Kansas University Weekly.
27
Prof. L. I. Blake has accepted an invitation to deliver the annual address at the commencement of the Kansas City Medical college this year.
The great social event of the season-a University ball—will occur some time in March at the armory. Music from Kansas City will be secured.
Of the six contestants who are to take part in the preliminary to the Kansas-Nebraska debate two are law students and the other four are from the Department of Arts.
For railroad tickets to the oratorical contest at Topeka see W. W. Reno or B. B. McCall. If a sufficient number of tickets can be sold a special train or at least two or three coaches will be engaged. Price of tickets, 80 cents for round trip.
"Young man," said the Professor on examination day, to the student who had been using a translation of Cæsar throughout the term, "will you kindly occupy this front seat? We will follow the example of our illustrious author who always placed the cavalry in front."
A class in Oratory consisting of about sixty members has been organized by Mrs. Clark and will meet in University Hall every Thursday at 4 o'clock. The work is optional and is not a course in the school of arts but credit for a certain number of themes and forensics will be allowed to those taking it.
The reception given by the class of '96 Saturday night at Pythian Hall was successful in every way. There were present more than sixty Seniors and about thirty invited guests from other classes and from the Faculty. There was the usual good natured attempt at interference by a few of those who were left in outer darkness, which created some excitement and was of special interest in particular to a few Seniors, but only augmented their happiness when once they were safely received within doors. An informal reception was held from eight to ten, after which dancing was in order. At twelve o'clock the company dispersed.
The Kansas University Quarterly.
The January 1896 number of the Kansas University Quarterly, recently, issued contains a most interesting list, of contributions, eleven in number, mostly on entomological and geological subjects. Several of the papers were presented at the last meeting of the Kansas Academy Sciences.
During the few years it has been published, the quarterly has already established itself as "indispensable," and its exchange lists contain the names of the most valuable journals, both of the United States and abroad. Almost daily some prominent scientific library asks for a full set.
The Quarterly has done much to place the University of Kansas in its proper light, as one of the great Universities of America.
Language Conference.
At the meeting of the Language Conference last Friday Prof. A. G. Canfield reviewed Mr. Wm. Dean Howells' "Traveler from Altruria." He said the first question to be asked is, what shall the work be called? Is it a novel, an essay, or what? The work depicts the surprising experience of a man from Altruria while on a visit to America, which he has always heard spoken of as another Altruria, the home of freedom equality and chivalry. He is continually learning the difference between our pretensions to equality and the facts. The story is interesting as illustrating the change from the radical realism of Mr. Howell's earlier writings. In the discussion that followed the point was made that in the dialogue of the story there is a resemblance to the Socratic form of dialogue.
Prof. A. M. Wilcox then spoke of Alfred Austin, the new poet-laurate of England. He is rather a seeker after the writing of poetry than a genuine poet. The real spirit of his poetry is absent from his work. It would be a pity, however, to spoil a good poet by making him poet laureate.
The Kappa Alpha Thetas will give their annual party at the K. of P. hall, Friday, April 17.