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Kansas University Weekly.
The first two volumes of Dr. Rein's "Peda-gisches Handbuch" have been received for the library.
Prof. Bailey went to Fort Scott Monday to attend the meeting of the Pharmaceutical Association.
The students of the advanced English class have been busy for several days in writing arguments and briefs. These papers are handed to other members of the class for corrections and suggestons. Some of the comments are at least decidedly interesting. The following were noted under the subject "McKinley is the man for president."
Conclusion inevitable.
Be careful that you do not become impassioned Owing fo Mr.McKinley's great unpopularity I would suggest that you make your argument conciliatory.
You take too much for granted.
Who is this McKinley?
As far this man McKinley we wot not who he is.
Be careful not to take acquaintance with unknown persons for granted.
Are you sure the subject is adequate?
Your proof is superfluous; the proposition is self-evident.
You should have concealed your attitude until the close of your argument.
EDITOR K. U. WEEKLY:-show any rational-or sentimental-relation between the color and the University. The old colors—which, I believe are still the official colors, and are very dear to the older students had some significance. They were typical of two prominent features of the Kansan autumn landscape—the blue sky, and the ripe, yellow, corn-fields.
I have noticed with interest the movement toward a change of the Univetsity color and wish to add my voice in favor of a change. So far as I could ever learn, the only reason for the adoption of the crimson and the abandonment of the time-honored blue and yellow was, that the former would be more showy on the athletic field. This fact is undeniable, but it is not the only one that should be considercd. The colors of a college ought to be, if possible, in some way emblematic of the school. This characteristic the crimson has not. Even such ingenious and energetic advocates of its adoption as John Rush, failed to
There are objections, however, to the yellow and blue as well as to the crimson. The former are the colors of Michigan; the latter, of Harvard. Now there is nothing we Kansans are so fearful of as of being accused of imitation. "Originality at any cost" seems to be our motto. It appears to have been overlooked that this motto would preclude the adoption of the colors recently proposed in your columns. Blue and crimson is a combination as inharmonious as the relations between the Universities (Yale and Harvard.) whose colors they are; and it is, futhermore, the combination already in use by the University of Pennsylvania If Kansas University is to imitate any other, let it imitate the best, by keeping the crimson. Any one who has seen the crimson and the blue and red together on the foot-ball field must admit that the former is by far the most pleasing.
But the desire for a change from the crimson is well founded. The reasons indicated, as well as the wish of certain influential and staunch friends of the University, should be regarded. Of the colors I have mentioned the old blue and yellow seem the least objectionable. But cannot others, not used elsewhere, and yet as appropriate, be found? Why not the brown and yellow of the sunflower? Care should of course be taken to select pleasing and harmonious shades of these often ugly colors. Although black and yellow are used at least by two American Universities, so far as I know, brown and yellow are not in use—not at least by any college of such importance that Kansas University could be accused of imitation. Why not the brown and yellow.?
Very truly yours,
Cambridge, Mass. RALPH W. CONE.
May 16, 1896.