Kansas University Weekly.
303
SIDE TALKS WITH FRESHMEN.
Newman-It is hard to say just what explanation should be given when one hands in his "pony" with his quiz book. Perhaps it may be assumed that the professor understands the situation so thoroughly that no explanation is necessary.
InnocenceThe wind mill cider press is as some say of Santa Claus, only a myth, which may in a measure account for your inability to find it.
Lottie—No, the writer of "Side Talks" is Anon, and he (or she) will not think of giving his (or her) picture to persons of the opposite sex.
Jennie—It was at one time thought that a "Junior Law" had studied so hard as to make himself sick. But it has since been discovered that it was only a case of plain neuralgia in the face. The annals do not report another "Law" who has been suspected of such a thing.
Dot—Yes, they play foot ball at Baker, but only "once through, not to repeat." After a successful game the players are given a vacation to recuperate.
Jimmy--You are quite right. The very fact that you have always hung up your stocking at Christmas and have got something in it, is sufficient proof to any rational mind that Santa Claus does exist whatever your professor may say to the contrary. It is possible that if we had done some of the things the professors have done Santa Claus wouldn't put anything in our stockings, either.
CuriousThe old wind mill has its origin and purpose of construction veiled in somewhat of a mystery. Prof. Carruth thinks, because of its resemblance to the wind mills of the Netherlands, that it came to us from Holland, having originated, perhaps, in the upper Rhein country. Its construction here he regards as only the natural outgrowth of the German tendency to perpetuate the institutions of the fatherland. Prof. Wilcox admits that it doubtless came to us directly from the Germans but thinks a thing of
such exquisite beauty could only have originated with the Greeks, the idea having been taken to Germany perhaps at the time of the migration of the Greek scholars. Its being built here at such an early date he regards as only another proof of the universal tendency of people aiming at culture to imitate Grecian art. Dr. Holmes concedes the triumph of the Grecian theory in the main by a good round majority, but insists that whatever is of any value from the Greek must have come to us through the Romans. His theory is that having been brought to Rome, it fell under the eye of the great Caesar who appreciated its beauty and worth: and, on one of his campaigns into Gaul, Caesar being short of elephants, took with him a wind mill to frighten the savages. In this campaign, he crossed the Rhein into "the enemy's country" and not being very successful decided to recross it. At the bridge, being somewhat hard pressed, he abandoned what otherwise might have been an elephant on his hands." The wind mill's construction here he regards as some college missionary work, for the dissemination of culture among the lowly. Prof. Dunlap thinks that he has discovered that it was constructed by the Pottawatomie Indians with the express purpose of having a kind of intellectual oasis, in the existence of a something with the tumble-down-ness of an old castle, in order to, in a measure, satiate the famishing soul of "Sweetness and Light" when he should come to this country. But alas he didn't get this far and went home displeased. Anon, thinks that the plan was taken from a farm journal, and that the wind mill was constructed by some old farmer who wished to grind corn for his hogs.
Of course you comprehend that these opinions stand only for so much as they are worth. They are given here only as pointers and it remains for your generation, dear Freshman, to discover the real origin of this old historic structure.