lation of things. By the slow and patient process
of thought he connects —he binds together the
elements of knowledge. Dove-tailing everything
as he goes, he has in the end a systematic array
of ideas which go to make up what we call the
man. By a careful, culling, discriminating pro
cess nature assimilates from her vast surroundings
the scattered elements, one by one, arranging
them into varied and beautiful compound forms.
Just so is the correct process of thinking in man.
The conclusion of the whole matter is that
the student should learn to think and reason him
self through difficulties. There is no removing
the difficulty ; we must bore through it. He
who fights it out on the line of independent
thought and independent action takes the only
successful course.
For Fbek Lance.
PARTISAN ACTIVITY.
The question respecting the right of public
officers to take part in politics has been agitating
the public more or less for some time. Many
contend that, since public officers are chosen to
serve both parties and are paid from taxes levied
from the masses, they should abstain from pol
itical discussions. This may seem plausible
enough at first, but as they are selected as repre
sentatives of the people, they cannot refrain
from making political speeches occasionally—
from upholding their platforms and the views of
their parties. We must have some person to rep
resent our views, and no person is better suited to
do this than he who is brought face to face with
public life and its workings. We have, how
ever, a class of representatives who should
be better informed than they are of the
views and political condition of this great
nation, and that is the cabinet in our exe
cutive department. Eight men, including the
President, to represent and provide for the doings
of this great people 1 As compared with the rep
resentatives of England the number should not
fall below a hundred. Under present conditions
THE FREE LANCE.
the cabinet officers are kept too closely confined
to their places of business to obtain the views of
the outside world, and hence do not get near the
amount of information they should. The great
evil does not lie in having too many statesmen,
but in having too few. We have too many who
take a greater pride in knowing what Churchill,
Boulanger and Bismarck are doing, than in the
phase which politics in our own country is as
suming. This should not be the case. We want
public officers who know the views of the people,
and know how to express them when called upon.
* * * *l* There could not be a more
unmistakable indication of the new and vigorous
life that has been infused into this institution than
that which is furnished by the issue of the publi
cation noticed above.— Bellcfontc Watchman.
It is a bright, newsy, little magazine, brim
ming over with college vim and energy, and it
is a true criterion of college life.— .Bellcfontc Ga-
its outward appearance is very neat, and the
contents bid fair to make this one of our best
exchanges. The editorials are especially com
m e n d a b 1 e, — Campus.
Oh ! Spring, Spring I most beautiful Spring!
How long have wo yeuvnod to soo thee velum -
With thy voriluro so charming, thy frngrancoso sweet,
Thou glv’st us doslro of nature to learn.
Thou glvcst the hills, the dales and tho rills,
A charm which cold winter docs not,
Thou illlest tho soul with perfect delight
And loudest the mind grand subjects for thought.
In tlico wo do sco how nuluro does wake
From her long hibernation, so gloomy nn.i dull;
Thou brlngcst the robin with his swoct little song
To cheer us an 1 free us from bleak winter's lull.
So hail to thee Spring, most beautiful Spring I
Thou Venus of seasons, whom Cupid adores,
Wo gruot theo, and ask tlioo to stay with us long,
For In thoo there's joy from Eternity's shores
WHAT OTHERS THINK OF US.
SPRING.