fine to which a failure to write would make us
eligible, we undertake the compilation of our first
circular letter to the members of the C.I. C. P. A.
The first local event of any importance
which occurred this year was the opening of our
gymnasium on Jan. 6. Its initiation ceremonies
were evidently appropriate,. consisting of gymnas
tic exercises and an elegant banquet at which two
hundred guests were present. This building was
erected in 1884 at a cost of about ten thousand
dollars, but remained a mere shell until last year
when Mr. W. C. Allison of Philadelphia under•
took its equipment. He has filled it with the
best apparatus which could be procured, includ
ing almost every known gymnastic appliance,from
Indian clubs and dumb bells to three bowfing
alleys, bath-rooms and a running track. A pro
fessor of physical culture has als'o been secured in
the person of Mr. L. F. Muchmore formerly su
perintendent of the Y. M. C. A. gymnasum in
Philadelphia. Of course this has caused a revival
of interest in general athletics, and the faithful
and persistent training to which the candidates
for positions on our various teams are subjecting
themselves, will result in a gocd record for Dick
inson in the inter-collegiate contests.
Twenty-seven men are in training for our
base Lall nine, ten of whom were either players
Or subs on our last year's team. Games have
been arranged between Lehigh; Gettysburg and
Bucknell. A date had been secured with the
University of Pennsylvania, but it was canceled
as the assets of the college were too limited to
meet the exorbitant demands of the managers of
the University team Lafayette is yet holding
to the peculiar policy she adopted during the
last foot-ball season, and offers Dickinson but
thirty dollars to play in Easton, while she de
mands a small fortune to come to Carlisle.
Field sports are also flourishing, and we ex
pect to have several successful competitors in the
state intercollegiate games at Philadelphia next
May.
On February 22nd the Belles Lettres Liter-
THE FREE LANCE.
ary Society celebrated its one hundred and second
anniversary by an enjoyable banquet. It rivals
the union Philosophical Society, held its ninety
ninth anniversary on April 13.
Our Glee club has been revived and is in ex
cellent condition. It has been giving concerts in
the neighboring towns, and will make a ten days
tour through the South and East during the East
er vacation! At Baltimore and Washington, it
will gi combined concerts with the Wesleyan
club. .
The "Dickensonian" for March has been de
layed by the tardiness of the engravers who has
been arranging for it a new cover.
Its editorial board sends to the editors of the
FREE LANCE a fraternal greeting.
Yale is the first American college to have
lectures in Volapuk.
Women are now allowed to enter some of
the courses at Columbia.
During the past year, five colleges have been
founded in Dakota.
Two of our largest colleges are about to
abolish the marking system.
Williams has a fine brass band and it is made
a great deal of by the students.
There is an advance of five per cent in col
lege attendance this year over last.
Andover Theological Seminary has only sev•
en students in its entrance classes.
Dr. McCosh thinks sixteen or seventeen is
the proper age for boys to enter college.
It is reported that Harvard would like to buy
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Mt. Holyoke Seminary has asked the legis
lature to change its name to Holyoke College.
A life size statue of Pres. McCosh will• prob
ably be presented to Princeton by its class of 'BB.
A, D. Yocum,
Exchange editor, "Dickensonian."
COLLEGE ORBIT.