The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1896-01-24
The Show business Carried to an Ex-
treme by University students.


There is sentiment rapidly spread
ing and taking root 10 the minds OF the
alumni Of the different universities Of
this country Ontagonistic to the exces-
sive amount of show business in which
the students of American institutions
of learning are permitted to indulge.
The feeling, says the Buffalo CONNER
-cial, is growing that the only legitimate
field for the exercise and exhibition of
the physical, intellectual and musical
accomplishments OF these young men is
to be found in the university athletic
grounds, the university theaters and
society halls. In other words, the
alumni and large body of thoughtful
people not directly connected with the
various seats Of learning are coming to
an agreement that the college youth is
altogether too much in evidence outside
of the college yards, either for his own
good or the legitimate prestige of his
particular alma mater,
OF course, the conditions under which
the rowing matches are held make the
selection ON a somewhGb retired and
neutral course like that at New London
fit and proper; but the iootbal, like
the baseball matches, should be con-
fined to college grounds, with the
avowed intention OF reducing the num-
Der and improving the character OF the
spectators, reducing tie expenses and
minimizing the publicity and spectacu-
lar features of the competitions.
- =, Il x~ftL
would be the elimination of most of the
gambling and very demoralizing sport
ing" elements tit inevitable gather
around events like the great football
matches that fill the columns of the
newspapers for several weeks every
autumn. Certainly the students them
selves would undergo less excitement
and suffer less distraction from their
legitimate college work if the scale on
which their athletic rivalries are tested
were effectively reduced When these
rivalries become matters ,ational
concern they naturally tend become
dangerously intense and IL ricus to
health and morals.
We think this policy Of 'straint
dlSO DC dpIJliGu 70 btt lCJlCO
that has now become uniyer mong
the colleges of sending out pes of
young men organized as glee banjo
and mandolin clubs to give puaLc per-
formances for money in the leading
cities during the holiday recess These
lads travel about the country III special
cars, give ten or fifteen concerts in pub
lie halls and undergo a sucee ssion Of
'social attentions" calculated to inn
pair the constitutions of seasoned men,
to say nothing of immature youths who
are supposed to be resting and recuper-
ating from the strain of three months
of hard work at their lessons and lec-
lures. Essentially their performances
are not to be distinguished from the
professional shows, and when they be,
come an annual affair they are as tire
some as they are surely tax on the
good nature of the local alumni, be-
sides being an unwholesome experience
to those who take part in '''cm.
a Pet Always Amusing ana ), llich L..es
as Long as His Master.
AS q household pet the parrot with
justice ranks a paramount favorite..
Possessed Of brilliant plqmaCo endowed
with speech, he is gifted with intel
ligence and understanding almost hui
man. The parrot, properly cared for,
says the New York Observer, lives from
fifty to one hundred years, and thus,
with his increasing wisdom and rePe1
toire of words, can be passed from
father to son as valuable heirloom.
That he dies young under the too low
! ing care of his foolish masters, who in
sist upon overlooking him, and expos
ing him to draughts and sudden changes
of atmosphere, is but another reminder
that the care of pets demands intel
hgence as well as affection.
The African gray parrot and the
Mexican green are the two standard
favorites. They are excellent takers
and whistlers, and learn to sing both
words and music of popular ballads.
The proper time for the instruction of
parrots is the three hours Immediately
/ following sunrise and the three before.
sunset. They must be taught with the
utmost patience by a constant repeti-
tion of the same phrase, and should be
rewarded by bit of apple or fruit from
the mouth. The best work IS done
after the birds affection and confidence
are gained. Occasionally bird will
remain persistently dumb and stupid
for eight or even ten months, and thens
to the surprise of it's delighted teacher,
break out into speech and song, chuck
ling with vicious delight at the merry
trick il has played.