At the meeting of the delegates to this union
last Saturday, the question, which has caused
such a controversy in inter-collegiate athletic
circles, of admitting as contestants all students
in the regular courses, was raised during the
drawing up of the constitution. A lively debate
took place upon the subject. Haverford stood
with the University of Pennsylavania and the Penn •
sylvania State College delegate, using his own
judgment, joined them. The others were solidly
in favor of admitting only men from the college
departments. Very good arguments were brought
up on both sides, and finally a compromise was
made to the effect that only such students as had
not previously taken a collegiate degree were eli
gible as contestants. This, of course, cuts out all
graduate students, but it is fair on the face of it.
This is a subject that is going to take a great part
in inter-collegiate affairs in the immediate future,
and it might be interesting to know just what the
sentiment of the students here is in the matter.
Of course, we Avill send a man to this contest.
Better send a man who stands no chance for
the prize than not to be heard from at all. The
representation of each College will be limited
to a single contestant, and the sooner he is chos
en the better. The method suggested at the meet
ing was to have contests between the literary socie
ties and send the best man in these contests. What
are the societies going to do in the matter?
WE appeal to the friends of the LANCE, and
. especially to the alumni, to give us their
continued support. We appeal upon the
ground that if the FREE LANCE receives cordial
support it can yet justify the hopes of its friends.
A successful college paper is not made in a day,
and must have indulgent support for a long time
before it can emerge from the disadvantage of the
Eecessarily frequent changes of staff, in fixed and
solid form.
The LANCE still struggles under a heavy debt,
but if it can have the support of its old friends, and
THE FREE LANCE.
make a few new ones, as it is now paying for itself
the debt can soon be removed, and then can com
mence the work of enlarging its several depart•
ments. The work of enlargement must, however,
be deferred until our literary standards have been
raised ; and this cannot be done until we have a
sufficient amount of matter to select from. At
present the Literary department is compelled to
print everything which it can get. Short articles,
sketches of travel, social topics, scientific subjects,
poems, ought to come from the students, alumni,
and faculty, in such number as to make the duty of
the literary editors one of selection. Up to the
present time their position has been one of mendi
cancy poorly requited.
But henceforth, count on the FREE LANCE rain
or shine, for the student body at least is alive to its
needs and wants, and is determined to make it wor
thy of generous patronage.
Though nominally our connection with the
LANCE ceases with ,this issue, we shall gladly give
all the aid and encouragement which lies in our
power to give, to our successors. May the FREE
LANCE prosper, FREE LANCE in name, and by en
ergy ability and chivalrous fearlessness, FREE
LANCE in fact.
IN the last LANCE we spoke of the sanitation of
rooms—a subject too little considered. From
observations made since, both inside and out
side the college building, we feel that this subject
may be again reverted to, though we do not wish
to be understood as saying we have anywhere seen
such great carelessness as would subject one to
the cholera, or any. sudden taking off.
But there is a famine in the land—a great fresh
air hunger ! Why cannot people learn to sweep
out their rooms with fresh air every few hours?
It takes 2080 cubic feet of c.ir to support the respi
ration of one person one hour, and yet have the
air remain sweet, clean, and fit to breathe. A
brief calculation will show that a large number of