we cannot expect appropriations to our athle tic department if they are not properly taken care of. We understand that when the gym nasium is formally opened there will be an instructor in charge all the time, but he can not accomplish much good unless he has the co-operation of all the students. Let us all resolve to take better care of college property. It will never be nice unless we keep it so. WE have one word of advice to the various athletes of our institution. Do not at• tempt too much. When our gymnasium has been placed in complete trim and regular train ing ensues, which will be in a few days, do not endeavor to become a good vaulter, jumper, runner, kicker, etc., all at the same time. If you do, except in very rare cases, you are Certain not to succeed well in any. Without doubt we have good, in fact the very best material .at our college for the making of athletes, but in the absence of high and long standing records, we must beware of trying to establish such at the very start. Let each man after he once assures himself of his forte, with only such general training as is requisite, practice moderately at the same until he accomplishes his best. In this way we can use to its full advantage all ability in a particular line and, though perhaps slowly, yet with certainty, shall we rise in the athletic scale to the desired and enviable position. AN excellent feature lately introduced in the mechanical engineering course is the construction of machinery in the shop. Its practical value to those in the course is ines timable as it will give experience which can THE FREE LANCE. only be attained by hard work, at great disad vantages after leaving college. The depart ment itself is growing rapidly, with its facilities steadily increasing and will probably take the lead in the near future. IT is to be hoped that there will be more field sports during the coming season than has prevailed the past three or four years. Base-ball has always absorbed the attention and a man not being able to secure a place on the first or second team, usually gives up sports altogether. This should not be' and if the long promised grounds are fitted up for next season such things should be given the proper attention. PERMANENT changes in almost any thing—in government, customs, society, etc.—especially when they are for the better, are peculiarly slow in accomplishment. Even the small affairs of life act in the same way, and the student cannot help being impressed with the illustration of this principle, presented in the protracted manner in which the faculty deliberates in regard to a change from the present " censure" system to a system of "cuts." Local illustrations are always best and we might. proceed to give others—as al most everything about the college affords ample resource—but space will not permit many. The customs of our fore-fathers are handed down to us for instance, it was the custom among early settlers in this vicinity to walk on the ground, mud or no mud, they felt that nature's own clay was good enough to walk on. So it is with us, we still walk in the same mud because our grandfathers did. Then, walks and pavements were not even
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