spirit of the public school system, of which the University is the head, and that it is not for the ultimate good of the institution. No, no; such arguments will not avail. Those who advance them are "disgruntled politicians" trying to "help themselves into prominence;" they "love selfishness enough to care for themselves first and the University last;" they are dead to all feeling of patriotism; they are "traitors." Long life and much glory to the Courier for having boldly unmask these Benedict Arnolds.
Each succeeding year more and more of the graduates of Kansas University go to eastern schools to carry or their special lines of work further that can be done here or to study branches not yet thoroughly taught in the West. This movement will continue to increase as long as the Kansas people continue to become more prosperous, financially, and better educated; nor will it cease when Kansas educational institutions attain to as high rank as is held by the eastern schools. The sole advantage which an eastern school has for westerners does not consist of its greater number of professors and courses, nor of its better material equipment. These do not even constitute its principal advantage. Its great value to the westerner lies in the very fact that it is located in the East. The Kansan attending Harvard is made a broader man by the local influence and by the influence of his fellow students, gathered from all parts of the country. He becomes more truly a citizen of the United States and le s of a provincial Kansan. In becoming a truer American he becomes also a better Kansan, and this is one of the most needed things in our country, that we should become broad patrolts instead of narrow partizans, working for the selfish advantage of a single state or district. It seems far better, however, for the western boy and girl to remain in the West and until they have studied for two or three years at least, in some institution of higher learning. If they go East sooner they will have very little idea of what their own state is, knowing but the one little locality around their homes. Then too, the change from the common school to the college is the most trying period in the life of the student and the change is made with less danger and discomfort under circumstances and among surroundings differing but little from those to which the student is accustomed than among strange surroundings. After a few years in college near home the student may safely be sent further away to obtain a broader acquaintance with the world. The time will come when the same arguments which we have mentioned in favor of the western going to an eastern college will be seen to be equally pertinent as reasons why the easterner should come to school. The East, proud of its older civilization and culture, will be slow to see the force of these arguments, but the time must come.
Snow Hall.
Prof. Williston has just completed the work on West Indian Diptera which has occupied much of his time for the past three years. He will send the last of the manuscript for the work to England in a few days. He expects to get out next year a Manual of Diptera, which will be a revision of a former work, or rather a rewritten work based upon a smaller book of the professor's, which is now in use in all of the principal entomological laboratories of this country.
The work in which Professor Willisim is most interested at present is the restoration of the sabre-toot tiger upon which he has been working for some time. This tiger is an entirely new species and may perhaps be a new genus as well. It has never before been found in the geological formation in which which this particular specimen was discovered. E. S. Riggs is doing special work on this subject and the winter or spring number of the University Quarterly will contain a restoration of the tiger and an article concerning it.
The systematic botany class have been giving their attention to bacteria the past week.
Prof. Dyche 'will remain in New York a short time
A freshman started down the tobogan slide of the lecture room the other day but landed safely against a pillar. Prof. Williston is giving the class in vertebrate anatomy a few lectures on human osteology.
The students taking the preparatory medical course or preparing for it, received the news of the future establishment of a medical school as a department of the university with delight.
No one was quite so happy yesterday morning as was Miss Watson our competent and obliging librarian, for her new kingdom was opened to the students then. Of course, having a beautiful new building all her own, she feels herself to be the most favored—and most important—member of the faculty.
Spooner Library Building.
All parts of the building are not yet ready for occupancy, but the principal rooms, the reading-room and stack-room, are completed. The seminary room of the department of history and sociology is the only one now ready for use, but four others will soon be fitted up for use by various other departments. There are in all seven rooms that may be used for seminary rooms but only five will be fitted up now, as the other two are not needed. These seminary rooms will be very convenient, as in each one of them will be kept the most necessary books used by the students in the department to which that particular seminary room belongs.
We publish in another place the rules for their use, as well as for the stack-room and reading-room.
The alcoves along the south side of the reading-room will also be found to be great conveniences.
