THE Sophomores of the Mechanical
Engineering course sent in a pe
tition asking that history be omitted in
the Winter term of the Sophomore year,
and the elementary technical work be
taken up, thus allowing them more time
for electrical work in the Senior year.
We think if the class of 'go had en
deavored to make arrangements to this
effect sooner, and had asked that histo
ry be completed before this term, their
petition would in all probabilities have
been granted, as the move was un
doubtedly a gobd one.
THE Central Inter-Collegiate Press
Association held a convention at
Philadelphia on the 28th of - January.
We have not received an official report
of the proceedings, but have received
notice that THE FREE. LANCE has ob
tained a membership for the Pennsylva
nia State College. As a means of in
creasing a fraternal spirit among college
editors, we think the association has a
grand Mission . . It certainly is a relief
for the editor when hard at work to
know that he is not. alone in his work,
and the advantage derived from the cir
culatory letters is great.
*
* * .
WOULD it not be a good move to
make attendance upon chapel
exercises optional with the Junior and
Senior classes ? At present all day
students, who have no recitation at eight
THE FREE LANCE.
o'clock are excused, and it is certainly
very annoying to . drop study just when
in the midst of a lesson and run to
chapel for ten or fifteen minutes, even
if one does room in the building. In
the Junior and Senior years, when the
afternoon is used in practicum work a
quarter of an hour's study is often very
valuable for recapitulating work which
was gone over hurriedly the, night be
fore.
THE deficit bill, appropriating the
sum of money, which, owing to a
flaw in the bill creating the experimental
station, was not forthcoming, has passed
the House of Representatives and the
Senate. This sets everything in working
order, and by next Winter, from. pres
ent appearances, we expect to see a fine
' new building erected for the express
use of the station. The amount appro
priated by the original bill for each
station is enough to permit of the inlay
of things which are necessary to the
proper manipulation of experiments.
The station will undoubtedly be of great
benefit to all farmers of this and neigh.
boring States.
IN another column of this paper there
appears an announcement in re
gard.to the course in physiCs and elec
trotechnics which has been adopted by
the board of trustees as a regular course
in this college. In the adoption of this