of his Alma Mater ; for the American institution does not surfeit him with theory nor starve him with the absence of its application. The European one does both ; therefore, our collegians are eminently men of use, of action, while theirs are either philosophers or soph ists, becoming the latter—mental dys peptics from feeding on dry dogmas— when the student has not the strength and capacity for enduring in the realm of pure reason. The American college, then, has grown to be the handmaid of citizenship in its broadest sense ; and College Journalism is an additional step on the part of students to make her ministry more complete. The College paper should be a tripple bond of union : as an organ of the students it sums up their individual sentiments into a “collective will,” whereby they may assert themselves ; to the Alumnus it keeps fresh the mem ory of his Alma Mater;, between colleges it promotes friendship and wholesome competition. With, these points in view the Free Lance launches on the college ocean. She hopes to be cordially received at all foreign ports advocating in this respect “free trade.” She will join in any alliance to rid the sea of pirates ; she will consider herself responsible for all matter found on her deck and all property entrusted to her care ; and, above all, the great cause of inter-collegiate commerce demands her share of influence towards securing that THE FREE LANCE. perfection of our System of Education which holds out to every American youth the means for attaining to the highest possible freedom, enjoyment and manhood. Subscriptions from our friends have been coming in very slowly. No doubt a want of confidence in our undertaking is the cause of this delay. We remove this impediment as far as possibly by sending sample copies of our first issue free to all those who have been closely connected with our-institu tion, remarking at the same time that we have surely come to stay. No forin er student, especially no Alumnus , can afford to let his college feeling lag, when the mere satisfaction, in monthly perusing the news of his college, is, of itself, worth the price of subscription. The Free Lance is largely intend ed for the information of those who have been students, and support is accordingly expected from them. It should be understood by all that the editors receive no pay for their work, so that there need be no fear of selfish in terest on their part. The expenses for the first few issues will be heavy, and" in justice to college pride we venture to remind our friends of their duty. Fur thermore, with an extended circulation of our paper, the influence of the insti tution widens, stimulating at the same time the desire of the editors to make the tone of its literatum and news worthy of such, patronage.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers