an example. There is room for improvement
in others likewise. The mechanical students
often complain of lack of attention.
The members of the Faculty, we hope, will
not take offence at our criticisms ; we make
them for our mutual benefit, and would be
glad to hear, through the columns of the
Free Lance, the views of any student or
professor, on the subject.
THE following is a communication from
Mr. J. F. L. Morris, a former student of
our College, now of Cornell University, in re
sponse to an editorial in the last number of
the Free Lance. Want of space prohibits
the publication of his entire letter. The
remainder, which contains some points worthy
of consideration, will appear in the next issue :
entre nous.
“A recent issue of the Free Lance con
tained an Editorial on a timely topic in refer
ence to an appeal to the Alumni for “ Aid,
encouragement, and suggestions.” In my
opinion, to endeavor to arouse and enlist the
interest of the, Pennsylvania State College
Alumni —unless the men have changed with
the times —the editors might as well waste
their efforts in trying to interview Egyptian
mummies. In the latter case, they have the
proud satisfaction of dealing with something,
at least, Egyptian.
« < Why can’t their interest be aroused,” do
you ask ?
Merely on account of their apathy, noth
ing else whatever.
“ It is, indeed, true, there are a few to whom
the above statement does not refer, but the
great fault is, they are too few. The time of a
business man is mostly absorbed in his work,
THE FREE LANCE.
but there can be no excuse for a college man
to wholly neglect his Alma Mater . Who ever
heard of a P. S. C. Alumni dinner, other than
the customary commencement dinner ? Who
ever heard of an Alumni re-union ? „ Who
ever heard of a District Alumni Association
to further the interests of the College ? Who
ever heard of an Alumnus making a bequest to
the institution ? I never did ; and lest Ibe
misunderstood, let me add, that it is not my
desire, nor is it my purpose to impugn or be
little an institution which I regard, as highly
as any student within its walls. What a col
lege is, depends greatly on her Faculty and
students, but her Alumni is an important
factor as well, and I have merely mentioned a
few, of what might be called, neglected oppor
tunities, to bring the college to the front. It
cannot be denied, that there are many men
who have spent four of the best years of their
life in college, and yet lost all interest in their
alma mater from the very day of their gradua
tion.
“ Strange, isn’t it ?
“ The writer believes the Class of ’B9 has
done more to make P. S. C. known and felt
than any preceding Class. Yet, this would
have been impossible without that liberal
policy in management inaugurated by Presi
dent Atherton. But I think the policy could
be made still more liberal; for instance, in
the way of allowing a fixed number of “ cuts ”
in recitations. Again, how it worries me to
recall the days of compulsory daily chapel
attendance, when, after a rapid transit service,
we meandered out of Chapel like a flock of
sheep! You can no more lead a boy to the
altar, and make him pray, than you can lead
a horse to the water and make him drink, or