ennui had so completely webbed in and clogged
up the intellectual faculties that days have
been consumed, in brushing away the musty crea
tion of an idle brain. Here are lessons, practi
cums, drills and games, but we have not yet got
them systematized, one thing interferes or runs
into another. To use another figure, there is yet
a jolting as we move along, the wheels of habit
have not yet fallen into the rut. This, however,
comes in good time. After the Freshman has re
ported once or twice at the Business Office to re
ceive his quoto of army blankets; or after he has
annoyed some unfortunate Professor, who chances
to live in the building, by persisting on undergo
ing a rigid examination as to his physical ability
for becoming a worthy member of the corps of
cadets, he is then ready to become that precocious
being that only the Sophomore can tame.
We h all gone through the annual reception
tendered by the Y. M. C. A. With the distinct
ly perceptible decrease of sociability on the
part of the old students, towards the new, at this
affair, the remarks would run somewhat after this
style when the little coteries would reach their
"A terrible bore" "Sat all evening and vas
not introduced to a person," "Jove but I am glad
its over." "Pleasantest evening I have had for a
long time"—and this last remark you could be
sure came from one of the old students who, ten
chances to one, had been monopolizing one of
the new girls.
So it goes. When we can disengage our minds
from our books, we turn to Foot-Ball, the cottage
and the latest developments in the "400." We
will hear one person wonder why his chance
seems so shaky for getting on the first team. He
plays just as often and trains as hard and gets as
many knocks as that other fellow, who has never
been on the team before. We see the same old
act carried out on the part of members who feel
assured of their positions on the college team.
To jump out of bed on a cool morning at 6
o'clock and start out for a two or three mile
THE FREE LANCE.
run before breakfast, is not the most pleasant
thing in the world to contemplate. In fact situ
ated as we are, without baths or lockers in the
Gymnasium, there are many unpleasant things and
inconveniences attached to the endeavor to be
come a member of the colloge foot ball team.
But if you would be a member, feel that you
owe a duty to others as well as yourself in becom
ing innured to the strain and hardship of a cham
pionship game. Can anything be more discour
aging to the conscientious worker who takes care
of himself, trains regularly and always tries to be
on hand, to see one or two persons who are more
than likely to be on the first team, show Utter in
difference to the training they require? To see
them careless in their habits, or paying very little
attention to the science of the game. Looseness
and disobediance should never occur on a foot
ball team (or anywhere else for that matter.)
All these evils which are contended with in the
organization of a good college foot-ball team are
doubled and trebled in the smaller colleges be
cause the competition for places on the team is
not nearly so strong as in larger institutions, and
therefore violation of rules can take place with
greater impunity on the part of players.
These troubles we must try and avoid here. We
should be inspired by an enthusiastic and loyal
feeling for our college, when we consider what we
have at stake this year. Never in the history of
the institution have we had such an excellent
opportunity of winning a good standing in the
football world.
There was an unfortunate occurence shortly
after the opening of the term, that happening as
it did was most serious in its effect upon the whole
student body interested in the welfare of our fall
sports. What we have reference to was the in
excusable meddling of some thoughtless students,
with the engine and stone,crusher which at the
time, was in position near the athletic grounds
where, during the day, the stone were being crush
ed for the Athletic track. The meddling took
place late at night, and it showed-s.uch a spirit of