students at all hours of the day and evening. With such a limited time for the reading of solid literature one soon loses the taste for it and turns his attention to the destructive popular novels, and even if he has acquired a desire for scientific reading it is discouraged rather than cultivated here. * * THE action taken on our appropriation bill, by the members of both houses at the last session of the State Legislature is highly appreciated by the students at Pennsylvania State College. Not only did both the House and Senate committees concur in giving the amount asked for, but they increased the amount to a considerable extent, and through the kindly interest of Senator Reyburne, chairman of'the Senate committee, a sufficient sum of money to equip the armory with the « Sargeant System ” for athletic training, was included in the bill. For this appreciation of the necessity of physical culture we will ever hold the gentlemen who voted “aye” on the bill in grateful remembrance. Below is a direct copy of the appropropria tions as granted : Al’l’kOl’KlATlONS —18S9, Foi' repairing mid furnishing the main building, . $12,500 For removing and rebuilding the old bnrn, , . . 6,000 For n building for stenm plant, new boilers, remov ing old ones, and providing stenm equipment and electric lighting for new buildings, , . . For new machineiy and additions to building for mechanic arts and industries, For erecting, equipping nnd furnishing n cottage for the Indies’ department For nlteintions to the barn on the Experimental Farm, and erecting a dairy house, . . . . For a conservatory building on the foundation already laid For repairing roads, laying out nnd grading new ones, nnd grading grounds around new build- THE FREE LANCE. For two residences for l’rofcssors, For additions to the library nnd for apparatus nnd equipment for the departments of Mechanics, Electricity, Chemistry, Hotnny, Horticulture and Civil Engineering, #2,000 for ench of the fiscal years ’Sp-’go, nnd ’yo-Vjl, For completing improvements authorized by the legislature but not sufficiently provided for, For equipping new laboratory building, . . . . For gymnastic apparatus THE many expressions of dissatisfaction in regard to literary society work which we have heard lately and the non-increase in membership make the outlook for the future not at all promising. In some particulars the societies have attained signal success, but we must deplore the general lack of enthusiasm displayed by the members and their consequent lateness or non-attendance. The ultimate suc cess of the societies is largely dependent on the stimulus afforded by large audiences. When we consider that the audiences, such as they are, are in a great measure due to the personal efforts of a few individuals, or to special in ducements such as music, prizes, ingenious programmes, etc,, we find good cause for anx iety. The literary societies should be made one of the most profitable sources of knowl edge that life at college offers. We have heard it remarked by many of our graduates that they owe as much to their training in literary society as to any one other advantage that they enjoyed during their college life. Our societies have at their disposal almost every facility for literary culture and social enjoyment that could be wished for. Of course the prohibition of dancing throws a deep shadow over the social part of the even ing, but we should make the best of these our “ dark days,” and look forward with a stead fast hope to the day when the ideas that have * *
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers