the front campus. A walk from the college to
the eastern gate would not only be ornamental
but has become a necessity. Now that so
many of the students board in that section of
the village, a path has been worn along the
roadway and it will become broader and more
permanent each year. A walk placed there
similar to those on other parts of the grounds
or even a cinder path would prevent the tramp
ing out of the grass. The fence that now
marks out the limit of our campus along the
road, was doubtless many years ago in har
mony with the other surroundings, but the
many pleasing changes of years make it seem
very much out of place. Would not alight
iron fence far better grace our beautiful
campus? Finally the old quarry or sink hole
might be much improved by filling it with
sonic of the many rocks in the vicinity and
planting some fast growing vine around it, so
that in three or four years it would be covered.
These changes will aid much in preserving
the beauty of the campus in which we all take
so much pride.
TT is not difficult for an observing person to
I see that there is a growing tendency for
a large class of persons to devote much time
to matter of a sensational character. AS 'evi
dence of this fact, let us look at that factor
so powerful in forming and moulding the
public mind, that is our current literature.
Cheap books of a sensational purport are to
be found everywhere. Our newspapers, and
especially a class of papers of modern origin
called Sunday papers, give much space to
detailed accounts of every conceivable crime,
and prize—fights are described as minutely as
THE FREE LANCE.,
if upon these fields of battle the best blood of
the nation had been shed in defending its
honor, Although it is impossible to avoid
seeing it, college students should avoid read
ing this kind of matter, and had better select
accounts relating to the public welfare, such
as the deliberations of our national legislature,
the discoveries of science, and works of phi
lanthropy, which, very often, form the least
space and inner pages of some of our most
popular papers. .
Sensational news, to say the least, creates
a sentiment among the ignorant classes,
which is both misleading as a public spirit,
and destructive of domestic peace and com
fort. It cannot but have a like effect on the
student if indulged in.
Another factor seems in sonic cases to be
slowly working to the same end, namely our
college sports. But the fact that many
college authorities have made certain re
strictions which keep them within bounds,
makes it less worthy of attack. In a
large institution in this State not long ago,
the faculty found it necessary to prevent
students, whose standing was below a certain
standard, from joining any athletic club, or
from engaging in any athletic contest what
ever. We have heard from members of the
faculty of some of our most noted universities,
that on occasions of rowing contests and base
ball gaines many thousands of dollars have
changed hands among the students upon op
posing sides. Although we all believe that
college sports have their value in the proper
training of the student, yet it is certain that
they are carried far in excess . ] of 'what they
should be at times, and great care should be
exercised in eliminating evil influences,