done in obedience to custom, is done not always with a determination suffi ciently strong to overcome the difficul ties which custom itself does not usual ly overcome. IT is understood that this paper is pub lished by the students (ex-students and alumni included) ; such being the statement on its title page. This how ever expresses only a small part of the truth. Perhaps many expect the board of editors to contribute all of the matter required. This would hardly be ex pected, however, were our institution largely devoted to classical education. But the circumstances are different with Nearly all of our students are tak ing scientific courses, and are engaged during the whole day in recitation and practicum,. leaving the preparation of recitations to be done evenings. The editors are as busily engaged as are the rest, but one member of the staff being a classical student. Of course the editors can, and do, largely contribute the matter ; but such does not represent the body of students in general. Did each student take the proper interest, he might contribute much that would be beneficial to some of the departments of the paper. By dropping short notices of news we might have our personal department better filled each month. Many of the occur rences about the college could be well TitE FREE LANCE. :1: :j represented in our locals by persons who may be better informed about them than the editors are ; and this is the case often times. When an editor has to hunt for news he is tempted to stop as soon as he gets enough matter to fill up his space ; where if he had matter on hand to choose from, only the most interesting would appear. Let us make a better attempt to have the FREE LANCE the organ of the whole body of students. \TINETY-ONE, that year so long looked for by at least one class in every college, is here. In a short time another army of many thousands of educated youths will be let loose amid the industries of our country. • What of these youths ? Are they, if we might call them an organization, of modern institutions ? Although there have been colleges for a long time, we think that a material change has been wrought with students in very modern times. It has been true within the memory of the older students of to-day, that only the men preparing for Law, Medicine or Theology were thought to need a college education, and conse quently the classical education was the only one. At present it is beyond doubt that our scientific men, such as engineers, chem ist, etc., require a thorough training at college, and deserve justly the name of professional men. Every year more :ft :1
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers