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It be the field, when kill will Maharejah America. k has en- nants'friends, pieces and is- e. The sixth annual contest in oratory took place last Tuesday evening at the University chapel. Almost every seat in the house was occupied, and the contest was a grand success both financially and in an oratorical way. There were fire contestants, namely: C. E. Street, A.D Kennedy, F. E. Reed, J. A. Mushuhrush and G. M. Culver. All the contests had excellently written orations, and with those magnificent oratorial powers always possessed by K.S. U. oraors, the clear, pointed sentences in each oration were forcibly presented. Each orator had a large following of friends who were sure of his success. Iev. R. A. George opened the evening's exercises by calling, in a few very appropriate words, the Divine blessing upon each and every one of the participants. Prof. Snow, as president of the evening then announced the cause of the evening's entertainment opened the program by introducing Mr. J. C. Manning, who rendered a very scholarly piano solo, "Pasquinde." Mr. C. E. Street, the next on the program delivered the oration entitled "The Cynic in American Politics." His oration was well written and showed that he had put much hard labor and study upon it. He spoke of the men who hold up to view the deeds of our ancestors as perfect models for us and cry that our public men are all corrupt. He proved in a logical and forceful manner that such was not the case, but that our statesmen of to-day are just as honest, upright and patriotic as those of a century ago. He believed that the present progressive policy of the nation had much of good in store for the American people. Mr. A. D. Kennedy followed with an oration, "imm graation," which is both an honor to himself and the University for the brilliant ideas it contained. He discussed the influence that the millions of ignorant people, the scums of European society, that are pouring into this country annually. Mr. Kennedy's delivery, while it was good and on any other occasion would have been considered very forecible, was not up to what the judges considered the standard. Miss Georgia Brown next rendered one of her splendid vocal solos, entitled "New Kingdom," which received storms of applause. Miss Brown has an excellent and well trained voice, one which charms the heavens. F. E. Reed delivered the winning oration, entitled, "Limited Immigration." Mr. Reed seemed to be the most enthusiastic speaker and the one who had the best control of his voice.—one of those clear, ringing voices which move the populace. Mr. Reed had his oration well committed and it was truly a fine production. J. A. Mushursh disappointed many of his admirers by not receiving the decision of the judges. His oration, the race problem, was well delivered but his subject matter was not up to the standard required by the judges, consequently he received a lower rank than was expected. The K. S. U. mandolin club won laulets for themselves and pleased the ears of the large audience by a fine selection for which was received almost wild applause. G. M. Culver the last orator on the program and the favorite of the evening, delivered the last oration on the program entitled "Growth." He followed and ably discussed the advancement made by civilization and by liberty. His delivery was more on the elucidation order but he was the most composed of any on the stage. The production received the markings from the judges which awarded him the second place. Miss Nellie Franklin closed the program by a piano solo in a manner which did great credit to herself and to the musical department of the University. While the judges were preparing their decision the Mandolin Club was called six times in succession, each time rendering a choice selection of music. The decision of the judges was required with applause and was universally conceded to be just. Mr. Reed will represent us at Emporia in a manner of which K. S. U. may be proud, and with a successful bonfire in the streets of that little city and the joyous shout of Rock-chalk Jay-hawk, K. U. the state contest is ours. The decision of the judges was received The markings of the judges widely differ. Street, Reed and Culver were each ranked first by one judge, but by the method of marking, the orator, the sum of whose rank is least, was chosen, Street and Culver tieing for second place. By counting Reed out of the contest and again taking sum of rank, Culver gets second place. If by general average it would have been decided that Street would have represented K. S U, at Emporia. The following is the marking of the judges. LEARNARD. Street ... 70 T 65 D 9 A Kennedy... 78 T 65 D 9 A Reed... 80 T 80 D 80 72 23 Brushus... 70 T 80 D 80 70 Culver... 70 T 80 D 80 70 Street ... 100 100 90 90 96 5.10 Kennedy ... 100 95 95 90 96 3.10 McGraw ... 85 100 100 100 90 6.10 Mnushhrub ... 85 100 100 100 90 10 Culr. v ... 100 100 100 100 100 Street... 98 97 95 85 406 Kennedy... 97 96 96 85 17 1 3 McCoy... 96 94 94 84 17 1 3 Murray... 96 97 97 84 17 2 3 Calvert... 97 97 97 84 17 2 3 Total Rank Total Rank Gen Av. Street 11 8 Kennedy 11 8 Reed 7 9 Mushroom 10 9 Culver 8 9 It will be seen by this that Street had a good showing for first place, as he has the highest general average and has the highest markings on thought or subject matter. The contest was a grand success much more so than had been anticipated owing to the previous trouble in the association. Palladium. Palladium Literary Society, which held its first meeting Jan. 11, will hold its third meeting at the court house tomorrow evening. The prospects of this society are good. About half of those students now at the University, who two years ago, founded Athanacum, are actively engaged in the organization of Palladium. Besides these, several other members of both Athanacum and Orophilian are interested in the new Society. These members think that Palladium will not interfere with the interests of the old societies. About forty members form a good working literary organization. If either of the old societies lacks anything it is not members. The history of two societies in this University shows that a large roll of members is not what a society needs. Oread died with a hundred members on its roll; and Orophilian languished into a state of inactivity, with an equal number. That was two years ago, we are glad to say that Orophilian has revived. It might have been well for those organizations if a new society had been formed then, to take their surplus members. Palladium admits to membership the non-fraternity students only. The fraternity men in their meetings do literary work; the non-fraternity students will meet and do literary work also, and why not? The advantage hoped to be gained by this restriction in membership is that it will prevent the possibility of party strife. Whoever has watched our literary societies, must have noticed the injury they have sustained from this source. The strife, too, has been the cause of ill feeling between the fraternity and the non-fraternity men. It is a noticeable fact that in the anti-fraternity movement at the beginning of last year all the students who took an active part were those whose feelings have been aroused by the fights in the literary societies, while the students who had not been engaged in those fights, took little or no part in the movement. Palledium will meet every Saturday evening. Everybody is invited to attend. Gymnastic and Otherwise. Now is the time to buy gloves while they are down. Bromelsick can sell you the best glove for the money, in town. K. S. U. ought to have a hearing. This queer State of the Union is moving on in population, wealth and intelligence and there is no good reason why our House on the Hill should not keep up in the grand march. When our school is placed on a level with eastern colleges, it will not be money lost but gained, for much that now flows into the coffers of Harvard and Yale, and other eastern colleges, will be spent at home. Kansas is Republican and believes in home industry. So do we; and now let her build up home industries! Every department of our University should be started, and improved as fast as time and circumstances will permit. R13422 Our departments have done well with the help that has been given them, and in most instances the demands of K. S. U. on the State have been reasonably met. But we are not at the top yet. We can see towering above us in cultured majesty a whole galaxy of eastern institutions, which out of no better material than Kansas has in blood and brain, has sent forth statesmen, authors and poets. We cannot expect to stand on par with those institutions until we have their facilities. We are aware that it takes growth, but there are some things that have not yet been planted. One of the things which needs planting for which the students of the University have unanimously petitioned is a gymnasium. The needs of such an institution in school life become pressing as soon as a college course requires a long seige of mental work, extending from four to six years, and is a heavy drain on any student's physical health. And no student's mind is in a fit condition for good earnest work when his or her physique is neglected. This is recognized and acted upon by all first class institutions, and is not unlikely one of their secrets of manly scholars. We do not want a kindergarten but we want symmetrical development, we want to come out of K. S. U. with good mind, well stored with knowledge, and a vigorous vitality which is the secret of so much success. We are all in for Kansas and Republican principles, and we're in for K. S. U. We want to tell every legislator who votes for what we ask, that he will find votes for him whenever he runs for Congress. *New occasions touch new duties* *Time makes ancient good unchore. We must upward and forward. Who would keep alight and cool?* Educational progress marks the main difference between Kansas and Missouri to-day, and we propose starting a small charity fund for the purpose of encouraging every moss-backed legislator that kicks on these matters of which we speak, to emmigrate to the cultured(?) Democratic land of Missouri. We don't need him here, for Examinations. Roses have their time to bloom, and birds to sing, and croakers to croak. And it would indeed be pitiful to let this week pass by, without uttering some cry, or filling up the pages of history some protest against this fearful, frightful and formidable, this terrible and terrific, this unjust and unholy examination system. It is said, "There never yet was a thief, who felt the halter draw, but had a bad opinion of the law." By this casual remark, I do not mean, "Mr. Editor, either that I am a thief or have been hung. It is true, that I tried to purloin, so to speak, a question or two from a neighboring fellow sufferer in one of our examinations this week. It is true, that in the language of Shakespeare I have cried—to myself of course—"A pony, a pony, my kingdom for a pony." But I am wandering from my subject. By my first quotation, I meant to convey the idea, that being a victim of this system, I can better portray to the unsuspecting reader, its many and most serious defects. I have just received the returns. I have just failed in three of my three and one-fifth studies. Namely, Perspective, Caesar and Algebra. I passed on my themes these you remember count as one-fifth study. Faculty rule about failing in two studies etc., etc. But I am not. My father is a big man out in the western part of the State, and you know "big man's" sons never have to go home. Perhaps you think I am afraid of this "This is laughable, and yet at times pathitial farce, which has been played upon the K. S. U. stage during the past seven days, presents some amusing scenes. If the term of daily recitations was the only test for grades and scholarship, true merit would have to be rewarded. Strict attendance at recitations, well prepared lessons, and good thorough work from week to week would be demanded and obtained. But the tendency of the examination systems, is just the opposite. Notice some of its delightful inconsistencies. With some Professors examinations count entirely; with other recitations, one-half, examinations, one-half. It many times happens that the best students receive much lower grades than those who in their daily recitations were never known to get a thing right, except through mistake. Examinations at most are only written recitation. Is it fair or just to take the measure of a student by simply one recitation. Only a few questions can be asked. Is it right to grade a whole term's work upon one or two questions? Take any subject and ten or twenty questions may be selected on which not a student could pass. Catch—probably ketch—questions may be asked, before which a whole class may fail, for the purpose of illustrating the meteonic brilliancy of the professor in charge as a puzzling and ingenious interrogative. Just as was done in a class 'two years ago, when thirty-three failed out of a class of sixty-one. Again examinations encourage idleness during the term's work. "Oh, I don't have to attend recitations regularly and get up the lessons every day. Pshaw, that's foolishness. We have heard this remark many times. Why don't they have to attend recitations regularly and get up their lessons every day. Simply because if a student has a memory worth a fourth-place contest oration, he can begin the "cramming process" about a week before examination, commit his books to memory, which he can hold for a few days, just long enough to get it down on paper and have a No. 1 scratch book. To say nothing of a week's loss of time, these are some of the beau ties of our examination system." Mr. Editor, I heard the above arguments used in the halls the other day by one of our most worthy, grave and revered Seniors, and surely he ought to know, as he has been through the mill. But it seems to any weak Prep mind that he omitted the strongest argument. Being by nature honest myself, yet I can see how these exam tie a blue ribbon around the neck of my fellow Prep, who has no consciptions scruples against borrowing that which he cannot return. For instance, take my Latin class—any of my three failures. My room-mate does not know as much about Latin as I do. He can hardly tell the difference between Latin grammar and an Egyptian museum—because he has seen neither. Yet he received I. and I "getfunked." Why? Simply because he sat in a smart crowd than I did. He seemed to get his knowledge through absorption. He received a good grade on account of his "absorbing qualities," and the honest little boy gets to take it over on account of his honesty. So unsuspecting are some of our Professors—and so unrighteous are some of their students—that if you will let me pick my seat among company, I will pass any examination that may be given under the two demes of the University. The only trouble about this borrowing business is that you are sometimes liable to borrow from some numb-skull who knows even less about the subject than you do. Now, Mr. editor, I think I have consumed enough space to prove to all who have been unfortunate in the late examinations, that they—I mean the examinations—should be abolished. I have written this with the purest motives, believing that I am doing the true educational interests, a great and glorious service. No feelings of revenge are rankling in my bosom. Although I failed in three studies, I am thankful I passed in the one-fifth. When my favorite system of grading by "Recitations alone" may come in vogue, I suspect I may fall in all, but I will bear it like a true martyr for the good of the cause, contenting myself with the co泅ing thought, that if one I is a good thing, why are not four 's better? PREP. The Shuman Concert Co. Dancing at the Merchants' Bank Building Lovers of good music, especially among the students will be glad to hear of the engagement of the Shuman Concert Company, at the opera house, for next Thursday evening. The company has received the most flattering notices from the press of neighboring cities, and comes to his thighly recommended. Mr. Chas. H. Prescott, the blind cornetist, is claimed to be the equal of Liberati, although without the reputation of the latter. This is to be a University event, and there will be reduced rates for students. Prof. Ryan's Academy of Dancing open for ladies and gentlemen every Monday and Friday evenings. Ladies private class every Monday afternoon. Ladies and children's class every Saturday afternoon. Mr. Ryan teaches all the most fashionable dances, making a specialty of the Waltz and Reverse. Pupils can enter at any time, their term commencing with the first lesson. Classes are always open for beginners. References required. For further information concerning tuition, etc., address J. RYAN, Lawrence House, Betrayed by His Parrot. Detectives obtain their hints and clews from many sources, but it is not often, the Paris correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph remarks, that they receive them through the instrumentality of parrots; yet this is just what has happened during the researches of M. Goron, the head of the Paris Criminal Department. This officer has been lately looking for the chief accountant of the "Catusse Band," a fellow named Victor Chevalier, and, going the other day into the rooms of a notorious receiver of stolen goods in Paris, he heard himself addressed in harsh tones as "Good old Victor? there you are!" This was enough for the detective, who having silently satisfied himself that the lequacious bird was the property of the man for whom he was looking, proceeded to search the receiver's den for indications of a more substantial character. After a long and minute investigation of the premises, he found a letter from Victor to the receiver, in which epistle the robber announced that he was in Angers under the name of Felix Crozet. M. Goron immediately set out for that town, and arrested the owner of the too voluble parrot in the railway station. McCullough Bros. have the best boot black in the city, shining done Sunday morning. Now is the time to buy a fine pair of pants cheaper than ever offered before. Examine Crains & Urbansky's large stock and you will be convinced. Crains & Urbansky have the largest lot of pants of any house in the city. Boys now is the time to buy a good pair of pants for half what they are worth. Spring goods are beginning to arrive at Bromelick's and what is more he is selling winter goods at prices which make the boy's hearts feel good. Dedrick & Tipton have the coiest little barber shop in the city. Boys try a shave with them. 836 Massachusetts street. Something new in spring hats will soon be out. Bromelsick will of course be the first on hand. Watch for it.