Editorial A Tribute (The following editorial appeared in the News-Herald, Hillsboro, Ohio) We're tired of serious subjects so let’s turn our attention to something a little more frivolous. Let’s take the case of the mule, the most cussed, berated and beaten animal in American history—every trace of politics aside. Down in Muleshoe, Texas, they are considering erecting a bronze monument in the animal's honor. The Mule Memorial Association of America, down there, is trying to raise $5,000. If it does, a life-size bronze statue of a mule will be erected at the intersection of U.S. Highways 60 and 84. smack dab in the middle of Muleshoe. Present mule population in the U.S. is figured at about 750,000. Grizzled old mule skinners have been sending in their contributions with letters praising the mule as the animal whose labors turned prairie land into farms, cleared the swamps, built the railroads, hauled all kinds of freight and opened up the Grand Canyon to tourists. If you’ll pardon a personal reminiscence, we like to think of the mule as the epitome of stubborn, yet smart, appraisal of his existence. We recall driving one such stubborn brute across many a cornfield in our youth. We noted, even in our tender youtn, that this particular creature, teamed with a horse, pulled not one iota more than his share. We had the impression that he was conserving his energy at all times. We tried to make friends with the long-eared character but there was a certain coolness that persisted between us. He never seemed to work up much of a sweat while in the harness and will slyly nip the corn tops—it always seemed— when we weren’t looking. He never insisted on proceeding all on his own. You had to urge him. Yet with all this lackadaisical attitude, there was a sensi­ tiveness about him. We can recall that we used to have to tie him in the stall whenever it was time to trim his mane, particu­ larly between his ears. He used to kick the daylights out of barn slats and squeal like a wounded tiger when the time came. Obviously, there was something about that place between his ears that was forbidden territory. Perhaps he had a jenny friend we didn’t know about and didn’t want his appearance spoiled. What we're leading up to is that there is something about University Explorer a mule that persists in our constant comparison of him with the human animal. Certain characteristics seem to parallel between the two. Perhaps that’s why we kinda treasure our personal acquaintance with the breed. We may send a dollar Literary Ancient Art down to Muleshoe. It would be a sort of tribute to ourselves and to some people we have known. An 18-year-old boy once a tender age, Ireland might have the “facts” he was trying to gone on to be one of the most wrote a play, claimed it was establish. To be sure, many of industrious literary forgers of all the letters Chasles bought were penned by Shakespeare, and time. superficially plausible. Some were almost got away with the . TOP HONORS in this field, skillfully contrived. But others What Others Say however, must be awarded to a In the whole long and amus­ were signed by such people as On Jan. 1,1863, President Lincoln signed the emancipation Frenchman named Vrain Lucas, Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Pla­ proclamation which freed the slaves from their forced servitude. ing history of literary , who peddled his a few to, the Twelve Apostles, Cleo­ Now, almost a century later, it appears that Oregon State this ranks as one of the most years after the middle of the patra, Lazarus, and Mary Magda­ University could use a similar proclamation for the benefit of 19th century. Lucas’ major cus­ lene. those students who work on campus. These students needn’t be remarkable cases, according to tomer was a noted mathemati­ “freed” from their jobs, but they should receive decent compen­ Kenneth J. Carpenter, director of cian and astronomer named FURTHERMORE# all of the let­ sation for their efforts. the Rare BoOk Room in the Ber­ Michel Chasles, who set some ters, regardless of the nationality There is no uniform minimum wage at OSU. In some keley Library of the University sort of world's record for sheer of the author, were written in gullibility. French, and on good French departments, pay is quite adequate, while in others, it is far of California. paper. How Chasles ever accept­ less than it should be compared to the amount of work done. Chasles’ appetite for manu­ ed this last fact really stains the In some departments, the pay does not meet either state or FORGERIES of all kinds are scripts was equaled only by Lu­ imagination—for paper was not federal pay scale standards. For example, a certain part time probably as old as civilization cas’ ability to turn them out. even known until a thousand student secretary on campus earns 75 cents per hour for typing, itself, says Carpenter. Archaeolo­ Over a period of eight years, years or so after a good many filing, phone answering, and so on. At the same time, a civil gists have shown that the anci­ Lucas sold his pigeon more than of the supposed correspondents service secretary earns $1.36 per hour for the same type of 27,000 letters. Almost miracu­ had died. ent Sumerians were apparently lously, whenever Chasles express­ work. Basic pay for student library assistants on campus is $.80 plagued