Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-08
SCHOOL AND COLLEGE WORK
Midwinter Activities and Develop
ments in Various Institutions.
REFORM IN PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDY
Interests Of the Many subordinated TO
Those of the Few-Peru Normal
Promoters-Foreisn students
Educational Notes.

The annual meetings of the Sigma XXI
society. the scientific organization Of the
state university, will be held February
lib. at which addresses will be given by
Prof. A. @. Webster of Clark university.
who, in a series OF talks will detail the
progress made in physics and allied
sciences. Prof. Webster is one of the men
who have attained prominence in his line
OF work and the occasion OF the annual
meeting of the society will be made the
means of honoring his work. Sigma XI
is a recognized feature OF university de-
partment organizations and during the
years 1t has been in existence in Nebraska
university It has brought to the capital
city some Of the leading men OF science
OF this country.
short Course In Agriculture.
Prof. J. L. McBrien, head Of the depart
ment Of university extension. returned the
last Of the week from Hebron, where the
second Of the series OF schools in agri-
culture was given, the first having been
held at Broken Bow. Thayer county sent a
host Of its citizens to attend the session.
There were stock Judging contests and lee
lures on agricultural topics for the men
and for the women, Miss Kaufman. a
graduate of the domestic science school,,
gave an interesting series OF lectures,
which were listened to by 300 women. Mr..
McBrien finds that the university spirit
permeates the entire state and no matter
whether the gathering be for a farmers
institute OF corn show or for a little serious
instruction there is always a good attend
ance and genuine desire for betterment.
The domestic science school especially is
an attractive feature wherever 1t is pre-
sented. No persons are more keenly alive
TO advancement in cooking methods than
the women of Nebraska, Prot. McBrien
finds and he even believes the result
is beginning to show In some OF the no.
tells of Nebraska where he has stayed dur
Ing his numerous journeyings. AT one
city | visited said Mr.. McBrien, the
proprietors OF the leading hotel asked me
about the school OF domestic science and
was anxious that the short course be
brought there"
EnInrEement of h Campus.
The prospect of an enlarged campus from
favorable action of the legislature is Great
ing genuine enthusiasm among the univer-
sity students who are looking forward TO
q new athletic field, with plenty OF room
for projected buildings. Action has already
been taken by the city council 70 convey
the streets that will be included in the
new tract OF land to the state for purposes
Of the university, and when the appropria-
ton is available for two additional blocks
of ground the university authorities Will
be ready to take immediate advantage
of tho right of enlargement conferred,
The ground 1t is proposed to add lies i'm
mediately north OF the campus, and is at
present occupied by houses. which VIII be
moved. Promoters Of the institution In the
early days did not realize what a growing
proposition the university would be and
did not figure that the proximity OF the
institution to the railroad yards would
sometime make 1t difficult for certain
scientific observations In the laboratories,
but this IL not a serious difficulty and
may be made up for by deep foundations.
The closeness Of the school to the city is
a great convenience.
sociaI Features.
Friday night the annual Junior prom
was held at the Lincoln hotel. and
was one of the big society features
OF the week in the university. The
event was conducted essentially for those
who dance, but 1t was a class affair ana
novel features OF entertainment were pro-
vided for all. The university has made
such rapid growth that classes are so large
there is no longer a pronounced feeling
that certain cliques or factions have con-
troll Of class affairs, and a class event Is
a CLASSY" affair In which all take decided
interest. While there is a pronounced line
OF demarcation between the barb" and
frat elements, they have come to the
point where a class is above all.
For the first time since parting at grad
uation ]. s. Dales. secretary of the univer-
sity, and Judge j.. II. Smell OF Tacoma.
Wash. comprising the first senior class
Of the University OF Nebraska, met Wed
nesday. The two spent an enjoyable hour
with "reminiscences Of the old college days.
Judge Smell recently retired from the su-
preme bench of the state OF Washington
after a remarkable record as judge. The
two met through accident.