Kansas University Weekly.
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and that the university is to come into touch with practical affairs. But this has always been the aim of the typical Western university, and in that we have accomplished much in this direction, we may claim in this respect to be abreast if not in advance of some of those more favored in years, prestige and wealth. Again the ceremonial itself is typical of conservatism; and while conservatism is in general eminently wise, it does occasionally prevent an institution from filling full the measure of its possible usefulness. We may not in our 150th year overtake Princeton in actual, but we may surpass it in comparative achievements. What we most need now is such a body of alumni as Princeton has; and this we shall have very soon.
And finally, the founding of the University of Princeton means to Kansas University men something even more practical. It means I trust graduate fellowships and scholarships, the opening of new opportunities to us, the establishing in time I hope of a Kansas colony at Princeton as well as at Harvard, where we have won such a distinguished place. Not that the graduate work of our own institution is to be disregarded, but that even if our library were ample, it is still better, other things being equal for the graduate student to change his point of view, for the Princeton student to come to Kansas, and for the Kansas student to go to Princeton. Thus each will do its part in wiping out the new sectionalism, and in placing scholarship at the helm in all matters affecting the well-being and the happiness of a common country. E.M.HOPKINS.
L. A. Lowther, Superintendent.
J. H. Patten at Harvard.
The following extracts taken from a recent letter of J. H. Patten, may be of interest to his many friends in the University, as showing his opinion of the East in general and Harvard university in particular.
Mr. L. A. Lowther, '94 was elected superintendent of the Emporia City Schools, Tuesday, November, 3. Mr. Lowther graduated from the University with the class of '94 and since graduation has been engaged in successful school work at the head of the schools of Cottonwood Fall. There were many applicants for the place at Emporia, and Mr. Lowther is to be congratulated upon this deserved success in obtaining the position.
This is a great country! Queer topography and queer people and queer weather. But th're all right when you once learn how to take them. When you once understand that you're apt to stub your toe on a hill in any direction you go and that you're likely to get a stone bruise any time or anywhere; and when you comprehend empirically that heaven's eternal law of weather as prognosticated by the various phases of the moon is kept and violated arbitrarily, when you are converted to the faith that the prolonged droll of the letter r and the extreme flattening of the a are not to be considered as affectations and are not looked upon by the "Yankee" as signs of eastern culture; it is then that the feeling will creep on you that this country is all right in its way.
I can't tell you much about this historic spot as yet. I've had several exhilerating bicycle rides, a little of the pleasure of which I wish I could send out to you. It inspires one with a deal of patriotism to visit the numerous tablets and read of some of the bold patriotic strokes for liberty and for country. There is an impulse to take off the hat when the tombs of modern and colonial heroes are visited.
I'd be pleased to spend a decade or so here. I wouldn't want to live here, I've too much western spirit in me for that. It would get the best of me too often in order to be successful.
The "colony" fares well, except Breese who was called home a week ago because of the critical condition of his mother.
I wish I could prevail on you to come here for a year's work. You will observe that I've already become a Harvard enthusiast. It can't be helped the air is full of the odor.
I am kept somewhat close at work or I might have hastely scribbled you a few scratches long since. Everything new—even the departments I am in—so there is considerable wasted energy and more or less friction.