college journal to lay before its readers
a lot of dry literary and moralizing mat
ter. Such work, like everything else, is
all right in its place, and one finds en
joyment and instruction in reading it at
the proper time. But in a college paper
it is husky food ; for, when one takes up
such a publication, he at once notices
those articles which concern the college
or its connections ; he wants college
news ; if he does not get it he will be
disappointod, and no literary matter, ex
cellent or not excellent, can take the
place of it. In our opinion we can not
be too wary in keeping before our read
ers the current college thought, and to
this end the literary department should
also be devoted or at least inclined. So
far we have kept tins in view, and it
will no doubt continue to be the policy
of the editorial board. Our students
may some day be able to support a
standard literary magazine, but the ex
istence of such a probability is no rea
son why we should not stick to our
sphere. We make these few remarks
that misjudgment, which may be preva
lent in some minds, may be removed.
THE course in Modern Languages is
one which should occupy a more
prominent place in an institution like
this, where the aim is to give a broad
scientific education. Aside from their
disciplinary and classical benefits, with
out a substantial knowledge of French,
and especially German,scientific research
THE FREE LANGE.
cannot be carried to satisfactory results ;
the advanced student of chemistry and
physics is daily under the necessity of
consulting French and German periodi
cals and works of reference. This be
ing the case, by the time one completes
the course in modern languages, he
ought to be moderately proficient in
them, but we find very few who are.
We believe that this course, during the
greater part of the Freshman year, is
quite thorough, but after that for some
reason or other the student shirks
“Dutch.” If we mistake not, a more
extended use of the conversational
method would be an improvement.
Further, with all sincerity, we embody
the sentiments of the students at large
with reference to most of our depart
ments in three solicitations : Moderni
zation of methods ; more congeniality
between student and instructor, (with
more propriety on the part of the stu
dent :) and more earnestness.
THE names of jthe competitors in the
Junior Oratorical Contest, with
their subjects, appear in another place.
It is regretted that the entire Junior
class do not take part, as the affair is
looked upon as one of the most inter
esting features of Commencement week.
The contestants are busy with their pro
ductions and despite the slight delin
quency in quantity, the quality is ex
pected to be there unimpaired.
As for the prize, considered frojrn