THE STUDENTS JOURNAL
PUBLISH D WEEKLY
Students Journal Publishig Company
J M SHELER ... Editor + chief
F K SOLOR-TROM ... Literary Editor
H JM STEEL ... Local Editor
W Y M RAYMOND ... Exchange editor
BUSINESS MANAGERS.
C. T. SOUTHWICK, W.J. KRENBIEL.
SUB EDITORS.
SUBEPD
H. C. Riggs
M. C. Pettit
A. K. Hope
A. K. Walkill
Miss Helen Wynne,
Been Footer,
S. E. Bromson,
Herbert Levy
THE STUDENTS JOURNAL. is just now entering a larger field of usefulness. Under the new staff it must go steadily forward.
The State University has been almost crippled in the last two years because of insufficient appropriations. Its growing field creates growing needs. We hope the state will make liberal appropriations this year —Udall Record. Every well informed editor, who expresses his opinion on the subject, makes the same plea.
This spring the Triangular League should by all means have field day exercises on our excellent athletic grounds. Contestants from all Kansas colleges should be admitted. It would encourage athletics in Kansas, and would bring members of different schools together in a friendly and profitable relation.
In retiring from office, it is a vice common to college editors, to write valedictories. It is recognized as being the fashionable thing to do. We hope we are neither vicious nor fashionable, and, as we see no other cause for any one's writing valedictories, we hope to receive the thanks of humanity for holding our silence
It is estimated from authentic reports that Prof Snow's chinch bug exterminator saved Kansas farmers $300,952.52. With this kind of a report the University ought to fare sumptuously at the hands of the present legislature. Our University is an honor and credit to our state and should be kept up to its high standard.-Santa Fe Monitor.
Now that the honorary fraternities are selecting members, we may expect to hear members of the undergraduate fraternities say, as is their custom on such occasions, that some more Independents have finally become Greeks. To hear members of the dancing societies comparing themselves thus with the members of the honorary fraternities, reminds one of a toad attempting to yoke itself with an ox. There is no more resemblance between the honorary fraternities than there is between a lady bug and a humbug.
GENius as lightning flashes across the firmament, astonishing mankind. It rives mountains asunder. There is grandeur in its deeds. Not so the bookworm. Silently and slowly, as continents rising from the ocean, it prepares food and sustenance for millions. Genius uses mankind for a jest, and in return is adored; the bookworm is man's most helpful friend, yet is left to roll through the long silent nights, neglected and alone. This is the old story again of the humble private soldier, in the capacity of a bleeding target, and of his daily dressed commander who never endangers himself, but receives all the glory.
In order to excuse Mr. Riddle for plagiarism, Judge Thacher is reported as saying some preachers appropriate bodily the addresses of other ministers and claim that they do it unconsciously. We would advise congregations, having such preachers, to relieve the ministers of their charges as soon as possible and to lock their barn doors. Whether Judge Thacher is a competent judge in such matters as the present one, every individual has the right to his opinion, and it might be no little aid in forming that opinion, to know that Judge
Thacher believes he possesses pictures of the spirits of some of his former acquaintants who are now dead. Next, we may expect the spirit of Gabriel to come and deliver his opinion
In the present case of plagiarism, if the faculty are not moved by a sense of honor, they must as a matter of policy awake from their lethery. If they allow this case to pass, without taking any action on it, in all future cases they must act in the same manner.
WITHIN the last few days such conversions as the following have frequently been heard in the halls:
X: Well, if the STUDENTS JOURNAL said it, it's s.
Y: Yes; if the JOURNAL said it, Did it s. y. it?
Z. Yes; yes; that's just what it said.
X and Y, accompanied by a full chorus:
Well, it's true then; you can depend on it.
It tells the truth, every time.
Such a verdict, given by the public; is the highest recommendation any paper can have. It is far more gratifying than personal compliments.
Echo: You bet, every time.
THERE are two methods of properly managing libraries. The first method is to have published rules for the guidance of those carrying books home; the second method is to allow books to remain out until called for by the librarian. Our library is conducted by neither of these methods. But, on the contrary, unfootnotes are now and then informed that fines are against them. What for? For being guilty of violating unpublished rules. Fining them for such a reason as this is an imposition on students; and, as there is no excuse to be offered for such a practice, the sooner it is abolished the better.
It was with regret and only after consideration that the STUDENT'S JOURNAL made the announcement, which it felt in duty bound to make in its special edition last week. Knowing, as it did that about one half of Mr. Riddle's oration had been copied from the Distinctive Idea in Education, written by the Rev. C B. Hulbert, and that a great part of the other half of the oration had been transcribed somewhat more freely from the same lecture, the Journal would have been a party to the fraud, had it remained silent. When leniency toward one individual is injustice and deception to a whole community, there is but one course to pursue, and that course is to speak the truth plainly. It had to be done. People outside of the University will respect us more, if we expose and condemn our own frauds. Every institution must be self purifying, if it hopes for a prolonged and honorable existence.
Only twenty four hours remained over from the time the comparison between the two productions was finished, until the oration to represent the University at the state contest had to be in Topeka. Some scheme, insuring quick action on the part of the oratorical association, had to be employed. We chose what seemed to be the wisest course. It succeeded. We have now a representative in the state contest. Any other course of action on the part of the STUDENTS JOURNAL would have prevented Mr. Cook's oration from arriving in Topeka before the twenty-four hours were up. The public sees and appreciates that the sentiment of the University is against fraud; the blame rests where it belongs and the fair name of our alma mater remains untarnished.
After searching public and private libraries in Lawrence, without being able to find the Rev. Hulbert's lecture, the Journal began to use the telegraph. Not knowing whether the lecture could be procured in time to send another representative to Topeka, we issued our regular edition, giving the decision of the judges and at the same time printing an extract of the oration. But the press, when the lecture arrived. Only a few hours were remaining. Could we yet compare he pieces? We did hurriedly. A special edition was our only hope. Today the result is known and approved by all. Indeed the man who would not approve honor and public spirit is no man.
LITERARY DEPARTMENT
MAGNEMALITY
Liberal and brave
Men live best.
They seldom cherish sorrow;
But a bare-minded man
Dreads everything;
The niggardly is uneasy even at gifts
—Havamal.
MAGNANIMITY
In the February number of the Literary Northwest, published at St. Paul, Minn. George Taylor Rygh replies to Prof Boyesen's article in a recent number of the North American Review.
We are pleased at receiving a communication this week, favoring examinations. It has always seemed to us that the objections to examinations are urged only by those to whom examinations are an annoyance in that they compel them to do some studying sometime before the end of the term.
**
A novel and extremely ignorant device for literary workers, students, and indeed all who are closely interested in the world's history, is the "Mental Savings Bank." This is a great improvement on the scrap book or indexcram idea, and even on the system of envelope filing for clippings, of which it it is an adaptation and improvement. The arrangement is of five volumes each, with twenty portfolios. The division and classification are thorough and excellent. The inventor is Mr.J Newton Brown, of Minneapolis, Minn.
--worn and heavy robes of those who had gone before him.
The class in advanced English composition were asked recently to write a composition on, "How to Extract Sunshine from Cabbages." The following is one of those handed in: "Extract from the Lawrence Lighting. Plain."
Extract from the Lawrence Lightning, Feb. 29,
1901.
1901.]
Sunshine from Cabbages!
A Great Discovery!!
A German Professor Discovers a Method of Extracting Sunshine from Cabbages! Old Sel No Longer in It!
BERLIN, Feb. 2 — Professor Wilhelm Gottmann of the University of Berlin has discovered a method of extracting sunshine from cabbages. An old German monk of the tenth century, it seems had discovered the process, but was blown up, while experimenting in his laboratory, before he succeeded in making it public. Prof. Gottmann accidentally discovered fragments of the monk's journal, which had found their way into the bottom of a barrel of suerkraut. The receipt is very simple, being as follows: Put two parts of sulphuric acid with one part of the oxide of lead into a glass receiver, stir steadily for four hours with a solid gold ladle and then add fours parts of extract of lightning bugs. This last must be absolutely pure. When this preparation has been left standing for forty-eight hours, it will, if applied to cabbage leaves, produce instantaneous sunshine. Prof. Richtiz declares, that in his opinion, this discovery renders the sun practically useless for all future time. Prof. Johannes, of Wirtemberg, however, is of the opinion that it will take at least a year to raise enough cabbages to start the world off on the new plan.
LATER—A dispatch from London announces that Prof. Huxley refuses to believe in the discovery until he is given ocular demonstration. He says, "We do not know."
DRYDEN'S PROSE STYLE COMPARED WITH SWIFT'S.
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In his history of English literature in the eighteenth century, Edmund Gosse has said of Dryden: "He was not born with a style. His speech came to him slowly, laboriously, and it was by slow degrees that he threw off the cumber some robes of his forerunners,"—and in every sentence—almost in every word—the weight of this laboriousness is felt but when we come to that other great English author, Swift, we find the case very different. He most certainly was born with a style peculiarly his own; on him hardly a sign is to be seen of the
Before Dryden began to write in prose the preyailing style of writing—often beautiful indeed—but fanciful and rambling—had very little simplicity. The sentences were long and involved and the words high sounding and little meaning. In his writings all this is changed. Statements are simply and directly made, even though the effort toward simplicity and directness be obvious. The words, chiefly of Latin origin, are nevertheless quite simple and plain. But in his work there is little that is new; he has merely taken the best of what was written before his time and skillfully used it. His essays on satire and epic poetry, which hold a very high rank in critical literature, are nothing but other men's ideas, well collected, arranged and expressed, with here and there an original thought; and their author claims nothing more for them. Swift's greatest prose works, The Battle of the Books and the Tale of a Tub abound in quintessentially original ideas and expressions. In them we find greater simplicity and plainer Anglo Saxon words than in any of Dryden's writings. Dryden uses sentences the structure of which is manifestly Latin and in which there is little music. They are plain and to the point, but have too many awkward dependent clauses; and it is only by studious care that the reader maintains his interest in the discussions, for there are few happy figures and pointed expressions to keep alive the reader's flagging interest. In some of Swift's sentences there is a melody which by its very sweetness charms the ear. Such figures are often used that he who reads carefully must see clearly.