A large audience met in room 15 last. Friday at four o'clock to hear what Professor Blackmar had to say on the economic effects of the Pullman strike. After waiting for some time, during which Professor Blackmar did not appear, Professor Hodder dismissed the disappointed audience. Later inquiry showed that Professor Blackmar was taken suddenly sick a short time before four o'clock. He was able to meet classes on Monday, however, and today he will give the promised address upon the Pullman strike.
Historical Seminary.
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OUR STUDY WINDOW.
As long as the meadows may bloom,
and as long as the brooks may run.
The brain will forever be winning as
brains... never won.
Commanding the battle of life till the
battle of life is done.
Commanding the battle of life till the battle of life is done.
No! No! The idea is error: The brain never wins the fight:
Its contests are seldom decided, its reasoning rarely right;
The multitude watches its failures and ridicules with delight.
But long as the grass may be growing, and long as the waters run. The heart will forever be winning, as hearts forever have won. Commanding the battle of life till the battle of life is done.
[Eugene F. Ware]
Tonight Our Study Window is ablaze with light. We see a large gayly decorated room filled with people surging to and fro. The bright and various costumes and to the brilliancy of the gas jets and increase the attractiveness of the picture. Sweet strains of music and the babble of tongues, in faint echo, come to our ear.
The throng presses near; there is a restless movement in the room; introductions here, introductions there; a few remarks of light nature and then a movement forward. The people, most of them, at least, are evidently strangers and unable to advance in a conversational way beyond the mere trivialities of an introduction. There seems to be no hostess or entertainment committee; the reception is given by the R. C. Society.
Two figures stand out in prominence from the crowd; Those of a young lady and gentleman. They have run through the commonplaces concerning the weather, the night, the occasion, have shifted about for some common ground of interest, but have not found it. Still they stand glued to the floor and to each other, both wishing to be away, both unable to move.
"Do you belong to the R. C. S."? The gentleman asked the question and asked it in the most uncompromising manner, ready to accept only one answer.
Two other figures next appear in the foreground; again those of a boy and girl. A boy? A man in years perhaps, but a boy in social experience. He likes to meet people, but doesn't quite know what to say to them. He is conscious that he is not particularly well dressed, that his shoes squeak: but he doesn't care, perhaps there is even a little touch of pride in his independence.
"No. I don't," answered the girl with a slight toss of the head that seemed to say, "I wouldn't belong to it." She tried to restrain the toss and the accompanying implication, but it was called forth by the unyielding behavior of her questioner.
The young man stands rigidly silent. He has his opinion of the young woman who wouldn't belong to the R.C.S. The girl looks at her hands in a bored, rather than embarrassed manner. She has her opinion of the young man who disapproves her conduct in not joining the R.C.S. But the crowd soon separates them; they are lost to view.
The girl, a bright little creature, is doing her best to perform the social task imposed upon her. There is a strong suggestion of "huffiness" about her; hair, dress and manner all help to form it. She talks in a gay, energetic manner, but her eyes are on the young man in the farther end of the room, attired in evening dress, already surrounded by a cluster of young ladies. Her companion answers her in monosyllables and keeps his eyes fixed upon her. He has a feeling that at any minute she may spread wings and fly away; "the little butterfly," he has mentally named her. He plainly doesn't know what to do with a girl of that kind, would like to dismiss her with "there, run away, little, girl and play with your dolls." And she would certainly appreciate a more talkative companion.
At this point we begin to wonder what the object of this course? There is nodding, smiling, low murmuring of polite phrases, but no one seems to be really enjoying himself. A meets B, but casts furtive glance at C, he would like so much to meet C. And C meets D, but hates to talk to a person who has no social gloss; it makes her feel so conspicuous. Ah, we believe we have it now. The object of the R. C. Society i sto place people i in difficult and trying positions. This experience will sit them for the struggle of life; it will "harden them to the rough ways of the world," as English educators say when they defend the blanket-tossing and similar