by counterfeiters and per hour with a 3% cent increase per year. The minimum wage ed an interest in some historical Lucas was finally arrested, and other types of forgers thousands character, or wanted to prove sentenced to jail. But just before for a civil service library assistant is $1.62 per hour with a French priority in some discov­ he was picked up, he had laid $2.08 maximum. of years before Christ. Profit was the motive for this type of crime, ery, Lucas was able to ‘find” the groundwork for selling Chas­ There are a multitude of other examples of unfair wages and produce the needed docu­ les his masterpiece of forgery: for students, and there are at least several departments which just as it is today. ments. the original manuscript of the are guilty of underpaying their help. True, students usually Sermon on the Mount, signed by just work part time, but shouldn’t an hour of their work be During the time of the Renais­ CHASLES would buy any docu­ Jesus Christ, and written, of worth as much as that of anyone else? sance forgers suddenly became ment, so long as it fitted in with course, in French. At the present time, the federal minimum wage is $1.15 active in many fields of creative per hour with a proposed $.10 per hour increase. Oregon State art. They began to make imita­ University is exempt from minimum wage requirements in tions of great Latin and Greek most departments but these requirements provide an example classics, which were then com­ of how much students should receive. ing into vogue in Europe. —Reprinted from Oregon State Daily Barometer Lettei to the Editoi THEY ALSO cleverly copied old Editor Wildcat: Greek medals and passed off bo­ other cost to the operation of I would like to use this space Chico State. gus imitations of ancient art. I am also told by these staff Such things brought a high price in your paper to air a complaint members that the reason for during the Age of Enlightenment which I, and several of my the dull points is in the internal in Europe. friends and no doubt other stu­ adjusting. I am then assuming Owned and published weekly except during vacations and Anal examinations throughout dents, have had for some time. that the great amount of use the college year by the Associated Students of Chico State College# Chico# Ollwrnli^ Neivm A. William Ireland, the young Jackso n printer. Editorial and offices are located on th e thirdihov Campus I hope that this problem can be which these sharpeners get make Activities Center. Telephone Fireside 3-4411—Ext. 423. Opinions expressed in tms publication man referred to at the outset, them difficult to keep in adjust­ are those of the writers and are not to be construed as the opinion of the Associated STuaems brought to light in the eyes of o r the College. Letters to the editor must be signed and should not exceed 250 words. These lived in London during the latter ment. may be edited according to the discretion of the staff In accordance w ith technical limitations. the school administration either Names will be withheld upon request. Entered as second class m all M a rch 14# 1930# at Chico# part of the 18th century. Ire­ A solution to this problem is California, under the Congressional Act of March 3# 1879. Subscription rates: $1.25 par year. by this letter or by some action to move these electric sharpen­ STAFF land’s literary forgeries began which you and your paper may ers to the offices of the college EDITOR______Tom Deats well before his twentieth birth­ be able to take. personnel and install manually ASST EDITOR______Jim Home day when he wrote a play, as­ My complaint is the presence operated sharpeners in the li­ SPORTS EDITOR______Duane Deacon serted th at the author was Wil­ of electric pencil sharpeners in brary hall. This solution would SOCIETY EDITOR______Barbara Vaughan the library. I don’t know why not only cut down the noise and liam Shakespeare, and even got in the world these noisy, dis­ FEATURE EDITOR ______Dick Loe the play produced in the theater. distraction in the library, but, BUSINESS MGR.______Vickie Sparks tracting, and incompetent pieces since the sharpeners would not BEFORE HIS exposure, young of machinery were ever placed be in such excessive use, they CIRCULATION MOR.______BUI Schipper in such a building designed for PHOTOGRAPHER______Bruce Harris Ireland had made plans to write would need less repair and ad­ study, but, I am fully convinced justment. CARTOONIST______—...... David OUes an entire series of spurious that they should be removed. I hope that through this letter, REPORTERS...... Eileen CeriteUl, Karen Christiansen, Shakespeare plays, beginning Along with being noisy and not or other means, the administra­ PhU Damall, Arthur Farley, Kay Oleason, Susan McGuire, with William the Conqueror and doing a very good job of sharp­ tion will become aware of a Curtis McIntyre, Heather McLaughlin, Jim Morgan, Harry Pan­ working down through history to ening a pencil, I am told by present problem, and in so doing, coast, Jim PraU, Skip Reager, Roy Rochelle, Marjorie Tabler, members of the library staff that Queen Elizabeth the First. If he I feel they will do something Norman Bland, Diana Deats, Bev Qunkel, Janice McComber, the sharpeners frequently need about it. Lynda PhllUps. had not been unmasked at such repairing which just adds an- Tom Gullett