In vividness and melody few passages surpass this one: "As when two monarch curs, whom native greediness and domestic want provoke and join in partnership, though fearful, nightly to invade the folds of some rich grazier air, they, with tails depressed and lolling tongues, creep soft and slow; meanwhile the conscious moon, now in her zenith on their guilty heads darts perpendicular rays; nor dare they bark, though much provoked at her refugient visage, whether seen in puddle by reflection or in sphere direct; but one surveys the region round, while the other scouts the plain, if happy to discover, at distance from the flock, some carcase half devoured. * * * * . So marched this lovely loving pair of friends, nor with less fear and circum precision."
The criticism might well be made that, in such a sentence as this, too much time and space is devoted to the comparison, that the structure is anything but simple, and that the words are by no means short and plain; yet it seems to me that had Swift merely said that Wotton and Bentley with due precaution attached some author already half defeated, he would have given us a sentence of much less vigor and beauty, of much less vividness and melody.
The number of Latin quotations in Driven's essays is almost appalling to the reader, and he eagerly turns to Swift to find alas! that here, too, line after line of Latin verse is quoted. There is much more of this in the Tale of a Tub than in any other of Swift's productions, the cause being found perhaps, in the very affected and pedantic character of Peter.
Though in individual sentences we find Dryden making his statements directly and simply, we cannot say that the structure of a complete work of his is as simple as most of Swift's productions. For instance in his essay on satire he uses forty pages out of a hundred in complimenting Lord Dorset and enlarging upon these compliments. In his essay on epic poetry he begins so directly unison his subject, and makes so few flattering allusions to the Earl of Mulgrave, to whom the essay was addressed, that the reader fondly hopes no such flattery will be found. Suddenly, after twenty pages have been read his lordship, "whose thoughts are always just, your numbers harmonious, your words chosen, your
expressions strong and manly, your verse flowing, and your turns as happy as they are easy," and who has half a page more of bright and shining excellencies, is most unexpected and needlessly introduced. In Swift there is little of this unnecessary servility. In the book-seller's dedication to the "Tale of a Tub" he says: "But to ply the world with an old beaten story of your wit and eloquence and learning, and wisdom and justice and politeness and candor, and evenness of temper in all scenes of life, with forty other common topics. I confess I have neither conscience nor countenance to do it," and weary of Dryden's fulsome flattery, we feel that we could have sounded the praise of the man who deals with the subject in hand and lets his patron's good qualities alone—to his great glory and honor—let it be said.
Swift is undoubtedly a much more entertaining writer than Dryden, and the reason of this is evident. First of all the subjects treated by the two authors are vastly different. To be sure, the "Battle of the Books" treats of a subject not so very different from that treated in the essay on satire, but how much dissimilarity is found in the two methods of handling the subject? In Dryden's essay we have an abundance of evidence and example to prove the stand he takes. Careful, critical, the result of much labor, his work is justly held in high esteem. But we have no especial curiosity to know what the author will say in the next sentence; while in Swift's "Battle of the Books" a strong interest is felt throughout; and in some of his other works, especially in the "Modest Proposal," an indescribable and shuddering curiosity to see what will come next urges one to read on and on.
Some one has said that Dryden was neglected because his work showed no individuality, and Swift honored because of his pleasing novelty and individuality as an author. In this fact lies, perhaps, the real secret of Swift's greater charm.
M. H.
+ +
In this the last number of the STUDENTS JOURNAL under the management of the present staff, we, the literary member of it, feel moved to say a few words in explanation of the oftentimes poor quality of the matter in our column. In the absence of assistance, our aim has been as far as possible to see to it that all copy for the paper should be written in correct and choice English, and that in its printed form, should reach the reader unsheathed by the ruthless hand of the compositor or of the foreman. Consequently we have had little leisure to devote ourselves editorially to things literary. If at times the typography of the Journal has been visibly worse than usual, it is because at those times we were not able to be on hand to read proof.
We hope that our successor may have adequate assistance in the mechanical work of the position, and that he or she may devote him or herself to higher things. Whoever it may be, he or she may depend on us for occasional help in the way of suggestion and contribution.
Secretary Henry Fiegenbaum of the oratorical association last Friday evening sent out the orations for the state contest to the judges. The judges who will decide the winner of the state contest in thought and composition are Mr. T. E. Dewey, of Abilene; Prof. O. E. Olin, of Mahhattan; Mr. Albert Perry, of Troy; on delivery there are Hon. S. S. Kirkpatrick, Fredonia; Judge Frank Doster, Marion; Hon. Geo. R. Peck, Topkape. An open rate of one and one-third fare on the certificate plan has been granted by the railroads but most of the colleges have made arrangements for coach transportation. The State Normal wil have present a delegation of 200. Baker 110 and the University is calculating o 235.
Misses Bessie Hand of Holton, Myrtle Moore of White Cloud, Margie Webb of Atchison, were visiting Uniiversity people last week.
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